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Friday 25 November 2011

The Divine Anointing For Ministry

Anyone with a ministry has to come to terms with the truth that God's purposes are advanced by the divine anointing of the Spirit, not techniques. God's method has been always to use anointed men. You can't achieve any God-given task without the anointing of His Spirit. You can have superb publicity and the finest of administrators, but only the anointing of God upon you will accomplish the task He has commissioned you to do.

The apostle Paul was both commissioned and anointed. As a result he was able to succeed in his assignment. God, he said, 'has made us able ministers of the new testament' (2 Corinthians 3:6). It was his anointing that brought him through the veil separating the natural from the supernatural in his ministry. Even Jesus, when commissioned to begin His public ministry, started by saying: 'The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to...' (Luke 4:18). He was very clear as to His assignment and confident of the Spirit's anointing.

The anointing cannot be isolated from your task. It's not a case of O-o-oh, I've been anointed with the Spirit! I can feel the tingles all over me! Your anointing is not to make you feel good; rather, it is to focus God's power into the fulfilment of your God-given mandate and assignment. It was this apostolic anointing that gave Paul his apostolic authority. Writing to the Corinthians he said, 'The authority the LORD gave me is for building you up, not for tearing you down' (2 Corinthians 13:10).

People might try to copy techniques which they have seen others use to build a strong church. But unless they have the same anointing as those other people, they will accomplish little or nothing.

Monday 21 November 2011

The Call To Apostleship

The common believe that apostles are no longer needed in the church,is not a fact supported by scripture.It is a fact thought that this all important ministry gift has been terriblely misused.But still does not rule out the fact that God still calls apostles.Without them, God's work on earth cannot be actuallised.The other ministry gifts may not find completness. All spiritual work must begin with the Spirit's call.All divine work must be divinely initiated. If the Holy Spirit has not said: "Separate Me that 'man' for the work to which I have called him," that man can never be an apostle. Only the divine call and commissioning of God with very specific assignment from God can qualify for the apostolic office. A true called apostle is one sent of God as a messenger with an assignment of a very specific nature. Apostles are not just raised. They come forth when there is a very major specific assignment of God to be carried out in an age or generation. I strongly believe, one of the great tragedy in the body of Christ today, is that so many "workers" have simply gone out; most of which have not been SENT. Most of these resulting, from personal desire, motivation from friends and even some elders and committees commission and send men out as apostles when they are not; some have simply taken this as a worthy title for them to have, and as such named themselves apostles-all of these are factors on the natural plane and they cannot take the place of a true spiritual call and commissioning from God. How many can truly say like Paul: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.."(Ephesians 1:1).It should be noted also, that it takes more than just giftings to constitute men apostles; it takes God himself, His will, His call, His mandate and commissioning.We must try those who say they are apostles and separate,the true from the false according to Revelation 2:2.In conclusion, recognising true apostles and allowing them to function will bring restoration breakthrough to the body

Saturday 19 November 2011

You Have Power Over Sin

The LORD Jesus, through His shed blood on the Cross of Calvary, destroyed and brought to an end, the power of sin in everyman that believes in Him. His death on the cross was the actual death of sin. He died not only that we be forgiven, but that sin, be removed from us. He destroyed sin the moment His blood was shed. He destroyed sin by the power of His death and shed blood. Believers can experience and live a life with no sin. John said, in 1 John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doeth not commit sin..."Christians must begin to see the possibility of living a sinless life on earth. Christ Jesus lived in that order on earth because it is possible. Sin should not have power over you. We are free because Christ died and shed His blood. Romans 6:10-13 declares: “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” We are commanded not to allow sin into our lives because we are free. Paul tells us: “The moment you come to the Cross, you legally receive power over sin.” “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”We have a choice whether to allow leaven in our lives or not. Sin has been destroyed, and we have the power not to allow it into our lives

You Have Power Over Sin

The LORD Jesus, through His shed blood on the Cross of Calvary, destroyed and brought to an end, the power of sin in everyman that believes in Him. His death on the cross was the actual death of sin. He died not only that we be forgiven, but that sin, be removed from us. He destroyed sin the moment His blood was shed. He destroyed sin by the power of His death and shed blood.

Believers can experience and live a life with no sin. John said, in 1 John 3:9
"Whosoever is born of God doeth not commit sin..."

Christians must begin to see the possibility of living a sinless life on earth. Christ Jesus lived in that order on earth because it is possible. Sin should not have power over you. We are free because Christ died and shed His blood. Romans 6:10-13 declares:

“For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body,that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

We are commanded not to allow sin into our lives because we are free. Paul tells us: “The moment you come to the Cross, you legally receive power over sin.” “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”We have a choice whether to allow leaven in our lives or not. Sin has been destroyed, and we have the power not to allow it into our lives

Friday 18 November 2011

God's Divine Order For Ministry

As a follow up to the message, "Building To Plan," the Apostle Paul says to the Corinthian church:
"Now ye are the body of Christ, and (each one of you are) members in particular. And God has set some in the church, FIRST apostles, SECOND prophets, THIRDLY teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, goverments, diversities of tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:27-28).

This is the only place in the entire New Testament where God specifies an order of function for the various ministry gifts. Because of its uniqueness here, it is important that we heed what God is saying.

The apostolic ministry for instance, comes first in God' divine order for ministry. This is so because of its role and the responsibility given to the ministry. The apostolic ministry, is the fatherhood ministry of the body of Christ. For out of the the apostolic ministry, came forth the othe ministries of the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers. It was as the apostles in the early times ministered and functioned in their true apostolic authority, that the other ministries began to come to light.

The apostolic ministry, it must be understood is not just the ministry of one man. It is the ministry of the body. The whole body for example, is supposed to be an apostolic body and all the other ministries are supposed to function in apostolic authority.

This is not a pecking order to show status- No. What we have here is a functioning order for accomplishing an assignment, a mandate and a task, relative to God's eternal purpose and plan. If we change this order it doesn't mean that nothing at all is built. Rather, it does mean that what is built will not be according to plan and will not be as effective or meet that which God intends. During these times of restoration, God is renewing our understanding of the apostolic and prophetic ministry gifts, but especially the apostolic ministry, so that the house is built according to plan and in the right order.

Thursday 17 November 2011

Building To Plan

As a result of the rapid growth in the early church, Apostolic communities of believers sprang up wherever the gospel is preached, each a living example of the message they proclaimed.

The apostle Peter likened the building of these communities to the raising up of a spiritual house for God to dwell in, a house in which he saw the believers as living stones built together (1 Peter 2:4-5).

Building a house cant be done haphazardly. Imagine that you have laid the foundations for the structure of an house. Then the electricians came up and say, 'We're here to wire the house.' With surprise you sure will reply, 'We haven't built yet, and as such, there is nothing to wire!'

Each task must be done in its proper order. Yet people try to build the Church of Christ, without observing God's order. For example, many pastors in the ministry, finds themselves forced by circumstances, fulfilling the missing function of an apostle of God. In fact, and in most cases, you find the pastor, become apostle, prophet, evangelist, as well as pastor and teacher to his people. And as a result, both the pastor and his people suffers.

The fact remains that God by His infinit wisdom, have set in the church, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and each of these ministries have their stated role and functions within the body and can never be over emphasised.

The understanding must come to every one in the times that we are now entering, that each of the ministries must stand in their true place and position and function in their true ministry to the body. The pastor cannot deny his need for the apostle, the prophet and the other ministries, and vice visa. These ministries are meant to function more as a team not as individuals. The vital role and ministry of the apostle for example must be fully restored again to the body, for the true order to be restored, and for the building to be according to plan.

The order of God has been disturbed and, as a result, the teaching has become little more

Tuesday 15 November 2011

The Five-Fold Ministries And Their Primary Responsibilities

Ephesians 4:11-13
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

We see from the above verse of scriptures, that the five fold ministries named here, were fundamentally given to help equip the members of the body of Christ who actually are called to do the actual work of the ministry.

It follows therefore, that the primary work of the evangelist and of the other ministries, is first within the body. The evangelist for example, is not just to evangelize "the unreached," as it were. But to impart a love for the lost unto the whole body, and also to help all believers to be able to lead others to the Lord. This also, follows for the Prophet. The main job of a prophet is not just to hear from the Lord and to see visions, but also to help all believers to know the Lord's voice and be able to prophesy and discern the Lord's will. The primary work of a teacher is not just to teach and impart knowledge, but also to impart a love for the truth of God and the spiritual tools needed for all believers to be able to uncover for themselves the truths of God's Word. The primary ministry of the pastor is not just to lead people, but also to equip all believers to be able to help and minister one to another. The apostle is called to do all of these.

As we saw in verse 13, of the above chapter, this is to be done "until we all come or attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (mature) man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."  
Note that he does not say here until "some" come or attain, but "all." We cannot truly get to where we are supposed to go without each other.

Monday 7 November 2011

Understanding Your Perspective

The light of understanding must come to every true born of the Spirit, what the time we now live in looks like. We live in a very unique but sensitive season and time in God's agenda.

God is looking now for what I call the prophetic people. These are the people of His dreams. The very desire of His heart. The people of His will and purpose and pleasure in Christ. And for this people to come forth, we need revelations from heaven.

Revelation, which is the divine opening of God to a man and in a man, is what makes a man have heavenly stand on earth. The apostle Paul said:
Ephesians 1:16-18
"Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and REVELATION in the knowledge of Him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened...."

Divine revelations of God will empower your being for a supernatural perspective of life. The openings of God in your being called Revelations, will introduce your being to the supernatural dimension of all things of life. And until we gain the supernatural perspective, we may not enter the light and realisation of our true destiny on the earth.

If there be anything the body of Christ needs today and in the time we now live, is Light from above. And to understand all that we claim we believe in. For christians are very ignorant of the fact and reality of what they say they believe. And we cant go on this way. The enemy of our faith has taken great advantage of our ignorance and is oppressing and destroying christians. For example, Christians are no longer safe, because they understand not the secret of their protection in Christ. Only through revelations of God can we again, gain our supernatural perspective that will cause a revolution in our christian faith and walk.

Let us like the apostle Paul, cease not to pray and to ask God for wisdom and revelational knowledge in our christian faith and walk with Him. God bless you.

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Sunday 6 November 2011

Growing Up Spiritually Part One

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God." (Psalm 92:12-13).

First, I will like to begin by making reference to the above scriptural verse. And to say, that there is need for every man to be planted and rooted in the house of God through Christ Jesus. For to be rooted in God's house is to be rooted in God himself, for God lives in His house.

Let us understand, that no man, no matter his status in life, can be said to truly fulfil purpose who is not first planted in the house of God.

The Psalmist said, the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. The palm tree because of its depth in the earth, knows not wet nor dry seasons. It flourishes in dry season as much as in wet season. This is as a result of it haven taken root deep in the earth.

For a christian to prosper and grow spiritually, he must first be planted and rooted in God's house. You cant truly express destiny if you are not planted and have your root deep in God's house. It must be clearly understood by all christians that everything God does and will ever do, must first begin from His house. As a result, any man not planted and rooted in His house, will miss out of divine plans. This is why God's Word teaches us not to forsake the assemblying of ourselves together as the manner of some is.
Every great purpose and destiny must rise out of a place. And that place is the house of God. Every true born of the Spirit must as of a matter of necessity, belong to a local assembly or church, where he or she is fed God's truth that brings growth spiritually. It is only as a man is planted and rooted in God's house, that he begins to grow spiritually and in the realisation of destiny.

Spiritual growth, is a function of the growth and development of one's spirit in God and in spiritual realities of life.

Another very vital fact concerning spiritual growth, is locating the true ground for you. Every ground or assembly
All that God is Doing and Working, is towards Realizing in all Creation, His Total Eternal Purpose and Plans, which Himself purposed and planned in Himself before the foundation of the World in Christ Jesus.