Wednesday 27 March 2013

Dr. Richard Maybery

Glory to God!

Our Signs, Wonders and the Kingdom of God Conference was glorious! The Lord has taken Kingdom Life to a new level of intimacy and power through the ministry of Richard Maybery this past week. We have witnessed lives being touched by the power of God and people being healed and set free from the work of the enemy. As a spiritual father of KLF we have been blessed with Richard's apostolic anointing to equip the Body of Christ to grow deeper and stronger in the Lord. Richard spoke to us about:
  • Miracles and the Glory. A look at what God's glory is and how it relates to miracles.
  • Getting back to basics - interior reformation. An exhortation to return to and live from the miracle of being born again.
  • Building friendship with God - interior reformation. A look at what it means to be friends of God and how to develop friendship with Him.
Richard also spent significant time with our leaders; teaching them and praying and prophesying over them. We praise God for Richard Maybery and look forward to seeing the fruit of his ministry in the coming months as we have always seen in the past when he has visited us.

"One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours." Romans 1:10-12

Monday 18 March 2013

Living the Gospel

Glory to God!

As we worshipped God yesterday, the Lord led us into His throne room from which a river proceeded and He invited us to step into His this river of joy, peace and life. It was a powerful time of honouring and enjoying our King as we exalted Him and He ministered to us through prophetic song.

The Lord then spoke to us about how the Church must be influenced by the Gospel in order to be an influence with the Gospel in the world. This is what He showed us...
  • Every believer is called to influence. When Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, it was a command for every believer to be a leader and therefore an influence in the world. Matthew 28:18-20
  • We must be influenced before we can influence. Unless we are influenced and therefore convinced of something we will struggle to convince others without being hypocritical.1 Thess.1:4,5
  • Every believer must be influenced by the Gospel to be able to influence others with the Gospel. Col. 1:3-6
  • The heart of the Gospel is the atonement: the good news that Jesus Christ died for sinners so that through dependence upon Him anyone can be reconciled and joined to God.Rom.4:25
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Cor. 5:21

In order to be able to explain the message of the Gospel, pastor Richard gave us the following key words:
  1. God. God created man to have fellowship with Him and to be one with Him.
  2. Rebellion. Man however chose to go his own way and therefore became separated from God.
  3. Atonement. God therefore provided a way for man to be reconciled to Him.
  4. Christ. Through faith in Christ, the believer is made right with God and joined to Him.
  5. Eternal life. Through faith in Christ the believer receives eternal life - eternal union with God.
  • Believing the Gospel of G.R.A.C.E. means the believer's past, present and future are affected!
  • Through faith in Christ's atonement (Rom. 4:25), the believer receives God's mercy and is justified (past), has peace with God and stands in grace (present) and has the hope of glory (future). Rom. 5:1,2
  • The believer who is influenced by the Gospel will live in God's mercy, peace, grace and hope and become an influence with the Gospel as he is merciful, peaceful, gracious and full of hope. 1 Peter 3:15
Unless the Church is living under the influence of the Gospel she will struggle to convince the world of the Gospel!

We are looking forward to having Dr Richard Maybery with us this weekend at our Signs, wonders and the Kingdom of God conference. It will be an exciting time as we see heaven invade earth! Click here for more details.

 "This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace." Col. 1:6

 










Thursday 14 March 2013

In step with God

Glory to God!

On Sunday the Lord spoke to us about how God guides us and that knowing His guidance is easy. Looking at some of the major decisions one encounters in life, the Lord showed us from Psalm 23:3 and 48:14 that it is in His interest to guide His people and that He is committed to guiding us. We then looked at some of the common human methods of seeking guidance that are needs-driven or based on human wisdom. The Lord then showed us some principles for receiving God's guidance such as knowing God's word, being committed to God's will, trusting in God's way and praying for God's wisdom.

We are looking forward to having Dr Richard Maybery with us next week at our Signs, Wonders and the Kingdom of God Conference. Here is a brief testimony of a recent conference Richard was leading:
  
"Just returned from Witbank. Saw incredible miracles. A man close to death due to a major stomach operation went wrong stepped into my bowl of water and was instantly healed. A woman with crippled feet healed and threw her crutches away. A young boy with muscular dystrophy was healed and no longer needs medication. These are some of the many miracles that the Lord did. Many were healed of emotional pain." Richard Maybery

"He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Psalm 23:3


Tuesday 5 March 2013

Gifted to Give

Glory to God!

In preparation for sharing the Lord's Supper together, we were reminded on Sunday of the Gospel and the significance of Christ's death and resurrection.

The Gospel
  • The essence of the Gospel or the Good News is that God has provided a way for man to be reconciled to Him. John 3:14-16; 2 Cor. 5:17-21
  • It is through faith in Jesus Christ that we are reconciled and made right with God. 2 Cor. 5:18
  • This faith is not just believing that Christ died and rose again or that He existed. It is also depending or relying on Christ's righteousness to be in right standing with the Father. Rom. 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 1:30
  • Dependence on Christ's righteousness rather than on one's own righteousness keeps one in right standing with the Father. Gal. 2:19-21
True Salvation

Through dependence on Jesus, the believer's life is radically changed.
  • No longer is he subject to the kingdom of darkness but he is now a citizen of God's Kingdom. Col. 1:13,14; Phil. 3:20
  • No longer is he separated from God but he is now joined to God and Christ's Body. 1 John 4:15; 1 Cor. 12:13
  • No longer is he an enemy of God but he is now a friend of God. Rom. 5:10
  • No longer is he an object of God's wrath but he is now an object of God's blessing. Eph. 2:3-9
  • No longer is he powerless but he is now empowered to live a godly life. 2 Peter 1:3
  • No longer is he an orphan but he is now a son of God. Gal. 4:4-7; 1 John 3:1
  • No longer does he fall short of God's glory but he now has access to the Father. Rom. 3:23; Eph. 2:18
  • No longer is he without hope but he now has the hope of glory. Heb. 6:19; Col. 1:27
The Lord then spoke to us about living a life set apart to serve God, His people and His purposes as our spiritual act of worship. This is what He showed us:
The attitude of the mind
  • Because of God's mercy and the believer's new life in Christ, God wants the believer to change the attitude of his mind and to live as a new creation in Christ and not in the old selfish attitude. Eph. 4:22-24; Rom. 12:1,2
  • The transformation/transfiguration of the believer takes place as the believer changes the attitude of his mind by faith in Christ. Rom. 12:2; Gal. 2:20
  • The change of attitude because of God's mercy means the believer moves from:
  • Independence (a life seperated from God and others) to dependence (a life joined to God and His people).
  • Self-centredness (living subjectively) to God-centredness (living God-consciously).
  • Self-serving (living to please oneself) to servant-hearted (living to serve God, His people and His purposes).
  • Arrogance (thinking too highly of oneself) to modesty (having a sober judgment of oneself).
  • Pride (being wise in one's own eyes) to humility (depending on God's wisdom and ways).
Graced to serve
  • God graces each person with a gift or gifts to serve God, His people and His purposes. Rom. 12:3-8
  • God's gifts are either permanent or temporary. 1 Cor. 12 -14; Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:3-8
  • In view of God's mercy, God wants every believer to use his gifts to serve God, His people and His purposes in love. Rom. 12:1-16; 1 John 4:19
  • This life of servanthood is the life that is set apart (holy) for God's glory and is the life of true worship. Rom. 12:1
  • The gifts of God are given for believers to demonstrate the love of God and the Kingdom of God in everyday life and not only when they meet together. John 4:1-42; Luke 10:1-10; Acts 3:1-10; 6
  • Believers are called to serve in the Church and serve as the Church in the world. Matthew 5:13-16
Interview

As part of looking at how God has gifted us to serve Him, His people and His purposes we interviewed the elders of Kingdom Life to hear how God has gifted them, how they are using their gifts in everyday life and in the Church, what their passion is for God's people and what they desire KLF to become. You can listen to the interview here...

"Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:1,2