Blog: From Death To Life

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ESV

PICTURE: Pray Love Invite 

Ephesians 2:4-10 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. ESV

VIDEO: Church Is A Verb

You are divinely purposed and uniquely gifted by God!

Ephesians 2:11-12 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ESV

Ephesians 2:13-22 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

We are citizens of heaven with a purposed assignment in the conquered territory of this fallen world. 

GP2RL: Read the book of Ephesians this week and continue to Invite people into your life, your love and your faith journey as the Holy Spirit directs.

Blog: Predetermined Goodness of God

Predestination is the predetermined goodness of God.

Eternal realities strain the brain. It’s the guy who was talking to God. He said, “Lord with you a million years is like a minute. So, a million dollars is like a penny. So can I just have a penny?” To which the Lord replied, “In a minute.”

Ephesians 1:11-14 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guaranteed of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. ESV

Predestination is not something we decide if we believe in or not. We all were predestined. 

What does that mean? Were we pre-planned and the decision is up to us or is the plan just hardwired in our hearts to happen? Are some people hardwired to go to heaven while others are hardwired to go to hell? This is exactly what some people believe.

It is not God’s will that any should perish but that all of mankind would come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  If it is not God’s will for any to perish then God didn’t will for some to perish.

There are various examples of how man’s decision to repent changed God’s course of action.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “IF my people pray” God will move in the earth. Our prayers have influence on the outcomes in this world.

In Numbers 14 God says He’s going to wipe the Israelites out. Moses intercedes and God spares them. 

Isaiah gave a word from God telling Hezekiah to get his affairs in order because he was about to die. Hezekiah’s decision to repent changed the plan God had released over his situation.

2 Kings 20:1-6 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” 2 Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, 3 “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5 “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. 6 “I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”’

St. Augustine said, “Without God, man cannot; without man, God will not.”

The choice is yours but God’s predetermined plan for you is to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Ephesians 1:15-23 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. ESV

Some things God desires to reveal cannot even be contained by your imagination. They must be carried in your spirit. This is why conditioning your spirit man in prayer, word, gathering and discipling others is so important!

There is a price to pay if you want to experience God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus paid it all for you to have salvation. Then it’s up to you to work out your salvation dying daily, sacrificially exploring these ancient wells and eternal realities. 

If you want a nice house but don't want to pay the price you can settle for a smaller house. If you want a nice car but you don’t want to pay the price you can settle for a smaller car. If you want to find your way into deeper places with God but you don’t want to pay the price you can settle for less.

GP2RL: Read the book of Ephesians this week and continue to Invite people into your life, your love and your faith journey as the Holy Spirit directs.

MORE ON GIFTS AND ONLINE GIFT ASSESSMENTS:

The Bible is very clear that we are to “follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14:1). Gifts are God’s avenues to supernaturally empower God’s people to become a true expression of God’s Kingdom in the earth.

Exploring the gifts God has given to the church helps you identify with the things God has purposed as your strengths. There are a few options we suggest online such as www.freeshapetest.com and http://mintools.com/spiritual-gifts-test.htm

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

1 Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

5 MINISTRY GIFTS:

Eph 4:11-16 speaks of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. The purpose of these gifts to inspire and awaken God’s people to understand their call to the work of the ministry in their everyday lives.

7 MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS:

Romans 12: 3-8 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. ESV

The motivational gifts are deeply seeded within us as a driving force to help us advance God’s Kingdom and to better understand who God has made us to be. 

THE MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS DEFINED

1. MOTIVATIONAL GIFT: PROPHECY

• To speak with forthrightness and insight, especially when enabled by the Spirit of God (Joel 2:28).

• To demonstrate moral boldness and uncompromising commitment to worthy values.

• To influence others in one's arena of influence with a positive spirit of social or spiritual righteousness. 

2. MOTIVATIONAL GIFT: SERVING

• To minister and render loving, general service to meet the needs of others.

• Illustrated in the work and office of the deacon (Matt. 20:26). 

3. MOTIVATIONAL GIFT: TEACHING

• The supernatural ability to explain and apply the truths received from God for the church.

• Presupposes study and the Spirit's illumination providing the ability to make divine truth clear to the people of God.

• Considered distinct from the work of the prophet who speaks as the direct mouthpiece of God. 

4. MOTIVATIONAL GIFT: EXHORTATION

• Literally means to call aside for the purpose of making an appeal.

• In a broader sense it means to entreat, comfort, or instruct (Acts 4:36; Heb. 10:25).

5. MOTIVATIONAL GIFT: GIVING

• The essential meaning is to give out of a spirit of generosity.

• In a more technical sense it refers to those with resources aiding those without such resources (2 Cor. 8:2; 9:11-13).

• This gift is to be exercised without outward show or pride and with liberality. (2. Cor. 1:12; 8:2; 9:11, 13)

6. MOTIVATIONAL GIFT: LEADERSHIP

• Refers to the one "standing in front."

• Involves the exercise of the Holy Spirit in modeling, superintending, and developing the body of Christ.

• Leadership is to be exercised with diligence. 

7. MOTIVATIONAL GIFT: MERCY

• To feel sympathy with the misery of another.

• To relate to others in empathy, respect, and honesty.

• To be effective, this gift is to be exercised with kindness and cheerfulness-not as a matter of duty. 

9 MANIFESTATION GIFTS:

1 Corinthians 12:1-13 speaks of these manifestations or demonstrations of the Holy Spirit’s power through God’s people: 1. Wisdom, 2. Word of Knowledge, 3. Faith, 

4. Healing, 5. Miraculous Powers, 6. Prophecy, 7. Discerning of Spirits, 8. Tongues, 9. Interpretation.

There is rowboat Christianity and there is sailboat Christianity. You can strain at the oars for every inch of advancement, or you can put up those sails that are down right now and be empowered to take off in dimensions you never even knew existed. Click this link for a series of messages to help with a deeper understanding about this important topic: https://destinyokc.com/ghoststories

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son and then for God so loved those who said yes to his son that he sent his Holy Spirit. No matter what you’ve been taught or allowed yourself to believe up to this point I want to ask you to prayerfully consider looking into God’s Word on these important matters.

1 Corinthians 14:1-5 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. NIV

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. NIV

Depending on your church background you might focus on one these two portions of scripture or the other to make what seems to be a contradicting point. Paul says we are to speak in tongues, but Paul also says pray in your intelligible language. Paul is saying there is an appropriate context for both in the believer’s life and we should be eager to explore these gifts God has made available to us.

1 Corinthians 14:39-40 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. NIV

There is a difference between tongues and interpretation and a personal prayer language of tongues that is for the purpose of self-edification – Jude 1:20.

University of Penn researchers conducted brain scans on people who would speak in tongues. The frontal lobes, responsible for conscious thinking, and language centers were inactive compared to normal activity! The research has shown that the description given for speaking in tongues is quite accurate to what is taking place in the brain at that time. Mental illness is rare in people who speak in tongues, contrary to popular thought. Another study shows that people who practice spkg in tongues = more emotionally healthy than those who do not  http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/health/07brain.html

Jude 1:20 build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. NAS

May God grant us wisdom and revelation as we continue to grow and become all He ever desired and designed us to become. His plan is for us to be his supernaturally empowered sons and daughters of God in the earth!