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.