Sunday Re Cap (27th July 2008)

Let The King Of Glory Come In
by David Lai

Text: Hab 2:14

We cannot see God but we can experience the manifestation of the Lord through His glory. Where the glory is there God is. Our purpose is to do the work of God & expand the kingdom of God. For this we need God's glory as behind the glory is the King of glory. Ps 24:7-10. Everything God creates reflects His glory. We are the everlasting doors and we were called from the beginning of time.

• What did God breathe into Adam? Gen 2:7
• The same Holy Spirit was breathed into the disciples. Jn 20:22
• This is the Spirit of glory.1 Pet 4:14
• That same spirit of glory is in us to bring Him glory.
• We work to manifest His glory.
  

Ex: Do we control money or does money control us? If we were created for His glory, then everything we have is to bring Him glory by doing His work and expanding the Kingdom of God.

OWNERSHIP VS. STEWARDSHIP. EZE 28:11

• God gave Lucifer stewardship but he wanted ownership and that brought his fall. Are we owners or stewards?
• Adam received the original word from God but Satan twisted this word to Eve. Gen 3:1-5
• Eve was given stewardship but she wanted ownership. Gen 3:6

ALLOWING THE GLORY TO WORK IN AND THROUGH US

• Pro 18:20-21 Our spirit responds to words. Whether good or bad.
• Ex 33:18-23 Moses saw what God saw-seeing from the back of God.
• Gen 13:10 Lot saw the outside. v14-Abraham saw from the inside of God.

Before-From faith to faith (Mark 11:23 whoever -anyone, unbelievers included) How to differentiate an unbeliever from a believer?

Now-From glory to glory (Col 1:15, 2 Cor 3:18)-spirit dimension helps us to change from glory to glory. This is the difference!

HOW DOES GOD'S GLORY OPERATE IN AND THROUGH US?

• John 17:4-5 We receive His Glory as we do His work to extend His Kingdom I.e. inviting our loved ones to hear the good news.
• Jn 17:21-22 When we extend the glory to others. By bringing them to Christ.
• Acts 7:55-60 Heaven is open when we are on assignment. Stephen preached to a tough crowd through the glory (of God).
  
  
  
  
  
  

Rapha Night

Sunday Re Cap (20th July 2008)

NATIVES OR IMMIGRANTS? By Angelina Boots

Text: Luke 2: 41-52

JESUS? Eager to ask questions and listen.

It was NOT His youth but depth of WISDOM that ASTOUNDED the Temple Teachers.

“Then Jesus returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them”, and “HIS MOTHER STORED ALL THESE THINGS IN HER HEART!”

MARY- “pondered on these things!”

NATIVES- indigenous/ Innate. Local inhabitant of place.

IMMIGRANT- left town country, now lives permanently in another, has official permission to do so. Emigrant/ alien/ displaced/ evacuee.

Natives	Immigrants
Locked in past traditions.	More Kingdom oriented
Black or White.	Grey dominates
“Yes....BUT?	Yes,....AND?
Slow deciders	Fast deciders
Threatened by change	Leads change.
Linear Thinking	Think on the run.
Learn Formally	Learn by doing and discovering.
Books	Visual.
Against chaos and instability	Lives with chaos, uncertainty and instability.

Mary and Joseph- Old church- Natives.

Jesus- New church- Immigrants.

Today are you a native or an immigrant?

“THERE ARE NO FUTURE DECISIONS, ONLY PRESENT DECISIONS WITH FUTURE CONSEQUENCES”

We must:

• Prepare for change

• Promote change

• Lead change

A Paradigm shift needed!

Luke 2:19,51; Dan 7:28; Gen 37:11

Heb 13:8-message constant but methods change!

Listen/Ask/Ponder and then CHANGE!

Live in Kingdom culture today and be willing to embrace contradictions.

RAPHA NIGHT JULY 2008

Pastors' & Leaders' Fellowship-July 2008

Dear Pastors, Elders

Re: Pastors' Fellowship

Greetings in Jesus Name.

It is with great pleasure that we would like to invite you to a Pastors' Fellowship and Meeting with details as follows:

Date: 19th July 2008 (Sat)

Time: 9.00am-12.00noon

Venue: GROW BM

Speaker: Rev. Don & Angelina Boots

Profile of Speakers

Don Boots

1976 – 1979 Youth and Singles’ Minister, Peoples’ Church, Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A.

1979 – 1980 Assistant Pastor, Warrnambool Christian Revival Crusade, Victoria, Aust.

1981 – 1986 Assistant Pastor, Forrestfield Bible Fellowship, Perth, Western Australia.

1987 – 1990 Staff Pastor, Kern Christian Centre, Bakersfield, CA, U.S.A.

Earned a Doctorate of Ministry at Southern California Theological Seminary.

1990 – 2005 Senior Pastor of A.R.K. Christian Centre, a Foursquare Church, Perth, Western Australia.

Don has a servant’s heart and his passion is to see pastors encouraged and empowered to fulfill their calling in their communities. His love for local and international missions was birthed in Arizona, where he was saved and continues today to be one of his passions.

He is an exhorter and encourager and loves to serve people. Don is a dedicated and very successful father of four boys and has a very special and sound relationship with his wife, Angelina.

Don is a credentialed Foursquare minister since 1990.

Angelina Boots

A trained Microbiologist with a Master of Science degree. She has lectured and worked at the University of Western Australia and the California State University in Bakersfield.

Angelina also has a Doctorate in Divinity (Hon) from Southern California Theological Seminary.

1977 – 1982 Worked in the Clinical Microbiology Department of the University of Western Australia

1981 – 1986 Worked as a team with Don at Forrestfield Bible Fellowship.

1988 Ordained at Kern Christian Centre, U.S.A.

1990 – 2005 Co Pastor at A.R.K. Christian Centre

Angelina’s passion is to teach, train, coach and mentor leaders in the Church. A desire to bring people into the fullness of their calling and ministry. She also has a passion to encourage the older women to teach the younger women in practical Christian living.. She has been on the Women In Leadership Ministries (WILM) Committee since 1993, ministering to about 150 Pastors and leaders Inter-denominationally.

Angelina preaches with passion and has a desire to see the Churches move in power with signs and wonders following to be “Jesus with skin on”.

She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Foursquare Western Australia.

Angelina is a credentialed Foursquare minister since 1990.

Don and Angelina have been in Ministry together since 1981 and enjoy ministering as a team. Their gifting compliment each other.

Don and Angelina live in Perth with their four sons.

Please do confirm your attendance with Ps. Shamala (012 4632495) or email

growbm@streamyx.com as a light breakfast will be served before the meeting.

You are welcome to bring along your leadership and church members as well.

God bless you.

Ps. Samuel Hari on behalf of SPPF + CCC

Pray for Malaysia

God is Healing Our Land

"Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid."
(Romans 3:3-4)

Faith-filled words. That's what changes things. They'll move mountains into the sea. They'll turn sickness into health. They'll turn a sinner into a saint.

They'll also take a sin-ridden nation and turn it into God's own country. That's right. Then, if we believers would back up the prayers we've been praying for this nation with words of faith instead of doubt and discouragement, we'd soon begin to see spiritual resurrection in Malaysia.

God promised us that if we, His people, would humble ourselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, He would heal our land. And let me tell you, there are prayer warriors all over this country (I hope you're one of them) who are doing what that promise requires.

But, even so, you don't hear many people saying, "This is great! God is healing the land." You don't hear people speaking out by faith the promise of God. Instead, you hear them saying, "Oh my, oh my, did you hear what those politicians are doing?" or some other destructive thing they've seen on television.

Listen, we need to stop preaching what the politicians are doing and start telling what God is doing! God said He is healing this land.

We must start speaking about this country by faith instead of going around spouting bad news all the time. Of course, that will sound odd to most people. Some of them may even think we've slipped a few cogs. But that's nothing new.

Let me tell you something: One handful of believers who are listening to, trusting in, and speaking out the good news of God are more powerful than all the devils on earth. One handful of believers are more powerful than a whole army of unbelieving doomsayers. Their unbelief will not make the faith of God of no effect!

That's why over the last 25 years, we learned to turn a deaf ear to the bad news and just start praising and thanking God for His deliverance. Every word of praise we speak releases faith in our heart.

Get determined with us right now. Take a firm stand with us that things are changing in this country. Settle it in your heart as you pray. Speak it out. Call it forth. God is healing the land!

Sunday Re Cap (13th July 2008)

The Five Stages Of Evangelism-A Biblical Model

John 4:7-28

I. ATTENTION

• Jesus began where the woman was and got her attention-v7-9 “Give me a drink”; “How is it that you ask me? We have nothing to do with each other”.
• We can engage right where we are-work place, school, etc. Sharing family matters, school work, business challenges, health, exercise, hobbies, pets, travel; i..e. David Lai
• However this is only a very superficial stage of ACQUAINTANCE.
  

II. INTEREST

• After getting her attention, He kept her interest. John 4:10-12
• This is the realm of relationships. It's more than an acquaintance. Sharing of lives, interests take place. Very relational. Can sometimes be confrontational because of existing mindsets. “Are you greater than our Father Jacob?” It's part and parcel of relationship building; don't give up.
  

III. DESIRE

• He caused her to desire what He had. John 4:13-15
• This woman was now really interested. She was responding.
• This is when our lives begin to impact and influence others to a point where they want what we have. Notice it comes through INTERESTS which is kept going through relationship. “Can I have what you have?” “Sir, give me this water...”
  

IV. CONVICTION

• John 4:16-18
• This is where we begin to apply the gifts of the spirit. We cannot convict anyone; only the Holy Spirit can as we walk in obedience.
• These next two points are the realm of the SUPERNATURAL; MANIFESTATIONS; REVELATIONS.
• Need to wait for the timing of the Holy Spirit. Without a DESIRE, CONVICTION cannot come.
• Even though we cannot bring conviction; we can pray for conviction and /or circumstances that will bring it about.
  

V. COMMITMENT

• John 4:26
  "I who speak to you am He."
• She is brought to the point of decision. She can either accept or reject Him.
• So strong was her commitment that not only did she accept but she went on and told others about Him. V28-30.
• If we find our COMMITMENT wavering, we need to go back to the point where we were convicted (FIRST LOVE).
  

CONCLUSION
We can learn from this:

• Jesus took her from where she was to where He wanted her to be.
• We can use these five simple steps in witnessing.
  
  

Sunday Re Cap (6th July 2008)

THE LABORERS ARE FEW by Samuel Hari

Text:

Matt 9:37-38

Why are the laborers few? Can God raise up the laborers?

Mat 20:16 ; Mat 22:14 Many are called, few are chosen

We are all called. Praise God! But not all are chosen. Why not?

The calling part is with God but the chosen part depends on us (although GOD IS the one who chooses).

Many are called up but only a few are chosen. If that is the case, then our main agenda is to be part of the few! Fortunately, even for that the LORD has made a way.

The majority are not responding due to:

Luk 14:18-20 Excuses.

Mat 24:38 We are not aware.

1Jn 2:15-17 Friendship with the world.

2 Cor 5:17-21

What should we be confessing? The “FEW” say BELIEVING these few things everyday:

I AM A NEW CREATION.

I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS!

GOD IS IN CHRIST RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF. That means God is working all the time!

GOD HAS GIVEN ME THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION.

GOD HAS COMMITTED TO ME THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION.

I AM AN AMBASSADOR OF CHRIST. Therefore i have diplomatic status and diplomatic immunity .

When we confess this, we begin to draw the anointing, we begin to draw the thirsty, the hungry in the world around us.

The laborers are FEW. Do we want to be part of the few? More motivation to be part of the FEW.

Matt 7:13-14

If we want to be part of the few, START BELIEVING! He will then equip us, enable us and show us HIS HARVEST! We will be surprise at those God chooses, we may never have expected them; but let's stand out of the way and let the LORD have His way. We will be even more surprised at where the harvest is! The most unexpected places! The most unexpected people. Like Jonah, let's not be disobedient but understand the heart of our reconciling Father. AMEN!

Sunday Re Cap (29th June 2008)

THE HARVEST TRULY IS PLENTIFUL by Samuel Hari

Matt 9:37-38

37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."

NKJV

Observation

1. Jesus is speaking to the disciples. The role of the disciple to to receive and carry out instructions from the LORD. Are we pre-occupied or without focus? Vision? Without a prophetic revelation the people cast of restraint. Pro 29:18

2. What is He saying to us today? He is at work in the lives of people even as we speak. The church is waiting for revival (in it's own understanding). The Lord is describing a different kind of revival. He is saying that there's already a revival taking place in the hearts of the pre-believers. That's His function. This is truly a work of His GRACE. The only kind of revival that is needed is in the hearts of the believers. The laborers are few. Look around us. How many laborers?

3. PRAY! It is impossible to preach in places where there's no harvest. Notice it's not our harvest; it's HIS HARVEST! The direction comes from Him, The leading comes from Him, the wisdom, boldness, words, etc. Many times we are frustrated because we go without the leading. How does the leading come? PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! One of the reasons a church becomes ineffective in witnessing and evangelism. I.e also said to send us OUT! Out from where? From our comfort zones. Going out involves a change of environment. We are contented to stay in but He says OUT!

4. The Lord knows which laborer to send where. He prepares us through our personality, life experiences, love languages; even our occupation, skills.

Application

1. Begin to first of all pray daily (in tongues and in understanding) and ask God to send us out into His harvest.

2. Begin to identify people around us. Where is the grace operating? Do a grace test. If it's not operating; then keep praying and asking God for open doors.

3. Sometimes we need to bring in the “specialists”. Someone who has had a special need and overcame it (comfort others with the comfort).

4. Be sensitive to the Lord's leading in taking us though different experiences. It could be for a far greater purpose than we think. To minister to someone else.

5. Begin using the tools that have been provided I.e. Our Love Language and of people around us. Is it Physical touch, Quality Time, Gifts, Acts of service, Words of affirmation. Language proficiency, music? Cooking? Talking?

6. 1 Cor 2:1414 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

   1. We need to depend on the power of the Holy Spirit and not our own persuasiveness.

“We can save no one, but unless we proclaim to them the gospel, God will save no one”

Conclusion

Jonah 2:9 Salvation is of the LORD

• It is the supernatural work of God the Father, who plans it; God the Son, who is the vessel through which we are redeemed; God the Holy Spirit who brings conviction.

• Conversion is not obtained by salesmanship, persuasion, argumentation or any other human means.