God's purpose for KLF in 2011

Glory to God!

The Lord's word for KLF for 2011 is Acts 9:31:

"Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers."

Yesterday God spoke to us about His purpose for mankind and how it relates to the fear of the Lord. This is what He showed us:

To understand God's purpose for mankind we need to look at three significant supernatural "births" in history.

1. The birth of Adam

God’s purpose for Adam:

Godliness

• Adam was created in God’s likeness to be like Him. Gen. 1:26,27

Fellowship

• Intimacy with God. Gen. 3:8,9
• Without shame. Gen. 2:25

Co-labour

• Blessed to multiply. Gen. 1:28
• Blessed to rule and be co-labourers with God. Gen. 1:26; Gen 2:19

The Fall

Because of Adam’s disobedience, man fell away from God’s original purpose for mankind. Man became separated from God and therefore became:

Ungodly

• No longer like God – ungodly. Rom. 5:6

Separated

• No longer intimate - enemies of God. Col. 1:21
• No longer without shame – guilty. Eph. 2:3

Unproductive

• No longer connected to the will of God – unable to produce lasting fruit. John 15:16; Eph. 2:1-3

2. The birth of Jesus Christ

God, therefore planned another supernatural birth – the birth of Christ, the last Adam. Rom. 5:14; 1 Cor. 15:45

Jesus came to model restored humanity

Jesus modelled godliness

• Jesus is the image of God. John 14:9; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3;
  

Jesus modelled fellowship with God

• Jesus lived in complete intimacy with the Father. John 17:21
• Jesus lived a blameless life, without shame. 1 Peter 2:22

Jesus modelled co-labouring with God

• Jesus came to do the work of the Father. John 14:31

3. The birth of the Church

The third supernatural "birth" is the birth of the Church through faith in Christ.

• Through faith in Christ, the believer is born from above. John 1:12,13
• Humanity is restored to God's original image and purpose in Christ. Gen. 1:26; Col. 1:15; Eph. 4:24

Jesus came to restore true humanity

• Christ is the first-born among many brothers. Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15
• Those who believe in Christ are conformed to His image. Rom. 8:29; 2 Peter 1:3; 1 John 4:17
• Jesus came to model true humanity as God intended it in Adam and Eve. 1 John 2:6
• Jesus came to empower man to live according to God’s original purpose for mankind. Eph. 4:20-24; 5:1

Created in Christ

Created in Christ to be godly

• Created in Christ to be like God. Eph. 4:24; 2 Peter 1:3

Created in Christ for fellowship

• Through Christ we have intimacy with God. Eph. 2:18
• In Christ we live without shame. Rom. 8:1; Col. 1:21,22; 1 Peter 2:6

Created in Christ to co-labour

• In Christ we are blessed to multiply. 2 Cor. 9:11; Matthew 28:18
• In Christ we are blessed to rule and be co-labourers with God. 2 Cor. 6:1; Eph. 2:10

God’s purpose for man

• Created in Christ to live from God (godliness) – dependence on God
• Created in Christ to live because of God (fellowship) – obedience to God
• Created in Christ to live for God (reverence) – living to please God

The Fear of the Lord

When we live from God, because of God and for God,
we live in the fear of the Lord

We praise God for revealing His purpose for us and for teaching us what it really means to fear Him.

In the evening we had another opportunity to minister to the poor and the homeless at our monthly soup kitchen. We worshipped together, shared God's truth with them and ministered to the sick and saw God touch people's bodies and minds as they experienced the healing power of God. We believe we are going to see a greater measure of God's power released in our meetings and yesterday was just a foretaste of what the Father has planned for these precious people. Hallelujah!

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