Building a Kingdom culture by Bill Johnson

Bill leads the Bethel church in Redding California

A culture is the system of beliefs, disciplines, practices, and relational boundaries that reveal how life is lived among a particular group of people. Movements of any kind succeed when they have created a culture that can sustain it. Revivals have failed at this point in times past. Instead the great moves of God have been measured by how many meetings we have, and how many people we bring into our buildings. While this is good, it is incomplete.

We have been working on building a kingdom culture in order to sustain the present move of God. A culture of revival by nature positions itself for future advancements. It is this approach that enables and empowers people to invade society instead of waiting for them to come to us. The transformation in the world system around us is absolutely amazing.

There are multiple troughs you can feed out of right now. There is a whole bunch of horrible news you can feed out of in one and there is incredibly good news in another. I've been feeding out of this one full of good news for so long, people have to remind me that this other one exists.

When you feed in this one called bad news its so easy to come under it. It's easy to come under the weight of infirmity, affliction and torment of the mind.

Being a people with constant good news is "living in denial." :) It's when the enemy makes a suggestion, you reply "request denied". It's the right kind of denial. You don't dwell on the garbage that the enemy feeds out to people.

What we have really worked hard at for the last 20 years; especially over the last 8 years is to try to build a culture on what God is doing right now. Trying to arrange our conversation, thinking, planning and praying around that.

Pressing on by Roland and Heidi Baker

Roland and Heidi Baker lead Iris Ministries in Mozambique.

Heidi and I would both be dead by now if our doctors had been right.

A few years ago Heidi was in the hospital for a month with a staph infection that went out of control. The doctors gave up on her and told her she could write her tombstone. Then suddenly, while preaching in a lot of pain, God healed her, and the next morning she was out jogging!

Four months ago I was diagnosed with terminal dementia, and was barely alive. I needed help to shower, change clothes, put on my shoes, clip my fingernails. I didn't know what country I was in, and couldn't remember anything from the day before. Heidi built a room for a full-time caregiver for me in Mozambique. Doctors said I wouldn't live long, and family was called.

I had friends who wouldn't give up on me, and they sent me to a Christian center in Germany where I received incredible medical care in a faith-filled environment. Today I am back in Pemba ministering the Gospel, ready to fly my plane again, and reconnected with our friends and staff here. I look forward to pushing back the frontiers of missions in Sudan, DRCongo and wherever the need is greatest.

We cannot function in this world without the power of our God. Some of us haven't yet been brought to our extremity, and so we aren't fully and forcibly aware of our dependence. But our time will come. We need Him to stay alive. We need Him for our health. We need Him for our healing. We need Him for righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

We need more than talk. We need Him more than church, a missions program or financial support. We need more than any human being can do for us. We need sheer, raw power in the goodness and love of God. We need power to appreciate our God, to make Him the greatest pleasure in our lives. We need power to rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. We need power to experience His Kingdom, to move in His environment.

How do we get power? It is the grace and gift of God. He plants in us a hunger that will not be denied. He opens our eyes to our poverty without His powerful Presence. He grants faith where there was none. In His power we can rest even while under demonic attack. His power fixes our eyes on Him. In His power we are able to discipline ourselves in everything. We can cast our cares on Him because He is willing to use His power on our behalf.

How can we be sure He cares for us? The cross. We go to the cross always to find confidence to approach Him. We will not empty the cross of its power. There and only there we find salvation of every kind. At the cross we come to know our God and His heart toward us. At the cross we learn to become utterly dependent on His power.

The Normal Christian Life by Bill Johnson

Bill leads the Bethel church in Redding California

1 Cor. 4:20 NKJV

It is abnormal for a Christian not to have an appetite for the impossible. It has been written into our spiritual DNA to hunger for the impossibilities around us to bow at the name of Jesus.

The lack of miracles isn't because it is not in God's will for us. The problem exists between our ears. As a result, a transformation, a renewing of the mind, is needed, and it's only possible through a work of the Holy Spirit that typically comes upon desperate people.

Stories of the impossible are becoming the norm, and the company of people who have joined this quest for an authentic gospel, the gospel of the Kingdom, is increasing. Loving God and His people is an honor. We will no longer make up excuses for powerlessness because powerlessness is inexcusable. Our mandate is simple: raise up a generation that can openly display the raw power of God.

The EITHER/OR dilemma by Mike Eltringham

Mike leads a church, Well of Life in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In the minds of many/most believers is the misconception that they must take a stand in one ‘CAMP’ or another when it comes to certain theological truths.

Please don’t hear what I’m NOT saying!

While on the FUNDAMENTALS (which are Heaven and Hell/Death and Destiny issues), this might be true, on many others, God gives us the liberty to hold TRUTH-in-TENSION, and/or to at times, agree to disagree!

I recently read an article by a Dr. Sam Storms, and in it was this statement, and I quote:-

“Please understand that the issues below are not regarded as fundamental in the sense that one must believe them in order to be a Christian. I have not listed such foundational truths as Trinitarianism, the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, the virgin conception, sinless life, penal substitutionary sacrifice, and bodily resurrection of Christ, or the doctrine of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

I'm focusing, rather, on issues that differentiate men and women who are all Christians. I am a Calvinistic, charismatic, complementarian, amillennial, baptistic Christian hedonist. But, I trust you understand that I believe someone who is an Arminian-cessationist-egalitarian-dispensational-presbyterian, or some other odd mixture thereof can also be a Christian. I hope those who regard me as an even odder theological mixture will extend the same generosity.”

This has always been a tendency, and Scripture gives a number of accounts as well, which endorse the wisdom of Solomon, that there is NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN!

 On the issue of SIN, the disciples were adamant-e.g.- the man born blind- John 9:2 “His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"- What was Jesus response.....3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

 On the issue of APOSTOLIC input and relationship, the Corinthian church had taken their stand- ILLUS- 1 Cor 3:3 “4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men?5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task.”- What was Paul’s response- 1 Cor 3:1 “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ.2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?”

 On being on JESUS TEAM, the disciple had clearly drawn a line in the sand- ILLUS- Mark 9:38 “38 "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."-Again, what was Jesus response....39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me,40 for whoever is not against us is for us.41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.”

 Even in Moses day, in terms of who was on his team and who could minister/prophecy, there were ‘camps’ potentially forming- Num 11:22 “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again.26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp.27 A young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' aide since youth, spoke up and said, "Moses, my lord, stop them!"- Moses response was not what his leaders expected-ILLUS- ....29 “But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!"

So what am I saying/getting at?
All over the world, there are these camps forming over the issue of being WORD or EXPERIENCE, EVANGELICAL or CHARISMATIC, FUNDAMENTALIST or REVIVALIST, SOCIAL or SPIRITUAL, GRACE or LAW etc, based Church.

Each has it’s own strengths and weaknesses, appealing to different individuals who prefer either a SAFER or more UNPREDICTABLE approach!

So what am I/we? I believe that we must CONTEND to be BOTH!
 Do I embrace the Gospel of God’s GRACE, for sure...in its fullness.

 Do I believe we need to take responsibility for our lives, shortcomings, failures.......yes! (Paul did- 2Cor2:6)

 Am I a WORD –BASED man, leading a WORD-BASED Church....absolutely!

 Do I believe in the GIFTS and want to see the MANIFEST PRESENCE of God....absolutely!

 Jesus did/does- Lk 24:13 “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;16 but they were kept from recognizing him.17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" ...."About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

This for me is the Key..... “Mighty in WORD and DEED”!

We need good THEOLOGY which leads to DEMONSTRATION of His PRESENCE and POWER! We cannot afford the luxury of camping in either of the above exclusively! So many ministers and ministries, and denominations for that matter, have erred on this point...why??

Good THEOLOGY (by revelation) must result in PROCLAMATION and DEMONSTRATION!

It is time for us to evaluate our lives, leadership, meetings and Churches to make sure we are not in danger of ‘camping’ on either extreme!

Hello 2010 by Heinz Schrader

Heinz leads a church 3CI in Pretoria, South Africa

I’m hoping this to be the best year all round!

For reasons I wouldn’t care to state here, I’m without a notebook, and unfortunately, without backups too. So, from an optimistic point of view, I am uncluttered. The stuff of blank slates. Every now and then, I have to count to ten when I realize what else I lost on that little notebook, but for now, I’m glad for the blank canvasses all around me.

This year, I want to see our thoroughly-received gospel take on more outward substance; Music composed, sermons lived and grown, prayers increase and intensify, buildings built, people singing and working with great purpose, adventurous apostolicity enjoyed, fellowship increasing, friendships celebrated in loud and colourful ways, artistry of every kind blossoming everywhere, testimonies of power and evangelistic hearts translating into the saving of many lost souls.

Ministry of Reconciliation by Bradley Dearlove

Brad leads a church, Crossing Point in the Gold Coast, Australia

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (New International Version)

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

This is an amazing scripture. Not only did God reconcile us to himself but He has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Take a look at verse 19: ' And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.' It is us who point people to Jesus who has reconciled man to God. This is why it is imperative that we are preaching the correct message, we need to be preaching the Gospel. It is only by people seeing the grace (favour) of God found in Jesus that people will understand and see the truth that they have been reconciled to God and that access to Him has been opened.

When law is brought upon people they are unable to see the door clearly, this does not make clear the reconciliation that has been achieved. This happens because when law is preached, the focus is taken off Jesus and placed on man, man can but only try to perform when faced with the law. The law will activate us into self-effort mode, placing man into a 'works' frenzy, which has no end except failure. But we have been given the amazing task of ministering reconciliation to man. We have the most amazing message, which is the truth, and which places peoples vision on Christ and thus opens the door to new life, a life lived with God and God in us.

Since we have such a great privilege, let us preach the truth and see people reconciled to God

Terry Virgo on the Future of New Frontiers : 24 Dec 2009

Terry is an elder in Church of Christ the King (CCK) Brighton and the founder of "New Frontiers" family of churches.

A group of pastors is not an apostolic team

What we mustn’t do is encourage a group of pastors to say ‘we are an apostolic team’. No you are not. You are a group of pastors. It’s very important that we don’t muddle the gifts or we come unstuck.

Essentially Newfrontiers was a name given to a sphere of churches under Terry’s apostolic leadership. It would be my hope that the title and corporate life of Newfrontiers will live on, but it’s more important that apostolic spheres emerge, and that churches are in dynamic partnership with apostolic advance. Newfrontiers as a name could fade away. That’s not my heart’s desire, but it’s so much more important that apostles emerge, vitally engaging with churches that know they are on apostolic mission together, not simply on ‘theNewfrontiers list’.

So what could hold the new spheres together? It could be like it is in southern Africa: there are different apostolic men coming through, church planting and serving churches in their individual spheres. But they are keeping in touch. They remember God’s word to us at the beginning, ‘You can accomplish more together than you can apart.’ By acting corporately they have more punch. Walking away would break their hearts. We are integrated with profound love. Unity of doctrine and common values are prized. I don’t want to walk away from that, it’s too precious.

Also, there are promises that God has given us to ‘change the expression of Christianity all over the world’. I am not sure that any one sphere could accomplish that alone, but lots of spheres together in harmony, can do it. I know other teams that God is raising up are also fulfilling that goal, but we have a massive part to play, and men and women scattered throughout our present family of churches care passionately about that promise. No one wants to drop that ball!

God spoke to us years ago about the role of Joseph, a visionary dreamer, who in his youthfulness may have been arrogant and insensitive. Thrown out, he kept his dream and stayed pure through the testings. Ultimately he was released and vindicated, and blessed his brothers and the world. I have believed that promise for us. I believe God wants us to have a big heart to embrace and bless, if we can, the broader body of Christ. I am thrilled to find doors are opening to us among those who used to be nervous of us.

When we started and became Newfrontiers we were about 30 churches. I didn’t contemplate involvement in Russia, Mexico, Japan! Bedford was in the far north! God has accomplished amazing things with one sphere. What will it be when dozens of spheres kick in, develop their teams, grow their spheres, keep walking in love and relationship. Where will it take us? Where will it take you?

In Kew Gardens there is an enormous ancient vine, which produces thousands of clusters of grapes. Not apples in their loneliness, but clusters of grapes. How many apostolic clusters can come from the one root? We are coming to the end of the beginning. God plans amazing growth. I hope you aim to be part of it and play your part in it.