Monday 17 February 2020

Foundations


Glory to God!

God's Word for us this year is RECONCILE. We are excited about this journey we are on as we seek to be reconciled to God, to one another and help those who do not know the Lord to be reconciled to Him. Having received the clear mandate and vision to build a house of peace, we are learning to be zealous, intentional and practical (zip) in order to be peacemakers who live in peace with God, with one another and help the Lost find peace in Him.

Two weeks ago we had the honour and pleasure of ordaining Elizabeth Nehring as an associate leader in KLF. Apart from being a daughter of the house who carries the heart and DNA of KLF, Elizabeth demonstrates the qualities of true leadership that include inspiration (Gal 2:9), illumination (2 Cor 4:6), integrity (1 Cor 11:1), influence (1 Cor 1:26,27) and initiative (2 Cor 8:17). As our leaders seek to have the 5-fold ministry of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher operating in its team, they recognise the grace that is upon Elizabeth's life to compliment the other gifts already present (Eph 4:11). It was a very special and significant moment as our leaders prayed for and anointed Elizabeth to establish her in her new role and responsibility as a leader in KLF.

Natalie then shared a message entitled, "Reconcile yourself - and smile!" In her powerful and creative sermon, Natalie showed us that unless we learn to love, accept and forgive ourselves, we will struggle to love, accept and forgive others. We saw how loving one's neighbour as oneself hinges upon being reconciled to oneself as we believe and receive the truth of God's love, acceptance and forgiveness (see Rom 5:8; 8:28; Eph 2:10; Is 49:15,16; Ps 139:13,14). Looking at the example of king David, Natalie showed us how David received God's love, acceptance and forgiveness after he had committed adultery and murder. Just as the king "got up from the ground" and thereafter "washed, put on lotions, changed his clothes and went into the house of the Lord and worshipped," (see 2 Sam 12:20) so the believer can receive God's love, acceptance and forgiveness, and rise up, be cleansed, anointed and clothed with Christ's righteousness and be restored to intimacy with God. Hallelujah!
In response to Natalie's message, people had the opportunity to be reconciled to the Lord and to be ministered to in prayer to help them be reconciled to themselves.

After another powerful time of prayer in our pre-service prayer time and in praise and worship, Richard shared a message entitled, "Zeal for God's house." As a form of introduction to our 6-week study of Danny Silk's book entitled, "Keep your love on!" Richard spoke to us about why we are going through the book together and what we hope to see come out of getting together in small groups to share and discuss the principles presented in the book. Using the analogy of fire-fighters who not only react to fire but also respond to the reality of fire by being prepared with the necessary tools and equipment as well as creating boundaries around endangered areas, Richard showed us that the Church cannot ignore the fact that there will be conflict in relationships and that we need to be equipped and prepared to know how to handle struggles in relationships and learn how to build strong connections, improve communication and set healthy boundaries. Looking at the account of Jesus clearing the temple courts in John 2:13-17, we noted that Jesus did not avoid conflict but was ready to "set fire" to prevent "wild-fire." Richard showed us that just as Jesus dealt with those who had turned His Father's house into a den of robbers (Mk 11:17), so we must get rid of worldliness in the Church - the danger of becoming a gathering of disconnected consumers instead of being a community of connected servants! Jesus' goal is to build "a house of prayer for all nations" - to connect people to God and people to one another.

We praise God that He is building and establishing foundations in KLF so that we can grow to be the House of Peace He wants us to be! Hallelujah!


Upcoming Events

29.02: Paint and praise workshop
24.02 - 05.04: 6-week "Keep your love on" project
25.04: Seminar with Alexander Blair at Alt-Hausen 34
07.06: Baptismal service at 11:00 (location to be decided)
21.06: Joint summer celebration with CZF and Quelle des Lebens





Monday 3 February 2020

Building a house of peace


Glory to God!

Yesterday was the last day of our 180 days of prayer for 180° reversal and the last day of our 21 day fast. It has been a significant journey for us and many have testified to experiencing change in their lives over these past 3 weeks and months! Apart from the joy of having a full house yesterday, there was a wonderful sense of God's love as we worshipped and shared communion together. Richard then shared a message entitled, "God's vision for KLF" in which he showed us the following:

  • Without a prophetic vision, people become disconnected and "run wild." Prov 29:18
  • Unless we have a goal, we cannot measure our progress. Phil 3:12-14
  • God's vision for the Church is to build the new Jerusalem, the city of peace, the bride of Christ that is made up of Jew and Gentile and is to become the dwelling place of God with man. Rev 21&22; Heb 12:22-24; Eph 2:14-22
  • God wants us to build a house of peace, a people who live in God's shalom and seek to help those who do not know Him, to be reconciled to Him.
  • God's shalom is the manifestation of fullness in Christ. Jn 10:10
  • The glory of God is connected to His shalom, Hag 2:9
  • We are called to be a sign and a symbol of the new Jerusalem - a foretaste of heaven on earth. 2 Cor 5:17-21; Jn 17:16
  • Just as God is zealous, intentional and practical in order to fulfil His goal, so He calls us to be zealous, intentional and practical in moving toward the goal of building a house of peace. John 3:16; Isa 9:7; 2 Cor 11:2; Jn 2:17; Col 1:19,20; 1 Jn 3:16-18

Using the illustration of a zip, Richard showed us that we are to be like zips as we zealously, intentionally and practically (z.i.p.) seek to be reconciled to God, to one another and help the lost to be reconciled to God. Richard exhorted the church to make a commitment before God to be zips in order for us to build a house of peace together.

As we take hold of God's word to us for 2020 - Reconcile - we are looking to work through Danny Silk's excellent book on building healthy relationships, entitled "Keep your love on." The plan is to meet in small groups over a six week period, beginning at the end of February and to study the book together as a church.

We praise God for what He is showing us and for what He is doing among us as we commit to zealously, intentionally and practically build a house of peace together! Hallelujah!

Upcoming Events

29.02: Paint and praise workshop
24.02 - 05.04: 6-week "Keep your love on" project
25.04: Seminar with Alexander Blair at Alt-Hausen 34
07.06: Baptismal service at 11:00 (location to be decided)
21.06: Joint summer celebration with CZF and Quelle des Lebens