2. Lordship of Christ is: Knowing Jesus, a Heart like His and Following Him!

3.  Who is your MASTER ?  What is your MISSION ?  Who will be your MATE ?

4. When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Christ crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

5. Don’t want to get a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy! Want to get the original Jesus, and you be a copy of the original! Jesus is a person, not a decision! A passion for Jesus and the Gospel is the only passion that won’t enslave you – it will free you! Will spend all of eternity exploring and getting to know Him, this is not a stepping stone to something else, this is it!! Jesus!!

6.  The Historical Jesus – All could know  The Personal Jesus – Many do know – Jesus loves me! I receive!  The Glory of Jesus – Few have met the living Jesus – I love You and I give my ALL!!  Then you will know what Jesus meant what is the ‘abundant life’!  You will never influence the earth for the Kingdom of God without a true meeting and revelation of Him!!

7. The Gospel is not the promise of a better life or day. It is a promise of following Him and freedom from sin, freedom from self, to be a son/daughter! God offers life, but NOT and improved old life! He has come to overcome the world. If He has overcome the world why do we still have so much trouble? The overcoming He is talking about is the CHANGING OF OUR PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE not the change of our circumstances!

8. Now this is eternal life that we may KNOW You the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

9. Paul thanksgiving and prayer For this reason ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints I have not stopped giving thanks for you remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the glorious Father may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that you may know Him better.

10. This is what the Lord says” “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts, boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I Am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

11. The people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits.

12. 2 Tim 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear) but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. Proverbs 29:5 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

13. ….fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and that you may enjoy long life. Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly….Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength….Be careful that you do not forget the Lord Who brought you out of Egypt….Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only…Do not follow other gods..for the Lord your God, Who is among you is a jealous God…The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God so that we might prosper and be kept alive…that will be our righteousness.

14. And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lords commands and decrees that I am giving you here today for your own good….. Love the Lord your God and keep His requirements…so that you may be able to enter and possess the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

15.  JN 8:31 – OBEY  JN 13:35 – LOVE  JN 15:8 – PRODUCE FRUIT  LK 14:26 – “hate mother and father”  LK 14:27 – carry CROSS  LK 14:33 – give up all your possessions – don’t let them rule  2 Tim 2:2 – be reliable

16. To know God! – His love, beauty, intimacy, empowerment To love like God! - a lover always outworks a worker! To make Him known!

17. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

18. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that man would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.

19. I tell you, NOW is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. Revival to come does not demand faith and obedience now! The future can be an escape from present responsibility! ….emphasizing what God WILL DO rather than what God has ALREADY DONE! The gospel of the Kingdom only has power as it is demonstrated and declared outside the walls of our comfort zones! This is the season for the NOW work in the fields!

20. What makes a great story? The highs and lows! The good guys and the baddies! The good guys overcoming obstacles and riding off into the sunset and living ‘happily ever after!” What is your story? In order to see your life count what are you exchanging in this life for eternity?

21. Making a decision for eternity! Whoever and whatever you love will determine what you will become like! Your future is not dictated by your past – it is dictated by who you love the most, and who loves you! We become what we behold! Technology is becoming the hidden shaper of people and cultures.

22. The significance of numbers in Scripture: 11 – Number of incompleteness, disorganization, disintegration, lawlessness, disorder. -would have taken them 11 days to cross the wilderness; Life and reality in our time is chaotic, confusing and disruptive but this allows a time of new life, new realities, new opportunities.

23. The world is changing – church in denial – confused and inactive. Christians are gripped by fear. We know something is going on around us but not sure what it is or how we feel about it and what we should do. But!! We have been called to freedom and courage, to a story – to remember, to live, to tell.

24.  Gen 1: 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  And God said…..  Formless void – chaos – this is a story about living in tension- not trying to resolve it. About learning to access a kind of knowing and being that moves us beyond our minds and reunites us to our hearts and souls and bodies.

25.  When we embark on a journey (even this week!) – as we begin, the destination and outcome is often as unpredictable as it is unseen. Often we do not know where we are going and also do not know who we will become or whether we will even recognize ourselves at the end of our paths.  The Hobbit – Bilbo Baggins says to Frodo – “It’s a dangerous business Frodo, going out of your door. You step onto the road and if you don’t keep your feet there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

26.  In order to ride the ride of change – embrace the exhilaration of it and need to relinquish control.  1Sam – who did God speak to?  Eli? – the powerful leader who could not hear God OR  Samuel – born of a previously barren desperate marginalized woman!

27. “You walk into the future backwards.”

28.  First three centuries – the new community of people called the church existed in the margins of societies. Early Christians – persecuted. This did not inhibit growth – shaped by life, death and teachings of Christ.  Then everything changed! Fourth Century – Roman Empire divided – Constantine ascended as sole emperor – ruler of Western Empire of Rome. Christianity moved out of the margins of Roman society where it had existed for three centuries as a persecuted minority and into the mainstream of imperial life and power.

29.  Centuries following, the church and the state became increasingly intertwined until they were one and the same – Roman Empire became the Holy Roman Empire led by the Pope. This defined the Western world for over a Millennium. Was called “Christendom”.  In the 16 th Century it all began to unravel – Roman Catholic monk named Martin Luther.

30.  Protestant Reformation – world became increasingly secularized –A head of church and a head of state! World that was formerly known as Christendom gave birth to Europe and Colonialism. Europe – imperial, narrative of power – superior – the church saw colonialism as ‘spreading the gospel’.

31.  “Christianity was birthed in Galilee as a relationship.  It spread to Greece and became a philosophy.  It spread to Rome and became an empire.  It spread to Britain and became a culture.  It spread to America and became an enterprise.” Book – “Intuitive Leadership”

32.  During the last century – a battle being waged in the West over national identity and religious identity. What is a Christian nation?  Increasing secularization – radical individualism of culture with relegation of faith to what is your “personal preference” and a “private expression.”  Christendom or a “Christian culture” assumes and requires a common language, beliefs, values, practices and structures that support it and ultimately manifest it in a system of government and laws constructed to give shape to its identity.

33.  To say we are now living in Post-Christendom means that the church for the first time since the Fourth Century is moving back into the margins where it began! In the 21 st C we can no longer assume privilege, position, control. Post-Christendom tells us we no longer live in a society that by default shares the same language, beliefs, values, or structures that we believe ought to shape society’s identity.  We are contending for a new story in a world that has emerged as one of capitalism and conspicuous consumption.

34.  God’s people place their trust in God and not in structures of human power.  Ps 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.  Zech 4:6 Not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord Almighty.  The power of God is a source of life and strength that comes from following Jesus and GOING/DOING/SPEAKING in the way Jesus did.  The world of Christendom is dead!

35. Many Christians are wringing their hands in fear, hoping that Jesus will come back and get them out of this mess. Looking for the second coming while millions today are waiting for the first! We want the fruit of the early church (multiplication) but not in the context of suffering and demands that produced such fruit (persecution)! We are selfish, consumers, anemic and impotent!

36. Crossing over – surrender The old models – wineskins etc Have not gone this way before! We are needing not improved lives but rather transformed lives. The abundant life is not the improvement of the old life but a new life and way of thinking! Matt10: 17 Rich young ruler

37. Growing bigger people!! Belong Believe Behave Discipleship

38.  The Historical Jesus – All could know  The Personal Jesus – Many do know – Jesus loves me! I receive!  The Glory of Jesus – Few have met the living Jesus – I love You and I give my ALL!!  Then you will know what Jesus meant what is the ‘abundant life’!  You will never influence the earth for the Kingdom of God without a true meeting and revelation of Him!!

39.  This is a radical new season, young people want a real sell out for Jesus and are anti- establishment.  60’s - radical anti-establishment  70’s - groovy (cool) anti-establishment  80’s - self-focused  90’s - gluttony  2000’s – the bubble burst  Need to steer a culture that all you do is for Jesus  Our mission is to make Jesus famous!

40.  Not the time to just imitate others – who are you and what has Jesus asked of you and gifted you with?  The early church did not have models, big names, churches etc but they had the Holy Spirit and the teaching of Jesus, and eye witness to the resurrection.  Some people have the goal to be the Acts 2 church, but the Acts 2 church did not have the goal to be the Acts 2 church!

41. What is your model? We shouldn’t have one other than to follow Holy Spirit.  Example of the model of Cistercians – they did not decide to build a monastery in any particular style, they sought to glorify God.  Don’t look to produce a new style or structure, these just NATURALLY come as a by-product of holy living and longing after God.  Don’t reproduce a dead style!

42. Consecration Joshua 3 1) Follow the Ark 2) Keep a distance 3) Consecrate yourselves 4) The Lord speaks 5) Listen to the Words of the Lord 6) Drive out your enemies 7) The priests stood in the centre 8) The hand of the Lord is strong, always fear the Lord

43.  John 15: 4-5 – Intimacy – abiding – not working hard to see signs of life or the life of another community’s lifestyle.  Trees don’t try to produce fruit – don’t have to grunt real hard to try and squeeze something out – nor do they pick up fruit from other trees and tape them to their branches. Trees that are healthy simply produce fruit, they don’t try to make it happen, and they can’t stop it when it does, fruit comes when everything else in the environment functions as it should.

44. God longs for our participation with Him and at the same time God is on the move!! Jesus said “Follow Me”! He is going somewhere and if we are to keep pace we must follow. Get in the right posture – position yourself – that allows us a greater chance of catching God at work amongst us.

45.  God is at work all around us – even if we can’t see it. Touch, taste and smell – God in the ordinary.  If our whole life is the means by which God engages us, then we would live differently – attentive – in a posture of trust and hope toward all that I know and experience.  Not just listening to God out there but to your inner life – not just listening to the experts or other peoples answers.  Answer – God in US!! Listen and engage to what is happening in our lives –

46.  John 10:2-5  “His sheep follow Him because they know His voice”.  Jesus says!! His sheep KNOW His voice – He doesn’t say that if you get the right expert or do the right thing – BUT  His sheep know His voice and when they hear it they follow.  We talk about hearing God as if it is difficult and challenging.

47.  Deut 30: 14  “The word is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it!”  God is determined to reveal Himself and His purposes to us!

48.  17yr olds have to go to church  18 and 19 yr olds sort of have to go to church  20yr olds don’t have to go anywhere if they don’t want to!

49.  Youth Pastors  20yr olds – try to be cool as the youth  30 yr olds – have to try to be cool as the youth  40 yr olds – have to try really hard to remain as cool as the youth  50 yr olds – don’t worry about being cool, they just are real AND THAT’S COOL!  The main role in discipleship – young people don’t need heroes or fans – they need parents –  To help young people to remain grounded –

50. Generation Y! 1978 to 1994 – 12 to 28 yrs Life-style-centered; impatient; socially aware; demanding of employers; hugely confident; better educated; 2 Tim 3:7 Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth. questioning; ‘uncommitted observers’;

51. Flexibility; immediacy; clarity; want it now but still want quality!; good times; fun and variety! travel; growth and development; social interaction; responsibility and input; reward and recognition; to feel valued; a voice in decision making process; empowerment, consultation and partnership;

52. Command and control leadership! Greatest Challenge: Unbelief and fear (of man). Truth is what you want and feel it to be and nothing is absolute! Age of information – no information is neutral –tells you ideas and values What can you trust? Today's messages tell us: Trust is in you; trust your own heart; trust your own feelings!

53. Individualism and Consumerism! Need to….. Get hungry and start aching!!! Human kind experiencing extreme spiritual hunger – famine of truth is leading to severe violence and revolution.

54. *Identity – Who am I? My self worth? *Intimacy – Who will be with me? Where will I belong? *Health Sociability - How can I maintain and achieve balance, wholeness and freedom? Friendships? *Work and achievement – What will I do?

55. *Search for Meaning – Where am I going and why? Values and faith? *Compassion commitment – What can I contribute?

56.  Who can I be in the world?  What difference can I make in the world?  Where are You Lord?  What is Your will for my life?  Seeking to develop talents, build personhood and live a productive life.

57.  Spiritual development in childhood and youth and family have significant effect on vocational choices.  Must forgive parents if they have failed you in order to get on with life.  Relationships with good mentors has a strong positive influence. Pivotal life experiences occur through relationships during this period.  Lack of experience leads to idealism. Life is black and white!

58.  Some come to 2011 and ask – what is this year about, what fire is in us for this season –  As we meet this week, during this time your life could change!  When God speaks!! Lives change!!  What do you want with your life? A gift of today!  That is an important question but not the biggest question –  Whatever you decide to do – do it! God gives us desires and wants us to do it.

59.  But that’s not the most important question –  God wants us to do what we like but this is the big question:  WHY do you want to do it? Why do you want do this?  The reason, the why you are here on this planet – to carry the name of Jesus to the whole world!

60.  Act 9 (Paul to Saul). An encounter with God – a flash of revelation of Jesus – Too much light in photography can ruin the photo – need a little bit of light at a time in order to see the full picture! Light all at one can blind!  “Who are You Lord?”  Chosen instrument to carry MY NAME!  We know the name but do we carry THE name, not your name!  We are born name carriers…..

61.  Speak Jesus name, don’t just say you are a Christian, this term is very divisive today, Christianity is used only a couple of times in Scripture.  God is real – not a children’s story. Real truth!  If you are a Christian you will know struggles!  The reality of Jesus – when we come into the light we see the true MONSTER in us and have to face the ugly truth of your fallen humanity. Brian ‘Head’ Walsh

62. Leonard Cohen sings in “Anthem,” “Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack, a crack in everything That's how the light gets in.”

63. “Jesus was a sailor When He walked upon the water And He spent a long time watching From His lonely wooden tower And when He knew for certain Only drowning men could see Him He said, "All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them“ Suzanne

64.  God changes our lives not by subtraction but more by exchange and addition! Frank Naea  Identity is found in unity of our spirit with the Spirit of God not by the things done to your body! Frank Naea  Melt the ice don’t break it! Kalafi Moala  If you have made BIG mistakes then you have an opportunity to put them right in a BIG way! Frank Naea

65. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE you have. But do this with gentleness and respect… The one who gives the most hope ends up with the most authority. Need a personal relationship with Jesus but we are not to keep it private!!

66. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self- control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

67. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

68. What did Jesus accomplish? What is His story? Gen 1:1 Created the Heavens and the Earth Earth – temple – tabernacle – image? Gen 1: 26-28

69. Gen 1 and 2 – Relationship and partnership In the beginning GOD!…. And God said let there be, and there was, and it was good!……… Gen 1:26 Then God said let US make man in our image in our likeness and let them rule…So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. Born to be IMAGE BEARERS and Born to RULE – Be fruitful and increase! God made us ‘good’ not perfect!

70. Within the very being of God is relationship, the very name of God is relationship – 1John 4:8 God is love. Father/Son/Holy Spirit – Community, belonging, acceptance, fellowship God is in a life-giving communion of persons. The Father making a gift of love to the Son, the Son eternally receiving from the Father, makes a gift of Himself back to Him. The love so real that this love is another Person – the Holy Spirit.

71. This is what being made in the image and likeness of God reveals: we are called to love as God loves us. The man in his very being, has been created to make a gift of himself to the woman. The woman, in her very being, is created to receive the gift of the man into herself and give herself back to him. The love between them is so real that it may become another human person!

72.  Our bodies are made in God’s image so they make visible something of God’s invisible mystery.  Christianity is the religion of God’s union with humanity. The Word being made flesh. In Jesus we see God made visible.  God is love 1 John 4:8 within God the three Persons of the Trinity live an eternal exchange of love. Love desires to expand to others, out of sheer love, goodness and generosity God wanted to create many other persons to share in His eternal exchange of love.

73. A man’s body doesn’t make sense by itself, nor does a woman’s body. Their sexual difference reveals God’s plan that man and woman are meant to be a ‘gift’ to one another. And this gift can lead to a ‘third’, knowledge leads to another generation: Adam ‘knew’ (lay with) his wife and she became pregnant…. Gen 4:1 Be fruitful and multiply (increase in number) Gen 1:28 is not just an encouragement to propagate, it is a call to love in God’s image and so fulfill the very meaning of our being and existence.

74. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. Gen 2:24 and Eph 5:31-32. Christ left His Father in heaven, and also the home of His mother on earth and gave up His body for His bride (the Church) so that we could become one flesh with Him. Man can only fully discover his true self only in a sincere giving of himself. This is My body which is given for you. Luke 22:19

75. The whole purpose of our creation and redemption is to be totally united with God in all of our being. We were created for union! John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. John 17: 21- 23..that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me…..I in them and You in me. May they be brought to complete unity…. John 15: 12 Love each other as I have loved You.

76. The Bible is a story about marriage. Begins in the Book of Genesis with a marriage and ends in the Book of Revelation with the ‘wedding feast of the Lamb’ the marriage of Jesus Christ and the Church. Virtually everything God wants to tell us on earth about who He is, who we are, the meaning of life, the reason He created us, how we are to live and even our ultimate destiny is contained somehow in the truth and meaning of sexuality and marriage.

77. Jesus is not only the way to Heaven, He is the way back to the Father! Getting saved and learning to overcome is the changing of your perspective of life not your circumstances!

78. Ex 33: 7 – 11 – The Tent of Meeting Moses - he had a ‘dead’ spirit but the Spirit anointed him for leadership. He hungered after the presence ‘glory’ of God – Ex 33: 13 – 23 In order to meet with God, Moses had to go to the tent of meeting!

80. Ex 3 – Moses meets the burning bush! God had been silent. Ex 3: 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” God knew his name – personal God! Removed shoes – holy ground! The bush was burning but not burnt up!

81. Eph 1: 13 …included in Christ when you HEARD the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having BELIEVED, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit… Eph 2: 1-5..you were dead in your transgressions and sins…but because of His great love for us, God, …made us alive with Christ… it is by grace you have been saved.

82. The veil is now removed and we can see! 2Cor 3: 12-18 We now are ‘included in Christ’ and are able to have fellowship – become part of the ‘family’ of God! Everywhere we go we become the tent of meeting!! Now He is living in us, we have the burning bush living in us! No longer out there but within! But we are still here, more fully human!

83. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

84. Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you…..Receive the Holy Spirit….. Receive all from the Holy Spirit so we can now love and live as He does! We are the ‘tent of meeting’ a dwell place for him to LIVE in! We don’t just want a VISITATION! Consistency!!

85. He became as we are so we can become as He is! The Cross and redemption is not about us making Jesus our buddy but rather Jesus is the ALL!! And He takes this redemption to all! Redemption is not becoming a Christian but rather restoring what it is to be HUMAN!! More of You Lord and less of the flesh. More of You Lord and more of me! How are humans meant to glorify God? It is to be HUMAN – and His glory manifest through us.

86. Coll 2:6-10 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness.

87. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

88. The Word of God commands us in Proverbs 4:5-8 to: Get wisdom, get understanding…. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. Deception has to rely on force and it enslaves and destroys. Truth liberates, sets free, empowers and gives people genuine reasons to live and act in ways that are true, good and beautiful! Then you will KNOW the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

89. Difference from knowing ABOUT Jesus and actually EXPERIENCING Him! You may know what a Christian is but do you know how to LIVE as one! Can God dwell here on the earth or in this temple? Is 6: 3 “The whole earth is full of His glory.” Everything reflects His glory!

90. “Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it. But the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”

91. 1) Creation: In the beginning – Sovereign God. Gen 1: 1 2) The goodness of creation – Adam & Eve. Gen 1: 3-28 3) Rebellion: The Fall – sin – Cain & Abel; Tower of Babel; Exodus; Gen 3; Rom 3:23, 6:23 4) Exile 5) Sacrifice/Return/Redemption: Joseph; Moses; Joshua; Jesus; Heb 10: 12; Luke 15: 11-20 6) Commission: Matt 28: 19-20

92. Creator Judge Anointed/Messiah Unchanging Lord

93. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life and that life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness but the darkness has not understood it.

94. He was in the world and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God

95. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

96. He is the image of the invisible God the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created, things in Heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.

97. And He is the head of the body, the church, He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things whether things on earth or things in Heaven, by making peace through His blood shed on the Cross.

98. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith established and firm not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

99. In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

100. To know Him was to know God To see Him was to see God To believe in Him was to believe in God To receive Him was to receive God To hate Him was to hate God To honour Him was to honour God

101. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will…

102. And He has given Him authority to judge because He is the Son of Man. "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By Myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is just, for I seek not to please Myself but Him who sent me.”

103. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father who sent me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.

104. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.

105. John 1: 33 The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. 1John 2: 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

106. John the Baptist asked….Is Jesus the Christ?. Luke 7:22 “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

107. 1 John 2: 27 As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as the anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit, just as it has taught you, remain in Him.

108. Heb 13: 5 Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Heb 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

110. Acts 17:28 – We live and move and have our being in Him! 1 Cor 8:6..yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. Where are you living and moving? Where do you desire to be living? Where have you the faith to be living? What do you want? What do you need? An apostolic participation in the eternal purposes of God? Will you be able to STAND against persecution and suffering?

111. Paul preached that man can be saved not by works of the law but by faith in the grace of Christ. By faith in the atoning death of Christ man can find forgiveness from sin and reconciliation with God. So now there was no need for circumcision, animal sacrifices, observance of Jewish rituals or the need to spend money to earn salvation. Believers no longer need to live under the yoke of the law. This undercut the exploitative Jewish structure. Jesus came to set captives free Luke 4:18. Paul was showing that this was through Jesus’ death. The Jewish leaders persecuted Paul because of the threat his message was to their whole system.

112.  Jesus also was exalted over all rulers’ powers authorities and dominions of this age and the age to come. He will return to set up His Kingdom. Jesus was presented as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and that every knee would bow and every tongue confess Jesus is Lord. Jesus was not just another powerful god but the only God!  Caesar was lord and so the state becomes the ultimate and it then becomes exploiter and the source of social evils and oppression.  Preaching about Jesus as Lord and Savior and above the state was exciting Good news!

113. Today many preach Jesus divinity and saviourhood but fail to preach Jesus the King and Lord. The wise men who came looking for the baby Jesus in Jerusalem were looking for a king and not specifically a savior. Because they were wanting to see a change from the evil kings and kingdoms of this world.

114. Paul had preached of salvation as a free gift of God through faith in Jesus as Savior and cut right through the Jewish establishment. Paul’s preaching of Jesus as Lord cut through the foundations of the Roman imperialism and destroyed political totalitarianism. The Jews persecuted Paul for destroying their system through his preaching of the Cross and Jesus as Savior and the Romans persecuted him for destroying their imperialism by preaching Jesus as Lord.

115. Matt 20: 29…. Healing of the blind men. Expectation – called out Jesus stopped When was the last time you shouted out and Jesus stopped before you! Many crowds always gathered around Jesus but only one was healed! Many know God’s omni-presence – this does not require and faith. But if you want His manifest presence – that requires faith! Many want His presence but not the things that attract His presence! Matt 11: 12 Forcefulness required!

116. 2 Cor 5: 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

117. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come! An altar call is where you go up to an altar to get altered! If God is huge and now lives inside of you then why is He not busting out of you! Rev 3: 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. The handle to the door of your heart is on the inside – only YOU can open it!

118. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

119.  You only have one life to live and one life to give! Who will you live this life for?  Recognizing who He is and who you are!  Obedience  Surrender, yielding, giving up rights  God’s love  Becoming!  Releasing empowering  Calling, mission  submission

120.  Beginning of wisdom and knowledge  Holiness  Life!  Hating sin and evil  Blameless, upright  Awareness of God’s presence

121.  We think it is possible to receive Jesus Christ as Savior but never offer ourselves!  If I say yes to the Lord, I am going to end up in a bad place  I won’t be happy with life  I won’t have money  Life will be hard  I can never be good enough  I must please God or else He will be angry!  ….

122.  The question – Who is the Lord of your life?  What Kingdom are you living in?!  LK 17:21 – Kingdom of God is within us  Matt 11:12 - …forcefully advancing  Matt 13:- Parables of the Kingdom  1Cor 4:20 …not in words but in power  MT 6:33 – SEEK God’s Kingdom first  MT 6:10 – PRAY for God’s Kingdom to come  MT 16:17-19 – SHARE God’s Kingdom  Kingdom of God is found wherever GOD’S WILL IS DONE  OBEDIENCE is better than sacrifice

123. Luke 4: 5-7 The devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to Him, “I will give You all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will be all yours. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’

124. Authority of all the kingdoms of the world given to Satan, offered to Jesus without having to go to the cross. Devil offered Jesus the very thing He came to get: - came for the people of the world! To rule the people all Jesus had to do was to submit to the god of this world and leave him in place as its ruling authority. No suffering for Jesus and He would be able to have some rulership (although Satan would remain over Him) and would have been able to make the world a better place, overpowered evil in society, alleviated suffering and created a kingdom of the world that enacted perfect law, order and justice. He would have fulfilled all his people’s expectations of what a messiah was supposed to be and freed Israel from the Romans. The people he loved could have experienced an immediate improvement in their lives. The Devil’s temptation was a genuine one for Jesus to do something good for His people! Jesus did not come to improve the kingdom of the world but rather to transform it into the Kingdom of God and establishing the rule of God in place of the Devil. Rev 11:15 “The Kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever.”

125. Kingdom of the world vs Kingdom of God Trusts the: power of the sword power of the Cross Aims to: control behavior transform lives Scope: defending own territory loving God and people Responses: eye for an eye returning evil with good tit-for-tat turning the other cheek Battles: earthly enemies/ loves their enemies earthly battles battles spiritual forces Eph 6:12

126. Gen 1 and 2 – *Relationship and friendship with God. *Community and partnership with Him and each other. *Purpose in the world; Serving and caring for His creation; Kingdom of God In the beginning GOD!…. And God said let there be, and there was, and it was good!……… Gen 1:26 Then God said let US make man in our image in our likeness and let them rule…So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.

127. Born to rule – Be fruitful and increase! God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Gen 1: 28 God made us ‘good’ not perfect!

128. We are to expose and undo the works of the devil. 1John 3:8 Jesus said that we will do greater things than He! John 14:12 Jesus invades our falleness but not our personhood!

129. John 3:16 GOD Father Loves –CreatesCreated – Humanity FallSON SpeaksCan’t hear/listen BlessesCan’t receive/hides RevealsConfused/lost GivesTakes/consumes Embraces Lonely/disconnected

130. John 5:19 Jesus also said: The Son can do NOTHING! He finished the work on the Cross. We are not here to finish what He has finished already! The day Jesus died was the day death died! 1Cor 4:20 The Kingdom of God is not in words but in power!

131. John 14:10 The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority but the Father who dwells in me does the works. We are to speak and the Father does the works! John 10:37 Unless I do the works of the Father do not believe me!

132. Many believe His power exists only to help us overcome sin!

133. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right (power/authority) to become children of God, children not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

134.  Authority – Gate - the right to rule – to command belief and /or action.  In the NT – ‘exousia’  - meaning – rightful, actual, unimpeded power to act or to possess control use or dispose of something or somebody.  This describes the new birth; the person who receives Christ as Savior.  Exousia – authority/power – the distinctive mark of the born again child of God. No longer a slave of sin and of Satan but a son/daughter of God and possessing a new authority/power.

135. An overcomer, he has authority/power. The adding of POWER to the authority came after Pentecost. Acts 1: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses ……  Power = Greek ‘dunamis’ where we get words such as dynamo, dynamic, dynamite  D ynamis or dunamis signifies POWER!  Also comes from the Latin word ‘augere’ which means - to make increase or make grow

136. Remember that the disciples were able to perform miracles long before they were baptized with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, but they were too weak to face persecution! (Matt 10:1; Luke 10:17). What they needed was the courage to confront their corrupt and cruel society with its sin, call it to repentance, and take the consequences of such a confrontation – persecution!

137. The Christian life is not found ON the Cross but BECAUSE of the Cross and receiving resurrection POWER! 1John 4:17 As He is so are we in this world.

138.  John 17:15-18  Matt 5:13-  Dan 11:32  Phil 2:1-11  Luke 9:23-24  John 12:24-25  Gal 2:20-21  Col 1:15-  John 6:28-29  John 10:37  1John 3:8  Luke 12:47-48  John 9:41  James 4:17  Micah 6:8  Matt 22:37-40

139. How you know and love God will show how you love your neighbour. Image of God – test that? Image of self – test that? Image of neighbour – test that? It will show up the holes! Need to know God and self before you can live with others!

140. God I am Just to be just Loving to love Mercifulto be merciful Holyto be holy Faithfulto be faithful Trustworthyto be trustworthy All knowingto know

141. Can’t do any of these without another!! Need community and relationships. Can’t be faithful, compassionate, loving and kind without another! Can’t see God in you only see Him in how you live with others in community. Can’t know God outside of community!

142.  Who is your MASTER ?  What is your MISSION ?  Who will be your MATE ?

143. Maturity Holiness Disciplined God-fearing Miracles vs Happiness vs Deliverance vs Gift-bearing vs

145. Jeremiah 1:4-10 Isaiah 6:1-8 The more God revealed Himself not only revealed Israel’s sin but also intensified it! Ps 36:9..in Your light we see light. 1. Death to flesh Flesh exposed and cleansed 2. Commissioning – get sent out! Here am I send me!! Act 17:28 For in Him we LIVE and MOVE and have our BEING.