The Beauty and Power of Expectation

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
There is something beautiful and powerful about expectation! There is also something wonderful in knowing who you are in God. In this text, Paul reminds us that nothing in this present world can be compared to the "glory" or God's character/power/presence that is within us. Said another way, "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)
In Romans 8:19, Paul uses a wonderful word for "earnest expectation" (apokaradokia). It describes the attitude of a man who scans the horizon with head thrust forward, eagerly searching the distance for the first signs of the break of dawn.
When you face challenges in life or need fresh direction, having hope and expectation are especially important. God designed us to dream and to see realities greater than our present circumstances. This is part of what it means to be made in God's "image and likeness."
All of creation, including ourselves, are experiencing the beauty and power of expectation! We are leaning forward, pressing into brighter days and possibilities. God is revealing His sons and daughters to this world as agents of change and redemption through Jesus Christ!
Expect it! Live in it! Reveal the glory!
Below is an excerpt from a poem by Maya Angelou, On the Pulse of the Morning:
Lift up your eyes upon
The day breaking for you.
Give birth again
To the dream.
Women, children, men,
Take it into the palms of your hands.
Mold it into the shape of your most
Private need. Sculpt it into
The image of your most public self.
Lift up your hearts
Each new hour holds new chances
For new beginnings.
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
The horizon leans forward,
Offering you space to place new steps of change.
Here, on the pulse of this fine day

Living in Heaven's Entrance

Living in Heaven's Entrance
Principles of Your Inheritance
PSA 16:5, You, O LORD, are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. 6] The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.
Psa 16: NLT 5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. 6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!
1 Peter 2:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceed-ingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We take a lot for granted today because we've been blessed to live in a great and free country. We've received provision, education, protection and shelter from our families, and encouagement from our friends.. We've been living inside a bubble of blessing. And that is a good thing as long as we understand that all this is mostly the result of inheritance. When I taught about Men of Steel on Father's Day, I reflected on my father, grandfathers, mother and those who came before me. I not sure when I first realized that I've been living in inheritance but I know it now, and have for a long time.
What has always been amazing to realize is that people are not very different in terms of their dreams and desires. Mostly all parents want the same things for their children; a fruitful, healthy, purposeful and successful life.
Standing among people who lack the things I've always had is troubling to me. Visiting and serv-ing people in desperate conditions makes me thankful for my inheritance and blessings. Some conditions stand out in mind: 1) Taking food to a family in the middle of winter who were using a barbeque grill for heat. Seeing children in Lagos, Nigeria living off the streets or disabled peo-ple scooting around on boards.
I don't share this to make you feel sad or guilty, just to remind you that little of what you have today is really because of you.
Today, we're going to talk about living in Heaven's Entrance. This is not only a “feel good” mes-sage, but a call to live better so that we help our children and other people to live better. “Feel good” messages are very popular because a lot of people feel bad. I think what we sometimes lack is perspective on God's plan and design, not only for ourselves, but for all people.
And we are responsible to walk in God's plan and design, so that we can share it, or export it, to others. We can't share what we don't have.
All of the virtues and promises made in 1 Peter 2:2-8 are possible because of a provision that's been made for us:
Diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance godliness, kindness, and love are gifts of grace to us.
We didn't create these blessings. We inherit them. We have the opportunity to experience and live in that inheritance.
We have an inheritance TODAY. We are living in the entrance to heaven! We need to walk within the boundaries of our blessing so that we, as God's church, will be in a position to receive all people.
NUM 33:54 'And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheri-tance; there everyone's inheritance shall be whatever falls to him by lot. You shall inherit ac-cording to the tribes of your fathers. 55] But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.
Romans 8:16 ,The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
God gives all of us an inheritance through Jesus Christ. It comes to us through our families, through our understanding of God's kingdom, our worldview, and through our personal faith in God.
We should be focused on receiving and living in all that God has given us. There is not good rea-son to live below our inheritance and privileges in Christ. Why should your inheritance go to waste. Something that has your name on it belongs to you and you alone.
You need it because you need to share it and pass it on.
The Lord is your inheritance. He maintains your lot, or your part of the inheritance.
This is so important that the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesian church led with this truth: Eph 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
You are living in the entrance to heaven!
Look and live like it!
A. We live under the Abrahamic Blessing
Galatians 3:14, He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
GEN 12:1 , Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. 2] I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3] I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
1. Bless your family
2. Bless you
3. Bless others through you
4. Bless those who bless you
5. Curse those who curse you
Notice that the blessing was not activated until the obedience was fulfilled.
You may not have a rich relative to leave a material inheritance in the future, but you have God who is rich in all things and provides today!

Mail Men: Guys That Deliver | Becoming Men of Steel

Mail Men: Guys That Deliver, Part 2
Becoming Men of Steel. Guys the Deliver
2 Tim. 1:13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
Gen 49:22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall
The Greek word for “pattern” is “typos”
1) It is the mark of a stroke or blow, like old style printing. 2) It is a figure formed by a blow or impression 3) the teaching which embodies the sum and substance of faith and represents it to the mind.
Pattern defined: 1) pattern, plan, form, construction, figure, a) construction, structure
A pattern is an exemplar which is “a person or thing serving as a typical example or excellent model.” A “model” is a system or thing used as an example to follow or imitate.
Men of Steel are males who are transformed by God, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God. Like the process that transforms raw iron into steel, God transforms males into men.
Definition: “Steel is the most refined metal that can be made from iron. In the blast furnace, where impurities are removed from the iron, and other key chemicals are added, the iron becomes a much stronger metal.”
Eze. 22:30 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
God created men to get things done. Guys that sit around doing nothing, or doing harmful things, is contrary to God's nature and to His purpose for men and boys. Remember that boys are just little men in development. A male or man is not only matter of physical attributes or outward appearance. There are also factors in the soul that define a man.
The things I'm going to share may sound a little overwhelming. It will sound like a tall order. But this part of how God deals with men. He wants us to accept challenges that seem to hard to do. We have to be challenged to go higher and to do more. It's the only way to develop and grow.
The called NBA basketball player Karl Malone, "The mailman", because "He delivered."
I'm also thinking about mail carriers that also call mailmen. We know the motto, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
We are living in a day that is not unlike the day that not unlike the day the Ezekiel lived in. In fact, because of fallen human nature, sin and corruption have always plagued our people and societies.
“I looked for a man.” This Hebrew word of man is not the word meaning person, man or woman. It is the Hebrew word meaning “Male.”
God said, “ 30 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” God looked for a man to “build up the wall” and “stand before Him” (as an intercessor, helper, and change agent) “in the gap on behalf of the land.”
Sadly and amazingly, God’s response to his own inquiry was, “But I found none!”
It was not that God could find no “males,” but that he did not see a MAN who was prepared, willing and able, through God, to be counted on in a time of need. There were plenty of males around, but not many men.
Why guys don't deliver:
1. Discouragement: Experiences that sap energy and courage
2. Lack of support or reliance: Men like to be needed and depended upon. When guys are neglected, overlooked or not called on, their God-given ability goes unused
3. Disrespect: Failure to acknowledge purpose and role. Overlooking position of honor
4. Bad habits: Things guy do that undermine themselves, their abilities, and their purpose
5. Misplaced or distorted identity: Unhelpful role models
6. Emasculation: Direct attacks on manhood; to deprive of strength, vigor, or spirit : weaken: to deprive of virility or procreative power: castrate: to remove the androecium of (a flower) in the process of artificial cross-pollination

Men of Prophetic Purpose Workshop | From International Covenant Connection conference

Men of Prophetic Purpose: “I sought for a man to stand in the gap”
Ezekiel 22: 30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
Notes located at http://www.newcovenant.org/Men_of_Prophetic_Purpose_Notes.pdf

How to Be God’s Response to Our Times

Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Those who are in Christ are a prophetic people. If you are in Christ, you are a prophetic person! What does that mean? It does not mean that you prophesy, tell the future, or say things that sound profound to some people. Prophetic people don’t just say, “Yea, and again I say Yea!” Prophetic people and preachers don’t just say and do things in the moment. Prophetic people are God’s response to their times and to their generation.
The Scriptures state that we were created in God's image and likeness. That statement carries the full creative purpose and power of God. Have you thought, "Why was I born?" The better question to ask is "Why did God create me in His image and likeness."
I define “prophetic” as: God accomplishing His purposes by declaring his will and purpose in advances and then performing His will through willing people and ordered circumstances.
There is a great difference between the propheticness God and the doctrine of fatalism which says that all events are determined by fate and are therefore inevitable and unalterable. In God’s scheme of things, He does not exclude the human will. He gives us the ability to accept or reject His plan for our lives (Deut. 30:19).
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
The ability of choice also includes the responsibility to accept the consequences of every decision. We cannot blame God for our failure to walk in His revealed will.
Again, if you are born again, you are a prophetic person. The fact that you have a “testimony of Jesus” proves that you are a prophetic person (the spirit of prophecy).
John 1:13 says that we were born again “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Jesus said in John 8:44 that no one can come to Him except the Father “draws him.” The point is this: The events that led to your repentance and acceptance of Jesus as your Lord and Savior were all prophetic in nature. Those were events prescribed by God from the foundation of the world. Though our names do not appear in the Bible, we do prophetically appear in promises such as, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:12). You became that “whoever” when the Holy Spirit convicted you of sin and you believed the Gospel of Jesus. God had you in mind when “whoever” became a part of the Word.
We do not fully understand the reality of predestination, the simplicity is when we become aware of a prophetic call of God, we must choose to respond.

Birthing and Nurturing Your Purpose in God

Gal. 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all...28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Patricia Hudson | Listen, Hear, Do, Receive

Listen, Hear, Do, Receive

Kingdom Ethics & Integrity

Link to message notes: http://www.newcovenant.org/Kingdom_Ethics_Integrity.pdf
Our conduct in the house of God should be governed by the Word of God and by biblical standards and ethics that are the generally accepted in the Body of Christ. According to John 15, Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. We are a like a vineyard with vinedressers who manage, prune, and purge the branches of the vine. These beneficial “cutting” actions provide:
1) The best growing experience for all the branches
2) The removal of dead “branches” and the improvement of fruitful “branches” of our lives
2) More fruitfulness for the vine as a whole
Biblical standards and ethics also provide a basis for excellence and success in the workplace and within the greater, better part of society.
Ethics defined: Rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: Such as medical ethics; Christian ethics.
Integrity Defined: Adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

Blessings of the Sixth Day, No More Veneers

God made man (male & female) on the sixth day. Our original design gives insight on our purpose and best destiny. We don't have to live superficial lives because something great lies within. Gen 1:26-31
God’s original design for you:
1. Be fruitful: Fruitfulness
2. Multiply: Multiplication
3. Fill: Remove void, bring fullness
4. Subdue: Overcome negative factors for yourself and others
5. Dominion: Maintain control through appropriate authority, responsibility, and accountability. Care for others. Maintain good order. Lead.
6. It is God who provides “I have given you every herb...”
7. God said that man (as He intended us) was: "Very good"

Principles for Increase

Mark 4:26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
Four Principles from Mark 4:26-28:
1. The kingdom of God, and your life, functions on the principle of Seedtime and harvest.
a. Gen. 8:22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and nigh hall not cease.”
b. “...a man should scatter seed...”
c. The harvest, or results, we get from life come from the seeds of action that we plant, or of what others plant for us.
d. This is also true for financial blessings for ourselves and our church.
2. A seed, once planted, gains the power to produce and increase.
a. We don’t know how this happens, since we cannot see and it is not possible to be aware of every process.
b. One thing is certain, if we have not planted any seed, we won’t have any harvest.
c. None sowers only benefit, or leach, off the efforts of others
d. This is what the Lord meant by asking this question, “Will a man rob God? Question: “How have we robbed you?” Answer: “In tithes and offerings.”
3. Increase comes in stages. “For the earth yields crops by itself.” Expect and look for signs of increase. When you see the “blade” make your plans for increase and continued sowing.
a. We don’t how this happens, since we cannot see and it is not possible to be aware of every process.
b. Don’t let fear and stinginess keep you from your greater blessings and, more importantly, greater benefits for God’s work.
4. Our goal is not only to have success and more money, but to have “good success” and to establish God’s covenant in the earth
a. Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
b. Deuteronomy 8:17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ 18 “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.