And He spoke all things pertaining to the Kingdom! Acts 1:3

What a final conversation! What a way to leave those who you have mentored and discipled – just as important as the first conversation; come and I will make you fishers of men. Jesus leaves the disciples before his ascension with one last conversation and He spoke all things pertaining to the Kingdom.

The Kingdom was so at the heart of everything Jesus was about: He lived it, expounded it, demonstrated it, taught it, displayed it, revealed it and gave access to it! Wow! And to top it off, Jesus’ final conversations with the very ones who were about to take hold of that very same kingdom baton had their final conversations with Jesus about the very same Kingdom!

I think there is something here that we need to pay very close attention to – what is the Kingdom? Where is this Kingdom? Who is this Kingdom and why was it so important that Jesus deemed it essential as His parting words and conversation to His disciples?

Do you recall in Matthew chapter 7:24 Jesus said, “therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, I liken to a wise man who built his house upon a rock and when the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on that house and it did not fall for it was founded on that rock!”

There is significant importance to be taken to what and when Jesus speaks. There is stability, assurance, knowledge, protection and future in all that He says. Jesus’ conversation throughout scripture all point to a Kingdom that must be enjoyed, lived in and embraced by all who have been given access to discover it.

Pay attention today to this conversation in Acts chapter 1 verse 3 as Jesus’ parting instruction in His will and testament before leaving their natural world to occupy His seat beside His divine Father – do you remember He said where I am you will be with me also…

And He spoke all things pertaining to the Kingdom…

Pastor Michael

GIVE UP the Ghost

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:’ and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 23:46 (KJV)

At the end of December 2017, I heard the words “give up the ghost.” During that specific moment in time, I had absolutely no idea what that meant but I KNEW God was speaking to me personally. That’s the thing I love about God, He gives you a Word in every season. He gives the Word to you in whatever way He speaks to you before you go into something or as you are going through something – a snippet before its fullness unfolds.  

Since that day; and even now, my life has become more of an INTERNAL battle. I can literally feel the war. The temper has flared up, frustration has climbed new levels, patience and tolerance are itching me, the tongue goes wild every now and then… BOOM! The bomb has really gone off. Paul’s words in Romans 7 & 8 resonate in my whole being. They’re becoming ALIVE on the inside.

At first, I was like “Lord, what is happening to me?” I automatically assumed that everything that was happening to me was a bad thing. Then I remembered the words of Pastor Philip, “let it come up and come out,” messages spoken by our Pastors and other ministers in church about our flesh being strong; we ourselves being too strong… DING DING DING!!! #LightBulbMoment.

The Word I heard came to mind again – give up the Ghost. Even though Luke 23:46 is referring to Jesus giving up His spirit; dying on the cross to move into the next phase of God’s divine plan for us, what God has been saying to me through this Word is GIVE UP YOUR FLESH. The scripture now takes on a new meaning for me. 

Through this Word, God is saying, “Stop fighting me. Give up your flesh.” I must give up MY WAYS. In order to go to the next level, the flesh MUST die. I must give up my ghost– my soul (will, mind, emotions), heart and spirit. EVERYTHING I am, I MUST give to Him. I must STOP FIGHTING HIM.

Welcome to the process friends… or as Pastor Isaac calls it, METAMORPHOSIS.

Of course the battle is intense because the flesh doesn’t like the spirit and the spirit doesn’t like the flesh – they’re at enmity with one another (Romans 8:7). The flesh doesn't want to die! You really begin to meet your other side… your Mr.Hyde. However, we must still give up our flesh. 

God has been telling us as a house that the Holy Spirit is coming in a greater measure and the Church will not be able to hold Him. Isn’t it ironic that this is one of the Words for 2018, but just before it God tells me to, “give up the ghost?”

I’m here to say that the struggle is real but SO IS GOD. God tells us to pick up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23). As hard as it can be; especially when we don’t want to, WE MUST stay connected to God and daily give up our ghost – our flesh. It’s challenging but the more we find ourselves in His presence, the easier it will become because there is more of Him and less of us (John 3:30). 

Be encouraged to die and keep dying to your flesh… give up your ghost to receive His.

BY STACEY SPENCER

My Salvation

I wrote this in my book sometime last year as I was feeling overwhelmed by the Lord's sacrifice. Months later I’m back in this place; amazed at salvation, wanting its truths and all that Jesus has done for me to ever be before my mind and in my heart. I hope it blesses you as much as it did me.

Oh hallelujah, look what Yeshua has done.

Slain before the foundation of the world to make me a son.

How great a salvation, what a wondrous light.

No more a captive, but the object of His delight.

Redeemed by His blood alone.

He paid the price to make me His own.

And not just His because a father we now share.

A brother who would desire to make me a joint heir.

Hosanna, Hosanna, You are the greatest gift.

My mind can’t fathom, my heart can’t grasp it.

They downplay Your sacrifice. 

But You lift my eyes to see the truth.

Amazing grace, Your love abounds.

I once was lost but now I’m found.

Found in Your book, found in Your hand. 

Found in Your heart, found in Your plans.

Amazing love how can it be?

That the father’s son would die for me. 

Arms wide open, heart exposed.

You must now go out, there is more in this fold.

My house must be filled, the world needs to know. 

The only question is…

Will you go?

See your value in the Cross. Let your heart rest in this and this alone. You are loved. You are valuable. You are never alone.

BY LARISSA MATTHEWS

He Was Moved With Compassion

‘But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.’

Matthew 9:36 (King James Version)

It’s awesome how five simple words of a language can change a person. Who ever thought that five words could articulate what it means to be human? What human is to look like on the Earth… pretty amazing right?

Over the past few months these five words have been laid on my heart. Whether I am walking down the street, socialising with family and friends, writing, eating, sleeping; whatever it is that I am doing, these five words whisper to my spirit and circulate my mind.

What captivates me about them is that Jesus was moved with compassion. He wasn’t moved BY it but He was moved WITH it. Compassion was Him, built in Him; innate. God has been challenging me to move with and not by compassion, and it is this which I would like to share with you today.

If you know me then you will know that I am a lover of words and meanings. The key word that sticks out to me within these five words is with, which simply means, ‘accompanied by, characterised by, or having’ (Dictionary.com). Jesus functioned with the power of perceiving by touch, His whole being (EVERYTHING in Him) was compassion – ‘a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering’ (Dictionary.com).

Jesus’ compassion moved beyond what we know as our human emotions. He perceived (to become aware, discern) and desired (to wish or long for, request) change for others with His whole being. It was this characteristic in Him that allowed Him to move from one place to another to bring change, to move from one person to another to bring change, to be the sacrifice and die for us to bring change; ultimately to bring reconciliation (to cause a person to accept or be resigned to something not desired, restore – Dictionary.com). WOW, what love is this?

Jesus wasn’t moved by compassion because to be moved by something is not merely enough to bring a consistent, everlasting, internal change for yourself or another. The word by means, ‘to the extent or amount of, within the extent or period of’ (Dictionary.com). This means that there is a limitation when we are moved by something or someone, rather than moved with something or someone. It will only last a certain amount of time because it is not something that is built within our nature.

As humans we all have moments where we operate in our own strength when it should be the Lord’s strength, grace, and mercy we walk and operate in (Matthew 10:8, 2Corinthians 12:9). Our own forgiveness, tolerance, and grace towards people and situations can run slim because we are limited, which is why it is by the Lord’s that we must go in (Zechariah 4:6).  

In Luke 6:36 it reads, ‘You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate’ (New Living Translation). We are commanded; it being an absolute, to be compassionate. As we are to be it, it must be built within us (our minds and hearts), as it must last and not tarry only for a season. We must allow the Holy Spirit to build compassion in our hearts and minds. We always talk about renewing our minds (Romans 12:2), but we forget that we also need God to work on our hearts (Luke 6:45, Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 21:2). God said that He would give us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), but we must partner with the Holy Spirit to continually pursue and keep it renewed (Psalm 51:10, Romans 2:29). The heart is important, and before we can touch others we must be touched in heart too. 

So, considering all of this: Are you moved with or by compassion? What is the state of your heart today? Question yourself and invite God in… HE LONGS TO BRING YOU CHANGE; to restore you, to bring a better, everlasting change. It’s never too late, so let’s assess, change, and move forward in His grace together as one; the way we were created to.

BY STACEY SPENCER