The Ideal Church

Ever wondered what the ideal church looked like? I imagine it is not what we see today, that is a programmed based service with the goal is to see more and more income to support more and more programs. Nor is it merely a place to be blessed and to grow in knowledge, but more a place that is a launching pad & activation of God’s people into the calling and purposes of God.

The ideal church is a church that is alive with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. A church where every believer understands who they are and their function in the body of Christ. Where there is both freedom to be and order in what may appear chaos at times, though there is no chaos.

The ideal church is being built up by Jesus as He works in and through the lives of every believer. Where the elders and bishops understand their roles are to equip saints with the tools to be the Body of Christ and not themselves assume all roles. Where function and functionality override position and title.

The ideal church is every believer as a lover and worshipper of Jesus and His Spirit, where worshipping in spirit and in truth is the norm rather than the odd occurrence. Where each day is a new day of opportunity to be light and salt to all those around us despite how we feel.

The ideal church is when every believer desires nothing more than to share the love and gifts they have received with all and that looks not to selfish gain or ambition but to how each can add to the benefit of others.

The ideal church is where every believer is in agreement, where every word and song is in sync to each other and where those things asked of the Father are happily granted. Where faith overrides fear or failure. Where the future is in Him the giver of all life and for our heavenly destination.

The ideal church is knowing that we are representatives of another kingdom other than the one we see each day. And that this world in which we now live is very different even the opposite of the Kingdom of our God.

The ideal church is where love abounds but also where truth and righteousness prevails. A place of mercy & grace yet full of justice and the rule of God. Where Jesus is Lord, King of Kings, The Prince of Peace, our Mighty God, The Rose of Sharon, The Bright Morning Star, Immanuel and who reigns over all.

Be Blessed

James Kenny

The River of God - Ezekiel 47

As we begin the first week of term two of our school of the Spirit, I announced that term two was all about seeing the release of the prophetic, yet in announcing this, I did not really know where the Lord by His Spirit was leading us. However, after a time in prayer the answer was revealed.

In Ezekiel 47, we have the story of the prophet being shown a river that was flowing from the temple, from the entrance or the threshold of the Temple. This river continues to flow eastward and again another river flows from the south side of the Temple. Later we hear the waters trickling to the east flow into the sea where they make the water fresh.

The prophet is then returned to the Temple and shown the trees that are growing along side the river flowing east and the life they bring to all around them.

A similar picture is given to John in Revelation 22, in this case John is told the trees which are growing along side the river are the tree of life which bear fruit each month and that the leaves of the trees are healing for the nations.

In both of these pictures we see the key element is the water which is flowing from the Temple, it is this living water which brings life and healing to those it touches. As we continue to think on scripture relating to water, it is impossible to forget Jesus' teaching of living water which He refers to being the Spirit in John 7:38 and onwards. Again in John 4 when speaking to the Samaritan women makes reference to this water which will cause those who drink to never thirst again.

Yet when we read on in John 7 we find that those who thirst after this water are the ones who will receive it. Jesus therefore says that those who are thirsty for the Spirit are those who will receive it. Thirsting after the Spirit is therefore a pre-requisite for receiving the Spirit. Jesus also speaks of hunger and thirst in the be-attitudes of Matthew 5:6 saying that it is those who will be filled.

So if we wish to be filled (present tense) then it is vital that we are thirsty and hungry for this living water which is the Spirit. Yet it is not just the inflow of God's Spirit that we are designed for but also the outflow. That is to see a constant flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Just as the water from the Temple continued to flow to become a blessing to the nations and those in whom it touched, so too are we designed to see God's Spirit in our (the temples of His Spirit and living stones) lives flow out of us to touch and bless others.

In Australia, when a river is in flood during the rainy season, often it will over flow and create what we call "Billabongs" or small pockets of water which have been left alongside the original flow of the river after the flood waters have receded.  These billabongs though initially can be cosy and somewhat beautiful areas of a river after a time can become stale and stagnant and all that is trapped in them slowly but surely begins to die. The moral of the story is simple, to remain alive, fresh in God's Spirit we must remain in tact with the source of the river of God. I often explain it like this, consider yourself a vessel that has both an in flow and out flow, as you are poured out to be a blessing to those around you, it is imperative that you are replenished and re-filled with the source of your blessing being the Holy Spirit.

God would have His temples of His Spirit to be a blessing to the nations, it is therefore vital for our continued use within the Kingdom of God to keep returning to the Holy Spirit to be filled up with His presence and power.

School of the Spirit Term 2 with Helen & Tim Lovett

John 3:16 For God So Loved the World

John 3:16 has to be one of the most popular and simple yet profound messages of the bible. When growing up as a teenager in the eighties, I was often amazed that at most sporting events or major events where there was live coverage you would often see that famous scripture verse - John 3:16.

That God loves us, all of us is a simple message that I think most people are happy to receive whether we are Christian or not, to know there is someone who loves us is truly wonderful to know irrespective of our background or knowledge of God. Yet this message is also profound, as there are no conditions placed on God's love. In fact scripture also tells us despite "while we were still yet sinners, Christ died for us" as shown in Romans 5:8. This is the part which is profound, even in the ugliness of our sin, God was willing to send His Son to die for us. He did this without condition, that is He did not require us to accept this sacrifice yet still went ahead with it. This truly is unconditional love that I am sure many will find hard to grasp or understand.

And though this message of God's love is simple, it is a powerful message that can transform peoples lives. Recently I saw a video of a young and newly converted believer of Jesus who decided he must share this simple message with who ever will listen. On one occasion, he was filmed telling a man outside a pub in Australia that God loved him, when the man said he had tried Christianity and had asked God to heal him of  a back injury to no avail, he walked away from God. At that moment this new convert asked the man if he could pray that God would heal his back. After receiving prayer and walking down the road, the man returned yelling and shouting in amazement that his back was different and that after 20 years of pain now felt no pain. You can imagine his joy and the joy of the new convert as they stood in the street crying and praising Jesus for what He had done.

After watching this video, it reminded me of the time we as new converts, with no knowledge of scripture and possibly religion would weekly go into the streets and testify of what Jesus had done to us. Once again our testimony, irrespective how small or simply it is can be a great tool in sharing God's love with others. I remember one particular period in my life when I was able to pray for 33 people in just 3 weeks to ask Jesus to come into their lives. Revelation tells us that "we defeat the devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

Just today whilst enjoying a cup of coffee with my mum who is now rather old and frail, I asked the Holy Spirit to reveal someone seated near us that might need a word of encouragement. Within a few moments, the Holy Spirit showed me a lady who He told me was lonely could do with some words of love. I approached this lady and with just a few simple words told her that God loved her and that He had never ever left her. This lady immediately beamed with joy and said thankyou so much I know that.

What came next was amazing, as I began to walk to the car with my mum, three separate people approached me asking if they could help me in some way. Whilst I declined their help, I realised that God was trying to show me something and a verse came to mind, "do to others as you would have them do unto you". The Lord was showing me that as we, step out in our faith to build up and encourage others to trust and believe in God, others in turn will do the same to us. This is a bit like what Proverbs says, "as iron sharpens iron, so too one man sharpens another".

Be encouraged to share with others what Christ has shared with you. Philippians encourages us to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling". This scripture is often misquoted indicating that we need to work on our salvation which according to Roman's has all been done through Jesus. What this scripture is actually saying is allow that which Christ has done in us, be outworked in our lives. That is if Christ has shown you mercy, then show mercy to others, if God has forgiven your sins then forgive others etc etc...

So go out their and do to others as you would have them do to you...

1Corinthians 12 - A Picture of the Church Ekklesia

A couple of days ago, whilst in a prayer meeting we regularly attend here in the Blue Mountains, the Holy Spirit began to unveil a new picture of His Church. As I looked at the timber floor of the building where we were praying and saw the various grains and colours of the natural blue gum timbers that were in use, I suddenly realised this was a picture of the church as one body with many parts.

1 Corinthians 12 says there is one body with many parts, and as I continued looking at this floor of blue gum timbers and saw how some of the gloss or shine had faded in parts but in other areas was intact, the Lord said to me this is very much like the Church. Some have faded in their faith whilst others continue to shine yet all of these timbers like us are connected to one another. And as a connected body, though some have faded together we still make up the Body of Christ on this earth.

The emphasis was not on the fact that some had faded, but on the fact that we are all connected and when connected continue to function as the Lord purposed us. Just as the timber floor continued to function and fulfil it's purpose so too must we continue to function and fulfil our purpose in Christ.

Paul the apostles encourages us to continue the "good fight" that is not to be discouraged or lose sight of God's greater purpose for His Church and Body. And Romans 8:28 reminds us that "All things work together for good; for those who are called according to His promise."

Therefore, let us continue to be the Body, not losing site of His plans or purpose but pressing on to one day shine like the stars or perhaps a timber floor for God's Glory!

Luke 4:1 Then Jesus Full of and Controlled by the Holy Spirit

When arriving home from the snow today I saw an article sent to me from a fellow I know and perhaps others have heard of. Laurie Woods runs an inner healing ministry and wrote this article to do with the Holy Spirit that I thought you might like to read. Whilst I don’t disagree with what Laurie is saying, I will say that we should not get caught up in looking for demons under every rock. We must as followers of Jesus be will and open for the Holy Spirit to “search our hearts” as Kind David once said but not make a doctrine of it.

 

 

THEN JESUS FULL OF AND CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT RETURNED FROM THE JORDAN AND WAS LED IN [BY] THE [HOLY] SPIRIT.  (Luke 4:1 Amp)

 

Jesus went on to pay that supreme sacrifice so that we, also, could progressively become ‘full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit’. (That is, to be perfectly loving, holy, sanctified, fully restored to God’s ‘image and likeness’, the Bride without ‘spot or wrinkle’). Synonymously, this describes one who is fully endowed with the ‘fruit’ of the Holy Spirit and is completely available to Him as a conduit for the operation of His ‘gifts’. – Jesus perfectly demonstrated these things when He left the wilderness, didn’t He!

 

Somewhere along the way, we have ‘lost the plot’!

 

- Instead of baptiso (full immersion) in the Holy Spirit, we have mostly settled for bapto (partial immersion) in the Holy Spirit.

 

In other words, we no sooner place Jesus on the throne of our lives, than our ‘flesh’ takes over again!

 

“It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.(Romans 7:21-25 MSG)

 

Question: Why do we do this?

Answer:  Undetected sins registered in the sub-conscious mind of our soul. – Will always direct us to control by our self-centred ‘flesh’ rather than to the direction and control by Holy Spirit residing in our redeemed spirit.

 

The problem is that most Christians don’t accept that they could have undetected sins lurking within them, because Jesus ‘became sin’ on that cross, so all their sins are dealt with! (Paul obviously didn’t think this way, did he!)  - Such deception allows demonic ‘landing pads’ in most of us!

 

Paul, in Philippians,gave the solution to the problem when he said that although he wasn’t yet perfect, (perfectly restored to God’s ‘image and likeness of agape love), he nevertheless ‘pressed on’ towards this goal.  In other words he ‘pressed in’ to the Holy Spirit to reveal what needed to be dealt with at the appropriate time. (King David also learnt this didn’t he. – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 NKJB)

 

THE CONDITION AND THE PROMISE

We like to claim the promises of God spread throughout the Old and New Testaments, but we seem to be less amenable to accepting the condition that applies. That is ‘baptiso’ in the Holy Spirit!

 

For example, Proverbs 3:5-8 (Amp): The promise: v6 “… He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” v8 “It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.”

The condition: v5-6  “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways, know, recognize and acknowledge Him, … .”

 

Matthew 6: The promise: No need to be anxious or worried about anything.The condition: 6:33 “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of being and doing right), and then all these things taken together will be given to you besides.” – (Is this the ‘abundant’ life that Jesus referred to in John 10:10?

 

As we progressively deal with the ‘spots and wrinkles’ – the ‘lumps in the clay’ – as revealed by the Holy Spirit within, we are meeting God’s ‘conditions’. - We move from ‘glory to glory’, we overcome as He overcame. – We are being prepared as the Bride (Revelation 19:7)

- “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:21,22 NKJV)

 

 

THE POST CHRISTIAN ERA

I must say that I was shocked, (but, on reflection, not surprised), when I first heard this expression spoken from the pulpit.  So-called Western Society, whose prosperity rose on the back of Old and New Testament God-centred values, are now speeding down the path of moral decline at an accelerating rate!

 

The Christian Church was mandated by Jesus Christ to be the vehicle of the Holy Spirit to overcome Satan and restore God’s creation to that which it was created to be in the first place!  But Satan obviously has the upper hand at present, as demonstrated by the increasing legal acceptance of gay marriage.

 

Self-centred hedonism is on the increase. – Society is rushing, like those pigs, towards that cliff!

When the Christian Church begins to take full advantage of the gospel of the New Testament, there will develop such obvious ‘abundance’ in the lives of Christians, that others will pursue it saying: “Tell me what you have discovered, - I want it too!” – This is the ‘stuff’ of the ‘turn-a-round’! This is the ‘stuff’ of revival in the ‘Great Southlands of the Holy Spirit.  This is the ‘stuff’ of the ‘preparation of the Bride’ ready for the return of the Bridegroom.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE FULFILMENT OF THE PROMISE MADE TO ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB, THAT THROUGH THEM ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH WOULD BE BLESSED.

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The process of dealing with the unidentified ‘spots and wrinkles’ (‘lumps in the clay’) is often called Christian inner healing ministry. The Holy Spirit has trained many groups throughout the world, such as Ellel Ministries International, Elijah House and Christian Inner Healing Retreats Australia Inc (CIHRA), to minister in churches and Christian groups.

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LAWRIE WOODS, CHAIR, CIHRA OPERATIONS BOARD 3^RD JULY 2015   0421028567

PO BOX 672 SPRINGWOOD NSW 2777 AUSTRALIA cihra@wix.com.auwww.cihra.org.au