Possessing Promises and Taking Steps of Faith

This message was preached by Nigel P, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

 POSSESSING PROMISES AND TAKING STEPS OF FAITH

We have heard a lot about the New Era and getting into big boats. The church cannot be like before – it needs an adjustment. The Kingdom of God will move forward based on the steps we take.

Jesus also introduced a New Era where the Kingdom of God was taken from the Jews and given to the church which will produce fruit.

The disciples would possess the Abrahamic promise. Jesus gave them the mandate to go and make disciples and raise the dead. And He gave them a promise that He will be with them.

In the book of Acts, 3000 get saved and then daily people are added to them.

In this New Era, it is about possessing the promises and we must believe that today.

 

However, there is one key thing – it cannot be done with our faith. The Promises are way beyond where we are.

 

FAITH – HEB 11

The book of Hebrews urges Christians to grow in maturity. The book was written in AD65 – it was a different picture now. Christianity had fallen to something less – less than possessing the promises.

The writer speaks that Jesus is better and superior to anything in the Old Testament. And yet the writer refers to the Old Testament people to stir faith in the New Testament – to show how some of them possessed things by faith.

 

Heb 11:1 When people in the Old Testament could do this how much more we. Noah – God spoke to him about a judgement coming. It took many years to build the Ark but he believed what God said would bring salvation. In the same way, we build the church because we know that it is the doorway to salvation. Noah took risks.

Abraham was told to go, and he went and in that decision was the making of a people. He never possessed it but he lived like he did!

When God calls, we possess something and some things we don’t in our lifetime. Because they believed they took risks, and the Kingdom of God was advanced by those steps. We rejoice about our names being written in the Lamb's Book of Life. But also rejoice about your name being among the heroes of faith. Hebrews 11 is the normal Christian life. We will see fruit if we take steps of faith.

 

REHAB has an incredible story. Heb 11:31 ( Josh6) In the story of Jericho is Rehab a prostitute. The two spies go to Rehab’s house and she says to them  “ I know God is with you and that God has given you this land. The king comes to know about these spies and Rehab takes steps of faith at great cost and hides the spies.

Israel crosses the Jordan in flood. They walk around the walls for 7 days and the walls come down and Rehab’s family is saved.

What can we learn from this as leaders? Here was an unbeliever who believed! Those who crossed the Red Sea did not believe it!! And here is Rehab who heard about the parting of the Red Sea 40 years ago and believe. What faith!!

1.    Her faith includes a consciousness of God. I know that the Lord has given you the land. We heard about the Red Sea and how you defeated two Kings. She recounts the details. Your God is the God of heaven and of what is happening on Earth. People may persecute us but I see a God who uses people and circumstances. God is calling us to change the nation. Can we be aware and conscious of God?

It’s important therefore to practice the presence of God we can talk to God. The New Era must be characterized by intimacy with God – there must be a coming to God and having God encounters. It means prayer takes on a whole new meaning in your church. We need to bring intercession to the front.

2.    Consciousness that God related to the world in a particular way. His commands are good for mankind and it requires obedience. Her faith had a consciousness that it required something. Disobedience has to be dealt with. Rehab was conscious that Jericho was going to be judged. As leaders and churches, we must walk in obedience to God. So many churches do not talk about sin anymore. In our daily prayer, we pray “forgive our sins”.

3.    She was conscious of the Grace of God. She was not killed along with the disobedient. She knew that there is a God who forgives her- mercy triumphs over judgement. She knew that repentance would lead her to be saved. As Christians when we sin, we must be strong in knowing the grace of God. So many live in the trap of shame. We do not have to undo it. God will give us a clean slate. Grace gives us a new beginning.

4.    She was conscious that she believed but she also had to take steps of faith. Heb 11:1 “…must believe that he exists and reward those who earnestly seek Him”

God is a giver of rewards. God has a plan, and we need to partner with it. Believing in Jesus is engaging with His plan, and I must believe. Her faith believed in the impossible and she finally became a part of Israel, and she is in Jesus’ lineage! WOW!!

Put faith goals on your church/House groups Pray for the sick. How does mission fit into your house groups?

Come and See.

 

This message was preached by Steve O via zoom, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

Come and see! 

These are days when you want to respond to what God is saying in His Word. In the New Era, those who will listen to God and will adjust to fit into His purposes will see the great blessing, real fruitfulness and worldwide impact. My concern is that too few are radical enough to change in obedience to God.

 

John 1:43 - 51

 Let’s understand what type of churches God wants us to build in this new era. Churches that put Jesus fully on display. When you read the early passages of the gospels, you can see that it was a new era for mankind. With the coming of Jesus, even time was divided into B.C and A.D.

The gospel of mark starts with quoting Malachi 3 pointing to what Scripture foretold about the birth of a New Era. It is in the context of this new era that Philip encounters Jesus face to face. Jesus looks him in the eyes and says follow me! Philip is overwhelmed by this experience. When he finds his friend Nathaniel, he is so excited! Nathaniel responds the way the world responds to us sometimes cynical, questioning – what good can come out of Nazareth?

 But Philip is not put off. Instead, he says come and see! This excitement and uniqueness of what Philip was sharing, it worked because Nathaniel goes to Jesus and as he encounters Jesus for himself, Jesus reveals his inner thoughts. He is totally undone before Jesus and his inner seeking is fully satisfied as Jesus unlocks him.

 

The Pandemic changed all our lives. The pandemic was a time that revealed some deep weaknesses in the way we did things. So many churches are depleted after the Pandemic. The Pandemic removed a lot of things we relied on i.e programmes, lack of relying on the Holy Spirit. It became a time of reset for all. God always renews his church and culture through a remnant with red hot faith. It is our responsibility to discover that faith and get back to what really matters in this new era. When Philip called Nathaniel and others, they were immediately caught up in the new era in Jesus.

 I want our churches to be like Philip. We have discovered something so beautiful and meaningful that no what who we meet, we can tell them “come and see- we have found the source of life”!

What type of church do we need in a new era that we can tell people to come and see:

 

4 DISTINCTIVES TO LOOK FOR IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH

 

1. Church in the New Era is a Family - an activated body: when unbelievers walk through our doors, the first thing I want them to experience is family. It’s not a community or congregation, it is the family that I want. We all have families. If you came to my family, you’ll find that everyone plays their part. As a family, we carry the household. For too long church has been pastor and audience where the pastor does everything. If you are a leader/pastor, your church is not your audience – they need to be your family. So we need to know what everyone’s gifts and passions are. We need to interchange and share the tasks that make the church a family. In our families we have fun. Fathers should serve the children and the children should honour the elders. It needs to be a family full of grace where we are free to make mistakes and be lovingly restored and where we forgive each other all the time. It needs to be a household full of hugs and holy kisses – security and celebration.

 

2. A family of the word and spirit: what makes us different from a club is our supernatural relation with a living God. When people come in they need to see that we are a people who know the living God.

There was a move to build seeker-friendly churches. The Father, Son and holy spirit are the most seeker-friendly union you can find. We need to put that on display. How?

Speak confidently and openly about our relationship with God. We can speak about him like he is in the room because he is! Sometimes we speak of God as though he is not around.

We need to put the supernatural on display in our worship and sing in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:22 says tongues are for the unbelievers. Praying for healing, praying for needs, it all puts God on display. Being still and having time to listen to the spirit. A community that breathes hope: because we are a community of the word.  Pray for the sick and for needs – it puts God on display and also allows the Spirit to do His seeker-friendly thing.

3. A kingdom people - church on Sunday to Saturday. We put so much focus on Sunday mornings but Sunday morning is not enough. We must take the church onto the streets. We must bring transformation to our communities. The world has many questions. You and I have the answers. For this, we need to grow to see every person empowered to be God’s healing community in their family, school, workplace, sports club etc. Don’t start projects, release gifts.
4. A family full of faith: Hebrews11:6 God wants us to live by faith. If we want to see the world overwhelmed that they know Jesus is alive, then we need active faith that works in our midst. 3 practical steps:
1. Prayer - when we pray we are saying, Jesus is alive, he listens to us and he answers us. They need to see us praying big bold prayers. Prayers that bring change to our community
2. Generosity- that’s how we share what we are and have with others. Let’s show the world where our provision comes from.
3. Faith goals- share your vision, and have goals by faith. Ask God what you can do. Faith puts Jesus on display.

As we see the New Era coming, we want to be a family. By your love, they will know that you are my disciples.

If we will adjust, there is a great grace that follows. Mark's gospel gets straight into the work of Jesus. No genealogies or anything. So, we get a view of this massive change that has taken place. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth onto an old garment. The old and the new can’t fit together for the purposes of God.

 If we are to fulfil God's call there are some aspects of the old that we need to let go of. Are you being radical in your church community? What are you doing differently now that you weren’t doing pre- pandemic? Are you trying to sew on a new cloth into the old era? 

The Gift of Encouragement.

 

This message was preached by Benny T, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

2020 was considered the perfect normal vision in optometry for the longest time. I want to encourage you to have a 2020 vision to advance forward.

 

Acts 20

 Till acts 19, 8 cities where Jews have stirred troubled and persecuted Paul. In 2 cities, the gentiles stirred trouble for him. He is the subject of ridicule, and beatings, and even splits with his friend Barnabas. Every statistic has a story.

AD33-36 – Paul’s conversion

AD 55-57 is when Acts 19 is happening. We are looking at 15-20 years of Paul’s life in Acts 20.

Twice Paul called the believers and encouraged them, and he went to all the towns and encouraged them. If there is one ministry the body of Christ should have it is encouragement.

 

We live encouraging others regardless of what we are going to. It is the oxygen that helps us.  Encouragement is the currency of the church. Jesus encouraged his disciples even in the last few days before the cross by telling them that He will give them peace.

 Paul encouraged people in the following

●     Public profession of faith

●     He encouraged the Corinthian church for functioning in all 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit.  

●     He encouraged them for their partnership in the gospel, steadfastness

●      

If you want quality people, use the currency of encouragement. This is a beautiful gift.

We have made an idol of the prophetic ministry.The prophetic is one another ministry, not a one to others ministry. Paul is a good case study of how-to encourage. With Timothy, he reminded him of his lineage, his learning etc. Find out the family history of people and you will find something to encourage and God an redeem something in their history for the generations to come.

Encouragement promotes awareness – it lets people know what you are thinking.

Encouragement builds confidence. And confidence is key factor for every servant of God!

Encouragement improves your attitude – you never feel worse after an encouragement.

 

 

Some of us say I don’t know how to encourage. We’re going to learn.

Extraordinary accidents are opportunities for extraordinary miracles.

 

 

 

War, Power and Authority

 

This message was preached by Mike, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

 War, power and authority 

 

Add another goal - send people to another nation to bless the nations.

 

Yesterday I spoke about being leaders who are humble and servant-hearted. But today I want to speak about us being leaders who are full of power! The church is called to be a people of power.

 John Wimber’s experience of the church. Re-reading John Wimber’s “Power  Evangelism” I realize that there is so much to re-learn. We can talk about battle, teach about it but never do it Is that our churches now? We don’t just want to talk about the things of God. We want to be the army that advances the gospel. We need to walk in step with the spirit. We can still have plans, but the plans also must be in step with the spirit. As leaders, we need to be people who know God’s power and authority.

.  Ephesians 3:10-21   These are amazing verses.  “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:11-21 ESV

 What are these Glorious Riches Paul talks about? It is unimaginable what these glorious riches are. But he prays for us that we may be filled with these riches by power. Nothing is beyond his reach. And he gives us power by his Holy Spirit. All power belongs to God. Psalm 62:11 – God rules and runs everything. Nothing is beyond His reach. We should be a people that proclaim His kingdom come. The Greek word for Kingdom is Baselia – kingship or royal rule.

 Jesus’ entire ministry was about declaring the kingdom has come. He preached that the kingdom has come and He preached repentance. He demonstrated kingdom rule. Today we need to do this by the Holy Spirits' power.

 

We fight on 3 fronts

 Internally against the flesh- temptation and sin

1. Against the world - we need to overcome the world's patterns of thinking.
2. Against Satan and his demons - satan comes to kill steal and destroy. John 10:10 We must not mistake his intentions.

 

Some of these battles can be subtle and undercover. But more and more we need to see the demonstration of God's power. We need a visible and practical demonstration that Jesus is more powerful than the worshipped idols.

 

There is an important part of stepping out in God's power is understanding authority. If our lives are truly submitted to God, then our lives should only make sense because of God- otherwise, we are no different from the world. Our lives must be fully submitted to God. Then we are submitted to those around us. There is a right to submission to each other that is not controlling or manipulating, but releases people. We’re accountable to one another.

Matt5:8-9 The Centurion understood power and authority. We do not want to be lone leaders but be under authority. If our lives are truly submitted to god then our lives are defined by God.

And we are submitted to those in our church. There is a right to submission to one another that is not controlling or manipulating- in this we will know God’s power. We need to be accountable to each other.

 

 The power we have Christ’s church:

1. Power to love. Eph3. The agape love is what we need to have for each other. The love of God brings breakthroughs. So we do works among the poor to show God’s love and allow His power to flow through us.
2. The power to hope: Romans 15:13 - may the God of hope fill you with all joy … church should be overflowing with hope and joy because of the Holy Spirit. It is supernatural and attractive.
3. The power to sacrifice: Paul tells us that God's power is made perfect in weakness. The holy spirit takes that and turns it into an incredible strength. When we are weak then we are strong.
4. The power to endure great difficulties
5. The power to perform miracles signs and wonders.
6. The power to grow in spiritual gifts. Allow the gifts to flow in your church – not just on Sundays but whenever you meet. Tongues are often overlooked.
7. The power to make known God's manifold wisdom
8. The power for unity. The Holy Spirit binds us together. The Holy Spirit does not just help us to agree with each other but binds us together. The unity that the Holy Spirit brings is so much bigger.
9. The power and authority to preach the gospel. Matthew 28:18-20. 1 Thessalonians - gospel coming not just with words but with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.
10. The power and authority to dispel the demonic. The demonic is no match for God's power.
11. Power in prayer to change situations: as we pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, things change. 

WAR AND HUMILITY

 

This message was preached by Mike, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022.

 

WAR AND HUMILITY 

 Consider the times we are in. We’ve been hearing about the new era and the Macedonian call. We have also experienced hostility against Christians. The persecution in India has made you wake up. We can’t have a peacetime mentality. The Pandemic has woken up the sleeping church. During the pandemic, we thought we were living in wartime. Each one of you is a chosen soldier dropped behind enemy lines, placed in this evil world to shine the light of Jesus. Jesus expects his church to be at war. In Matt 16 and 18 Jesus mentions the church.

 

Jesus will build his church, but the context of that statement is war. Matt 16&18. There is a battle going on. “On this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail…” The context of this statement is war.

Matt 18 it says whatever you bind on the earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you lose on the earth will be loosed in heaven. Matt18 – the context is in the face of conflict in the church. We go to our brother and sort it out. The context is still war but from within.

In Revelation we see great battles – it is an example of a battle we are in. Every moment is a struggle, but the gospel spread.

We are in a battle. So we have to live at war. But Jesus is the prince of peace. So shouldn’t we live in peace? Jesus gives us peace so that we can have peace in war. Peace to know that HE is with us in what we are going through.

 

Gideon - Israel is devastated by the Midianites. Judges 6:33-35. It is time for us to sound the trumpet and wake up the church for war. We can’t just have an army of one. We need every member to take their part. …

Prepandemic we built in a way which was good for peace times. But now we have to build for war. We need every member of the army to step up to play their part.

Revelation 3: 2- wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished. We will have to change our thinking and adapt to change.

  

HOW DO WE LIVE AS LEADERS?

As leaders we need to learn how to fight this war - the key is humility. Leadership must look different in this new era. The church has been full of leaders that lorded it over the people and fell short in their own character and lost their way.   We are called to be servant leaders but then we take on the world’s values and try to lead like CEOs. This is not the way to lead. We are called to lead humbly. The most powerful leaders are the most humble leaders like Jesus. In war you need strong Generals.

Eph 4: 1 “ I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you’ve received. He is completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Q. Have you been called?

   

1. Character always trumps gifting. God wants us to be more like Jesus. God gives us gifts, but he wants to grow us into Jesus. Gideon had an incredible victory but he had a bad ending. He seemed humble but he was not. Saul and David - Saul was gifted. He was physically and spiritually gifted. HE looked like people wanted to follow. He was also gifted supernaturally and had the favour of God upon him. Disobedience, pride and arrogance caused his downfall. Samuel talks to him for the last time and Saul acknowledged his sin but wanted to save face in front of the people. God tells Samuels to anoint another King. Then God tells Samuel, that people look at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. We cannot just look outward.

David was also naturally gifted and supernaturally gifted.HE fought many battles. But he also had character flaws. When he is confronted by Nathan, his reaction; is so different from Sauls's reaction. He fasts and mourns for his sin. He repented before God.

It’s not a problem that we mess up and make mistakes because we will. But how do we respond to God after we make a mistake? Are we like Saul who wants to save face or are you like David who repents before the people?

Do we allow God to discipline and teach us or do we stay arrogant and self-centred but we need to be open before our people? Allow God to vindicate you. Submit to God, do we come before him and let him teach us? In the New Testament, even those who were with Jesus struggled with pride. Matthew 20: 20- 28. The only time Jesus says he’s your lord is when he was washing their feet. It is an incredible picture of this humility as a leader.

 

How can we grow in humility?

 

1. Be clear about our identity in Christ. We have to be secure about who we are, that we are chosen sons and daughters of God.  Our security cannot be in the approval of people. When our security is in people we will live in pride. We need to keep our eyes fixed on Him.
2. Humility doesn’t mean that we are quiet and we don’t lead. Not stepping into what God has given you can be pride. Stepping out in faith is humility. We have to be careful that we don’t fall into false humility. It is self-preservation that holds us back.

Use difficulty- our pride often comes up when we are in difficult situations. When things ar hard, we find our pride can easily rise to the surface. We need to use difficulty to grow. Instead of saying get me out of here, ask what are you teaching me in this situation?

Develop an attitude of thankfulness. When we are thankful our pride is reduced. We need to express our thankfulness to God and to one another.

Function in the gifting you have regardless of the role you’re in. You can lead all the time in every situation. That will help us to not rely on a position. Leading is not taking over. So we will not be puffed up when you do get a position.

3. Accept praise graciously and authentically.
4. Stay open and transparent with God. Ask him to search our hearts. If we stay in intimacy with God we will remain humble. Let intimacy be the measure of your success.
5. Pray and ask for the fruit of the spirit. All the fruit has to do with our character. We can ask God to give us that fruit.      

Moving Forward in the New Era - Advance 2022

This message was preached by Franco L, at the Regions Beyond  Advance conference in August 2022. To view the Video please click here

 We have all walked through difficult times with the Pandemic and the unspoken issue of persecution.

In the midst of this, we need to remind ourselves that is it about Advance and it is about getting rid of any blocks in order to go forward. God wants to see advance amongst us. It’s about the mission.

 

Acts 16:6-10

Paul wanted to move forward but God had other plans. Mission was a part of Paul’s vision and mission and gospel advance is a part of the Father’s heart.

What can we learn from Acts 16?

 

How do we move forward?

1. We are in a Macedonian moment for us as regions beyond churches- something totally new, a new era, new boats to sail into the open sea, discover develop and deploy, etc. we can overlook the prophetic and live in the familiar. Paul and all went forward leaving the familiar behind because they had a compelling vision. Abraham saw the city of God. Because of that, he could leave behind the familiar. We need to have a compelling vision

Metaphorically we are standing in front of an ocean, and we need to hear what God is swaying. Paul was looking across Europe and saw this vision of a man asking for help.

We can overlook the prophetic and live in familiar surroundings. Paul could leave the things behind and move in great acts of faith. Our name is our vision- Regions Beyond. If we don’t have a compelling vision of the future we will hold on to the familiarity of the past. Abraham saw the city of God whose architect and builder was God therefore he could leave the land of his forefathers.

2. Not have a settling spirit but a missional one:. Isaiah 43:18- forget the former things…. See I’m doing a new thing. I’m making a way in the desert and ways in the wasteland.

Unless we see we will not be able to leave the familiar and move forward. settling is default and it seems safer. But the advance is a choice. If Paul stuck to his original plan he would’ve never moved on to Macedonia. Paul adapted to what God was showing them. Some things will have to die to move forward. Don’t settle for what you can manage but be missional. God is going to scatter some of us but that is going to advance the gospel. Without the Holy Spirit, we will tend to stick with the familiar. Today we read Pauls's letters. We have come through 2 of the hardest years in history. We adjusted and did everything online – zoom, whatapp. It shows how fast we can adapt and God can change how we do things.

Some things have to die in order to lay hold of the new. Sometimes we also need to leave behind some success. Gospel advance is greater than everything. 

3. Let persecution and suffering not deter us from advancing the gospel- 2 Cor 11: 23- 33. Paul knew he would be put to death in Rome, yet he longed to go there so he could share the gospel there. God will want to scatter some of us. Paul did not let persecution or hardship stop him.
   
   
4. Paul discovered his original calling: his call was to go to the Gentiles. Because of the Macedonian call, Paul discovered his original call. In Rome, he finally says that he had proclaimed the gospel in Asia and now wants to go to Spain. As the Holy Spirit picks up pace, we need to find new ways of strengthening. Paul didn’t stop strengthening the churches, he found new ways- wrote letters, sent others to the churches, etc. We have to let go of the platform-focused ministry. We need to activate every believer. The Pandemic taught us many lessons. We need to train and deploy many new leaders.
   
   
5.  The Holy Spirit wants us to increase the pace of church planting: let go of the platform-focused ministry. It also means, the leaders have to start thinking of finding new leaders. Find your Timothy’s. It’s non-negotiable.

 

Reaching the unreached people groups is an apostolic priority for us. 

THE GLORIOUS CHURCH 2017 - Waiting on God | Steve O

The is the final part in a 9 part series that was preached at the 

Glorious Church, RegionsBeyond Conference 2017 held in Mumbai.

To listen to the audio ( which is in English and Hindi) Please click here

1 kings 17

We can learn lessons and be strengthened by the life of Elijah. I feel like I need to stir the younger people.

As we saw Elijah’s life, many said I want to be like him. Elijah who came from nowhere, stood before the King with all authority of representing God. He declared that there will be no rain in Israel. Then, God sends him from the lime light to an isolated place. So much that for 3 years they couldn’t find him. It is th Steve Oere that he grows.

We live in a world where we want things immediately. Waiting is not in our culture anymore. But Elijah finds himself after the big profile, just waiting before God.

Q. Do you want to sit before God and wait?

I know that on the second morning I’ll be saying, what’s next? Elijah stood before God and so he waited. He was patient. Years later in 1 Kings 17:8 the word of the Lord came to him- Arise and go to Zariapath.

At times, lonliness must have consumed his life. When these words come, they’re refreshing. As we go back to our churches, we are going back with his word. Now is the time to be patient and give ourselves to the purposes of God. He commanded a widow. Widows love to feed people. But he is still having to walk by faith.

The journey to Zariapath would have been a long journey. In verse 10 he asked the widow gathering sticks for some water and some food. Here the word is coming to life. She is a very poor widow with only a handful of flour and very little oil.

As we go to our churches we will face situations like this. But I know you’ll go back full of faith. You will face situation like and know the hope that comes with hearing God.  

When I was in Lesotho, building up the church there, we were looking for a church building. There was an auction and I felt God saying go and bid. I bid for a building with no money to pay for it. I came back home having to pay the money in a couple of days. As I reached home, God spoke to someone else to give the exact amount of money to me.

To grow in faith, follow God to the platform- to the desert- to the widow. Don’t think that because someone gets up to preach they don’t have to learn this. Elijah has to learn faithfulness with the widow so that he could call forth the rain later. Do not fear. Go and do as you have said.

This conference has been marked by 3 things:

1.      Identity- who we are. I’m leaving as a different person. That means you’ve heard the word of God. Sit before God, take note of what he had said. Say, Lord, don’t let me go back to where I was.

2.      Mandate- why are we gathered

3.      Continuing to work on our relationships with one another.

God wants to give us a double portion, to multiply it. It is a promise over us. We are entering a season of multiplication. It’s going to happen through faith and obedience. We haven’t got enough flour. Our oil is little. But the promise was massive. We are going to go through a season of multiplication of gifting, grace and all that makes us who we are. There is a double portion.  

  

THE GLORIOUS CHURCH 2017 - Secure in Jesus |Sheldon K

The is the seventh in a 9 part series that was preached at the 

Glorious Church, RegionsBeyond Conference 2017 held in Mumbai.

To listen to the audio ( which is in English and Hindi) Please click here

Q. Do you know the call of God on your life? Are you prepared to do what it takes to fulfil that call on your lives?

We need to understand that there is a false self and a true self. The false self is also called your super-self because that’s the self you want people to see. I’m going to speak about identity. We have to respect who we are. We don’t preach self-esteem. That’s just security in who you are. You are made the way you are, but identity is a deeper rooted thing. It brings you security, confidence and is rooted in Jesus. It starts internally. If you want to have freedom and live from a place of freedom, it starts inside of you. Then it bubbles up in the external.

This whole life we live, goes a deeper to one day when we stand in heaven waiting to hear, Well done, good and faithful servant. What’s deeper than that is that we will have a father waiting to say welcome home my son/ daughter.

2 Peter 1:3- 11: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[c] his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Divine power and divine nature- two stories in the Bible- Peter and Adam and Eve. In 20-30 years time, you guys who are in the front, you’ll be at the back and your children will sit here. It will happen because we’ll grab a hold of it. About 20 years ago, I had an encounter with God at a Sunday night meeting and God broke my heart for the church. I broke down! It was tears of pain because he gripped my heart for the church.

Revelation is not head knowledge. It’s a deep understanding that God gives you about something and it cannot be stolen from you. I had the honour of taking over the leadership of the church from him. For 20 years I served him and in the midst of that God raised me up. We need to be willing because you are the future church leaders. You will go out and do great things for God.

There are many temptations in this world right now- many things that look like they satisfy you. But God is testing this generation because he is seeing if you are ready for a mighty outpouring. Are you willing?

Q. Do you get saved into the church or into the Kingdom of God?

You get saved into the kingdom. It’s like the United kingdom which is under the Queen. Now, a British person does not have access to the Queen. We are part of the kingdom that is unseen. Giving your life to Jesus means being adopted into his family. The vehicle used to expand this kingdom is the Church. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

Peter was the apostle who spoke before he thought. He walked on water, and saw phenomenal miracles at the hand of Jesus. He received revelation about Jesus being the Christ, the Messiah. On this revelation, Jesus said he will build his church. Luke 22: 31- 32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”” Then he goes on to tell him that before the rooster crows thrice he will deny him. But Jesus is giving a little hint here- that he prays his faith will get him through. We know what happens after this.

Peter is standing there and when asked if he knew Jesus, he denies him. In verse 61- the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. He then went outside and wept bitterly. He let his greatest friend, his saviour down. How do you come back from that? He felt deeply guilty. He felt great shame.

Now we go right back to the beginning in the Garden of Eden. There was no sin. They was no need to talk about self esteem and security. God gave them one command- not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We know how the story goes. The one thing they did is that they disobeyed what God said not to do. In that moment they lost their innocence of consciousness. All of a sudden they were aware of good and evil. Before that they were only aware of good. 

3 things happened when they disobeyed:

·        They ran and hid because they were fearful

·        They had shame

·        They were filled with guilt

What started was a plan of showing who God is from a place of brokenness. We cannot be innocent in our own strength. From the Garden of Eden, striving hard to please God, the law fell short. Jesus the saviour came and by his perfect blood all our sin, guilt, shame is gone. His perfect love casts out fear.

His divine power- this is beyond this world, it’s powerful. This is given to us so that we can participate in his divine nature. Before you knew Jesus, you have a sinful nature. But now you have a divine nature. You are perfect before God. you are being made holy. There is justification- that the mercy of God has paid for your sin; and sanctification- that you are being made new.

Nothing is holding you back from running hard for the things of God. Not even the enemy lying to you. Make sure your Election and calling. When you have security in your identity in Christ, you can stand strong as a child of God against the evil schemes of the enemy. It is an understanding of who you are in Christ. We need to be secure.

 Any hint of insecurity, guilt and shame, fear- the enemy rushes in like a flood. But our king has raised up a standard against him.

 Now you are free. When we go to the world secure, they will see the love in our hearts. It’s not a love we’ve worked hard for. It has been freely given to us- to do incredible things on earth.

THE GLORIOUS CHURCH - Pray like never before!| Nigel P

The is the sixth in a 9 part series that was preached at the 

Glorious Church, RegionsBeyond Conference 2017 held in Mumbai.

To listen to the audio ( which is in English and Hindi) Please click here

God has given us a great responsibility and I want to share something God has given us to enable us to all these things.

We need to be a trusting a praying people. We can’t do what God has called us to do without prayer.

Mark11 ^:22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly^[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

The context is the Kingdom of God and his purposes. The Kingdom of God has come and there is a mandate to transform the nations. God has given us an access to a relationship with Him.

This kind of relationship is there to move mountains. It talks about your blessings as well. There is a promise and a prayer. Let’s be a movement of mountain movers. There is a response required.

1.    Whatever you ask! What does that mean? Nothing is excluded. If this is true, our prayer meetings will be full and God is going to give us whatever we ask.

2.    Believe. This is key. Whoever doesn’t doubt. He taught us the prayer, which says your kingdom come. It is a prayer that must happen. The kingdom of god is with you .If you believe you will ask because you know it is there.

God has things for us but it is dependent on what we ask for.

James 5:15. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

When we pray in faith something has to happen. Pray continually.

We need to be a people of continual prayer.

2Kings 19:20 ²⁰ Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria

2Kings 20:5 ⁵ “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord.

Is 38:5 Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.

It is so exciting to see this. God heard his prayer.

When we pray, he is waiting to hear and to do. Some of these discovered a secret of obtaining the things promised. Accessing the things God has promised. It lies unused by many Christians.  We need consistent and persevering prayer until the promise comes. Prayer is rooted in the promise of God.

Prayer is not a formula it’s a relationship with God.

2Chron 7:14  if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

God wants us to encounter Him. We are meeting with God to seek his face and turn from our wicked ways. God reminds us in prayer of things we need to do. God is hearing our prayer.

You, were chosen and saved to have your prayer answered. When we know this, we push and we pray. We keep doing this out of confidence that the promise of God will come. We are called to go from victory, to victory.

How do our prayers get answered?

Rev 5:8 ⁸ And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

Here the 24 Elders were holding the prayers of the saints.

Rev 8:4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.

It gives us a glimpse of what happens with our prayers. When God wants to do something through you and I, it requires that we keep persevering till the tipping point when god does something. You have to keep praying because you know it’s God’s will.

We prayed for barren ladies (some were barren for seven years) last year four of them gave birth.

There are somethings only God can do. We have to pray

The devil wants you to think that the answer won’t come. Don’t quit. God has your case.

Luke 18 The parable of the persistent widow. The weakest person in society, a push over. She goes to the judge for justice. He was a judge who did not care. But she goes again and again. She did not give up. Jesus is telling us this story to teach us how to pray.

In the end the judge is fed up, and gives her what she wants

How much more will God give us what we ask for? So, will he find faith like the widow – faith that never gives up. Can our life be filled with this kind of persistence?

Psalm Delight yourself in the Lord. God wants to gives us things. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. God will do things for us when we walk righteously.

V17 Elijah was a human just like us

V18 He prayed again and the heaven gave rain

Elijah did not stop. What makes Elijah prayer again and again? He now something. He knows this the will of God. He prays because he know it will come.

We see this with Abraham as well so the sake of 10 people in Sodom and Gomorrah we have to pay and it will be said of us that God heard their prayers.

Sometimes prayers don’t get answered because we give up. This is the secret. We must continue to pray.

James 4:15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”. Sometimes it’s not God’s will.

But let’s be a people of prayer. We cannot continue praying like we used to which fifteen minutes on the train etc. We need to make time for prayer. Jesus knew this and kept praying.