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Team Tuesday - March 26, 2013

3/26/2013

Dear Minister of Prayer,

This is Part 8 of a series. Part 1-7 are below. Just scroll down.

May the anointing of God that resides within you from the Holy Spirit bless you today. May He teach you and open to you understanding of the mysteries of God written in the Holy Scriptures. May you be filled with the knowledge of His will.

Read Matthew 16:13-20

We have been studying one of the most important passages that Jesus taught us in the gospels. Very often Jesus teaches by first asking a question. This is something that a Rabbi would do to get people’s attention, to capture their thoughts in preparation for revealing truth.

“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
“But who do you say that I am?”

This is the question that all of humanity must at one time or another answer and will determine where they will spend eternity.

And there is only one right answer.

The New Creation is “New”
If any person is ingrafted into Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creature altogether; the old (previous spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! See 2 Corinthians 5:17 Amp.

When Father revealed Jesus, the anointed One, and we received Him as our Savior and Lord, He came into our inner man. At that moment an explosion of the Word of God Himself brought forth divine life. Hell lost its death grip on us as eternity with God was established in the new man. We were born from above, a new creature, the living temple of Almighty God!

Not all of us may remember the hour and day of our new birth, but Heaven does. Your name was recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life! Praise God!

Something caught my attention the other day when I picked up a plastic bottle of water. Written on the outside of the bottle is this statement:

ReBorn Bottle
Made with 50% Recycled Plastic

This plastic bottle was originally made from a substance that was already here, from oil located deep within the earth.

Then the company took old plastic bottles to make new plastic bottles.

You and I were not “reborn” from any earthly substance that can be found on this planet. We were not born from something recycled, something that was used before.

No!

What were we made of?

“… knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

“He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

“… having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…” 1 Peter 1:17-23

“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth…” James 1:18

The Word of God
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

“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.” John 1:12-14

Praise God, Saints!!!

The Holy Seed
We were born again of a Holy Seed…the Word of God, by His will, on purpose…not in any way an accident or recycled. No, you were made of a pure substance, God’s Word, which comes down out of a perfect Kingdom, from a perfect Lord.

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

Our second birth came forth from a substance that is upholding all things…the word of His power. It will never be altered or changed. It is the origin of the universe and it is the origin of you. It lives and abides forever and is incorruptible.

Definition of Incorruptible: Pure, righteous, upright, honest, reliable, beyond corruption, irreproachable, above temptation, faultless, trustworthy, unbribable.

If this is what you were made of, then this is who you are!

You have been regenerated, not from a mortal origin, seed or sperm, but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God. See Amp. 1 Peter 1:23

You and I were made of God, the Word.

It is a requirement of Heaven that you eat continually of Heavenly substance, His Word. This is necessary for the “New Man” to have strength, ability, wisdom and power. And it is necessary to combat against being conformed to this world.

Feeding on His word.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

Don’t leave home without it!

Prayer Assignment: The Church—The Lost—Elected Officials
Pray today for The Church to be strengthened with might in the inner man as they study the scriptures. Pray that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened and we know His calling, His inheritance, and the greatness of His power.

Pray that we love one another fervently.
Read the “Who I Am” scriptures on the Resource Page. They produce life.

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Team Tuesday - March 19, 2013

3/19/2013

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Dear Partner in Prayer,

This is Part 7 of a series. Part 1 – 6 are below. Just scroll down.

I bless you today with the abundance of God’s love and favor that can never be separated from you. Your Father loves you so dearly. I pray that as you study His Word today, that He breathe that love afresh upon you and that you be strengthened with might in your inner man.

Matthew 16:18-19
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

While on a walk at a local park, I saw a Mom hand her keys to a child that had recently learned to walk. That toddler was so happy to have them. They must have been a bit heavy for her tiny hand to hold for there were a lot of keys on that key ring. The Lord spoke to my heart:

“That toddler doesn’t have a clue what she has in her hand. That’s the way it is with much of My church.”

Milk vs. Filet Mignon
“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:13-14

“…till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ…” Ephesians 4:13-15

And He Himself gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints…

Who you and I choose to submit to and allow to teach us God’s Word is of great significance to our personal lives and for The Church at large. Years ago, some members of my family were born again. But they were not willing to yield to hear truths from the Bible because they did not line up with what they had heard in church for so many years. They were entangled in the traditions and doctrines of men.

“Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition…” “….And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Read Matthew 15:6-9.

When what is spoken in the pulpit or taught on the religious airways is different than what is written, always take the side of scripture.

“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” John 12:48

Was Jesus being harsh? He was speaking only what His Father told Him to say. Read John 12:49-50.

God is love and God doesn’t want His church choosing teachings that are contrary to His word. Why? Because following after error cannot produce the abundant life-bearing goodness of God. Adam and Eve chose error and ate of a fruit that produced death when they could have chosen truth: the tree of life.

Milk or Solid Food
Milk is good for the nourishment of babies but is preposterous when a forty year old man is still drinking warm milk from a baby bottle.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21

A church prepared for every good work! Can you SEE that, Saints? This is why God has us praying for The Church, with all of its many denominations. It is said 2.2 billion people on earth are Christians. That is about one-third of the population of the planet. (Do you know how many Christians are in your state?)

If every Christian was prepared for and fulfilling His work, every nation would be impacted with manifestations of His glory…just like when Jesus received His assignment, was baptized by John and was sent forth.

Pray for The Church in the cities and counties of your state. Pray that they will hunger after righteousness and be open to be led by the fullness of the Holy Spirit. It is only through Him that the powerful, yoke destroying, burden removing, anointing of God will flow. Jesus needed Him and so do we. Read Acts 10:38.

Church Growth
Ephesians 4:15-16 reveals how we grow:
“…but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

As we pray for brothers and sisters we do not even know, we are transferring forth nourishment and a supply of strength to help each one do its part, which is causing the body to grow. Out of our bellies flows life!

Keys and Authority
“Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19

Authority is transferred by words.

Remember the Centurion soldier who came to Jesus on behalf of his servant who was paralyzed? He said he was a man under authority, yet he had authority over soldiers that were under him.

When we use our keys of authority to loose and to bind, we should always be mindful of our position. We are under authority to have authority. That way we stay under His protection. Jesus always declared His protection… "It is the Father in Me who does the works.”

Jesus has delegated authority to His Church to establish His Kingdom of love and to loose the blessing on earth.

The Commission
“…He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them,

‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

‘And these signs will follow those who believe:
In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’”

“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”
Mark 16:14-20.

Dear one,
Right now is a good time to pray. Let the Holy Spirit guide your heart and your words. Let Him speak through you today as you intercede for The Glorious Church in your cities in your state. Pray for God’s people to fulfill their assignments: that we will all go and do Father’s will to bring in the lost. Pray for us all to be salt and light in our states and nation. Be bold! Use your keys!

Surely, the Lord is working with us, confirming His word through accompanying signs. Amen.

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Team Tuesday - March 12, 2013

3/12/2013

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Dear Pray-er,
This is Part 6 of a study of Matthew 16:13-20. Part 1-5 are below. Just scroll down.

To you, dear one, it has been given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things come in parables. May the Lord open your understanding to see and to know those things that are hidden from the world.

Speak and declare your agreement with that prayer.

Read Matthew 16:13-20.

Recap
Knowledge from Heaven is opened up as Father reveals Who Jesus is.
When we receive and confess Him, we are born again.
Christ is building His Church on this foundation.
The gates of Hades shall never prevail over The Church. Never!
Keys of Heaven have been given to The Church to loose and to bind.

Without using a commentary, make a list of what you think the keys of Heaven are.
Why do you think Jesus commanded His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ? Mt. 16:20.

The Building Being Built
What I thought would be a one week study is in now week 6. I sense from the Lord, almost with urgency, that we, the Body of Christ, must seek after and grab hold of the Kingdom truths written in this passage.

As we studied last week, if we go to God as a beggar wrapped in fear, we won’t be able to lift the mighty Sword of the Spirit against the enemy. Gideon was transformed when words from Heaven were declared: “God is with you, you mighty man of valor. Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel….Have I not sent you?” And then, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” See Judges Chapter 6. Remember when Jesus gave us a similar instruction?

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.

What a glorious account of the faith-change in one’s identity when God’s word is received to replace man’s inward fallen nature of deficiency and loneliness.

Several times we have studied how important it is for every born again Christian to know who they are in Christ. Not who they are in their first birth, or who they are in the world, but who they are as Ambassadors of another Kingdom. Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? When Jesus asked that question, He already knew who He was. His identity was totally consumed with His Father.

“And suddenly a voice came from Heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
“Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ “See Matthew Chapter 4.

How did Jesus defeat this lie, a challenge to His identity?
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’“

Jesus never swayed from His position in God. All that He thought, all that He spoke, all that He did, came forth from who He was in Father.

He said, “I and the Father are one.”

Can’t you say the same thing?

“I Will Build My Church”
How Lord? “One brick at a time.”

There’s no one else like you! You are wonderfully made! Your identity, your uniqueness, personality, perspective, and actions should all be rooted in Him.

“…the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

“For you died, and your very life is hidden with Christ, in God.” Colossians 3:3

It is “in Him and through Him that we live and have our being.” Acts 17:28

Why is acknowledgement of our identity in Christ so important?

Because we can actually become what the Word has declared us to be.
Because the accuser of the brethren is against us.

There is protection when we see ourselves new, from Heaven’s perspective. As we speak by faith what God says about us, strength and power is received into the inner man. It’s like faith food to your total being.

The days are upon us, dear ones, that we must know who we are, Who is with us, and what we have been given to accomplish our assignments. Jesus shed His precious Blood for your new birth, but if you don’t know or act on your inheritance, you will not fully complete your ministry.

Those keys that Jesus gave you are located in God’s Word. As you daily deposit the word, through hearing, reading and speaking, your reborn spirit is recharged, rejuvenated, and re-fired by the Holy Spirit.

The Church Transformed…A Living Building
Just like Gideon was transformed, the Holy Spirit is seeking to transform our “old self” to our “true self” as one in Jesus. Old beggarly ways and lies from the enemy are being replaced as we see ourselves through Father’s eyes, soaring high with authority to do the greater works. And when you soar, I soar.

Where is The Church headed?
We were born of an incorruptible seed, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:9-12

Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, and The Church…we…one with the Father, “in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:21-22

“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23

“…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19

This is where you and I are headed, dear one.

Closing Comments
The “BIG” picture…

Let’s “zoom out” like we do with Map Quest to get a different perspective of our study in Matthew 16.

Jesus is teaching His disciples Kingdom truths in this passage.
Two questions are asked.
Peter sees: Jesus, the Christ!
What follows this revelation knowledge?
The revealing of The Church!
What’s next? Jesus unveils a kingdom that will oppose The Church.
What’s next? The promise.
What’s next? Provision, tools, weapons to overcome…KEYS… from the ruling Kingdom of Heaven to enforce order and victory on earth!

“The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’
The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.

“Rule in the midst of Your enemies!” Psalm 110:1-2
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Question
Matthew 16:16
Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Why wasn’t Peter born again at that instant?

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Team Tuesday - March 5, 2013

3/5/2013

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Blessings to you dear faithful Saints!

This is Part 5 of a study of Matthew 16:13-20. Part 1 – 4 are below. Just scroll down.

I declare abundant blessings to flow from His Kingdom within you to strengthen and transform you today that you rise up to your heavenly place as one in Christ Jesus!

Pause and ask the Lord to reveal the deeper truths in this study of His word.

Read Matthew 16:13-20
Sometimes Jesus teaches about His Kingdom by asking questions that cause His people to think.
Write down the two questions that Jesus asked His disciples.
Write down the correct answer to the second question.
How did Peter know the correct answer?

“…I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19

Building You and Me
The Holy Spirit is actively at work building up His Church for the last days commission to bring forth God’s Kingdom revival before the great and awful days of tribulation begin. That means you must fully become everything that has been written in God’s Word about who you are in Jesus Christ. See the Resource Page and read out loud the Who Am I scriptures often. They have the power to transform your thinking from “old you” to “new creation you.”

Renewing your mind to your Kingdom identity is vital to your power and strength. As you and I change, The Church changes. How can we act on who we are in Christ unless we have knowledge of who God declared us to be?

Jesus Himself studied the scriptures every morning.

"The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.” Isaiah 50:4

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with man.” Luke 2:52

Jesus reveals who He is and His ministry by quoting Isaiah 61:1-2.

“And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

‘The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.’

“Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

“And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”
See Luke 4:18-21

In this same manner, each Believer is to find themselves in the scriptures, renewing their mind to what the scriptures say, not the opinions of family, friends or the world. What we think will produce outward actions. Just as Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, we also grow in confidence and are changed from glory to glory. Sons of God are no longer slaves, because they are obedient to yield and be led by the Spirit of God. Galatians 4:7.

This yielding produces a servant’s heart of love, which gives birth to ministry.

This builds the Lord’s Glorious Church!

Getting the Keys to Work
As the Church matures to hear, obey and pursue individual assignments, we are corporately releasing God’s power supply to flow from one to another. We are actually nourishing and making one another stronger in love. Ephesians 4.

Christ’s goal: the unity of the faith to a perfect, fully developed, anointed Body, able to preach, heal and cast out demons and boldly declare, “He has sent me to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord!”

It’s an Inside Job
Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within you and out of your heart would flow rivers of living water. Knowledge that changes our inside identification from a fearful beggar before God to our true nature as a joint heir with Christ will produce authority in the inner man. A beggar before God is not strong enough to pick up and use the keys of Heaven. But with God all things are possible!

Remember Gideon? He was a poor farmer, full of fear, who became a military hero and spiritual leader for the nation of Israel. He led a mighty army of 300 to defeat Israel’s enemies that had kept them oppressed and in bondage for years.

How did Gideon’s transformation take place? Words from Heaven came down to unlock Gideon’s earthly circumstances so that he could fulfill Heaven’s assignment. Faith in God’s supernatural assistance and a new identity brought about an amazing victory that delivered a nation!

“The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor…” Judges Chapter 6.

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”
Hebrews 11:3

Faith in The Uncompromised Word of God
Just as an apple seed will produce an apple tree when planted in good ground, God’s Word has within itself the ability to transform you into an outstanding, powerful Christian so that when you speak mountains move! Just think, the worlds were framed by the word of God!

Certainly we can look into the perfect law of liberty and be a doer of His word to transform and rebuild our lives. Then we can move out and rebuild our cities and states.

Closing Comments
No matter who we are, there is so much more to obtain in God’s Kingdom, especially in these last days when His Spirit is releasing an abundance of His wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Why? Because our assignment is BIG!

None of us will ever be at a place of non-engagement. Perilous times are here, beloved, and they require extraordinary strategies. Sadly, not all Christians are hearing and obeying.

The Holy Spirit knows how to maneuver Christ’s Body to overcome and defeat every tactic of the enemy and keep us abiding in the faith that overcomes the world! Like everything with the Lord, He has His part, and we have our part.

The Revival/Awakening
His part is to revive and awaken souls. Our prayer assignment is to work with Him in faith to prepare their hearts.

When you pray, where are your prayers coming from? Your thoughts? Your heart?
See John 7:37-39 and Romans 8:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 2:10-13

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Team Tuesday - March 26, 2013

Team Tuesday - March 19, 2013

Team Tuesday - March 12, 2013

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