Co-labouring in the Kingdom. Laurence Smart (

Transcription

1 Co-labouring in the Kingdom Laurence Smart (

2 What is the pearl of great price? The Kingdom We have to be willing to sell everything to possess it.

3 What is the valuable treasure? The Kingdom We have to be willing to sell everything to possess it.

4 What s the 1 st thing we have to seek? The Kingdom But wait a minute! What s that reference really about?

5 Seek first the kingdom of God Matthew 6:33 What s the context? Therefore do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV)

6 Here it is again in the AMP: But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. Matthew 6:31-33 (AMP)

7 Previously, I looked at this question in depth: Kingdom Worldview How is this changing in you?

8 REVISION Our Worldview How our mind filters all inputs

9 CO-LABOURING (An outcome of having a Kingdom worldview)

10 Independence & Community Video 9:30

11 The Trinity is in perpetual Community No member is independent

12 God is HOLY (Isaiah 57:15) God s name is HOLY (Isaiah 5:16) Holy in the 1 st instance means: Being like God is This is different to being holy or consecrated which means: Acceptable to God

13 We are commanded to be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16) That means we are to be like him... not just consecrated by the blood of his Son

14 Therefore, that means that anything we think, do, say or become that is contrary to the character of God is what?

15 One characteristic of our holy God is: That s dependency, NOT independence

16 Doing what we want and not what God wants means we re being independent Doing what God wants but doing it our own way means we re still being independent

17

18 Does this scripture make more sense now? Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21 (NKJV)

19 This one should as well: On that Day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord! Didn t we prophesy in your name? Didn t we expel demons in your name? Didn t we perform many miracles in your name? Then I will tell them to their faces, I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness! Matthew 7:22-23 (CJB) Being a law to yourself. Doing things your way. Being independent.

20 Co-workers/Co-labourers These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God... Colossians 4:11 (NKJV) We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God s service in spreading the gospel of Christ... For we are co-workers in God s service... 1 Thessalonians 3:2 (NKJV) 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV) they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers... Philippians 4:3 (NKJV)

21 We are co-labourers in the Kingdom of God. ALSO We are co-labourers for the Gospel of the Kingdom.

22 We are not called just to be co-labourers in the church or in evangelism. We are co-labourers for the Kingdom in the world so that it impacts the whole Earth.

23 When he is poured out on us, the King's domain becomes manifested in our lives. This Kingdom first creates Heaven on Earth in the earth of our lives, which enables us to mature as co-labourers with Heaven in order to bring transformation to the Earth around us... Bill Johnson (2011) Face to Face with God

24 ...Thus, the outpouring of the Spirit deals directly with God's destiny for humanity. The purpose for which Christ accomplished salvation for mankind was just this, to put us right with God so that he could rest upon us, creating a people who could co-labour with him to bring Heaven on Earth. Bill Johnson (2011) Face to Face with God

25 Co-labouring doesn t mean: Doing God s work for him We are not called to do his work for him He works through us

26 Co-labouring doesn t mean: Doing church stuff Just evangelising The social gospel It s about a partnership It s about teamwork

27 Ministers or Co-labourers? slideshow

28 The word that was dropped into my spirit was:

29 This means: Connected together Inseparable Working together Doing exactly the same thing together Do you get the picture?

30 A confirming prophetic word:...stand up and come forth! Do not stay in that pit for one more minute. For My Presence is before you right now. I Am handing you the Keys of Authority to walk through doors that are closed to you. But I have a surprise for you. The walls will fall before you ever reach the door. Do not consider yourself a victim of circumstance for one more second. Look down at your wrists. The chains were only an illusion. You have been free all along. Come co-create a beautiful life with Me by your side! I Am not finished with you yet. ~ Ellen McCloud (Replenished Hope) 2015

31 CO-LABOURING (Examples)

32 Publisher s Overview Give your life away to change this world and God will change you for the best. A rising voice in the missional movement, Palmer Chinchen challenges Christians to a new kind of spiritual formation one focused on pouring out our life for others and radical dependence upon God. When we get out of our comfort zone, our souls are awakened everything seems more alive and vibrant. So why don't we live our faith that way? Why is it that our faith can easily become an old, tired routine instead of an exhilarating, God-honouring lifestyle? Discover why true religion involves engaging the problems in our world as we go with the good news of the gospel. And in the process of pouring ourselves out for others, we'll see God radically transform our own hearts as well.

33 Kingdom action Read Introduction

34 Kingdom example Video: RUAP Plan to help refugee crisis 0:00-5:40

35 COPYRIGHT All quotes are copyrighted to the authors credited. This document is free to copy, republish and distribute, but only as is. All Canberra Forerunner documents are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License