Sit. Walk. Stand.

Glory to God!

The things of the Spirit don't come naturally. Unless God's children overcome their natural disposition by faith, they won't press into the spirtitual realm. Yesterday's meeting began in the natural and ended in the spiritual as we turned nice singing into bringing heaven on earth and used the songs to proclaim, establish and overcome spiritual darkness by declaring Christ's lordship over our lives, our church, our city and our nation! We broke through the natural realm and entered the realm of faith that releases God's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven! Hallelujah!

After a powerful time of worship we heard the amazing testimony given by one of our members who took hold of God's Word and prayed it over her life for healing. She testified that after one year of prayer she has been healed of diabetes and can now eat anything she likes without any problems. Hallelujah!

The Lord then spoke to us about the development of faith. He showed us that just as a baby learns to sit then walk and then stand, so believers must also learn to sit, walk and stand by faith.

Sitting stage - knowing and receiving the grace of God.

In Ephesians 2:4-9 we learn that every believer is raised with Christ and seated with Him. By faith the believer must take hold of the fact that s/he is seated in heavenly places with Christ. It is in this place where the believer enjoys the grace and love of God by faith. The disciple who sits by faith rests in the finished work of Christ.

Walking stage - knowing and doing the will of God.

In Ephesians 5:1-17 we are commanded to imitate God and to find out what His will is. Those who seek God's will to obey it, walk by faith. They understand that God reveals His will to His children for them to obey it (see John 14:15; Col. 1:9-12). They walk by faith and not by sight. They follow the Spirit rather than their own selfish desires (see Gal. 5:16,17). Believers who choose to walk in holiness and obedience do so by faith and have matured beyond only sitting by faith.

Standing stage - knowing and standing in the authority and power of God.

In Ephesians 6:10-18 we are encouraged to stand firm in the authority and power of God. Unless we have learned to sit and walk by faith we will not be effective when we try to stand by faith (see Eph. 4:26,27). To stand by faith is to believe that we are representatives of God's Kingdom and have been entrusted with the authority and power of God to overcome the kingdom of darkness. Jesus gave His disciples authority to overcome all the power of the enemy and to heal and to deliver people from Satan's grip (see Luke 9:1,2). Believers who stand by faith have matured beyond sitting and walking by faith.

We praise God for His revelation and for equipping us to live the Kingdom life. Hallelujah!

We are excited about several new groups that are starting. We now have a youth ministry and two new Life Groups. Jesus is building His Church!

Quote of the week

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" Eph. 2:6

"For you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." Eph. 5:8-10

"Therefore put on the full armour of God, so when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Eph. 6:13

Famous Faith

Glory to God!

After a powerful time of worship, Sophie Rowe spoke to the children (and the adults!) about Ruth and Naomi. She showed us how, just as Ruth made a commitment to identify herself with Naomi and be with her wherever she went, so believers must realise that to be part of the Body of Christ is to identify oneself with her and be actively involved in and with the life of the church. Sophie encouraged everyone to serve in the church so that we function effectively as Christ's Body.

We then looked at the first letter to the Thessalonians and noted that they were a church that had become famous for their faith (1 Thess. 1:8). The Lord then showed us how the Thessalonians developed a faith that became so well known. This is what He showed us:

The Thessalonians saw and experienced the example of a people of faith. Paul and his companions lived amongst the new believers and demonstrated lives of faith as they not only shared the Gospel but their very lives with them. The Thessalonians saw faith in action as Paul and his companions devoted themselves to the people (see 1 Thess. 1:5; 2:13).

The Thessalonians received God's word to them with joy as from God and not from men. They submitted their lives to the authority of the word of God. They received the Gospel with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction because of their attitude toward God's word to them (see 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:13).

The Thessalonians allowed God's word to convince them. They did not just hear the word of God but allowed it to replace their own thinking. They allowed the word of God to convince them so that they lived their lives accordingly (see 1 Thess. 1:4,5).

The Thessalonians demonstrated their faith. Because of their faith in God, they lived lives in response to God's presence. Consequently they demonstrated their faith by working hard (1:3), persevering despite suffering (1:3; 2:14); loving one another (1:3; 3:6); repententing from paganism (1:9), etc.

The Lord is speaking to us about faith working through love and the example of the Thessalonians reveals that God wants the Church to demonstrate her faith through loving His presence, His people and His purposes. All three loves must be part of the disciple's life as s/he lives the Kingdom life.

Love for God's presence is demonstrated by a devotion to seek God's face privately and corporately. True faith believes God exisits and that He rewards those who seek Him (Heb. 11:1,6). Consequently to love God's presence is to be God-conscious at all times and to live a life in response to His presence. Paul calls it, "Living to please God" (1 Thess. 4:1).

Love for God's people is demonstrated by a devotion to Christ's Body, the Church. This love is revealed as believers care for one another, serve one another, share their resources with one another, worship together, pray for one another, encourage one another, etc. Love for God's people is demonstrated by an unconditional commitment to the Church. God wants our love for one another to increase so that the world will recognise that we belong to God (see 1 Thess. 4:9,10).

Love for God's salvation purposes is demonstrated by a devotion to the lost. This love is revealed as God's people develop a burden for those who are seaparated from Christ, both Jew and Gentile. Loving God's purposes means loving what is on God's heart and seeking His will. It means reaching out to the lost in every area of life, personally and being part of what the Church organises.

Faith works through love as believers 

love God's presence, God's people 

and God's purposes.

Our prayer is that KLF will become famous for her faith and love as we devote ourselves to God's presence, people and purposes! Hallelujah!

Quote of the week

"...your faith has become known everywhere." 1 Thess. 1:8

A Prophetic People

 Glory to God!

God is raising Kingdom Life to be a prophetic people - the communication of God on earth as He is in heaven. Looking at the call of Jeremiah, who was set apart to be a prophet to the nations, God showed us that His people will doubt in themselves and what God is able to do through them when they listen to their "broken records" rather than trust and obey God's word to them. Just like a broken record that keeps jumping back and repeating the same section of the record over and over again, people have negative things that they believe about themselves that govern their response to God, people, life and their circumstances. Rather than trusting in God's word they choose to believe the broken record playing in their lives. Consequently, just as Jeremiah doubted in the call of God on his life and in his ability to do God's will because he listened to his broken record (I am too young to fulfill God's call and will), the people of God can also doubt in God's purpose and will for their lives when they choose to listen to their broken records instead of replacing them with God's truth.

God's people are transformed by the renewing of their minds (Rom. 12:2). That means believers must replace broken records with God's truth if they are to walk in the fullness of God's purpose and will for their lives.

At the end of 2012, the Lord spoke to us about "Running to win in 2013" and He showed us that there are several things that we need to change if we are to win the race he has set before us. As the Lord reveals the things that hinder us from running to win, we praise God for the grace to deal with the things that so easily entangle so that we can "uproot, tear down, destroy and overthrow" and "build and plant" in 2013 (Jer. 1:10)! Hallelujah!

Quote of the week

"See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, 

to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." Jeremiah 1:10