FOLLOW THE SPIRITUAL M.A.P IN 2010 AND BEYOND.

Apostle Dr. David Durant Dec 31, 2009
FOLLOW THE SPIRITUAL M.A.P IN 2010 and beyond
This New Year 2010 promises to be a season of greater resistance to the gospel and the work of God in general. You have the feelings that demons of a more fierce, daring and bolder disposition have taken position in the realms of darkness and on earth with a mandate to stagnate, frustrate and intimidate the people of God. Spiritual warfare activities have therefore increase and this necessitates a higher level of prayer, fasting and intercession by every believer in Christ. This will decrease the possibility of deception and ensure a sharper dimension of discernment which is very much needed in this period of time.
The church cannot simply carry on business as usual in the face of heightened activity from principalities, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. There must be an equally measured response from every child of God. It’s time to prepare for war, to arise and let His enemies be scattered. Every believer must take responsibility for his/her growth and development in the things of God.
God is not only repositioning the church in 2010 but He is also transitioning her mentally, emotionally, physically, financially and spiritually. The church is on the threshold of her most glorious manifestation of the presence and power of God. On the eve of what God is about to do we have this increase level of demonic resistance but we must report that JESUS IS LORD.
To guarantee progress, productivity and prosperity in 2010 we need to follow the spiritual M.A.P.
1. PURSUE A LIFE OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY –Col 3:8, 10, 11; Heb 6:1.
PUT OFF THE OLD MAN
JEALOUSY, STRIFE, IMMORAL ACTIVITY, DIVISION ……..
PUT ON THE NEW MAN
COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, FORGIVENESS, LOVE………

B. TAKE HEED TO YOUR MINISTRY COL 4:17
} STUDY OF THE WORD OF GOD
} APPLICATION OF THE WORD IN YOUR LIFE
} ACTIVATING THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND MINISTRY IN YOUR LIFE
} PRESSING TOWARDS THE MARK OF EXCELLENCE IN MINISTRY
}
2. ENGAGE IN A LIFE OF SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY/BE AVAILABLE AND

ACCESSIBLE
a. Finding your place and committing yourself to the work of God
b. Attend church regularly
c. Be in right position

3. MAINTAIN A LIFE OF SPIRITUAL PURITY
} MAINTAINING A LIFE OF INTEGRITY IN THE FEAR OF GOD
} TRUTH, HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY
} A CONTRITE HEART AND SPIRIT
} RENDER TO CEASAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CEASAR’S; AND TO GOD THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD’S. (Mat 22:21)

} B. DISCOVER AND CONNECT WITH YOUR PURPOSE
} JESUS SAID, “FOR THIS REASON I WAS BORN AND FOR THIS I CAME INTO THE WORLD.” John 18:37
} “FOR DAVID AFTER HE HAD SERVED THE PURPOSE OF GOD … FELL ASLEEP…” Acts 13:36
} APOSTLE PAUL SAID, “…I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE…” 2Tim 4:6

} c. SPEND MORE QUALITY TIME IN PREVAILING PRAYER
} STRENGTHENING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
} PRAYING ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD
} BECOMING MORE INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH HIS PRESENCE
} BEING SATURATED IN HIS GLORY

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS GOD IS CALLING FOR DURING 2010 AND BEYOND? :-

· Obedience
· Stronger spiritual discernment
· More Intercessory prayer & fasting
· More revelatory worship & praise
· A planned and relevant method of evangelism
· An increase in healings, deliverances and miracles
· He will release major financial breakthroughs in the midst of
recession
· Restoration of families and relationships
· Simultaneous Prophetic Accuracy (SPA)

A PROPHETIC WORD FROM APOSTLE DR. DAVID DURANT 31/12/09
For the Lord says, I am calling my people to draw near unto me with their whole heart for the months ahead are unlike any other, but I have prepared you for this time. I long to see you live in that place of increased spiritual discernment having your eyes open to the spirit of revelation and your ears to understanding. This is a time for much more prayer, intercession, fasting and true worship, as you seek me and engage my presence fervently I will reveal my heart and purpose to you and you will begin to operate with a kairos sensitivity. No more will my Body be just reacting but will be much more proactive in dealing with the times.
A kingdom divided cannot stand the onslaught and pressure from the powers of darkness, my people will therefore see the need to come into a more community oriented lifestyle where greater unity, togetherness, love and cooperation is embraced and expressed. You will begin to see each other through kind and patient eyes. There will be much more temperance and longsuffering among my people for you will sense the need to support each other.
As you begin to spend more quality time in my presence this New Year the spirit of transformation will overtake you and you will begin to experience what it is to go from glory to glory. Prophetic accuracy will become a norm, a mighty anointing will be poured out and healings, deliverance and miracles will increase in a phenomenal way and boldness will be manifested in your life. I also hear the Lord say I am calling my people to obedience, not to just hear my Word but to apply it to lifestyle, behavior, conversation and action.
In the first several months of this new year there is a well orchestrated plan hatched in the realms of darkness to frustrate, discourage, depress, oppress and deceive believers of Christ, bringing a sense of hopelessness, the ploy is to cause many to backslide, give up in their faith, embrace heresy and join false religions and cults. As such there are legions of evil spirits already assigned to multitude upon multitudes of Christians everywhere hence the need to step up our prayer life and our relationship with God through His Word – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” But in the midst of all of this God is reminding us that “Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world” and He the Lord our God is in the midst of us and He is mighty to save and strong to deliver so we need not to fear but to continue to trust Him who called us with a holy calling.
I am calling for more whole hearted commitment from my people, let not your love grow cold but be renewed in passion and zeal for as you draw near to me I will in turn draw near to you and will bless you in this season of recession and difficulty. There will be major financial breakthroughs in the life of my people and I will prove myself on your behalf. Do not fear but be strong and very courageous for I the Lord your God shall increase you on the right hand and on the left, your enemies shall recognize my hand upon you and my glory shall overshadow you and be a terror to the enemy who shall retreat. You are therefore wired to continue advancing my purposes in the nations so lift up your head and go forth for I am with you. I have set you free from every bondage and chain of limitation and every religious spirit that was assigned to stagnate your spiritual progress. This is a new season for you my people; refreshing, restoration and reconciliation shall be your experience as you press forward into fulfilling my will and enlarging the kingdom in your sphere of influence where I have placed you, says the Lord.

ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?

ADVERSITY HAS ADVANTAGES
TIMES OF GENERAL CALAMITY AND CONFUSION HAVE EVER BEEN PRODUCTIVE OF THE GREATEST MINDS. THE PUREST ORE IS PRODUCED FROM THE HOTTEST FURNANCE, AND THE BRIGHTEST THUNDERBOLT IS THE ONE ELICITED FROM THE DARKEST STORM. (CALEB COLTON).
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE DOOR TO OPPORTUNITY SWINGS ON THE HINGES OF OPPOSITION. AND DON'T EVER FORGET THAT PROBLEMS ARE THE PRICE OF PROGRESS. THE OBSTACLES OF LIFE ARE INTENDED TO MAKE US BETTER NOT BITTER.

ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?
I HAVE COME TO REALISE THAT THERE’S NO SUCCESS WITHOUT PAYING THE PRICE. LIFE WILL NOT ALWAYS BE SMOOTH SO I MUST LEARN TO COPE WITH THE LOWS’ AFTER EXPERIENCING AND ENJOYING THE HIGHS’.
Text: Matt 8:28-34 & 2 Sam 24:24
Here Jesus is in Gadara, as it is called today. The people living here were from the tribe of Gad. In the Old Testament, when the land was being divided up among the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Gad stayed on the wrong side of the Jordan River. What happened to them? They went into the pig business, which, as Jews, they should not have done. Once you disobey the Lord, the next step of disobedience is not so difficult. Before long you are walking out of His way and His will altogether.

When Jesus entered into this country, He was met by two men possessed with devils. “Devils” is an unfortunate translation. The word properly and literally is demons. These were dangerous men, demon-possessed men.
29 – 34. What have we to do with thee …? They reacted with resentment at Jesus’ intrusion into their realm, meaning “What is there in common between us?” Their reference to Him as the Son of God indicates that the demons were fully aware of who Jesus was, and their question about being tormented before the time also indicates that they were aware of why He had come to earth. While the demons seemed to understand that they will ultimately come under the judgment of God, here their concern seems to be that of a premature suffering (Gr basanizoµ). The reference to a herd of many swine draws attention to the fact that they were being kept illegally by Jews who were living in this gentile region. Swine were considered unclean by the ordinances of the Mosaic Law. The whole herd … perished. This is Jesus’ only recorded miracle that was destructive in nature. The fact that Jesus granted the demons’ request was because of His concern for the man. The spiritual principle in this incident is that those who are deliberately disobedient (as was the case of the pig-breeders) deprive themselves of divine protection and place themselves at the mercy of the forces of evil. Certainly, losing the herd of pigs, which was unlawful in the first place, was insignificant when compared to the man’s gaining his deliverance.
The entire city turned out to see what had happened. There is an impressive statement in Mark that, upon coming to Jesus, they saw the demoniac "sitting and clothed and in his right mind" (Mar_5:15). Here was their opportunity to recognize true values, the value of persons above the material, and to rejoice with those who were delivered. But the loss in their business, the destruction of the herd of swine, was too great for them to see the movement of God in their midst. Consequently, they made a choice between (1) their way of life and (2) the person and ministry of Jesus; they entreated Jesus to depart from them!

This is a graphic illustration of the choice between the values of the kingdom and the materialism of the world. The pigs had perished and what did it matter to the people that two men were made whole if their economy was now in recession? This is human selfishness in its most blatant expression. But it is not foreign to our times, for the needs of the Third World, the plight of the hungry and starving, (especially children), do not appear to be as high on our agenda as safeguarding our own economic privileges, spending millions to reach the moon, trillions on arms and weapons of mass destruction all in the name of defense and security. And this is true of the church, where we speak so deliberately about "protecting our security" without a commensurate concern for the well-being of our brothers in other parts of the world. It was Bishop Zulu of Zululand who said in Pretoria, South Africa, "What is wrong with the Church today is that she has something else on her agenda which she has elevated above the will and person of Christ."
- Jesus came on the scene and found a serious problem – two men possessed with demons

terrorized an entire community.
- Jesus saved this city from that constant threat by setting these men free,
- But Jesus received an unusual level of rejection. Leave our city, in other words “Save us/solve our problems but don’t interfere with our pigs.” Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Be willing to pay the price. It will cost you to follow Jesus with all your heart, but HIS grace is sufficient for you.

IT'S A NEW SEASON

A season is a period of time during which certain fore-ordained events takes place.
Take for example the weather pattern during a year. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter formally begins in the winter solstice-Dec 22 or 23, Spring on the vernal equinox- March 20 or 21, Summer on the summer solstice – June 21 or 22 and autumn in the autumnal equinox –September 22 or 23.

I believe this is the season of a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit as never before seen in the world. Joel prophesied it that in the last days God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.
Joel 2:28-29
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

THE THREE-FOLD PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

1. TO EVANGELISE – A MINISTRY TO THE WORLD OF MEN
2. TO EDIFY (TO BUILD UP) - A MINISTRY TO THE BODY OF CHRIST
3. TO WORSHIP & EXALT HIM – A MINISTRY TO THE KING OF KINGS

BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NECESSARY FOR US TO: -
a. ACCOMPLISH WORLD EVANGELISATION
b. SEE NATIONAL & GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION
c. SEE A CONSISTENT MANIFESTATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD – SIGNS,
MIRACLES ETC.
d. SUSTAIN AN OVERWHELMING LEVEL OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
e. ENSURE SENSITIVE, SPONTANEOUS, PROPHETIC AND REVELATORY WORSHIP &
PROCLAMATIONS.

DO WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
We have therefore received: -
i. Power to witness effectively – Acts 1:8
ii. Power to worship prophetically - Acts 13:2
iii. Power to work faithfully – Acts 20:24
iv. Power to warfare triumphantly – 2 Cor 2:14; 1John 4:4.

IN THIS SEASON FOUR THINGS WILL BE EVIDENT:

1. National Transformation - Colossians 2:15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. That whole organized system of social, economic, materialistic and religious philosophies which have their expression through organizations, personalities and governments must be crushed.
2. Manifestation of the Kingdom of God. Rom 14:17, John 14:12; Matt 4:23-25
THE KINGDOM WAS MANIFESTED THROUGH:- Matt 4:23-25
TEACHING – in their synagogues
PREACHING – the gospel of the kingdom
HEALING – all kinds of sickness
DELIVERANCE - to those who were demon-possessed.
3. A Hunger for God. Psalms 42 & 63
4. A SEASON OF REFRESHING & RESTORATION in the church. Acts 3:19.

FASTING, A TIME OF CONSECRATION

FASTING, A TIME OF CONSECRATION
Definition:- Fasting – Heb. ‘Sum,’ to cover the mouth; ‘inna napso’ – ‘to humble oneself, to afflict the soul.’ Greek – ‘nesteuo’, to abstain from food. It is a practice found in all societies and cultures throughout the centuries, and is prompted by a variety of objectives and rationales. Although it is a well established spiritual discipline occurring in both Old & New Testament and other religious literature, it is not confined to religious usage only.
The fast of Mahatma Gandhi and the IRA hunger strikes were instruments of political pressure and protest against injustice.
— Andrew Murray says, “Prayer is not merely coming to God to ask something from Him. It is above all, fellowship with God, and being brought under the power of His holiness and love, till He takes possession of us, and stamp our entire nature with the lowliness of Christ, which is the secret of all true worship.”

TYPES OF FAST

1. The Normal Fast –
Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
It meant abstaining from all food, solid or liquid but not from water. This seems to be the fast that Jesus took. We are told, ‘He ate nothing’ Luke 4:2, but not that He drank nothing. Afterwards it says He was hungry, not that He was thirsty. Though thirst pangs are more intense than those of hunger, Satan tempted Him to eat but not to drink. This would suggest that the fast was an abstaining from food but not from water. In fact the human body could not survive forty days without water. So a normal fast then involved abstaining from all forms of food but not from water.

2. The Absolute Fast –
“For three days he…. Neither ate nor drank” Acts 9:9
This is abstaining from eating as well as drinking. Normally this is not longer than three days, because any longer period might result in physical injury. The body can go for long periods without food and be physically benefited but not without water.
Ezra 10:6
6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
He was overcome with grief at the shameful compromise of the people – he says “I rent my garments and my mantle and pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat appalled.” Ezra 9:3. Overwhelming concern drove him to fast not taking food or water.
Esther 4:16
16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
A crisis of enormous proportion threatened the whole Jewish race with extermination. Even Esther herself though being Queen, so she called an absolute fast because desperate situations require desperate measures.
Acts 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
There was a spiritual revolution taking place inside of Saul that would change his life forever.
NB: There were instances of absolute fast that had to be supernaturally sustained because of the long period. For two periods of forty days & nights Moses sat in the presence of God, neither drinking water or eating anything. (Deut 9:9-18; Exod 34:28). The first occasion was when he received the Ten Commandments from God. The second was immediately following because he broke it after seeing the idol worship of the people. These two fasts were undertaken virtually without intermission and taken together would constitute the longest absolute fast ever in the world – eighty days without food or water.
Elijah’s forty days fast - 1 Kings 19:8
8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
Two leading representatives of the O.T, Moses the law giver and Elijah the restorer (Mal 4:4-6; Mark 9:12) for both had a supernatural ending to their earthly life as well as a supernatural re-appearance with Christ on the holy mount.
The absolute fast is therefore a fast without food or water. It’s an exceptional measure for an exceptional situation.

3. The Partial Fast –
Daniel 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

They did not defile themselves with that which was offered to Babylonian gods, instead they asked for vegetables and drank water. Daniel 1:15
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
The partial fast allows many variations, for example sticking to one type of food for the duration of the fast. It is very beneficial to those who work otherwise and cannot entertain a normal fast.

JESUS SAID, WHEN YOU FAST – NOT IF.
Matthew 6:2,5,16 – When you give alms…when you pray…when you fast.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

When you fast – He left us in no doubt that this must be an integral part of our life and ministry.

TO BE HEARD ON HIGH.
Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and petitioned our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
FASTING IS DESIGNED TO MAKE PRAYER MOUNT UP AS ON EAGLES’ WINGS. IT IS INTENDED TO USHER THE PRAYING INDIVIDUAL INTO THE AUDIENCE CHAMBER OF THE KING AND TO EXTEND TO HIM THE GOLDEN SCEPTRE. IT MAY BE EXPECTED TO DRIVE BACK THE OPPRESSING POWERS OF DARKNESS AND LOOSEN THEIR HOLD ON THE PRAYER OBJECTIVE.
Joel 2:12 Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
“FASTING HELPS TO EXPRESS, TO DEEPEN AND TO CONFIRM THE RESOLUTION THAT WE ARE READY TO SACRIFICE ANYTHING, TO SACRIFICE OURSELVES TO ATTAIN WHAT WE SEEK FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” (Andrew Murray).
“YOU DO NOT QUALIFY TO BE BUSY FOR GOD, IF YOU HAVE NOT FIRST BEEN BUSY WITH HIM”

WHAT SHALL WE DO THAT WE MIGHT WORK THE WORKS OF GOD?

“WHAT SHALL WE DO THAT WE MAY WORK THE WORKS OF GOD?”

JOHN 6:28

John 6:28-29

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the

works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God that you

believe in Him whom He sent.”

John 14:12

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I

do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go

to My Father.

Text: Mark 6: 30-44

Five necessary components for an effective ministry.

1. (1) Obedience to the Commission v:30 (see v 7-13)

2. (2) Showing you Care v:31

3. (3) Having a spirit of Compassion vs: 33-34

Jesus showed compassion:-

· To the hungry crowd (Mark 6: 30-44 )

· To the Helpless and fearful disciples (Mar_6:45-52)

· To the Hurting and sick people (Mar_6:53-56)

4. (4) Demonstrating the spirit of Commitment vs: 34c – 38

· To the ministry Col 4:17

· To the needs of the people

· Note: The selfishness of the disciples (compassion of Jesus)

v 36

Jesus threw the responsibility at the disciples – “you give

them something to eat” v:37

All that was needed was obedience not the questions.

Key- Make what you have available to God and leave the

rest to Him.

5. (5) He encouraged the spirit of Community vs: 39-40

What important lesson He taught the Community?

- He received what was given to Him with gratitude

- He prayed and blessed it in the presence of the community

(this was teaching them in every crisis of life God is our source

and our dependency)

- When this is done they will always be more than enough –

12 baskets full of remains

- Not only five thousand can be reached but the 6.5 billion people

on earth.

NB: THE RAPID AND UNCOMFORTABLE GROWTH OF ISLAM IN THE

NATIONS.

WHAT SHALL WE DO TO WORK THE WORKS OF GOD?

- HAVE FAITH IN GOD

- WALK IN OBEDIENCE AS HE WALKED

- SHOW YOU CARE AS HE DID

- BE FULL OF COMPASSION AS HE DEMONSTRATED

- SHOW GREAT COMMITMENT TO THE MINISTRY

- BUILD COMMUNITY – RELATIONSHIP AS HE DID.

DEVELOPING LEADERS

God desires the Church, the Body of Christ, to be a growing, healthy and functional body, where every member has his responsibility to the edification of the whole. In order to accomplish this, God has given to every individual in the body natural talents and abilities that are to be used for His glory. It is not incidental that individuals in the body have certain aptitudes and interests. These are all part of God’s plan for that person’s life purpose. Unfortunately so many people fail to look for ways in which they can channel these aptitudes and abilities into investment in the kingdom of God. God desires that all of these abilities be used for His honor and glory. (Matt 25:14-30).
In addition to natural talents and abilities, God also has given spiritual gifts that are to be operating in the Church. When we enter the kingdom of God by the new birth, we are taken out of the natural realm and transplanted into the realm of the Spirit. While natural talents and abilities are helpful for the advancing of the kingdom of God, natural talents and abilities will never be enough to get the job done. (Zech 4:6). For this reason, God distributes spiritual gifts to the members of His body that operate above the natural realm into the supernatural. They operate above natural ability by tapping into God’s supernatural ability. (1Cor 12:7,11).
In addition to these things that God has given to the members of His body, God has further given to each member of the Body a ministry, or function, that is to add to the edification of the whole. The word ‘ministry’ simply means ‘service’ or ‘function’. In every body there are many members and all the members do not have the same function. (Rom 12:4-5) 1Pet 4:10-11.
In order for us to understand fully the way in which these ministries operate and their importance, we need to realize several things:-

1. THESE MINISTRIES ALL FIND THEIR ORIGIN IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
When Jesus came, He came as the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col 1:19, 2:9). As the fullness of the Godhead, He manifested in life expression every gift, grace and ministry that would eventually function in the Church, His body. When Jesus came as the fullness of the Godhead bodily, He had all of the ministries functioning in their mature expression because He did not receive from the Father a measure of grace, or a measure of the Spirit, He alone received the fullness. (John 1:14; 3:33-35).
As such Jesus was the pattern for all ministry. If we want to know how a certain ministry is to operate in the Body of Christ, we simply need to look to Christ to find out how He operated in that ministry. Jesus Christ was the –
a. Apostle (Heb 3:1)
b. Prophet (John 4:19)
c. Evangelist (Luke 4:18)
d. Pastor (John 10:11)
e. Teacher (John 3:2)
f. Elder (Rom 8:29)
g. Deacon (Luke 22:27)
h. Exhorter (Luke 2:25)
i. Giver (Gal 2:20)
j. Ruler (Luke 1:33)
k. Shower of Mercy (Heb 2:17)
l. Worker of Miracles (John 11:47)
m. Healer (Luke 6:17-19)
n. Intercessor (Heb 7:25)


2. THESE MINISTRIES ARE MERELY AN EXPRESSION OF CHRIST IN YOU. (Col 1:27)
Christ is the fullness of the Godhead bodily and therefore as the Head, the fullness of all ministries is in Him. When we become attached to the Head by the new birth, we become partakers of the fullness that is in Him. We ourselves do not contain the fullness, we only partake of the fullness that is in Christ.
John 1:14,16
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
As the fullness of the Godhead bodily, Jesus was full of grace that enabled Him to accomplish and fulfill all of these ministries. When we are attached to the Head, we become a partaker of that grace that is necessary to fulfill the particular ministry that we have been given by the Lord. “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ gift.” Eph 4:7.

Since this is the case, it is very important that we as believers recognize the ministry that we have been given, because we will receive grace for that ministry. Without the grace for the ministry, the ministry will inevitably fail because none of the ministries can operate effectively on a natural level. All of them have to be supported and underwritten by the grace of God. The grace of God in relation to service is simply the supernatural enablement of God. The Apostle Paul recognized the grace that was upon his life, therefore he could move with confidence in the ministry which he had received from the Lord. (Rom 12:3)
Romans 1:5
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
Romans 15:15-16
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:10
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Galatians 2:9
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
If we are to be successful as stewards of the manifold grace of God, we must be sure that we recognize the grace of God that is upon our lives. The grace of God goes with the calling of God. Paul tells us when it comes to evaluating the grace of God upon our lives we must be sober. We should be careful in our evaluation and estimation of ourselves and careful not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. How many ministries have failed because they attempted greater things in God than that for which they have received grace. We must be careful to perceive God’s grace on our lives then it will not be difficult to perceive the ministry that He has for us. We must remember that God never holds us accountable for that to which someone else has been called. He only holds us accountable for what He has instructed us to do. If I am struggling to be a pastor in the body of Christ but God has given me the grace to be an intercessor, then I will not receive commendation of a good and faithful servant. God only measures us against what He has called us to be. He never rates us on the basis of what we do, only on the basis of how faithful we are to do what He has called us to do. There may be those who attempted to be apostles in their own strength who will receive the judgement of an unfaithful servant, while there will be those who may be worshipers on the worship team who will be commended as faithful stewards because they are doing exactly what there were called to do.

3. THESE MINISTRIES FUNCTIONING TOGETHER AS THE MANY-MEMBERED BODY OF CHRIST ARE TO FULFILL AND COMPLETE THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
When Christ was here on earth He ministered out of a heart of compassion seeking to save that which was lost. He came as the apostle sent from heaven. He came as the mouthpiece of God to the dying world. He came to proclaim the good news, to gather sheep, to instruct in the ways of God, to serve man where he was at, to exhort to righteousness, to give Himself as a ransom for all, to reach out to man in his need. Yet when Jesus was here on earth He was limited by the fleshly body of which He partook. He was confined to one geographical location, to one set of circumstances, to the needs of one small group of people at any given moment. God’s love is for the whole world. Jesus as man, could not reach out to everyone. More Christs or “anointed ones” would be needed to satisfy the heart of God. When Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He provided the answer. Jesus rose from the dead as the firstborn of many brethren. Now He desires to carry on and complete His ministry through His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Jesus as Head is continuing to preach and heal and prophesy and teach and exhort and seek out the lost, but now He is doing it through His Body, the church (Every member playing a purposeful, significant role). The Book of Acts begins in a beautiful way. Luke writes of his former treatise, the Gospel of Luke, which is perhaps the most complete account of Jesus earthly life and ministry extending from the birth of John the Baptist to the ascension of Christ. He refers to this treatise as being only a record of that which Jesus “begun both to do and teach” Acts 1:1. That three and one half years of ministry was only a beginning. The Book of Acts as well as Church History records all that Jesus continued to do and teach by the Holy Spirit through the Church of Jesus Christ, which is His Body.

DEVELOPING LEADERS

God desires the Church, the Body of Christ, to be a growing, healthy and functional body, where every member has his responsibility to the edification of the whole. In order to accomplish this, God has given to every individual in the body natural talents and abilities that are to be used for His glory. It is not incidental that individuals in the body have certain aptitudes and interests. These are all part of God’s plan for that person’s life purpose. Unfortunately so many people fail to look for ways in which they can channel these aptitudes and abilities into investment in the kingdom of God. God desires that all of these abilities be used for His honor and glory. (Matt 25:14-30).
In addition to natural talents and abilities, God also has given spiritual gifts that are to be operating in the Church. When we enter the kingdom of God by the new birth, we are taken out of the natural realm and transplanted into the realm of the Spirit. While natural talents and abilities are helpful for the advancing of the kingdom of God, natural talents and abilities will never be enough to get the job done. (Zech 4:6). For this reason, God distributes spiritual gifts to the members of His body that operate above the natural realm into the supernatural. They operate above natural ability by tapping into God’s supernatural ability. (1Cor 12:7,11).
In addition to these things that God has given to the members of His body, God has further given to each member of the Body a ministry, or function, that is to add to the edification of the whole. The word ‘ministry’ simply means ‘service’ or ‘function’. In every body there are many members and all the members do not have the same function. (Rom 12:4-5) 1Pet 4:10-11.
In order for us to understand fully the way in which these ministries operate and their importance, we need to realize several things:-

1. THESE MINISTRIES ALL FIND THEIR ORIGIN IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
When Jesus came, He came as the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col 1:19, 2:9). As the fullness of the Godhead, He manifested in life expression every gift, grace and ministry that would eventually function in the Church, His body. When Jesus came as the fullness of the Godhead bodily, He had all of the ministries functioning in their mature expression because He did not receive from the Father a measure of grace, or a measure of the Spirit, He alone received the fullness. (John 1:14; 3:33-35).
As such Jesus was the pattern for all ministry. If we want to know how a certain ministry is to operate in the Body of Christ, we simply need to look to Christ to find out how He operated in that ministry. Jesus Christ was the –
a. Apostle (Heb 3:1)
b. Prophet (John 4:19)
c. Evangelist (Luke 4:18)
d. Pastor (John 10:11)
e. Teacher (John 3:2)
f. Elder (Rom 8:29)
g. Deacon (Luke 22:27)
h. Exhorter (Luke 2:25)
i. Giver (Gal 2:20)
j. Ruler (Luke 1:33)
k. Shower of Mercy (Heb 2:17)
l. Worker of Miracles (John 11:47)
m. Healer (Luke 6:17-19)
n. Intercessor (Heb 7:25)


2. THESE MINISTRIES ARE MERELY AN EXPRESSION OF CHRIST IN YOU. (Col 1:27)
Christ is the fullness of the Godhead bodily and therefore as the Head, the fullness of all ministries is in Him. When we become attached to the Head by the new birth, we become partakers of the fullness that is in Him. We ourselves do not contain the fullness, we only partake of the fullness that is in Christ.
John 1:14,16
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
As the fullness of the Godhead bodily, Jesus was full of grace that enabled Him to accomplish and fulfill all of these ministries. When we are attached to the Head, we become a partaker of that grace that is necessary to fulfill the particular ministry that we have been given by the Lord. “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ gift.” Eph 4:7.

Since this is the case, it is very important that we as believers recognize the ministry that we have been given, because we will receive grace for that ministry. Without the grace for the ministry, the ministry will inevitably fail because none of the ministries can operate effectively on a natural level. All of them have to be supported and underwritten by the grace of God. The grace of God in relation to service is simply the supernatural enablement of God. The Apostle Paul recognized the grace that was upon his life, therefore he could move with confidence in the ministry which he had received from the Lord. (Rom 12:3)
Romans 1:5
5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
Romans 15:15-16
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:10
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Galatians 2:9
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
If we are to be successful as stewards of the manifold grace of God, we must be sure that we recognize the grace of God that is upon our lives. The grace of God goes with the calling of God. Paul tells us when it comes to evaluating the grace of God upon our lives we must be sober. We should be careful in our evaluation and estimation of ourselves and careful not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. How many ministries have failed because they attempted greater things in God than that for which they have received grace. We must be careful to perceive God’s grace on our lives then it will not be difficult to perceive the ministry that He has for us. We must remember that God never holds us accountable for that to which someone else has been called. He only holds us accountable for what He has instructed us to do. If I am struggling to be a pastor in the body of Christ but God has given me the grace to be an intercessor, then I will not receive commendation of a good and faithful servant. God only measures us against what He has called us to be. He never rates us on the basis of what we do, only on the basis of how faithful we are to do what He has called us to do. There may be those who attempted to be apostles in their own strength who will receive the judgement of an unfaithful servant, while there will be those who may be worshipers on the worship team who will be commended as faithful stewards because they are doing exactly what there were called to do.

3. THESE MINISTRIES FUNCTIONING TOGETHER AS THE MANY-MEMBERED BODY OF CHRIST ARE TO FULFILL AND COMPLETE THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
When Christ was here on earth He ministered out of a heart of compassion seeking to save that which was lost. He came as the apostle sent from heaven. He came as the mouthpiece of God to the dying world. He came to proclaim the good news, to gather sheep, to instruct in the ways of God, to serve man where he was at, to exhort to righteousness, to give Himself as a ransom for all, to reach out to man in his need. Yet when Jesus was here on earth He was limited by the fleshly body of which He partook. He was confined to one geographical location, to one set of circumstances, to the needs of one small group of people at any given moment. God’s love is for the whole world. Jesus as man, could not reach out to everyone. More Christs or “anointed ones” would be needed to satisfy the heart of God. When Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He provided the answer. Jesus rose from the dead as the firstborn of many brethren. Now He desires to carry on and complete His ministry through His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Jesus as Head is continuing to preach and heal and prophesy and teach and exhort and seek out the lost, but now He is doing it through His Body, the church (Every member playing a purposeful, significant role). The Book of Acts begins in a beautiful way. Luke writes of his former treatise, the Gospel of Luke, which is perhaps the most complete account of Jesus earthly life and ministry extending from the birth of John the Baptist to the ascension of Christ. He refers to this treatise as being only a record of that which Jesus “begun both to do and teach” Acts 1:1. That three and one half years of ministry was only a beginning. The Book of Acts as well as Church History records all that Jesus continued to do and teach by the Holy Spirit through the Church of Jesus Christ, which is His Body.