Pages

Friday, June 29, 2012

relentless, part 2 (teachings from John Bevere)

Hi again! So I'm super late in posting these, but here are notes from the Friday night meeting (6/15/12) with John Bevere at Pastor Mac Hammond's church, Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park, MN. As I said in my previous posts, I can't do the message justice, and I don't know how the notes read from someone who wasn't there, but in case it helps, here they are. And if you like what you read even a little bit, here's a bunch of stuff you can do: 

1. Visit http://messengerinternational.com/ for more information on John Bevere and his wife, Lisa. Buy the book, CDs, DVDs, workbook, or curriculum for Relentless (which is what this message is from) or any other of their books... you will be happy you did!
2. Go to lwcc.org and watch the services on demand.
3. Buy the SummerVival CDs or mp3s (all the meetings with Beveres at Living Word). 

On to the notes! 

Relentless, part 2
 
Romans 5:17 TEV
It is true that through the sin of one man death began to rule because of that one man. But how much greater is the result of what was done by the one man, Jesus Christ! All who receive God's abundant grace and are freely put right with him will rule in life through Christ.
 
Every believer who receives God’s abundant grace will rule in life through Christ.
 
Many believers are ruled by life. God’s desire is that we would rule in life and reign as kings and queens through Christ. Kings and queens have domain in which they exercise rule and reign. Our domain is our realm in this life.

Grace = power

Substitute empowerment any time you see grace in the Bible.
Grace gives us the ability to go beyond our own ability.

1. We rule over sin; it no longer dominates us.

Romans 6:14 NKJV
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
 
Rephrase that as “we are under God’s empowerment.” God’s power/empowerment: look at Ephesians chapter 1: it’s immeasurable, unlimited power.

2. We rule over sickness and disease

We have authority. We don’t have to ask God to heal us. He already has healed us 2000 years ago. We enforce it.

3. We rule over lack and poverty.
Speak to it. Call it in. God owns the cattle on one thousand hills. Sow and call it in. Apply His laws.

4. We rule in sectors of life. We are called to influence.
Deut. 28:13 NLT
If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom.

Heads lead. Tails follow.
Society has led, church has followed because we aren’t ruling.
Daniel was more wise than those around him. We should be influencers in our society. In society, we should  manifest headship, leadership, and influence. The world should be copying us. We have God’s grace, not them. We should excel in every area. (John had a long list that included pretty much every area and aspect of life!)
We are to be the light in a dark world.

Isaiah 60:1-3 NKJV
Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

The glory is risen - not descended - upon us. It’s coming out of us.
The darkness referred to in this verse is talking about right now

Aimee Semple Macpherson built and then kept a 5000 seat sanctuary through the depression. Charlie Chaplin went to her services to get ideas. She was influencing the world.

We are supposed to be lights in darkness... and that’s not just talking about being nice to people.

How do we enter rulership?

John 3:3  NKJV
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:5 NKJV
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is mentioned over 100x in New Testament. This is what Jesus preached. What is the kingdom of God? The majority of the time, it is basileia tou Theos.
Basileia: royalty/rule/reign
Theos: God

The most accurate meaning of kingdom of God (after lots of study on John B.’s part): God’s supreme powerful rule.

You can substitute that phrase whenever you see the kingdom of God listed. It helps verses make even more sense. For example, Matthew 6:9-10 NKJV
In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.

“Your supreme powerful rule come.” He’s talking about now, which you can tell by the context... give us this day our daily bread, for example, is talking about now, so he’s asking for God’s supreme powerful rule to come now where nothing can block His rule.

The kingdom of God is not physical. It is within us: Luke 17:20-21 TEV
Some Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. His answer was, The Kingdom of God [God’s supreme powerful rule] does not come in such a way as to be seen. No one will say, Look, here it is! or, There it is!; because the Kingdom of God [God’s supreme powerful rule] is within you.

God’s supreme rule is the immeasurable power we see in Ephesians chapter 1.

Matthew 12:28 NKJV
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God [God’s supreme powerful rule] has come upon you

The Holy Spirit is minister of that grace.

Matthew 19:24 NKJV
And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God [God’s supreme powerful rule].

The “rich” man is self-sufficient. It’s harder for self sufficient men to enter into God’s supreme and powerful rule.

Luke 6:20 NKJV
Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God....”

The “poor” are those hungry for God’s ability.

Jesus came to preach the Gospel to the poor. (See Luke 4:18.) Yet he went to Zaccheus’ house and he was the richest guy around. The truth was, Zaccheus was actually the poorest because he was dependent on and open to the rule of the Lord. Same thing with Matthew, who Jesus asked to be a disciple. Matthew was poor and dependent on the Lord, although he was naturally rich on this earth.

“Behold I give you the keys to the kingdom.” … there’s not a physical place where we need to keys to get into the kingdom. Jesus gave us keys to God’s supreme powerful rule.

Mark 9:1 NKJV
And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God [God’s supreme powerful rule] present with power.”

That day was the Day of Pentecost - the power came to establish God’s supreme powerful rule on this earth.

So go back to the see/enter kingdom of God in John 3:3, 5.

See means to see, perceive, be aware of and acquainted with.
Enter means arise and come into or arise and enter.

Some “see” or are aware of God’s rule. Some “enter” or come into God’s rule.

John Bevere has been a passenger on many different commercial airline flights. He has seen the benefits of flying and is at the benefit of where the pilot goes. When he learned how to fly, he entered into flying and was able to take the plane where he wanted to go.

Seeing the benefits of God’s rule vs. entering into the benefits of God’s rule.

A bunch of people can be on a deserted island, stuck with cannibals, desperate to get out. They could see an airstrip with a fully fueled, working plan, but unless one of them knows how to fly the plane, they will only see the potential benefits of leaving the island. They won’t be able to enter into those benefits unless a pilot enters into those benefits.

How do we enter into ruling in life through Christ?

The apostle Paul and Barnabas went on a missionary journey to a number of cities. On their way back, they visit the cities they started their journey with... remember all of this takes lots of days, months, etc. No airplanes! They didn’t know if they’d ever see these people again so they are going to be careful of what they tell their disciples in the Lord.

Acts 14:21-22 NKJV
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Paul wrote that we must go through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God/His supreme powerful rule. That was the most important thing to let them know.

That word tribulation is thlipsis - pressure.

Acts 14:21-22 TEV
Paul and Barnabas preached the Good News in Derbe and won many disciples. Then they went back to Lystra, to Iconium, and on to Antioch in Pisidia They strengthened the believers and encouraged them to remain true to the faith. We must pass through many troubles to enter the Kingdom of God, they taught.

Properly navigating adversity propels us to greater authority and power in life.

John Bevere shared the story of how he was offended by someone he looked up to and how he came out of it and ended up writing a book on how he was healed from the offense and now that book is helping millions all over the world. (Bait of Satan) He went through the adversity and then rose into authority in that area. He gave a bunch of other examples of people this happened to in different areas.

Romans 8:16-17 NKJV
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

An heir inherits and continues the legacy of his/her predecessor. An heir is also legally entitled to the rank of another. Jesus speaks to things and takes authority over them. We are able to do what he does and greater works. (John 14:12)

Stay relentless. Jesus spoke to weather. You can speak to weather. Speak to business. Speak to health. Take authority.

Christ: Many think of as risen Savior. We are Christ in this earth. We don’t look at someone swimming out in the water and say “there’s Sam’s head.” we say, “There is Sam.”
We are the body of Christ. He is the head. We are one. We have not walked in the authority we have.

1 Corinthians 3:21-22 CEV
“Everything belongs to you.”

You’re an heir.

It is appointed unto man once to die. Paul said, “I don’t know if I should go or stay.” He made the choice to stay on this earth. God didn’t make that choice. Every act of obedience puts more on our mansion in heaven. 

 
Luke 4:1-2 NKJV - He went in filled.

Luke 4:14 NKJV - He went out in power.

Romans 8:16-17 NKJV

Glory - authority and power

Isaiah 60:1-3 NKJV
Gentiles are unbelievers. Sufferings of this present time don’t compare with glory that comes when you successfully navigate adversity. (not direct quote)

No matter the pressure of the thlipsis you encounter, the difficulty is nothing compared to the level of rulership you will walk in after it has passed, if you handle it right.

James 1:12 NIV
Crown of life = rulership here.

Friday, June 15, 2012

relentless, part 1 (notes from John Bevere meeting)

Hi again! Here are notes from last night's meeting with John Bevere at Pastor Mac Hammond's church, Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park, MN. I can't do the message justice, and I don't know how the notes read from someone who wasn't there, but in case it helps you, here it is! And if you like what you read even a little bit, here's a bunch of stuff you can do: 

1. Visit http://messengerinternational.com/ for more information on John Bevere and his wife, Lisa. Buy the book, CDs, DVDs, workbook, or curriculum for Relentless (which is what this message is from) or any other of his books... you will be happy you did!
2. Go to Living Word tonight (Friday, 6/15, 7 p.m.), tomorrow night (Saturday, 6/16, 5 p.m.), Sunday morning (6/17, 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 6:30 p.m.). The Beveres are ministering all weekend and I guarantee if you come expecting, you will receive much from the Lord! You can also watch all of these services live online at lwcc.org
3. Go to lwcc.org and watch this week's services on demand. 

Okay I think that's all for now... on to the notes!

Relentless: The Power You Need to Never Give Up

Philippians 1:29 NKJV
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

“It has been granted... to suffer for His sake.” (think about that for a moment....)

Typical attitudes during adversity
-I can’t believe this is happening!
-Why me?
-Why do I have to go through this?
-I hate this!
-No one can relate to what I’m going through.
Etc.

Paul had these thoughts, but then he had a paradigm shift.

1 Peter 4:1 NKJV
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin....

"Arm yourselves."

Imagine a nation sending military to battle, but without any armor. No guns, bullets, tanks, ships, etc. How ridiculous! If they had no arms they wouldn’t conquer. They would be killed or captured. It’s just as ridiculous for Christians to go into battle against the enemy unarmed. It causes them to react instead of act.
Commercial airline pilots are put through a series of tests in a flight simulator that is basically an exact replica of the plane they are training to fly. In that simulator they will go through extreme turbulence, loss of power, high winds, any type of adversity they might encounter. As one person said regarding training the pilot, “We beat them up [with extreme situations] for two days.”

The pilots might crash a few times in the simulator with the adversity, but they will eventually start to solve the problem(s). A lot of commercial aviation disasters have been averted because of senior pilots' flight training.

Example: there was a small plane crash pre-September 11, 2001. This was when some planes had no door separating the passengers and the pilot. When the tape was heard of what happened in the cockpit leading up to the crash, the pilot immediately jumped into action as he had been trained to do once trouble hits. He was going through all of the things to check and change. On the other hand, in the background, the passengers were freaking out... a.k.a. reacting because they had no idea what to do and were unarmed.

To be armed you must know:

1. Adversity (hardship) will happen. It’s inevitable.

John 16:33 NKJV
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

You will have tribulation. That word tribulation is thlipsis. John B. gave the definition in the Encyclopedia of Biblical words and the Strong’s concordance and both essentially defined it as pressure.

Paul affirms this in Acts 14:22 NKJV
...strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

We are going to have “many trouble/tribulations.”

2. You have the strength to overcome whatever you are facing.

1 Corinthians 10:13 TEV
Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

God will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm.

"Allow" - that means God is not the author or instigator of hardship.

James 1:13 MSG
Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way.

Adversity is either a direct attack from the enemy on you or a consequence of the fallen world we live in.

Luke 10:19 TEV
Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you.

He starts with “Listen!” The words following it are good, but he still places a special emphasis on the word listen. That word authority can also be power.

The Bible is more real than the chair you are sitting in because the Bible holds the power that created that chair.

Ephesians 1:19 Amp.
And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength....

Nothing is greater than His power... and it is in and for us who believe.

Jesus spoke to sickness, disease, etc. and commanded it to go. He didn't ask for God to take it away. John B. told the story of a couple who had been praying for their son's eye to be healed, and after reading Relentless (John's book), they realized they had been asking for something God had already given them. They spoke to the eye to be healed in the name of Jesus. It was healed.

There’s a default statement Christians use: “God is in control.” No, He’s not in control the way you are saying it. He put you in control.

Psalm 115:16 NKJV
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s;
But the earth He has given to the children of men.

If God was in control [in that way most people think of], he would have stopped Adam’s hand when he reached for the fruit off the tree in the Garden of Eden. He gave Adam control.

3. You never have to lose!
There were a few times during adversity where Paul didn’t know if he’d make it, but he said this:

2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

The Spirit always leads to triumph.

4. You must embrace a positive attitude during adversity.
Paul went through the most extreme adversity. He was whipped 39 times in five cities. (Imagine what was going through his mind on the fourth or fifth time!) He was hit three times with rods. (The purpose of getting hit with rods is to bruise bones, which takes at least 6-8 weeks to heal from the excruciating pain.) He was stoned in other cities and shipwrecked. Adversity!

2 Corinthians 12:7-8 NKJV
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

NLT
even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

Paul begged to be rid of the adversity.

“God gets really quiet during adversity. He wants you to believe what He already said.”

Grace = power/empowerment. The immeasurable power we read about in Ephesians chapter 1
Weakness = human inability

Paul’s paradigm shift comes after hearing this.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJV
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

NLT
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul couldn't exaggerate when he wrote the Bible. So when he said he takes pleasure in weaknesses, insults, etc. he meant it. It’s the truth. He went from begging the Lord to remove adversity to taking pleasure in it. Paul didn't become a masochist. He realized that greater resistance requires greater power to overcome therefore producing a greater victory.

Paul wrote Romans three years after 2 Corinthians. He talks about his same adversities in that letter, but look at what he says.

Romans 8:35, 37 Amp.
Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? ... Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.

He’s saying, Bring it on. Bigger battle = bigger victory.

James 1:2 tells us to count it all joy through extreme adversity and hardship.

99% joy and 1 link of sorrow doesn’t work because you’ll be as strong as your weakest link. Deliverance comes from 100% joy.

James 1:2-3 NLT
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

Consider it an opportunity when your faith is tested; your endurance can grow.

What is endurance training? It increases your capacity to handle future challenges.  

Pressure today simulates the pressure you’ll experience later down the road. Our trials feel harder than our current responsibility because it’s preparing us for future responsibility.

God uses your present challenges to strengthen you for greater challenges in your future.

How do you build muscle? Gradually. You add weight little by little. John told how he has been weightlifting for 17 years. He started at 95 lbs. Now he’s lifting 300-something. If 225 lbs were placed on him right away, it would have crushed him. He had to start with less weight. Muscle develops after the hard stuff. When he pushed up 315, 225 was routine. But 225 couldn’t be pushed up when he could only do 95. He had to go from 95 to 105 to 115, etc.

John B. told the story of his wife, Lisa, and him believing for finances to meet basic needs years ago. Now, the money they need for ministry is much easier to believe for each week because they strengthened their faith when they believed for personal needs so long ago. 


Psalm 139:16
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

This position you are in carries 145 lbs of adversity.
The next position God wants you in carries 185 lbs of adversity.
So God permits 155 lbs. of adversity. When you fail with that (you gripe, cheat, moan, etc.), you go back to 145 lbs. God can’t put you in 185 lbs of adversity if you forgo your endurance training.

155 is the path to 185. 

God has to start you at 95 to get you to 315.

James 1:4 NLT
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Endurance = capacity.

This all describes a relentless believer... one who does not relent or become lenient.

So...(I missed this complete slide...)
1. Greater battles yield greater victories.
2. Your capacity expands and increases through adversity. 

Then he listed points 3 and 4, which he talks about in the book, and I believe he said he'd talk about point 4 tonight (Friday night). YAY!