APOSTOLIC REVOLUTION

                            

                   PRACTICAL OUTWORKING OF THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY

PRACTICAL OUTWORKING OF THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY-“They Preached The Good News” This may appear simplistic and obvious at the outset but, upon scrutiny, is quite profound. The authentic apostle is not tossed around by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14) nor is he swayed by every new emphasis currently focused upon by the Christian world. Rather, he is firmly grounded in the orthodoxy of his faith. He is radical in its full proclamation and is not easily wooed away to a disproportionate emphasis of a few truths. Paul said of himself in Acts 20:20 “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful…” and verse 27 “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God” (or full counsel of God).

Said in another way: “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you”, Deuteronomy 4:22. Revelation 22: 18-19 says, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

The apostle will preach both:

Power- Philippians 3: 10 - 17          pattern wine-Luke 5: 37 – 39 wineskin

message -1 Thessalonians 1: 6 - 7        model mystery Ephesians 3: 2 – 9 administration

river Revelation 22: 1- 4 its banks.

Each of the above should be of equal importance and priority to the apostle. Many, of course, place emphasis on one or the other. Yet the Scripture clearly places equal weight on the need for both. The church so clearly needs the wine of God, that which releases “fulness of joy”. It is the power that releases the full measure of Gods Kingdom presence in the gifts with signs and wonders, flow into ever-increasing depths of Gods healing, restoring, anointing presence. Yet as a river without banks becomes a marsh so the church dearly needs Gods pattern. It is interesting that the fruit of the river of Revelation 22 is on the banks: “On either side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month and the leaves of the tree are of for the healing of the nations.” The authentic apostle is not so desirous and preoccupied by the life, power, presence, wine of God that he neglects the weighted matter of what God has ordained to bring the most out of these things. Matters of church form, government, authority, holiness and modus operandi, purpose, etc. are given equal passionate focus and emphasis.

Furthermore, the fruit of their preaching is freedom. The epistle to the Galatians, as does Acts 15, leaves no doubt that this good news is precisely that – good news. It is seen that where the apostle goes liberty will follow, both in churches as well as in individual lives (Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”). In other words the authentic apostle:

 Prioritises orthodox Biblical doctrine.

 Proclaims continuously all truth whatever the cost or consequences.

 Presents doctrines that set and keep people free.

By definition apostles go, travel, and get to. While some scholars refer to Paul‟s “missionary journeys,” these belie the fact that he was simply doing what he was called to do. In Romans 15:19-20 he says, “I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It was always my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known…” From Genesis 1 through to Revelation 22:20, the Father‟s apostolic heart has been made clear. Punctuated and commissioned by Matthew 28:18-20 and continued by Acts 13:1-2, the true apostle‟s lifestyle is “to go”. This may be interrupted briefly by planting a church, as Paul did in Ephesus (Acts 19), or by returning to his base church, but apostles don‟t first lead large churches and expect all to come to them. The apostle‟s heart is to search out the lost from neighbourhoods to nations. Such is their passion that no cost is too great and no sacrifice is too daunting, (1 Corinthians 9:15 – 27). It is not merely a case of saving souls or getting converts. These apostles make disciples (followers of Christ more than decisions for Christ). More than settling the question of heaven, apostles want to equip the saints for the work of the ministry so that believers have a clear sense of their priestly duties, fulfilment of their individual calling, assurance that they know their part and how the various parts are joined together.

APOSTOLIC MISSIONARY DYNAMITES

Acts 8: 1- 40 is a great case study to model this dynamic. Philip, the deacon of Acts 6, is a powerful Ephesians 4 evangelist. His impact is profound in Samaria. A city in this region is stunned and then elated by the proclamation and supernatural outworking of the message. Philip does not stay here and build a super-church for himself, nor does he simply move on with his pictures, slides and videos of the crusade. Rather, the apostles come down from Jerusalem, establish and ground these believers in all of the Word so that the impact of the gospel remains and a church is planted. Philip meanwhile, meets the Ethiopian eunuch, preaches to and baptises him.

Church history tells us that this man brought the gospel and revival to yet another country in Africa. Pauls heart for the lost is clearly seen throughout his writings. Paul dearly wanted his beloved Israel to be saved (Romans 10:1); and even his call to go to the Gentiles is continuously acknowledged (Acts 9:15 and 13:47; Romans 1:13; Galatians 1:16). In Romans 15, he speaks of wanting to go “to preach the gospel where Christ was not known” (verse 20). His desire to get to Spain (Romans 15:24 and 28) indicated his heart to push open new frontiers. He continues to request that churches pray that new doors of opportunity open to him (Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:2-4) as they did to plant in Macedonia (Acts 16:6-40). Pauls conclusion of the Roman epistle sums up his heart to see all nations saved: “So that all nations may believe and obey him” (Romans 16:26b). The apostle has heaven at heart, anticipating that great and glorious day, when, before the throne will be those “from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9b-10).

Apostles plant churches. Apostles help others plant churches. This is not conference-formed, seminar-based or academic-fashioned church help. The Biblical patterns for apostles, however, are to plant churches and then to have an ongoing relational involvement with these churches. Let‟s pause and try to present it sequentially, remembering that each church plant has its own ingredients.

1 Corinthians 9:2 says, “Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of apostleship in the Lord.” If one looks over the shoulder of an apostle, one should clearly see the fruit of churches he has planted or helped to plant, who are in a healthy state and who have an ongoing relationship with him.

How does an apostle plant and then help churches in an ongoing and meaningful way? This is a complex answer that we have to simplify at the risk of sounding simplistic. Paul refers to himself, the apostle, as a “master builder/expert builder” (1 Corinthians 3:10). His inference is that he has the master blueprint and like the engineer, ensures that all contractors and subcontractors on site build according to the architect‟s (God‟s – Hebrews 11:10) specifications, He keeps the plumber, bricklayer, carpenter, tiler and roofer all focused together to get the task done according to the “pattern”. The apostle is particular when it comes to laying foundations. There are too many unstable churches, not used for the purpose for which they were designed. Jesus Christ must be the foundation and Solid Rock on which to build (1 Corinthians 3:11; Matthew 7:24-29). In practical terms, as building on the foundation, it may include the following three ingredients:

Good strong godly government. Philippians 1:1 introduces us to that picture in local churches of: “saints. …overseers…deacons.” This creates a problem for those who wish to complicate church government with non-Biblical structures, titles and hierarchies. Of course, to “home churches”, these Biblical “musts” seem to be ignored or forgotten. When Paul asks Titus to “straighten (things) out” NIV or “set in order” NKJV (Titus 1:5), he seems to be referring to elementary matters including the matter of church government. Added to this elementary matter is a healthy ongoing “partnership” (Philippians 1:5) with apostolic and prophetic ministry. The apostle helps to recognise, raise up and appoint elders. This demands ongoing involvement, education and finally ordination. A further primary stone is establishing a healthy Biblical ethos/heartbeat/commitment. Apostles, by example (1 Corinthians 11:1) and by message, help fashion and form this ethos. Much can be said on this matter, however Acts 2:42-47 is a wonderful case study of an apostolically fashioned ethos. Acts 2:1 introduces the phrase “they were all together in one place” and the chapter ends with words like “everyone” and “all the believers were together and had everything in common”. This “all-ness” factor of the early church is in part formed by “they devoted themselves to the apostles‟ teaching”. This apostolic people were, in heart,

Ø RADICAL – heard and obeyed immediately

Ø REAL – did not leave room for the artificial or pretence

Ø RELATIONAL – given to and through friendships

Ø RELEVANT – in a Biblical way, to the world that they were called to reach.

The authentic apostle continues to massage the breadth of the Biblical ethos into every local church. When reading the epistles, one is stunned by the continuous adjustment that the apostle makes as churches drift from this heartbeat. In the epistle to the Galatians Paul passionately challenges them about their move away from the truth by one, “…who has bewitched you” (Galatians 3:1). In the epistle to the Ephesians Paul speaks of them “having done all, to stand firm. Stand firm then…” (Ephesians 6:13-14). Of course Paul‟s greatest declaration was “and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) The apostle keeps the heartbeat of the local church and broader churches passionate, zealous, enthused and motivated. There were no guest speakers or yearly cheer leading; just apostles (and the other Ephesians 4 offices) coming in to the churches to keep them encouraged, strengthened and focused. Practical foundations required that the apostles keep the churches focused on the purposes of God. While we are aware that each of these points can be drawn out at length, the apostle keeps the church focused on the plan and purpose of God as recorded in His Word. We want to see the Lord return; therefore we forcefully and violently advance His Kingdom (Matthew 11:12). This is done practically:

Ø By Preparing A Bride (the church)

Ø By Discipling All Nations

Ø By Planting New Testament Churches

Ø By Raising Up And Appointing Leaders

Ø By Mobilising The Priesthood

Ø By Seeking And Saving The Lost

Not only do apostles come in to lay foundations with their teams, but they also return regularly to these regions and local churches. On the one hand the large fancy conference has replaced the apostolic teams‟ ongoing involvement in local churches. And on the other hand, pastors have wanted to go to the extreme whereby the team is in their churches so regularly that the team almost begins to pastor the church. Neither of these realities are Biblical.

New Wineskin for Supernatural Growth

                                     

 

                                   The Church A Living Organism of the Spirit

An important aspect of Apostolic/Prophetic culture (which was touched on in the previous unit) is that it is organic. God sees His church as a living, growing organism and not as an organisation. Yet, when you look at the church today, we see that much of church life is organised and very little is organic. We must make sure that we are able to recognise the difference between organic and organisational life and know how to apply this as the church is built. It is the Holy Spirit who breathes life into the church. Much of the symbolism used of the Holy Spirit in the Scripture conveys the idea of organic life. Wind is organic and so is rain – we do not organise or engineer these. The wind blows where it pleases and the rain simply falls. Another symbol used is fire. Fire cleanses and it also warms and comforts. Then there is the symbolism of wine (and wineskins). Again this is an organic symbol, as is the new birth spoken of in John 3:3.

Another symbol that is often used is oil. Oil refuels, lubricates and keeps things operating smoothly. When there is a lack of oil things begin to get rough and grind down slowly – they become burdensome and heavy. This can be true in the church corporately, and in our own lives as individuals. Water is another example of this organic symbolism. John 4:14 compares salvation to a well breaking forth within us. In John 7:38 Jesus says that rivers of living water will flow out of our innermost being. Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 20 and 21 speak of a river with trees on both banks, with leaves that are for the healing of the nations. Wherever this river goes, it brings life, organic life.

Characteristics of Organic Life

1. It recognises that some things are only for a season and not forever. We often make the mistake of holding on to things that we enjoy, or that are working, and fail to realise that God only intended them for a season. If this is how we operate, He will eventually move on and we will be left behind. When we are able to see the moves of God and the life of the church as organic, we are able to move when He moves and bear the right fruit in the right season.

2. Organic life catches, embraces and accommodates the momentum of the Holy Spirit. When we live organically, we do not try and organise the Scriptures at every level and interpret and capture them in a legal document. Organisational life, on the other hand, tries to write down everything that is allowed to happen or not allowed to happen and put it into a constitution, or some similar document. If something is only for a season, you cannot bring it into your constitution. What will you do when that season is over and it takes ages to change one article of the constitution? Organic life goes to the Word of God to see what must be done, and then does it. We cannot organise according to constitutions. We must live according to the Word and what God is continually revealing to us.

3. Organic life also recognises that God‟s way is team. We should always work together on what He is doing. Some sow, some water and some reap, but only God gives the increase.

4. Organic life recognises this and there is therefore no competition between those who have different roles. Anyone who is competing with another and is trying to promote himself or herself, has not understood organic life. They may talk and teach Church with their mouths, but they are not living it until they see that the Church is organic and not an organisation. Once we understand organic life, there will be room for every person to play his or her part because the whole team is needed in order to do the work.

5. Organic life recognises that promotion only comes from God. As long as people try to promote themselves they will remain where they are, only God can do the promotions. Where there is organic life there is no one striving to be on top or to be noticed.

6. Organic life also recognises that every subculture that man has developed in the church must both be repented of and broken. There are many of these and they are often expressed in the way we speak, the tone of voice we use when we pray, the words we use.

7. Organic life does not give in to prejudices or fears, which are often only the comfort zones of the people. There are actually very few leaders who do not give in to these. When we do, however,

we move out of the flow of organic life and follow the preferences of the people.

8. Organic life is flexible and it embraces the God-inspired, Spirit-directed ebbs and flows. It seeks for and accommodates the momentum of the Holy Spirit. When we minister, we want to know what the Holy Spirit is doing and move with that. I cannot do that if I give in to the preferences of the people. It is wonderful when it is not only the leaders, but the whole group that is also picking up this flow of the Spirit, when everyone is committed to the organic life of God and listening to the Spirit to see where He will take us next. Everyone in the worship team should be asking this question when they lead. We should be ready, when we see what God is doing, to embrace that, even if it is not what we had originally planned to do. When the model is organic, everything is given to accommodate this flow and is willing to be stretched.

The Apostolic/Prophetic heart yearns for the whole of Gods word to be applied in the Church. It therefore embraces a model that makes room for this; one that never gets bogged down in tradition but is anchored in and dependent on the very life of God Himself. It is this model that enables us to fully embrace a whole-Bible theology of Church and to work that out at every level. Nothing in the Bible and no genuine move of God is overlooked, because we want everything that God has for His Church. An Apostolic/Prophetic model makes way for us to live passionately for God, and to be people who are radical in their expression of His Word and His life.

Pauls Apostolic Heart and Pattern

Studying the book of Acts along with the letters that Paul wrote, one is able to see Pauls apostolic heart and pattern. One must look at the big picture. The pattern for the book of Acts is summarised in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The whole of Acts is laid out according to this pattern. This is also Pauls strategic pattern for ministry. Pauls apostolic heart and vision sets the trend for his apostolic strategy in the book of Acts. Paul had a kingdom vision, i.e., an apostolic vision – a vision not just for himself or for his local church or for his nation, but a vision for the whole body of Christ and for the nations of the world. It is a vision for the church to be the flag of the kingdom, and for people to change the way they live so that they kingdom can come, so that Gods will can be done right here on earth as it is in heaven. It is not done through a hierarchy, through Christians being in power in society and forcing change. It happens as people are born again and submit to Christ the King. For without being born again, we cannot even see the Kingdom (John 3:3).

We now begin to understand much about Paul and his team and how they operated. We understand that apostles appointed elders in the local church (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:5). We also see that local elders, together with the invitation of apostles, appointed men to apostolic teams (Acts 16:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). We see local leaders (teachers and prophets) sending out people to proclaim the Gospel from the local church (Acts 13:1-3). We must build according to God‟s pattern. Moses was told to build according to God‟s pattern. David was told to build according to God‟s pattern. We, too, must build New Testament churches according to God‟s pattern. God‟s pattern rests on the foundation that New Testament churches are built upon the cornerstone of Jesus Christ, with the Word of God, as it is obeyed in faith. I believe this foundation is also made up of the grace and revelation given to Apostles and Prophets. I am convinced that it is this Apostolic/Prophetic ministry, which is needed in the church today. I believe the hour in which we live demands that we recognise, release and support Apostolic/Prophetic ministries and trans-local teams.

Breaking Forth New wineskin

                           

   

                  Apostolic pattern for breaking forth New wineskin of the Spirit

Isa 54:3  For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Isa 54:4  Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

Isa 54:5  For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

14 KEY STRATEGIES OF THE APOSTOLIC PATTERN

1. Preparation – Acts 1:14-2:4 (cf. Luke 24:49-53): Praying for and seeking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the new task.

2. Priesthood of all Believers – Acts 2:42-47: Releasing the priesthood of all believers.

3. Power Evangelism – Acts 8:5-14: Signs and wonders can accompany the saving of many.

4. Purity – Acts 8:20-23: Purity of motive and deed. Not self-righteousness or legalism but a passionate love of the Lord.

5. Prayer – Acts 13:1-3: Finding the heart of God.

6. Participation – Acts 15:40-16:5: Team ministry and discipleship.

7. Prophetic Direction – Acts 16:1-2 (cf. 1 Timothy 1:18; 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6): Prophetic inspiration and impartation.

8. Potential Doors – Acts 16:9-10: great doors opening for effectual work (with opposition). Breaking into areas where the gospel has not been preached.

9. Praise – Acts 16:25-26: Opens the heart and the way for God to move.

10. Planting – Acts 17,18 and 19: Apostolic/Prophetic teams helping to train new leaders and plant new churches.

11. Provision – Acts 18:5 (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:9 and Philippians 4:15-18): Financial release to support the work.

12. Preaching – Acts 19:8-10: Proclaiming God‟s truth to a confused and dying society.

13. Pattern of Apostolic Ministry – Acts 19:10: Trans-local teams involved with local churches.     Building a model to multiply, i.e. base churches.

14. Pastoral Leadership – Acts 20:28-35: Servant Leadership, i.e. shepherd heart.

The apostolic pattern of Paul and his team is clear once we look at the New Testament as a whole book. Barnabas and Paul, together with their team, set up a base in Antioch. This was a multicultural community (Acts 13:1-2), which was training and releasing leaders (Acts 15:35). It was a church community of grace where people were being saved (Acts 11:22-27). From their base in Antioch, they reached out and preached, taught and appointed elders in the surrounding provinces (Acts 14:23). They were involved in planting new churches – Philippi (Acts 16), Thessalonica (Acts 17), Berea (Acts 17), and Corinth (Acts 18) – and in returning to existing churches to encourage the believers (Acts 14:21-26; Acts 18:23). Possibly Barnabas stayed in Philippi (Acts 16:40). Once Paul reached Corinth, which was situated on the outer limits of the sphere of influence of Antioch, he desired to plant a new base. He stayed in Corinth for 18 months and “some time” (Acts 18:11,18). We are able to read of some of the problems with division and doctrine that this church had in First and Second Corinthians. The church in Corinth, however, never became a base, even though it was in a wealthy city and the church was not lacking in spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7). It had the „wine‟, but not the „wineskin‟, i.e. the gifts of the Spirit, but not the structure.

He used key cities with geographic, economic and political influence to establish key bases that could influence the surrounding area by planting churches and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. Each church as it matured would then be a base to encourage believers, train leaders and plant new churches in its sphere of influence. Paul drew faithful men to make up his trans-local teams from each area (Acts 20:4). He also used both Jews and Greeks in his team. Paul used people in business (Acts 16:14; 18:2-3; Romans 16:3-5), civic leaders (Acts 19:22; Romans 16:23) and religious leaders (Acts 18:8 and 1 Corinthians 1:1) to help plant churches. Paul was based in a local church, but his ministry was trans-local. He was training others so that he could hand over ministry responsibility to them (Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy 1:3). He was moving on from where he had preached and aiming at where the Gospel had not been preached. This model is just as relevant for the church today. Each church has a sphere of influence, which it can impact and change. Each local church can extend this sphere of influence by sending out both short-term teams and by training and sending out church planters. Gods plan is that local churches be autonomous and governed by the shepherds who know the sheep. But God also wants local churches to work in partnership with Apostolic/Prophetic trans-local teams so that the church can be strengthened in faith and grow in numbers (Acts 16:5). Local leaders need to release trans-local ministries as God calls (Acts 13:1-4). Trans-local ministries need to release local elders (Acts 14:23). When we build according to the New Testament pattern, we will see New Testament results – i.e. not only local church growth, but also church planting in areas not yet reached. This is not a new hierarchy, nor super-apostles becoming the leaders of new super-denominations. Paul was against denominational divisions; Christ is not divided (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). The Lord is calling us to servant leadership, to give more than we receive (Acts 20:35) and to be “co-labourers” together with Him to build the church (1 Corinthians 3:5-9).

How can we tell when someone is being raised up for the prophetic

ministry?

Character and personality are important: God gave them to us, and He wants to express

something of His own heart through them A prophetic person will nearly always have an

above average ability to feel issues deeply – and then to turn ‘sight into insight’ and feelings

into prayer. In other words, much of a prophet’s work is done in secret, going to God

on behalf of men, before going to people on behalf of God.

Then, as John and Paula Sandford make so clear in their outstanding book The Elijah Task,

we do well to be aware that prophets are almost always trained and tested by means of

unusual twists and turns in their life, together with extended periods in the wilderness –

what Graham Cook calls PITS – prophets in training! Such challenges are necessary to develop sufficient maturity to enable them to exercise their ministry safely.

Stepping out

Like Jonah, those called to the prophetic ministry will usually be asked to step out at a certain moment on their journey, even to the point of having to stake their all on God’s ability to deliver.

There are times when prophecy requires direct action: it is a biblical norm. We must learn, at first hand, the absolute faithfulness of our God. Hesitation weakens our faith and

strengthens the hand of the enemy. As Derek Prince pointed out, God had a harder job persuading Jonah to fulfil his mission than He did in bringing sinful Nineveh to its knees in repentance!

Has He been asking you to step out on in some way recently?

If you are hesitant, remember that there will always be opportunities to doubt – especially

during those periods when everything seems to be going backwards. Nothing of lasting value is accomplished for the kingdom without courage.

The best of us is only a mixture, but those who persevere beyond the testings and setbacks

reach a greater fullness of the Lord’s wisdom, and are able to function with considerable

confidence in the precious ministry that is at the heart of the prophetic calling – just as Elijah and Elisha did.

Apostolic Teams

The New Testament shows us a number of teams that are involved in preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. We read of the Gospel expanding from Jerusalem to Rome as men and women went out in teams planting churches, establishing bases, training leaders and proclaiming the Kingdom of God.

This is the real key to understanding Paul‟s pattern and strategy. We begin to understand Paul‟s heart; his motivation for the Kingdom; the way he built the church with team ministry; the way he encouraged leaders to be shepherds, not to lord it over Gods people; the way he encouraged church followers to follow, to submit, to honour and obey their leaders so that it would be of value for them. Paul was not building a hierarchy. He was not building a democracy. Paul was building a fighting force to bring the Kingdom of God to the nations of the world. Paul worked with great men on his team. The church needs to do the same. There should be no hierarchies or democracies. There must be effective strategising that is able to challenge principalities and powers, not wrestling against flesh and blood but against Individual members of a team must act as a unit and cooperate with each other, something that clearly requires like-mindedness. This does not mean that teams should be made up of „yes‟ men who have no opinions of their own. There should be a godly liberty in a team that allows for freedom of expression. However, one cannot build an effective team with individuals who are following their own vision, or are working out a set of values that differs significantly from the rest of the team. Like-mindedness will promote agreement, and agreement is essential if a team is going to work together as one unit. Leadership teams are by definition made up of leaders, but each leader has an obligation as a team member to put his or her own agendas aside for the sake of the task that the team is assigned with. In unity we are far more effective than on our own. In other words, there is more advantage to putting aside those things that do not promote the task of the team than to insist on the fulfilment of our own dreams and desires. those principalities in heavenly places (i.e. those mindsets, ideas and arguments that come up against Jesus). Reasoning and vain imagination that exalts itself above God must be brought down. The church must pull them down with the preaching of the Gospel and with the living out of the Apostolic/Prophetic pattern, so that there is great victory in Jesus name.

Dangerline to breaking Forth

1. Petty Annoyances – Philippians 4:11

2. Conflict of wills – Galatians 5:13

3. Jealousy – Proverbs 6:3

4. Misunderstandings – Ephesians 4:31-32

5. Competition – 1 Corinthians 9:24

6. Criticism – Romans 2:1-3; James 2:4-17; Proverbs 11:13; 14:15

7. Sarcasm – James 3:1-17

8. Manipulation – Jeremiah 9:4-6

9. Selfishness – Matthew 16:24

Each of us must also develop our ability to work well with others, to relate properly to them, to be sensitive to them and their concerns, and to listen properly to what they have to say. In our actions, attitudes and decisions we are to be considerate toward others. Our assessments of them and attitudes toward them should be fair and loving. We are called to work together with others, not on our own, and we must therefore do everything that we can to learn the skills that will enable us to do this well. This does not mean that we are not to be strong in what we stand for. On the contrary, I believe that we should have strong convictions, but they should never cause us to be rude, abrasive, inconsiderate, unloving or independent in the context of the team.

Christian Character Results from:

Knowing God‟s Word: Psalm 119:11

Obeying His Will: John 14:15

Acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord: Acts 4:12

DIGGING DEEPER INTO THE PROPHETIC STREAM

  

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.’ Isa 12:3

Recently, the conviction has been growing in me to have an attitude that rises up to say,

‘I will dig a well in the place where God has led me. I will not sit back and wait for breakthrough and the release of God’s purpose and presence in my home, my relationships, or my church to happen. I will not become disheartened when God’s prophetic purposes are delayed, nor will I give way to the temptation to give up or move on.

Instead, I will proactively and expectantly pray and do whatever it takes for breakthrough to come.’

The Unseen Resources of Heaven

For the past 8 years, The Hunk and I have been living in Victoria, Australia—a region that is suffering drought.

I learned recently that  in Victoria, groundwater provides drinking water for 60 cities and towns. Amazingly, a large percentage of the world’s fresh water is actuallyunder the ground, not on the surface of the earth.

Rain that falls to the earth seeps into the ground – and that water travels under the ground through water-carrying soils (sands and gravels) and rock strata called ‘aquifiers.’

Consequently, there is a HUGE resource of water lying concealed beneath the earth.

Springs of water occur where one of the aquifiers that is carrying the water under the ground meets the ground surface so that the water flows out.

So when God says, “I am the spring of living water” (Jer 2:13) He is also saying, “I am the Source of Life. And in Me all the unseen resources of Heaven are there to back you up.”

These unseen resources of Heaven are ours—but we need to access them, to tap into them.

The Water of Life

In Biblical times, groundwater was accessed and life sustained through the digging of wells.

In Genesis 26, Isaac, along with his family, servants and flocks, was forced to change locations.Isaac re-opened wells that his father Abraham had used and discovered fresh sources of water. However locals contended that the water belonged to them.

Finally, Isaac moved to a new place. In Genesis 26:25 the Bible records that he

• Built an altar
• Pitched his tent, and
• Dug a well.

When his servants located water, he knew they had found the source of life and could live there permanently with their families and flocks. Beersheba became Isaac’s home for the remainder of his days.

How To Dig A Well

Like Isaac did, we can dig a well and make room for God to move wherever we find ourselves. Here are 5 ways that we can ‘dig a well’ for spiritual breakthrough:

1. Choose the Ground

Ask the Lord to show you where He would have you concentrate your prayers and efforts for breakthrough at this time. It could be one area or many.
It could be your home and family, your church or ministry, your community, a relationship, or someone you would like to see come to Jesus.

2. Prepare for the Work Ahead

This is where we resolve that we want God to move.
Now is the time to reflect. We are not satisfied with living by our own strength, neither are we content with the results that we have seen up until now.

We long for God to get the glory in our household, church, and place of study or work, and we will not settle for less than Jesus’ best.

Ask the Spirit to fill you and stir up in you the inner resource of resolve that you needto start digging and to keep going until breakthrough happens and His life, power and provision is released.

3. Start Digging

It’s time to break ground–to begin somewhere, no matter how small our efforts may seem at first.

We must dig deep to locate water. We dig primarily by praying, and we pray because God is our Source. He is the Living Water. We are totally reliant upon Him.
We start with prayer, but we do not stop at prayer. We also dig by listening to what the Lord is saying for our situation and obeying Him. We dig by speaking life-giving words.

4. Persevere–Keep On Digging

The ground may be hard, others may give up, but we must stay and persevere. This choice will confront us again and again.

Recently I have been meditating on this. I have resolved to, when I encounter dry ground, not to give up and move on, but to dig a well in the place God has called me.

5. Focus on the Water, not the Dirt

When digging a well, there is a lot of dirt to encounter before we reach the water. We can easily be tempted to pay attention to the things that are wrong or less than perfect in our situation, church or relationships.

Don’t focus on the dirt to be removed, focus on the water that to be received. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Remember, nothing is too difficult for God, and if He has given you a vision, it will be fulfilled.

A well represents provision and life.

A physical well can provide drink—and therefore life—to a community. When we determine that we are going to dig a well, it is not just about ourselves, but for many.

Would you like to see God move in an area of your life—your family, a relationship, a locality, your church or ministry—and fill it with His Presence?

Dig a well.

Dig Deeper New Wells For Awakening We have all heard of digging existing wells of past revivals so we can experience new revival in the present. We study past revivals, try to imitate and have gone to places where revivals broke open, and yet we still do not experience revival today. I agree that we need to look back to our heritage but we cannot go backward to create our future. God never took people backward in the Scriptures to go forward. He constantly talked to his people about leaving the past to embrace the future. Even though there's nothing wrong with our past, if we are not careful our past can become a false finish line and we will never see the future that lies before us. God has been dealing in our ministry, not about re-digging the wells of the past, but about digging a new deep well of our future. I want to take a few moments and just look at the pattern of existing wells, the digging of new wells, and the awakening that will come once the new wells have been opened. The best example of a significant well is found in John 4 with the woman at the well in Samaria. This well was Jacob's well that he dug and passed on as an inheritance for future generations. Wells were strategically placed in areas that had lack. Wells are places of reserve. Wells are where communities come together and are open to all. The sustainability of a community and possibly even a culture, was determined by the longevity and a deepness of the community well. The deeper the well the more valuable it is to a community. Jesus came and sat down upon the well to talk to the woman. He was seated upon a promise that had been passed down from generation to generation. The well that had been dug now became the point of Jesus touching one who has been an outcast. The Scriptures tell us that the woman told Jesus this well is very deep. Here are just a few scriptures relating to deep wells or places in God: Psalm 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. Proverbs 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. Daniel 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. 1 Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. You see the place where the Spirit is doing the greatest work is in the deep things of God. Many of us today only have a surface relationship with the Holy Spirit, yet we can go much deeper in understanding the ways in the Spirit. I desire to be where the Spirit is working constantly and that requires that I search out the deep things! As we look back at where this well began, we go to Genesis 26. As we read the account, Isaac started digging a well after he settled the issue of where God wanted him to be positioned. He did not arbitrarily decide to go out and start digging a well. He allowed God to bring him to the place where the well would be most effective in his life. God spoke to him to stay in the land and bless the nation with his offspring. God said that the famine in the land was the same as what Abraham experienced. Genesis 12:10 10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land . famine = the hunger of a nation and individuals, to be hungry or wanting, · leads to hardship and even starvation · Amos 8:11 will be the "famine of hearing the words of the Lord." Grievous = heavy, great, massive, make dull, make burdensome, Hebrew – kabed and also can be the word Kabod – glory, honor, power Its primary focus is on the heaviness and hardness of heart towards the spiritual condition of others Sin which weighs down a person making them heavy and dull Abraham entered Egypt to escape the famine when God wanted him to be the answer to famine. He returned back to the same starting point with the promise not fulfilled yet. God was now telling Isaac not to make the same mistake Abraham did and leave the land even though there is famine. We need to see that God has placed us as he pleased, in places of famine to be the answer. So many today are leaving those places and running to places where wells are already dug. It is hard to be in the place of famine for several reasons. There is no self-sustaining provision when there is famine. There's no income source. There is no place that people want to come to be influenced. And there's no place to sustain an inheritance. But sitting in every place of famine is a hidden provision. There are two distinct things that happened when Isaac settled in the land. Vs. 12 Isaac sowed in the land even though there was famine. He received a hundredfold and was blessed of God. God proved to him that He was this provision, income source, and had the ability to influence, even in the midst of famine. Many of us have been in this place yet we have not seen the full promise come to pass. But have we sowed into the land? Isaac then repositioned himself within the land. He was sustained when he dug the past wells, but had great increase after he dug the new wells. The past wells we have opened are not taking us forward in our walk or encounters with God. Only when Isaac left the past wells and put himself in a position that he had to have a new well did he get his encounter. No opposition to reopen past wells because people have already experienced the benefit from them! People really are not concerned about us reopening past wells. They have settled the issue of what that would represent in their life, and how it affects them or how they can benefit from it. They may have partaken of that well in past times but are too lazy or unwilling to open it again or even to keep it open. They might just be waiting for someone to come along and do the work for them. Genesis 26:17-18 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. Genesis 26:19-20 19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. Isaac started to re-dig the wells of his father since he was involved in the first digging, he knew where they were. We are the same way. We look for what is familiar all too often and wonder why things do not work out. It is like us today looking back and trying to open something that has already been. But every well he opened was taken over by the enemy until he opened new wells. New wells were not taken from him! The question is, are we to be focused on re-digging old wells or digging new wells! New wells always have opposition because they require a commitment and investment to own the land Genesis 26:21-22 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. Isaac started to dig new wells. New wells always create opposition. All three wells were in the territory of the Philistines. It was a sign that he was coming to take ownership. The third well was the key well. It was the well that opened the way for God to meet with him personally. You see old wells have previously set boundaries. But new wells have no boundaries to them. Old wells only require removing some debris. New wells require greater investment, mining for a hidden resource. The process of digging new wells builds strength, patience, and character. Old wells only means following old patterns. Even today much of what we do is old patterns, yet new patterns are emerging. God is directing us to not be concerned about old wells. He told me the angels will keep them open for us. He said we are to dig deeper our new well. If God is directing us to dig deeper, it means there is a treasure of what He desires. In other words, God is not directing us to dig without result. If God is saying dig deeper, then we must be in the right location. The question comes into play, why the new well and why deeper? A deeper well means greater resource, a cleaner resource and less chance of being empty. It also means more time and investment. It also means to reach a new supply that maybe has not been tapped before. But God told me a reason why we are to all dig deep wells. God desires us to deepen until we all reach the same source, not some shallow wells and some deep and some being fed off of sub terrain cracks or fusions. But wells that reach the same underground stream that so that we all drink the same flow. And all offer to our communities the same living water from the same source! There is a final well being dug in this hour and God desires this generation to work in digging this final well. He has shown us where to dig, how to dig, and that there is a source under our feet. What is this well we are digging? We are digging of the well of the third great awakening! Once this well is dug, God will meet with all people and all nations. This will be a flow that will sweep everything in its pathway into the Kingdom. It was the third well that had been dug deep and remained. We think we have had opposition but most of our opposition is from ourselves. This third well or awakening will cause a separation from chaos into order, Gen 1:13. It will produce resurrection power not on our lives but within our lives. The Church will begin to live in third day glory. We will see the final destination of promise Gen 22:4. It will enable us to come before the king like Esther, Esther 5:1. We are coming into an unprecedented moment of Grace that the world and Church has never experienced! Hosea 6:1-3 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. This awakening unlike the first two of reviving will shift our position of raising us up! It will bring us to the wedding feast of John 2, which was on the third day and the place of the first miracle and transformation. It will produce the fullness of the Spirit, the fullness of the Kingdom, the fullness of the apostolic age, the fullness His glory, and bring the heavenly pattern to the earth.We need to refuse to believe in a shallow flow and believe for artesian flow. In other words, there is a divine flow coming! I encourage you not to get caught in re-digging what "has been" and settle for it because it is easy. But go after what John said, "What must be"(Rev 4:2). You have been positioned in the place of famine not to look for escape but to change the land! Dig deeper your new well and then your encounter with God will come! Dig deeper so we are all drawing from the same source! We should make a move to the great high place so that God will meet us, using Solomon as an example, He made a great sacrifice upon the high place ,when we begin to do mighty things for God,the heavens begins to open for our lives. There is an anointing when God has anointed us, it begins to change our destinies and our lives . God is perfecting our lives with fresh oil,ideas,thoughts,concepts ,vision and dreams. When the oil is in our lives ,our cup can never be empty. See beyond problems from today,and see the way God sees things. We must do something great beyond the ordinary to receive something great from God