Sunday Re Cap (24th May 2009)

Citizens of the Kingdom VI

Matt 6:33

Jesus said seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and ALL things be added unto you.

It is through a revelation of Jesus Righteousness that we unlock the blessings of the Kingdom. To unlock something, we need the keys. What are the keys and what do they unlock?

What does it unlock? What is added?

1. Right believing produces right living and right behaviour Heb 8:10-12.
   
2. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation. Rom 1:16. Soteria: It also means deliver, health(Strong); deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation (Thayer). WHOLENESS!
   
3. Matt 16:19 The key to powerful prayers.
   

So what are the keys? There are 4 keys:

1. The key is intimacy with God.
   
   1. This is accomplished through Worship, Holy Communion.
      
   2. Phil 3:6-9: Intimacy with God produces TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS as opposed to RIGHTEOUSNESS BY THE LAW (SUPPOSED RIGHTEOUSNESS, IN THE SIGHT OF MAN-basically the religions of the world).
      
      1. Why wasn't Paul satisfied with Righteousness by the law? It did not produce intimacy. Legalism made him look good in the eyes of the world and the eyes of man but it made him a wretch on the inside.
         
      2. God was supposedly hard and difficult to please. Nothing you do is quite enough. Even with all his achievements!
         
      3. There was a deep longing in his heart to draw closer. How? Righteousness by faith which is right standing with God through the perfect and complete work of Jesus on the CROSS! Jesus became HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!
         

Continued next week….

© Pastor Samuel Hari (GROW BM)

Sunday Re Cap (17th May 2009)

Citizens of the Kingdom V

Matt 6:33

Jesus said seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and ALL things be added unto you.

OLD COVENANT VS NEW COVENANT

We need to be absolutely righteous to have ALL things added to us.

In the Old Covenant God left the people to seek their own righteousness through the LAW. "THOU SHALL, THOU SHALL NOT, THOU SHALL, AND THOU SHALL NOT!" I.e. performance, strife, hard work, and basically ALL religions of the world practice this principle. DO GOOD GET GOOD, DO BAD GET BEAT! RIGHT BEHAVIOUR PRODUCES BLESSINGS. Rom 2:5-11

The CROSS changed everything.

In the New Covenant, God said seek His kingdom and HIS righteousness.

2 Cor 5:17-21 New Creation Realities, We are given the gift of righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Rom 5:17: Says that when we receive the gift of Righteousness and the abundance of God's unmerited grace we shall reign in life!

God invites us to intimacy, He says HE WILL, HE WILL, He WILL! Heb 8:10-12

Righteousness is no longer obtained right doing but right standing. When we stand in the right place "HE will" do it!

It is through a revelation of Jesus Righteousness that we unlock the blessings of the Kingdom. To unlock something, we need the keys. What are the keys and what do they unlock?

What does it produce?

1. Right believing produces right living and right behaviour Heb 8:10-12
   
2. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation. Rom 1:16-What is salvation? It is more than saving us from our sins.
   
   1. Soteria: It also means deliver, health(Strong); deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation (Thayer). WHOLENESS!
      
   2. For everyone who believes! The condition is simply, believe! Do you believe that the gospel is salvation to everyone who believes? "I believe, therefore I have health, salvation, healing, protection, safety!
      
3. Matt 16:19 The key to powerful prayers.
   

So what are the keys? There are 3 keys:

1. The key is intimacy with God. This is accomplished through worship, Holy Communion.
   

Continued next week….

© Pastor Samuel Hari (GROW BM)

Sunday Re Cap (26th Apr 2009)

Citizens of the Kingdom (Part 2)

Text: Matt 6:19-34

1. We are lovingly instructed by our LORD to seek 2 things to help keep us in perspective.
   
   1. Seek God's Kingdom.
      
   2. Seek His Righteousness.
      
   3. The Result? all these things shall be added to you.
      

Need to emphasize that all revelation has to line up with the word of God. God will not tell us to commit adultery, murder, cheat, lie, crime, etc. Our church stand is we are opposed to sin but we love the sinner because Jesus died and rose again for the sinner to free us from our sins. We are vehemently opposed to sin.

Most of us have a pretty good idea of what the Kingdom of God is all about. So why aren't we seeing all things being added to us?

1. No revelation of RIGHTEOUSNESS! Without a revelation of righteousness, we cannot appropriate the benefits of the Kingdom.
   
2. Righteousness unlocks the KINGDOM within us!
   

• When Paul said that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, he meant that just as Jesus is righteous before the Father, so are we. (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Jn 4:17).
  
• 2 Cor 5:21 also says that God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. This means that even though Jesus did not commit any sin, He was punished as if He had committed sinful acts. God is completely just and fair and because of Jesus punishment for sins that he did not commit, we are deemed righteous for righteous acts as if we have done them!
  
• Does this mean that we will go out and sin and just say, "we are the righteousness of God in Christ"?
  
  • Heb 8:10: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
    
  • I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
    
  • (11) "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.
    
  • (12) "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."
    

These are the 4 clauses of the New Covenant. When we get a revelation of v12, we allow God to perform the first 3 clauses. We allow God to write His laws on our hearts, God will be our God and we His people and finally, we will know God intimately! How can we sin?

Continued next week….

Sunday Re Cap (19th April 2009)

Citizens of the Kingdom (Part 1)

Introduction

Read Matt 6:19-34

Are we citizens of the Kingdom of God? Citizens have benefits. What are the benefits of that Kingdom? Why aren't we living and receiving those benefits? How do we live under a constant flow of those benefits instead of receiving it here and there and in pockets?

1. We are lovingly instructed by our LORD to seek 2 things to help keep us in perspective.
   
   1. Seek God's Kingdom.
      
   2. Seek His Righteousness.
      
2. This ensures that we will remain in the continuous flow of all the benefits of the Kingdom.
   
3. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God the day we receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
   
   1. We are told to seek first the KOG. What is the Kingdom of God? It is where God is King.
      
   2. When we follow the "laws" of the Kingdom, we receive the benefits. Rom 8:1-2.
      
   3. What are benefits of being citizens of the Kingdom? Ps 23. Ps 103.
      
   4. The Kingdom of God is GOD!
      
   5. How do we get information and revelation of the Kingdom? Reading the word, prayer, church attendance, listening to Christian music, testimonies, messages, fellowship with Christian believers, etc.
      
4. So if we are only going to seek the KOG, how are we going make a living? We can earn by either serving God or mammon. Serving mammon is having the love of money. (1 Tim 6:9-11; 2 Tim 3 :1-3).
   
   1. When we have the love of money, we have many other "things" following us; sicknesses, depression, disease, FEAR.
      
   2. When we seek FIRST the kingdom of God, we have "kingdom" benefits following us; love, joy, health, provision, protection, etc.
      
   3. A third category of people. Those who have been blessed by seeking God BUT now have NO time for God. Ask God for wisdom. Not everything may be of God. Don't forget God. Prov 30:7. When it takes your time with God that means there are things we need to let go off. Ex: cannot come to church (to "seek first").
      

Continued next week….

Sunday Recap 12 April 2009

The Three Aspects of Resurrection
By Rev. Jeff Padgett

Luke 24:44-49
Parallel to the book of Deuteronomy (the 2nd Teaching), where Moses reminds the Israelites not to forget who God is and what He has done for them. He reminds them that the LORD has delivered; protected, provided and always loves them. Likewise Resurrection is total recall; to reminisce or to remember with complete detail of what the Lord has done for us. We need a daily resurrection to humble ourselves and appreciate the LORD.

Luke24:44 – Jesus fulfilled all that was written in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms.
Luke 24:47-48 “…and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things.”
- Jesus reminds the disciples what they have to do from the time of His Resurrection till His return.
Paul reminds the Corinthians to stay fresh in the resurrection of Christ or the Passover Lamb sacrificed with full humility.

1. The Resurrection Factor
The tomb is empty – Jesus has restored eternal life. He restored everything to His Father’s original intent.

Psalms 16:10 He gives form to the formless. He has given us form. Jonah in the fish belly, symbolic like being in the grave was set free. Lazarus wrapped in linen (the blindness of Satan) was removed and set free.

Rapid growth of the Church because Jesus rose from the death – Peter stood up to preach and got 3000 souls saved.


2. The Resurrection Fashion
We are called to put on the Resurrection fashion – Humility.
Humus means earth or stay low, close to the earth. Reminds us where we came from.
Jesus clothed in humility by wrapping a towel around His waist and served to wash his disciples’ feet.

Isaiah 61- Put on the Garment of Praise.

We are clothed in power; we have influence because of the resurrection power that dwells within us.


3. The Resurrection Faith
As we embrace the Resurrection, we have Resurrection Faith. He opens our minds to understand the scriptures. (Luke 24:4-5)

Peter who denied the Lord three times, stands up and preaches with full of courage.

Paul transformed from a persecutor to the one proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Rom 16 – Paul greets by name each one whom he would have killed and persecuted but now he loves everyone.

The power of resurrection cannot be contained so “LOOK ALIVE” and share the Good News and impact others!

Sunday Re Cap (22nd March 2009)

Unveiling Jesus through the Scriptures

We began to touch on the subject that every time we see the unveiling of Christ in the WORD of God, faith comes, power comes.

Luk 24:13-35

Let's see what happened to the disciples on the road to Emmaus when they heard the exposition of Jesus:

1. They SAW Jesus! Importance of Holy Communion again. The purpose is to see His grace rather than ourselves and our failures. When we see Jesus, we see His grace. His undeserved, unearned and unmerited favour. We have great faith and receive His blessings like healing upon our lives.
   
2. Their hearts began to burn. It was cold, sad, depressed, discouraged. Ever been in that place of hopelessness? Religion and works cannot help us out of this. Only a revelation of Jesus just like what happened to these disciples.
   
3. Their physical bodies were rejuvenated. They had walked seven miles, the day was almost over; this coupled with discouragement, confusion. However after they heard the word which revealed Jesus to them, they were rejuvenated.
   
4. We receive healing for our bodies. Emmaus-warm baths. There were hot springs beside these roads where people came to be rejuvenated and receiving healing no unlike what we see today.
   

Do we see these benefits of seeing Jesus? We can have these benefits. How? By seeing Jesus in every scripture.

• When we see that we are righteous on account of what Jesus has done and not because of "working" at it.
  
• When we see that He was wounded for our transgressions that we do need to be wounded anymore, we are able to believe for and receive healing!
  
• When we see that He became poor that we might become rich
  
• When we witness, we are not there to point out one another faults or demean other gods and religion but are there to unveil Christ!
  

How can Bible Study ever be boring again? It is the revelation of Jesus. When we read and confess the word, it is taking captive every thought to the obedience of CHRIST (2 Cor 10:5)! Not ourselves, not psychology. When are feeling sick, discouraged, we look at what Jesus has done! The finished works of the cross and begin to receive healing and restoration. We begin to live in dominion. Hallelujah!

Sunday Re Cap (15th March 09)

Conquering Our Thought Life
Ps. Abel Phillips



Eph 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil.”

- The devil’s method is makes a roadway into our minds, into our heads there releases explosives power into our lives. Your thought life is the road that Satan uses to get access into every area of your life.
- The devil (‘Diabalos’-Greek) throws accusations /lies at us. Devil keeps throwing at you until he penetrates or YOU resist those thoughts! And TAKE THEM CAPTIVE!
-This is how the devil operates and that is why the Bible says, “Don’t be conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Rom 12:2).

-The truth makes us free; but lies destroy us!
That’s why we have to deal with the lies of the devil. The liar has been defeated, but the lies remain.

When your thinking lines up with God’s thinking –Word of God; then Satan says oh dear, I can’t get in. He can’t penetrate: because, you have the breastplate of righteousness on, you have the sword of the spirit; you have the shield of the faith…..and he can’t have any activity in your life when you have closed the access point through your thoughts. (Eph 6)

3 John 2- Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

2 Cor 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

- Bring every thought captive with the right image. Good life is made up of series of good decision and bad life is made up of series of bad decisions in your life. We got to learn how to make the series of good decisions. – take every thoughts captive – one by one captive –so fast from wrong thinking; creating a new image of ourselves. Creating strongholds that will influence our decisions.
Make decisions that lines up with God’s word and it will produce God’s results.

You conquer every thought by speaking the Word of God. Your mind is the road that Satan uses to get access to enter your life; so we need put the road block.

I have POWER in my life right now. Through the Holy Spirit in me, I have the power to overcome sin; the power to change my life for the better, the power to be healed; the power to forgive; the power to praise God no matter what; the power to speak God’s Word and see His promises show up in my life. I choose to remember what God has already done which takes the limits off of my life and my expectations. I expect favor today, wisdom, understanding, and God’s blessing as I abide in Christ and in His Word! In Jesus Name. Amen!

Sunday Re Cap (25th Feb 09)

Sons Reign Everyday!

God's desire is for every single son in to reign in life.

The power to reign doesn't depend on your family background, experience, educational qualifications. The power to reign is based on Jesus and Jesus alone.

Rom 5:17 ¹⁷ For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Reign-basileou (Greek): Reign in life as a King, to have kingly rule and to possess a kingly dominion.

The secret to reigning in life lies with receiving everything that Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross.

A life of defeat, condemnation, sickness, financial lack, broken relationships is not intended for us. Based on the authority of God's word, we are designed to reign in every aspect of life!

Receiving versus Achieving

Our reigning in life is based on receiving and not achieving. Achieving involves performance and performance is tiring and wearying.

Stop trying to do, do, do and receive the gift of righteousness and abundance of grace to reign in life! Focus on His finished work and be at rest in every area of our lives.

Heb 10:12-14 ¹² But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. ¹⁴ For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

The Bible says we have been perfected forever. Many still don't believe that and still think that they still need to do something to reign as sons. How can we be assured that we have been forgiven all our past present and future sins FOREVER?

Notice that after Jesus offered His life as a sacrifice and payment for all our sins, He "sat down"!

Heb 10:11 ¹¹ And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

The work of the priest is never finished and that is why they can never sit. No article of furniture for them to sit in the tabernacle.

Only Jesus work is finished. Not only did He sit down at the right hand of the Father but we are also seated with HIM!

Eph 2:4-6 ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Stop depending on your self-efforts to earn and qualify for God's blessings in your life. God's grace does not make us lazy. On the contrary we labour more abundantly for the glory of God.

In the New Covenant, God's way is to bless you FIRST, and the knowledge of His blessing gives you the POWER to labour more abundantly! In other words, we do not labour to be blessed but we have the power to labor BECAUSE we HAVE BEEN BLESSED!

1 Cor 15:10 ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Jesus has accomplished a full and completed work on the cross. Our part is simply to trust in His perfect work and RECEIVE with open arms the GIFT of righteousness and the ABUNDANCE of grace and begin to REIGN IN LIFE!

Let's ask the Holy Spirit to begin to teach us how to depend on God's grace rather than our self efforts. This is the key to wholeness, success and victorious living WHICH OUR FATHER INTENDS FOR EVERY SON!

Ps Samuel Hari

Sunday Re Cap (15th Feb 2009)

Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary

"The Starbucks Experience", an amazing book written by Joseph Michelli, full of strategies, comments and principles taken from the Bible. If these principles have caused a secular company to be one of the most successful companies in the world, how much more THE CHURCH if it begins to rediscover these principles and begins to apply them TODAY!

5 Principles for Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary. (1 Cor 15:46)

The Biblical principles found in this book include BEING rather than DOING. Starbucks wants to BE the place where everyone wants to come because of the coffee.

1. Make it your own.
   
   1. God has no grandchildren.
      
   2. Each of us needs to be responsible to develop our personal relationship with the LORD.
      
2. Everything Matters.
   
   1. Everything we do affects our Christian walk and often the people around us.
      
   2. How we act or RE-act. (2 Pet 3:9)
      
   3. We are all important to God.
      
3. Cause Surprise and Delight.
   
   1. Mat 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
      
   2. Phil 4:5 Rejoice, let your gentleness be known to all men.
      
4. Embrace Resistance.
   
   1. Most people resist resistance, they don't embrace it.
      
   2. Don't be threatened by resistance, embrace it.
      
   3. Work at fulfilling God's plan for your life (Jer 29:11)
      
   4. Write on your walls, "It doesn't matter!" (Rom 12:18,21)
      
5. Leave Your Mark.
   
   1. Desire to leave a mark for the LORD (Phil 3:13-14)
      

So, it's not about the coffee but all about the LORD and how we can all serve Him profitably!

William Carey-"Expect Great Things FROM God, Attempt Great Things FOR God"

Remember Acts 17:6-our goal is to turn the world upside down.

Rev. Don Boots

Grace Revealed-George Thomas

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak...'I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, 'What you got there, son?' 'Just some old birds,' came the reply.
 
 'What are you gonna do with them?' I asked.  
  

'Take 'em home and have fun with 'em,' he answered 'I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time' 'But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?'  
  

'Oh, I got some cats,' said the little boy. 'They like birds. I'll take 'em to them.'  
  

The pastor was silent for a moment. 'How much do you want for those birds, son?'  
  

'Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!'  
  

'How much?' the pastor asked again.  
  

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, '$10?'  
  

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.  
  

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.  
 

Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.  
 

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. 'Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!'
 

'What are you going to do with them?' Jesus asked.  
 

Satan replied, 'Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!'
 

'And what will you do when you get done with them?' Jesus asked. 'Oh, I'll kill 'em,' Satan glared proudly. 'How much do you want for them?' Jesus asked  
 

'Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!'  
 

'How much?' He asked again.  

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, 'All your blood, tears and your life.'  
 

Jesus said, 'DONE!'  
 

Then He paid the price.  
 

The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.

Sunday Re Cap (25th Jan 2009)

The Spirit Of Adoption Sets Us Free From FEAR! Part II (cont from 31st Dec)

Don't stay OUT, Go IN!

Why is the Holy Spirit emphasizing so much on sonship?

• Because FAVOR is for SONS! This is the year of GREAT Favor and only as SONS can we enter into GREAT FAVOR.
• There is one level of authority for the believer BUT another level for the SONS.
  

What are some of the things in our lives that prevent us from fully entering into sonship? We see some of it here in the older brother in the story of the prodigal son.

Luke 15:28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

The older son was angry-emotions that prevented him from entering into sonship. Anger is a very strong emotion.

1. A few things we need to know about ANGER:
a) No one can make us angry, we allow ourselves to do it.
b) “ANGER IS A DISTRACTION.
c) An incorrect perception of the Father and an incorrect perception about ourselves.

d) It is a spirit of intimidation borne out of slave mentality.

2. How do we overcome?
a) NOT BY ANGER MANAGEMENT!
b) Not by trying to deal with it. It only the symptoms of something deeper.
c) Not even trying to help ourselves or others by “good advice”.

3. See the heart of the Father. He comes out and pleads with us!
a) It is about the Father's love for us.
b) Our Father's desire is that we will go in. How? Through the great finished work and sacrifice of His SON!
c) It is not our job to plead. The Father pleads through the Holy Spirit.
d) It was the son's OWN perception that prevented him from entering in.. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Father is PLEADING!
e) Notice he does not even tell him to repent and get his heart right first! Notice how he “tore up” the prodigal son's confession!

4. Anger came about because of the spirit of slavery, religion, works! “these many years I have served you (douleuō: slave)”
a) Trying to impress the Father with our own efforts.
b) Trying to gain a blessing, favor through our own works (make merry, a young goat).

5. RELIGION IS OUTSIDE! GRACE (unmerited, undeserved and unearned favor) IS INSIDE! Don't stay OUT, Go IN!

6. The spirit of bondage to fear is SLAVE Mentality. The Spirit off Adoption is Son Mentality. It's so important that we adopt the son mentality as we go into the NEW YEAR!

7. (The Father says) “all that I have is yours”: We have received righteousness, holiness, healing, fruitfulness, forgiveness when Jesus became the perfect sacrifice and died on the cross for us.(Rom 8: 16-17)

SLAVES STAY OUT AND GO ON MURMURING, COMPLAINING AND GRUMBLING. SONS WILL ENTER IN WITH THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE!

Psa 100:4-5 Enter INTO his gates with thanksgiving, and INTO his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Sunday Re Cap (18th Jan 2009)

WE ARE SONS!

Rom 8:12-17

Here is one of the most famous and beloved accounts of Paul to the Romans. He explains to them the importance of living in the Spirit as opposed to living by the flesh with reference to the new life that is available to us as Christians as a result of being believers of Christ. However around the beginning of the 2nd third of the chapter, Paul suddenly introduces a new word or concept as we may call it that brings in an entirely new dimension for the readers. That word is “Sonship”.

In verse 12, Paul is speaking about living by the flesh and living by the Spirit which is referring to living by the law (the commandments) which accuses our flesh day and night and condemns us; and living by the Spirit of life in Christ which sets us free from ALL condemnation.

In V14, Paul starts this whole new chapter in the believer's life. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God these are the sons of God.

• We are called to not just to live a new covenant life and receive the promises of Abraham by faith (Gal 3:13-14) but we are called to be sons!
• To be spirit led is not just being believers, it is to be sons!
• But we say, “we still have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We can either continue to look at this scripture as slaves and WORK or we can really look at this scripture as sons and WORK OUT...
  

Php 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Paul is saying work it OUT! Not work it IN. From the truth that we know from the inside out and not the other way around. God is at work IN us both to will and do His own good pleasure; not ours. A spirit led live leads to us to an true understanding of who we really are as sons.
For as as many are led by the Spirit of God; this gives us a description of those who are increasingly being led. We start as sons. Who teaches us and patterns us increasingly as sons? The Holy Spirit. Be patient when we fall and don't behave like sons. We are not there yet but are a work in progress. Be patient with ourselves and one another.

It does not mean that if we fail or fall, we are not sons. Just because we fall down and injure ourselves, does not mean our DNA has changed! We are still sons.

Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,"Abba, Father."

There is a key that is found in this verse and it's so simple that we may find it hard to believe; but not so hard for sons! How? We cry ABBA Father. ABBA is THE MOST intimate term we can use to call God. When we fall, we call ABBA, When we are sick, ABBA, financial distress, ABBA; under accusation ABBA; when we feel hopeless and like failures, ABBA, when we cannot understand, ABBA.

We are privileged to call HIM, ABBA FATHER, because we are Sons!

Ps Samuel Hari

Sunday Re Cap (11th Jan 2009)

The Year Of Great Favor-Living Radically II

Isa 60:1-2 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Introduction

As we begin the New Year, we want to move on in the New Things that God has prepared for us. We need to desire to move into the next level of grace and anointing over our lives. We cannot carry on as we have done in the past. The old ways of thinking and the old ways of doing things. Something must change within us. It cannot be business as usual anymore. We need to begin to arise and shine. How do we ARISE & SHINE?

Chap 59:19-21 gives us the keys:

Isa 59:19-21 19 So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. 20 "The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Says the Lord. 21 "As for Me," says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and forevermore." NKJV

The LORD lays out a foundation for us to ARISE & SHINE.

1. Remember HIS Covenant. Many times, the prophets speak about the New Covenant in the OT. See Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:6-13 (See PPT).

2. Cultivate our walk with HIS SPIRIT

3. A commitment to HIS WORD.

4. Don't let the WORD depart from our mouth. JOSH 1:8

5. Teach it to our children and our children's children (grandchildren).

It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the Scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer. The truth is that in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying. The less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.

George Muller

Sunday Re Cap (4th Jan 2009)

The Year Of Great Favor-Part I

Isa 60:1-2 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

To fully understand this scripture, we need to read the preceding verses in chap 59:19-21

Isa 59:19-21 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. (20) And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. (21) As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Introduction
As we begin the New Year, we want to move on in the New Things that God has prepared for us. We need to desire to move into the next level of grace and anointing over our lives. We cannot carry on as we have done in the past. The old ways of thinking and the old ways of doing things. Something must change within us. It cannot be business as usual anymore. We need to begin to arise and shine. How?

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

The LORD gives us several keys as to how we can arise.

1.For thy light has come:
We believe that to arise we need to change our whole believe system. God's light is not on the way. The light has come. What is that light? It's the revelation of who God is; it's a revelation of His word through the inward working of the Holy Spirit. The Lord is awaiting inside of us, waiting to arise and shine. Many of us can feel it but we are held back by our understanding, pride, fear, reputation. Jesus says:

1.Mat 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Let that light that is within us which is the revelation of our LORD Jesus and His Word by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, that changed lifestyle that glorifies God, arise this year! We can receive this as a revelation as sons of God of simply keep it as good information as slaves. The key way is to approach the New Year as sons. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to give us a full revelation of what it means to be sons.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Sunday Re Cap (21st Dec 2008)

Jesus' Blood Speaks Better Things

As we prepare to celebrate the season of His coming, we need to reflect on the purpose of Jesus coming.

Heb 12:24 To Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

3 key words: The New Covenant, The Mediator, The Blood.

1. The New Covenant

This new covenant is entirely different from the old covenant which is a covenant of works. Because of Jesus PERFECT SACRIFICE, we no longer need to do things to please God. This is a covenant of personal relationship.

2. The Mediator

Christ is the Mediator of this new covenant; he is the middle person that goes between both parties, God and man, to bring them together in this covenant, to keep them together notwithstanding the sins of the people and God's displeasure against them for sin,

Heb 8:6 , Heb 9:15

Jesus as the mediator offers up our prayers to God, and to bring down the favours of God to us, to plead with God for us and to plead with us for God, and as we worship, brings God and his people together in heaven, and to be a Mediator between them forever, they beholding and enjoying God in Christ and God beholding and blessing them in Christ.

3. The Blood

This is speaking blood, and it speaks better things than that of Abel. First, It speaks to God in behalf of sinners; it pleads not for judgment and retribution, as the blood of Abel did on him who shed it, but for forgiveness and reconciliation. Secondly, To sinners, in the name of God. It speaks pardon to their sins, peace to their souls; and calls for their strictest obedience and highest love and thankfulness.

Blood has a voice-DNA speaks and can be used as evidence to “speak”. Our blood test result has a voice that can “speak” and tell us about the condition of our organs and vital signs.

The blood of Jesus speaks better things then that of Abel. Abel blood cried “Vengeance! Vengeance!” but The blood of Jesus cried “Mercy! Mercy!”. It cries forgiveness for our sins, healing for our bodies, and peace and soundness for our souls, protection, prosperity, our righteousness of God in Christ.

Conclusion

The eternal blood of Jesus which speaks of better things will never loose it's power. See to it that we do not refuse Him who speaks (Heb 12:25). See that we keep hearing the voice of grace, which speaks salvation, righteousness, protection, deliverance, properity and healing over our lives!

Sunday Re Cap (30th November 2008)

A House on FIRE will set the City on FIRE by Ps.Kumar

A revived CHURCH will cause a revived COMMUNITY.

1. Isaiah was revived in God's presence.
• Is 6-Here I am send me

2. In Acts we see a revived house/church setting the city of Jerusalem on fire.
• Acts 2:1-"fully come"-timing-Kairos
• v2-suddenly; suddenly healing, provision, salvation
• will we go suddenly when the Lord calls?
• the sound of heaven(SOH)-touching heaven & resonating/in agreement with the SOH.
• It comes when we are in unity.
• We are the torch.
• God is going to release & we are going to receive!
• v3-a fire for each one of us! Individual revival.
• V4-a movement of the spirit.
• V5, 6-the city heard the voice of God through the church.
• v7-12-the world is waiting for the church.
• V14-Peter & THE ELEVEN rose up together-body rising together!
• V16-prophecies spoken over the church will come to pass.
• V14-"heed my words"-hear God carefully.
• v41-120->3 thousand!
• V42-all things-Kingdom mentality

3. Ask God for a strategy-even if we have lost before (Ai).

• Joshua 8:1 "I have given"-past tense!
• V3-Joshua arose-we need to arise together!
• V8-setting the city on fire!

Sunday Re Cap (16th Nov 2008)

No More Toil-Rest In The Blessing by Ps Samuel Hari

Heb 4:1-11, 14-16

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.(REST?)

There is a revolution/revelation of REST that is coming into the church. This not something new but was there all along and was lost to man at the garden of Eden.

In the beginning...

When God began time, He did His work in six days. Then God rested. Gen 2:2

Adam was made in the image of God. God called all creation out of the earth; but Adam was called out of Himself (His breath; in His image). God and Adam functioned as one (in Him) (1 Cor 6:17). God blessed Adam and blessed him in him in Gen 1:28

Adam was blessed, God's work was finished and He rested.

And then...

As Adam lived in the blessing, the garden was supposed spread and expand throughout the whole earth. All Adam was asked to do was to step out there and flourish in the blessing...rest.

God's blessing was powerful enough to do it. He already provided everything to make it happen. Adam was just to rest in the blessing.

Through God's union with Adam,

• He had the energy (not tired) to live in the blessing.

• He had all the supply of the needs and desires in his life.

• But Adam let himself to be talked out of the blessing.

Adam and the generations that followed then chose his own way apart from God's plan and apart from the blessing of God. In Gen 1:37

The day is now here....

Ezek 36:33-36

I cleanse you from all your iniquities

We are in that day! The greatest day of His plan! By the blood of Jesus we are cleansed from our iniquities and He has delivered to the Body of Christ the blessing that Jesus has regained for us!

I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt.

He will cause us to dwell in our cities (inheritance and build the wastelands (to fruitfulness) in them.

This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited

Desolate lands and desolate people are being replanted and flourishing again as He intended in the garden of Eden though HIS REST....

Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it."

The people around us who don't know Him will see clearly that He is the one doing it!

Is it just sitting around? No. We can and must labor but need not get weary or heavy laden!

Eph 2:10, Mat 11:28

God' WORK done God's WAY brings God's REST!. Luke 5:1-7, John 6:1-15

Sunday Re Cap (9th Nov 2008)

BABES WHO REST by Ps.Samuel Hari

Introduction

In the midst of the current global situation, financial, political, working life, family, ministry there is a message found in the core of the Bible that promises not only to relieve stress and but actually causes us to function more effectively. This is not only to be done once/day or once/week but is to become a lifestyle of every believer. One of the key elements of experiencing NEW BEGINNINGS is REST!

Matt 11:25-30

Observation

1. Who are they hidden from? Who are they revealed to? Who do you want to be?

2. The wise and the prudent. Why is it hidden? Because they strive with their own strength. What are things hidden and why does it seem good to the Father? 1 Corinthians 1:18-29

3. We all need to labor-school, work, family, ministry, etc. Gen 3:17-19. It may be (1) sin; (2) excessive demands of religious leaders; (3) oppression and persecution; (4) weariness in search of God.

Application

1. How? Come to Him. Release every other yoke. It is a step of faith like Peter walking on water. Mt 14:24-29.

2. The Lord desires that we find this easy & light. Imagine doing this & enjoying it rather than be heavy laden with our expectations or of others. This is the yoke that is heavy & makes us weary, heavy laden.

3. We are already pleasing to Him based on the atoning work of Christ. We don't need to carry anyone else's' yoke of expectations, approval, etc. The rest that Jesus promises is love, healing, and peace with God; not the end of all labor. A relationship with God changes meaningless worrisome toil to spiritual productivity and purpose.

4. Take on a the easy new well fitting (easy: (greek) chrestos: pleasant, good, comfortable; built on a personal relationship with God by the indwelling Holy Spirit) yoke. His yoke. Grace. His righteousness. His approval, acceptance. Remind rehearse, confess daily.

5. Just like new shoes-it takes time to break into it. But once we are used to it, we actually look forward to wearing it! Walking in it, going the distance. Work, ministry, family, school, friendship , relationship, etc.

Conclusion

This scriptures suggest that Jesus is the lead oxen. He will lead and we follow. The moment, we try to take over, we become weary and burn out quickly.

• these things are revealed to BABES WHO REST!

• BABES ARE READY to experience new beginnings because they are new creations.

• when we have rest in our souls (mind, will emotions), we PROSPER and remain in HEALTH! 3 Jn 2.

Sunday Re Cap (2nd Nov 2008)

UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES & THE SEASONS by Paul Ang

David remained in Jerusalem when it was a season of war. It was because he did not understand the times and seasons that he fell into immorality. There are times and seasons in everyone's lives. How we interpret and respond to it will determine the outcome and destiny of our lives. (Read 2 Sam 11:1)

• Ruth 1:1 there was famine in the land.
  
• V2-Elimelech went to the world's system for wealth.
  
• V3-5-they experienced a season of great loss-death.
  
• Do we react or respond to the season of loss?
  

Job 1:1 blameless & perfect. Even when he went through a great season of loss he responded correctly. How?

Two ways of responding:

1. Surrender to God's sovereignty.

2. Worship God (Heb13:15-Continue to worship)

God restored to Job double. The end is more important then the beginning.

Ruth 1:20 we can be better or bitter.

• V22-2nd season (after loss) is harvest! It was the season of Barley Harvest.
  
• Ruth 2-Our success & destiny in life is connected with being connected with the right people (Boaz, "it so happened v3"-no coincidence).
  
• Your season of adversity prepares us for a season of harvest.
  
• Ruth found provision & favor.
  

V23-end of harvest.

Chap 3-4 last season

• Ruth 3:1-Listening to the Holy Spirit -Naomi was a type of the Holy Spirit.
  
• V3-put on the best garment (vs widow's garments). Close the old chapter & releasing the past. We are created by God to live in the future.
  
• The Holy Spirit (Naomi) often tells us to do something risky-the midnight season-deliverance/salvation Examples of midnight hour deliverance-The Children of Israel left Egypt, The Phillipian jailer and household saved!
  

Final season-3rd day-IMPACT & INFLUENCE NATIONS & GENERATIONS. A season of GREAT FAVOR!