Karen Gaithers-Life Discipleship

ON PRAYER & STUDY…
If you find that your life is too busy for weekly prayer & bible study, you are right, it’s tooo BUSY…to a fault!

Prayer and bible study is not a sacrifice as we understand depravity. It is a very Practical and Worthy sacrifice. It is a Profitable sacrifice. It is like preparing a healthy meal, getting gas for your car, getting proper sleep.

Pesah, or Passover is the oldest Jewish holiday, which celebrates the beginning of the Jewish people.  Historically it was on Passover, over three thousand years ago, at midnight, under the first full moon of spring, that the Israelites escaped from Egyptian slavery.  During the week long holiday, which falls in late March to mid April, Jews   remember the power and importance of this event by eating special foods linked to the bitterness of slavery and the sweetness of freedom.  The highlight of Passover is the   Seder, a dramatic yet entertaining dinner rich with stories, food, and songs.  Seder means “order” and a book called the “Haggadah” takes participants through the events celebration that retells the story of how the Jews became a free people.  The ceremony begins by reliving slavery and ends by imagining what the world will be like when all people are free.

It is no coincidence that the events of the historic Passover and exodus from Egypt would parallel our spiritual Passover and exodus from the condemnation of sin.  The beauty of a “Messianic Seder” is that the testimony of these two marvelous events are illustrated  together culminating one complete prophetic story.  The Seder is traditionally long, but because it is a “dramatization,” many creative styles have been utilized over the years making the Seder an exciting, unique expression for every family.  The Seder begins by lighting candles followed by drinking four cups of wine.  The four cups of wine used in the Seder symbolize four distinct promises made by God as told in Ex. 6:6-7.  1. Cup of Sanctification – “I will bring you out” 2. Cup of Deliverance – “I will deliver you.”  3. Cup of Redemption – “I will redeem you”  4. Cup of Restoration – “I will take you.” 

What is also significant is that the Passover was the meal Jesus took part in with his     disciples before his crucifixion.  During this meal Jesus drank the first two cups in the traditional way.  At the third cup, the Cup of Redemption, he said: “This is my blood” (Matt. 26:27-39). Jesus told his disciples that He would not drink the fourth cup (the Cup of Restoration), but promised to do so with them in the coming Kingdom (Matt. 26”29).  Jesus changed the meaning and purpose of this age old tradition from this day forward.

There are three pieces of matzah used during a Passover Seder.  During the fourth part of the Seder the leader will break the middle of three pieces of matzah in two. The smaller piece is returned to the Seder table and the larger piece is set aside wrapped in a napkin or bag. This  larger piece is called the “Afikomen,” a word that comes from the Greek word for “dessert.”  Afikomen is given this name not because it is sweet, but because it is the last item of food eaten at the Seder.  Traditionally, after the Afikomen is broken, it is   hidden.  The Seder leader calls for the children to hide the Afikomen during the meal.  The Seder cannot be concluded until the Afikomen is found and returned to the table so each guest can eat a piece of it.  At this time the children at the table must search for it and bring it back. The children receive a reward (usually candy, money) when they bring Afikomen back to the table.  The Seder leader pays a ransom or reward for the Afikomen so that the Seder can continue.

It is obvious the Seder stories bear many shadows surrounding the passion of Christ.  The stories allow each participant to recall personally the captivity of sin and the       redemption of salvation through Jesus Christ.  The Passover pilgrimage retells the believer’s spiritual journey from darkness into light, from sin into salvation, from slavery into freedom.  The Passover holiday and Seder is one of the most profound prophetic Jewish experiences that has now become relevant to all believers both Jew and Gentile. This is primarily because of the way the believer’s journey from sin to salvation is not only taught but relived both historically and spiritually during this wonderful season.

Apostle Paul speaks to the Corinthian church (believers) who somehow have lost sight of the historic message and truth  about how God brought salvation to mankind. The Corinthians are believers who have watered down the true message of the gospel and thereby, watered down there walk of faith.  Not much different from the way some believers think today…”New life in Christ is no longer relevant to our lives so let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

Well, below is a good passage to remind us what our walk was established upon and a word to share with other believers who have forgotten who they are in Christ.

Be blessed!

1 Corinthians 15New Living Translation (NLT)

The Resurrection of Christ

15 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters,^[a] of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. ² It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.^[b]

³ I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. ⁴ He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. ⁵ He was seen by Peter^[c] and then by the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers^[d] at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. ⁷ Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. ⁹ For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.

¹⁰ But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. ¹¹ So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

¹² But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. ¹⁵ And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. ¹⁶ And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. ¹⁸ In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! ¹⁹ And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

²⁰ But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

²¹ So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. ²² Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. ²³ But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

²⁴ After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. ²⁵ For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. ²⁶ And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.”^[e] (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) ²⁸ Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

²⁹ If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?

³⁰ And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? ³¹ For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. ³² And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus^[f]—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!”^[g] 33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” ³⁴ Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.

The Resurrection Body

³⁵ But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” ³⁶ What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. ³⁷ And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. ³⁸ Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed. ³⁹ Similarly there are different kinds of flesh—one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.

⁴⁰ There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies.⁴¹ The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory.

⁴² It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. ⁴³ Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.⁴⁴ They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

⁴⁵ The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.”^[h]But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. ⁴⁶ What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. ⁴⁷ Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. ⁴⁸ Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. ⁴⁹ Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like^[i] the heavenly man.

⁵⁰ What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

⁵¹ But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! ⁵² It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. ⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

⁵⁴ Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,^[j] this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.^[k]
55 O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?^[l]”

⁵⁶ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

What a blessing it is to be able to SEE God in our daily lives.  In addition to the unfathomable magnificence of creation that surrounds us, Jesus promised us “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5-6)  However, isn’t it true that there are times in our lives when circumstances can hit us so hard that we may feel forsaken by God?  We may feel like God has somehow turned an ear to the anguish of our heart.  It might feel like He isn’t really there at all.

Truth is, if you’re REALLY living this walk of faith, there will be days like this and it is in times like these that being able to SEE God or hear His voice, is most needed.  Well, in such seasons as these, I have found that perspective is EVERYTHING.  In fact, when it seems like God is far away it is usually because our spiritual lenses could use an adjustment.

Have you ever tried on a pair of glasses that were not the correct prescription?  It’s blinding, isn’t it?  Well, that’s how it is with God.  20/20 spiritual vision is to always see that God’s promises are sure.  To realize that He is a God that never fails, that He is a God who knows our needs before we ask (Matt. 6:8) and who desires that ALL things work together for our good. (Rom. 8:28)  So, if you are seeing him in any way other than the loving, caring and wise Father that He is…then check your spiritual lenses.

The ability to TRUST GOD can serve as a corrective lens for us.  It will adjust your perspective so you can look at any bad situation and SEE faith, hope, and love and as a result, you will have the peace of God.  These spiritual attributes are some of the many characteristics of God and when you experience it in your circumstances of life, you are SEEING GOD.  God’s promise to you is that even though you may walk through a valley amidst shadows of death, you will not need to fear evil or danger because the Lord is with you. (Ps. 23:4)  This perspective is truly all you need to make it through difficult times?  Correct spiritual perception is vital to spiritual health and it is demonstrated by your strength, courage, perseverance and faith to supernaturally rise above our fears and challenges.    Your ability to fight will come when you SEE God.  Your rest will come when you SEE God. Your hope will be established when you can SEE God.  You will discover a faith that will mobilize you when you SEE God.

This is not mere positive thinking as the world suggests.  This is God supernaturally correcting your “spiritual astigmatism” so that whatever is before you can be clearly seen.  You see, “Seeing God” is a spiritual ability and must be corrected in the spirit!.   Think about it, anything that exists in the earth was first conceived in the spirit (the invisible).  Everything we see in the universe was first conceived in the heart and mind of God, a realm of the spirit.  Well, it is no different for the people of God who were formed in the image of Christ.  When we wrestle with life issues, relationships, ministry, business and even struggles within our own character, our greatest challenge is “poor spiritual sight,” not necessarily the circumstance itself. (Ps. 13:2-3)  This is why we must learn to trust and seek God at all times.  It is so God may continually correct our spiritual sight!

Don’t disappear if you have seasons when you feel spiritually blind.  The blessing you will discover in times like these is that you will ALWAYS regain your sight because as you continue to trust God, you will learn how to wait on His leading and it will be worth the hardship.  You will also discover that your pain and suffering was something you had to endure in order to acquire the wisdom, strength, and maturity you will later walk in. (Jam. 1:2-12)

So, while your circumstances may not immediately change, rest assured the glory of God can reign in your life until it does.

If your LIFE were a song…what would the lyrics say? What would the music sound like? Would it rhyme or would it be disconnected? Would it flow melodically or be hard to follow? Would it swoon you or offend you? Is it a beautiful love ballad or a raunchy/foul hip hop beat? Is it a joyful pop tune or an old school grove? What’s you song? What’s your station? What is the SOUND of your LIFE?

To be GIFTED and ANOINTED… this seems to be every believer’s deepest desire. Well, in the life and ministry of every believer; gifts and anointing does play a critical role in shaping their divine purpose and in how they bear witness to God through their lives. It is even reasonable to say that a person’s giftedness as well as the anointing could be instrumental in determining how a person prospers and succeeds.

At the point of birth (both natural and spiritual) you were born with a gift(s) that was given specifically to you by God for the purpose of equipping you with an attribute or a tool that would cause you to find success in life and would also be a witness to mankind that the God through Jesus Christ LIVES. If you look hard enough or pay attention to the things that come naturally for you that also in some way make you special among others, cause you to stand out or make people amused, happy, admire, envy or in awe of you…these are your natural gifts and they indeed come from God. They are a gift to your life; a kind of deposit from God’s riches from Heaven…that by His love you would find blessing and favor in life and among men.

Unfortunately, because mankind is born in sin at birth (natural) he/she is clueless in regards to the purpose for their gift and why they were born with it. That being the case, each of us then holds within us the power to choose how we will value our gift. Nonetheless, our choice is simple. We can choose to honor the God that gave us the gift or assume that our gift is ours to do whatever we want with it.  Nine times out of ten if we have a distorted relationship with God our gifted pursuits will be after power, riches and to glorify self sometimes to the point of being worshiped like gods.

As a believer (born of the Spirit) we were born to walk in TRUTH. This truth recognizes that our natural gifts come from God. They were given to us by God to bless and prosper our lives however; and most importantly, they are there to be a witness unto God. Natural gifts testify to the truth that a supernatural God formed us from the dust of the earth and His personalized love is demonstrated by Jesus’ extraordinary sacrifice that reconciled our relationship with God. This love was also uniquely bestowed upon each of us in the form of natural and supernatural talents and abilities as gifts of recognition – testifying we belong to God. Even the ability to learn is a natural gift from God; enabling man to enhance his present gifts, invent products and discover new resources from the resources God created within the earth. The natural gifts that each human being possess is a God given ability given to him as a demonstration of God’s love so that man, in all his glory would be a light and blessing to the world and others the God is REAL.

Existing parallel to this natural gift is God’s spiritual gift that is bestowed only when one is born of the spirit through faith and grace in Jesus Christ. These spiritual gifts are much like the natural gifts in that they are abilities that equip us to bear witness to God and prosper in life, except these alone bear the literal “Presence of God” upon them. This presence is recognized as the “Anointing.” The anointing or “presence of God” is something that EVERY believer is born with as a result of being a Child of God (Gal. 5:22-23, Col. 3:10). This anointing rest upon any one of the supernatural spiritual gifts that was given to each believer as the Spirit of God chooses (1Cor. 12:8-10). These gifts are given to not only bear witness of God but to accomplish His will in the earth and in the lives of mankind. These gifts were also given to us through the passionate love God has for us as His own “spiritual creation” and purposed to equip the believer to find success and blessing as an Ambassador of Christ in the earth. Only this kind of anointing (presence of God) can break ungodly mindsets (yokes), addictions, emotional ties, cycles of abuse, low-self esteem, heal the broken hearts, heal sicknesses and disease, cause eyes to see and ears to hear (both naturally and spiritually) and yes, even raise someone from the dead. This is what the presence of God can do and it is the reason why the believer has been made into living vessels that would house “gifts from God” (Gen.1:27).

So, how does all of this work together?  As human beings, each of us are born with unique God given talents and these talents are given to us from God. The purpose for these talents are to testify of the existence that there is a loving God in the world who is intimately invested in our lives and desiring that we would prosper in every manner in life and in the earth. Then, when we come to personally know God through relationship with Jesus Christ, we are given additional gifts and these are supernatural in nature and they are clothed with the supernatural presence of God.

You see, our natural talents bear within it a measure of anointing or presence of God by its shear uniqueness and exceptional qualities that exceed human capabilities however, its power is solely as a “witness unto God.” When we become born again believers our spiritual gifts and abilities could be recognized as a “double portion anointing” because it functions congruently with our natural talents enhancing our life and purpose in the earth with the supernatural power of God to now be able to CHANGE THE WORLD and the lives of MANKIND.  Together, these anointings are given as a measure of God’s love and does not require our righteousness to possess it or our submission to Him (Rom. 11:29).  However, understand that the presence of God is infinite and therefore containing many layers of God’s wisdom and power and these deeper resources of God’s nature is where we find the mysteries in God, divine revelation, power to move circumstantial mountains and the working of miracles unfold. This is where lives are empowered and legitimately transformed into new creations in the light and glory of God. This anointing can only be accessed by an intimate relationship with the person of Jesus Christ and walking in love and obedience (alignment) with His will and purpose. This anointing and reality of God is earned by way of a sacrificed life and few genuinely choose to discover it. This is what Jesus meant when He said “Take up your cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24).

Now I don’t know about you but this dialogue causes me to want to examine myself and lay down my own life daily and then look at the world, in particular those in the Christian and secular fields of politics, science, entertainment and ministry with new lenses. It becomes clear who truly understands the purpose for their talent and who doesn’t. It becomes even more apparent who is walking with a supernatural awareness of their purpose in contrast to those with a carnal awareness of their purpose. It is also clear to recognize those who have genuinely chosen to take up their cross and follow Jesus and those living comfortably on the side lines with their gifts and talents – over indulging upon God’s love and grace without becoming a “living sacrifice” unto Him (Rom. 12:1).

So I ask you today…are you a child of God living your FULL POTENTIAL? Are you living in your natural gifts alone or are you living in both your natural and spiritual gifts as a fully manifested creation of God?  There’s only one way to find out…you will be known by your FRUIT.  Upon the platform that God has given you to shine what is the depth of the fruit you are bearing?  Does it glorify God or YOU?  Are your gifts drawing you deeper in God or are you living only on the surface of what you were truly created for?  Do you even desire to “Go Deeper?”

I leave with you the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:14-30 and Matthew 7:21-29 that brings this discussion to full circle. Take a look at these passages and determine who of these characters in the stories best represents you. Then allow the Holy Spirit be the voice of conviction for the rhyme and reason of your life as a Vessel for God.

~ . ~

Matthew 25:14-30English Standard Version (ESV)
The Parable of the Talents
14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants[a] and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[c] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 7:21-29New King James Version (NKJV)
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Build on the Rock
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

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1. The #1 Assignment of Dating is to determine MARRIAGE
2. Marry someone you Love Unconditionally and Trust as your Best Friend.
3. Marry someone you Like not someone you Need.

Example:
You May NEED
• A Companion
• Financial Support
• Parent for your kids or an Escort with your friends
You Should LIKE
• Your Companion for a LIFE-TIME
• The way you AGREE in Financial Plans
• That your Kids Love the Way Your Mate TREATS YOU or the way your friends RESPECT Your Mate

4. Date with a 12 MONTH EVALUATION PLAN according to the Biblical Numerical System.

a. 1 = The unity between God the Father and His Son Jesus (John 10:30) – This month “Determine if you both walk in agreement in your relationship with Jesus Christ”
b. 2= Conveys the meaning of a union, division or the verification of facts by witnesses. – This month “See what each of your family and friends think of your mate.”
c. 3= The number 3 is used 467 times in the Bible. It pictures completeness, though to a lesser degree than 7. – This month “Your relationship should start feeling a seasoning taking place – toward togetherness or separateness.”
d. 4= Derives its meaning from creation. On the fourth day of what is called ‘creation week’ God completed the material universe. On this day he brought into existence our sun, the moon, and all the stars (Genesis 1:14 – 19). – This month “Your relationship should begin building upon the practical things that makes a solid union.”
e. 5= Symbolizes God’s grace, goodness and favor toward humans and is mentioned 318 times in Scripture (John 1:16). This month – “Should begin to recognize or sense God’s Grace and Favor upon your union…or you recognize you are stagnate and repeating same issues with no resolve that moves you forward”
f. 6= Symbolizes man and human weakness, the evils of Satan and the manifestation of sin. Man was created on the sixth day. Men are appointed 6 days to labor. – This month “You recognize one another flaws and commit to continue to love one another unconditionally or you experience a selfish love between you that must be contended with.”
g. 7= Seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). – This month “Fact: What you See is What you are Getting…Like it?”
h. 8= Represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation, and man’s true ‘born again’ event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life. – This month “You both know…THIS IS THE ONE or THIS IS NOT THE ONE and everyone can see where your relationship is headed…Toward Life of Death”
i. 9= Symbolizes divine completeness or conveys the meaning of finality. – This month “Time to talk MARRIAGE or Can You?”
j. 10= God gave the 10 Commandments to man. Ten therefore represents man’s responsibility to keep the commandments. – This month “Time to redefine the terms for a NEW relationship”
k. 11= Symbolize disorder, chaos and judgment. In the Bible, 11 is used twenty-four times and “11th” can be found 19 times. Coming after 10 (which represents law and responsibility), the number eleven represents the opposite – the irresponsibility of breaking the Law, which brings disorder and judgment. – This month, Personal reality check…“It’s either working or its NOT” Decide what’s wrong and if you both are ready to fix it…NOW not later”
l. 12= Considered a perfect number, is that it symbolizes God’s power and authority, as well as serving as a perfect governmental foundation. – This month “High Time to DECIDE if you will marry or not…or cut it off” Plans for engagement should be underway!

5. NEVER let the wisdom of the world replace the Wisdom of God. Remember: A true “Godly Relationship” will align you more and more with God’s will and ways.
6. Let the love between you and your mate be a Guiding Light to God before others
7. Enjoy the sweet blessings of your LOVE Relationship (in God) knowing that the High Standard of God for your life is because He thinks so Highly of YOU!
8. Better to WAIT when your options are Unclear
9. Intimacy should be defined by ONLY WHAT YOU WILL DO IN PUBLIC
10. Model your life after those who are Godly and Successfully Single or Married
11. Beware Taking Advice from those whose circumstances are no better than your own.
12. Remember: There is no failure in God…Never regret a God defined experience…its treasure is WISDOM Beyond Measure.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

  Apostle Paul

It is not often that I share publications from other writers unless I believe it truly shares insights that appear to be deeply hidden from the Body of Christ.  In 2014 Charisma News posted an article written by Joseph Mattera entitled, “10 Characteristics of Christ’s True Apostles.”  It is my pleasure to share this article with you.  May it add greater wisdom to your life and increase your understanding of how God is shaping his magnificent church, the Body of Christ.

~ . ~

Recently I heard a great prophetic teacher (Thamo Naidoo from South Africa) mention in his message that there is a difference between apostles of churches and apostles of Christ. He said that while there were many apostles of churches, there were only very few true apostles of Christ on the Earth today. That one statement exploded on the inside of me and gave me much illumination. I had never heard anyone make this delineation before, but it makes a lot of sense to me. The following is what I have unpacked in the scriptures since Thamo made this statement.

Essentially, the word “apostle” means a person who is sent to represent another—whether a king, kingdom or entity like a church. First Corinthians 12:28 teaches that God places first in the church apostles, since they are sent by God to represent Him in a city to pioneer a beachhead (a church or ekklesia as shown in Matthew 16:18-19) for city transformation.

Apostles are the “sent ones” who represent the essence of what the church vision or mission is all about. In John 17, Jesus constantly referred to the fact that He was sent by the Father to the world, which is one reason Hebrews 3:1 refers to Jesus as our Apostle. Jesus was God’s apostle sent into the world to redeem it. In Revelation 21:14, we see the term “the 12 apostles of the Lamb.”

There will never be another apostle added to that list since there were only 12. However, it seems evident (at least to me) that Paul was also an apostle of Christ, which means this general category was not limited to merely 12 in total. Paul qualified his apostleship not only by planting churches but also by seeing Jesus (1 Cor. 9:1), which means that apostles at this level must have experienced a dynamic encounter and intimate walk with the Lord.

In the New Testament there were dozens of people identified as apostles. It is my view that since Paul was an apostle of Christ his apostleship transcended the churches he founded. Although Paul did not found the church in Rome, he was respected enough by the general body of Christ that he was able to write the letter to the Romans with apostolic weight and authority as if he was the one who planted it. Hence, apostles of Christ garner a high level of respect beyond the borders of their own church networks, even though they would never attempt to supplant the authority of an apostolic leader who is the founder and/or leader of another network (unless there was heresy or a gross violation of biblical ethics).

Also, Paul warned that there were some who were masquerading as apostles of Christ (2 Cor.11:13), which probably means that this term (apostle of Christ) was used to identify some significant apostles who were not among the original 12. Furthermore, in 2 Corinthians 8:23, Paul identified some as “apostles of the churches” (not “apostles of Christ”), which I believe refers to the fact that these leaders only had limited recognized apostolic authority related to representing a particular constellation of churches.

Since apostles of Christ directly represent the Lord Jesus, they have a burden and calling for the whole body of Christ and/or a large expression of the global body of Christ. Apostles of Christ are also trans-cultural, trans-generational, and are more loyal to the kingdom of God than to a specific geopolitical affinity.

The following are 10 characteristics of apostles of Christ:

1. Apostles of Christ Build the Kingdom

Oftentimes, church apostles are just focused on their local church and/or their network or denomination. One of the reasons is because their assignment is limited to those works they personally oversee or have founded. They do not have the grace or leadership capacity to go beyond their particular church system, doctrine and/or culture. On the other hand, apostles of Christ have an ambassadorial call that transcends any one church, movement or denomination. Hence, even if they try to focus on one group or movement, God will constantly pull them into other church communities and/or nations to build apostolic foundations related to doctrine or kingdom life.

2. Apostles of Christ Are Not Hierarchical

Generally speaking, church apostles can be caught up in titles, measures of influence within their movement, and/or church politics. Apostles of Christ do not personally crave titles (they will use them when appropriate) and do not need institutional church structures to validate their ministry or calling.

3. Apostles of Christ Don’t Strive For Recognition

Philippians 2 teaches us that Jesus made Himself of no reputation. Apostles of Christ are often hidden and do not seek public attention, since they are already rooted strongly in their identity as sons of God and have no innate need for public acclaim.

4. Apostles of Christ Are Not Driven by Money

Apostles of Christ have so much faith in their assignment from God, they trust God will provide all their needs as long as they are in His will. They do not go to a place to minister only because the offerings are good but will go only where the Lord is leading. Paul said he did not peddle the word of God for money (2 Cor.2:17), and the apostle Peter warns shepherds not to minister for dishonest gain (1 Peter 5:2). Although I believe those who labor in the word full-time are worthy of double honor and should make a living from the gospel (1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Cor. 9:14), the bottom line for apostles of Christ is the will of God, not material gain.

5. Apostles of Christ Lay Down Their Lives for the Gospel

All of the original 12 apostles (except John) as well as the apostle Paul were martyred for the gospel. As Jesus laid down His life for the sheep (John 10), those who represent Him are willing to die daily (Rev. 12:11; Acts 20:24; Gal. 2:19-20) whether it is to their own will or literally to lose their lives.

6. Apostles of Christ Have a Servant’s Heart

Apostles of Christ are unassuming, do not have an entitlement mentality, have a servant’s heart, and do not lead with a top-down autocratic approach like the rulers of the Gentiles (Mark 10:42). They mimic Jesus’ words when He said that the greatest in the Kingdom is the one who serves (Mark 10:43-45).

7. Apostles of Christ Have Divine Influence and Calling Beyond Their Network of Churches

Although the apostle Paul strove not to preach where Christ was already named (Rom. 15:20), his greatest epistle was to the church at Rome, where he endeavored to go in spite of the fact he was not their founding apostle. Paul had vast influence way beyond the primary sphere of activity he was focusing on (Read 2 Cor. 10:10-14). His influence has even reached to us 2,000 years later through his inspired New Testament writings.

Since apostles of Christ represent the Lord Himself, by nature they have to be trans-national, trans-cultural, and multi-generational and have a desire for kingdom advancement, not just the enlargement of their church networks.

8. Apostles of Christ Have an Intimate Walk with God

Since apostles of Christ have to represent Jesus and not merely a church or denomination (of course all believers are called to represent Christ, but apostolic callings have a greater measure of responsibility), they are obligated to know God intimately and walk in His presence and power. All of the original 12 apostles walked with Jesus personally for more than three years before they were launched into their ministry, and Paul the apostle had a personal encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). All true apostles of Christ will have a driving passion to know God and to make Him known.

9. Apostles of Christ Endure Great Hardship

Paul validated his apostleship by the immense hardships he endured, not just by signs and wonders and church planting (2 Cor. 11:17-12:8). Paul said (1 Cor. 4:9) that apostles live like those condemned dying in the arena (or have the sentence of death upon themselves). This kind of apostolic leader must have the capacity for high-stress leadership combined with the kind of emotional maturity to deal with all kinds of difficulties that the average person could never endure.

10. Apostles of Christ Live in Simplicity

Apostles of Christ do not need or desire to live a life of extreme luxury and opulence. Their spiritual and psychological needs have already been met through their deep and abiding relationship with Christ. They have been so satisfied with living with the person and presence of God that they count all things as dung compared to knowing Him (Phil. 3:8-14)! Their greatest desire in life is to fellowship with Him, meditate on the scriptures, and serve God’s people and kingdom. Consequently they do not need to drive the most expensive cars, live in the largest houses or make a huge salary in order to be satisfied in this life. Consequently, they live in simplicity, are content with little and are not driven to pursue material possessions and pleasure.

After seeing these 10 traits, we can see how there are only very few apostles of Christ in this world today. May the Lord raise more up in these days so the body of Christ can fully advance!