The Ultimate Purpose

The Ultimate Purpose

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” COLOSSIANS 1:13 This Ultimate Purpose can be summed up into a single thought, a central idea, that you find weaving its way throughout the Bible and throughout human history. It is the theme of Jesus, the preaching of the apostles, and the understanding with which those first believers became followers of Christ. And this understanding of God’s Ultimate Purpose and Intention finds expression in something that the Bible refers to as The Kingdom of God. At the center of this Kingdom of God is a Person. Everything that God has done, is doing, and will do is centered around this Person. The Bible says that all things come from Him, through Him, and unto Him. This Person is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is God’s Will that the King and His Kingdom fill all things with His Light, His Love, and His Life; and so this Kingdom is constantly growing, expanding, and increasing. ​​​​​​​Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden http://www.chipbrogden.com/books/the-irresistible-kingdom Like this? Share your comments: http://www.chipbrogden.com/july4 I am your brother,

Chip Brogden

As a Little Child

As a Little Child

“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” LUKE 18:17 Make no mistake, if it is the Kingdom you seek, the Kingdom you will find, but you must be changed in order to enter it. If you seek power from God you will have to accept weakness in yourself. If you want to rule with Him you must suffer with Him. If you want His Life you must give up your life. You can have either one you want, but you cannot have both. There is no increase without decrease, and there is no decrease without increase. Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden http://www.chipbrogden.com/books/the-irresistible-kingdom Like this? Share your comments:http://www.chipbrogden.com/july6 I am your brother,

Chip Brogden

A Strange Independence Day Conversation with Jordan Bunch

July 4, 2017

Happy Independence Day! Today in the United States we celebrate the 241st anniversary of our nation's independence. Independence is a wonderful thing. Free from outside control. Free to make my own decisions. Free to do what I want, when I want. However, in this conversation with Jordan I couldn't help but think that independence wasn't something that he was very concerned about.



If all you knew about Jordan was this video, you might think he's a little strange. I've known him for years, and I still think he's strange. It isn't normal to decide to move into a new neighborhood with some other friends to be on mission with God together. It isn't normal to let those friends help you choose which house you're going to buy. It isn't normal to throw massive block parties for people you hardly even know.

It's normal to want to make my own decisions. It's normal to not want other people's opinions on what I do or where I live. It's normal to avoid my neighbors. To come home at the end of the day, go straight inside, and pretend to be the king of my own little kingdom.

It isn't normal to listen to God, and to do what God invites you to do. To let God be the King of God's Kingdom, and to join in as God invites.

That's one of the biggest reasons I love Jordan (that, and because he's a lot of fun at bachelor parties). I love Jordan because I've never known him to be that concerned with being normal. And that includes not being too worried about being independent from others. Or from God.

I want a new thing to celebrate this July 4. I want to celebrate the way that God is calling us to be church in a way that brings us closer together, that breaks down walls, that turns us into a family. Today, I want to celebrate interdependence.

Happy Interdependence Day, from the LK10 Community.

Want to Join? We are able to do our work here because of the generous prayers and contributions of many. When you join us in donating, you join a whole community of folks who want to see a "vibrant family of Jesus" in easy access of every person on the planet.   All U.S.donations are tax deductible.     Donate to LK10 electronically: 1. (our link) 2. Fill out info. 3. Follow additional instructions to finalize your transaction. You can also mail in a gift or set up an automatic bank transfer.  (Give address or tell them to contact me?) 1. Make a check to LK10 2. Send it to: John White 1723 S. Poplar Way Denver, CO  80224   Sign up for Church 101 Course Have Stories? Do you have stories to share related to how you or someone else is putting LK10 values into practice? Contact John White @ john.lk10@gmail.com

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Our Weapon of Choice

Our Weapon of Choice

“We do not war according to the flesh.” 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3 In the heat of battle it does not always seem as if the enemy is defeated. Goliath will oppose, curse, and threaten you with all sorts of taunts to convince you that you are defeated. If we listen to him long enough we will begin to doubt and this is enough to cause us to falter. We can simply ignore the lies of the enemy and stand in the truth. Our weapon of choice is the Cross. We simply return to the victory that is ours in Christ and we stand upon that finished work, and every time we do so, we demonstrate its power. Without the Cross we are naked and unprepared for facing Goliath or anything else that opposes us; but with the Cross we can no more fail than Jesus can fail. “Not I, but Christ” defeats anything and everything that rises up to steal, kill, and destroy. It does not matter if we face Goliath, or a bad habit, or a difficult circumstance, or even the devil himself. Sooner or later, the Cross will shine forth in victory – as long as we embrace it until the very end! Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden http://www.chipbrogden.com/books/embrace-the-cross Like this? Share your comments: ​​​​​​​http://www.chipbrogden.com/july5 I am your brother,

Chip Brogden

Penetrating the Islamic Curtain

Penetrating the Islamic Curtain

By Nico Bougas, Special to ASSIST News Service (ANS Book Review)

CINCINNATI, OHIO (ANS – July 4, 2017) -- At the recent International Christian Retail Show in Cincinnati, Ohio, I met up with Kent Philpott, a Californian pastor who has a special ministry to Muslims.

He began the interview by telling me that after the notorious 9/11 disaster it was some time before he ceased being fearful, angry and hateful towards Muslims. He said that like many others he lumped all Muslims into the extremist category. Though he read about some Muslims coming to faith he could not shake off the antagonism he felt towards them. He did not distinguish between the radicals, moderates, liberals and progressives in the diverse Muslim world.

“Then,” he says, “I found I had a love for Muslim people. I can only credit that to the working of the Holy Spirit.” He started acquiring a number of books on Islamic-related subjects. In addition, he began teaching a course of Islam that continued for two years. He even began to attend the local Sunni mosque for their Friday prayer service. He has made many friends there, including the imams. His own little Miller Avenue Baptist Church, where he has been a pastor since 1984, cooperates in a food program with the mosque to help those in need.

He has also produced a book, “Islamic Studies: Equipping the Christian witness to Muslims” and comments, “From the outset I wanted to write a single volume on Islam that would give others what they needed to understand the religion and help them present the Gospel to Muslim people.

Philpott hopes that readers will come away understanding the important ideas and positions of Islam and why so many have become radicalized. The book is intended to be a handy reference for those who seek to understand the history, theology and traditions of Islam. It is also meant to equip those in the Christian faith who seek to be a witness to Muslim friends, neighbors and acquaintances. It also contains a helpful glossary of terms related to Muslims.

Philpott contends that Muslims are people loved by God and are not the Christian’s enemies as the Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 6.12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

“Jesus”, he says,” is the light of the world, and the work of the evangelical Christian is to let that light shine. “

Copies of the book, Islamic Studies: Equipping the Christian Witness to Muslims by Kent Philpott (Earthen Vessel Publishing) are available from Christian bookstores or from Amazon: http://amzn.to/2syZ1Jr and other online booksellers.

Other books authored by Kent Philpott include: If Allah Wills and If God Wills: bringing the Crescent to the Cross.

Photo captions: 1) Kent Philpott, the author. 2) The author’s first book related to Islam: If God Wills: Bringing the Crescent to the Cross. 3) Nico Bougas with his wife, Bee.

About the writer: Nico Bougas is the International Development Director for Hellenic Ministries. He has a master's degree in communication from Wheaton Graduate School and M. Div and D. Min degrees from Trinity Theological Seminary. He is the author of five books. He previously worked for Youth for Christ in South Africa and was Editor of In Magazine and Christian Living TODAY and currently serves as Consulting Editor for JOY Magazine and a Trustee for Radio CCFM and was one of the founders of Sports Outreach Africa. He previously served on the national executive of the SA Association of Evangelists and as a Trustee for the Bible Institute of South Africa and on the advisory board for the South African Theological Seminary and on the executive of The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund (SA). For further information, please contact: nico@bougas.info  

** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net). Please also tell your friends and colleagues that they can receive a complimentary subscription to our news service by going to the above website and signing up there.

In This Manner, Pray

In This Manner, Pray

“In this manner, therefore, pray…Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” MATTHEW 6:9,10 When we pray “in this manner” we are transported and elevated beyond flesh-and-blood, beyond the natural, beyond the earthly, beyond the seen-and-felt universe in which we live. We are at once brought into alignment with Someone larger than ourselves, Someone higher, Someone greater. This Someone has an agenda, and is working all things together in one accord towards this agenda. What is the agenda? It is the Will and the Kingdom. So what is the Will and the Kingdom? The Will is “all things in Christ” and the Kingdom is the fulfillment of that Will, when Christ has the preeminence. All of God’s movements are towards this End. Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden http://www.chipbrogden.com/books/the-irresistible-kingdom Like this? Share your comments: http://www.chipbrogden.com/july7 I am your brother,

Chip Brogden

John Fenn, How Jesus Heals Emotions #3

Hi all,

In the first two parts of this series I brought out that Jesus first and always acknowledges where a person is at that moment, without opinion nor judgement. 

 

With the woman at the well it was very clear: 

"You have truly said you have no husband, for you have had 5 husbands and the man you are now living with is not your husband. This you have truly said."

 

We will see this pattern over and over again in the gospels as Jesus set about to heal emotions, first step; Acknowledge where you are right now. 

 

Perhaps not so ironically, this is also foundational to every non-spiritual program that helps with emotional issues, from addictions to depression, from financial ruin to ruined relationships people have brought on themselves. All these non-spiritual programs and methods have inadvertently been following the way the Lord starts the healing process for the emotions: Acknowledge where you are right now. 

 

In modern words we would say 'take responsibility' for you life. Own up to where you are right now - no judgement - just own it. This is very different from the feel good seeker friendly, non-confrontational, no tough decisions gospel now presented by what used to be cutting edge charismatic (even Word of Faith) churches. So much of the social gospel is just ask Jesus into your life and He will make it all better. But Jesus' methods are quite clear: First step is admitting where you are. Own it. 

 

Second step...

Is to allow the Lord to reset your ideas of your own history. This woman had gone through 5 marriages and that produced a lot of memories and emotions that formed her opinion about herself and her life. When Jesus 'told me everything I ever did' it reset her understanding of her own history. She had to allow that. She had to even allow herself to have questions like, 'If you knew all this and saw all this and watched me go through all this, why did you not intervene? Where were you?'

 

Second step part A

IF she had questions like that He offered no explanation. A person who is emotionally bruised must come to a point they realize they will not have all the answers this side of heaven. Emotionally and spiritual healthy people can work through the how's and why's and move on, content to let answers come in heaven, while a bruised stem cannot - they dwell on the how and why. 

 

Jesus offered this woman no explanation, nor will He offer any other people in the examples we'll see in the gospels any explanation - some things must wait until heaven to be answered. To be emotionally healthy a person must be willing to lay aside the unanswerable questions in a step of faith and trust. 

 

Paul in II Timothy 1:12: 'I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded He will keep that which I've entrusted with Him until that day." Trust Him with those questions.

 

At the point of her 'Jesus moment', He had moved on from her past and was focused on the here and now - the conversation right then. He was not allowing her to bring up her past, to ask questions about it, to look over her shoulder once again, sobbing with questions for God in the flesh who was standing before her - He was in the present. 

 

It reminds me of something He said to me once in a play of words in English: "I AM, which is always present. So to be in my presence you must be in the present."

 

When you are in the here and now, in His presence, there is no concern for the how and why of the past. He didn't bring up why she had gone through 5 marriages, He merely acknowledged it and got her to admit it as well. Then He moved on.

 

Third step to emotional healing...

When He told her He was Messiah in John 4:26 she 'left her water pot' and went into the city which led to Jesus being invited to stay there 2 days. She told others about this revelation. God accepted her as she was, for what she had been through, and changed her opinion about her own history. Now she told others how she had changed. 

 

That admission of her re-set of her own history is another vital element we see used by Jesus over and over again. Acknowledge where you are, allow God to bring revelation to your understanding of your own past which resets your thinking, then tell others how you've moved on based on the revelation from God you've had.

 

Fourth step to emotional healing...

Because I have so many examples of Jesus healing emotions in the gospels I am not spending a lot of time on each principle in favor of showing you a variety of people and how these same elements were applied to them - but finally this last point with the woman at the well. 

 

In John 4: 41-43 it tells us that Jesus stayed 2 days with them, and then He left. He left the woman at the well with new life, and a decision for her to make. That is an important method of the Lord - He left her with a decision just as He does us today: Specifically, what is she going to do with this 6th man she is now living with? 

 

We don't know what emotional trauma she suffered in her first 5 marriages, but we do know that there was a reason she was just living with the 6th man. In modern terms, for people are the same today as back then, it may have been fear in some form or another - not wanting to bury yet another husband, not wanting to commit just to have him leave her for a younger girl friend - or a host of other reasons then, just as today. 

 

Jesus left her so she could decide

There are many examples showing that the Lord often plays the role of Observer, just watching to see what we will do. If you're like me, you've had many times in the midst of decision making that you've been aware the Lord is watching, waiting, staying in the background to see what decision you will make. 

 

"And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, He opened her womb..." Genesis 29:31

 

"Don't rejoice when your enemy falls, don't let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it and it displeases Him..." Proverbs 24:17-18

 

"And Peter said, 'Man, I don't know what you are saying'. And immediately the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned, and looked at Peter..." Luke 22:60-61

 

And so it was that Jesus left the woman at the well with a decision before her face: What will she do about her living arrangements? He being God, would watch from afar. I like to say it this way: "Often times God is not in the event; He is found in our response to an event." He will let you make a decision without His influence at all - you know enough to make a godly decision - and He may be found in the right decision. 

 

Wanting God to make the decision for them

I see this gospel of 'let God decide for me' repeatedly: Christians who won't move for the spiritually good sounding reason of 'I don't want to miss God', but in reality it is 'I'm afraid'. "I'm afraid of change." "I'm afraid of the difficulty financially and emotionally." "I'm afraid because it is all new to me and what I have and where I am, though miserable, offers some degree of comfort because it is familiar." Jesus left this woman to make her own decisions about her living arrangement. The emotionally bruised person just feels alone, not realizing they are alone only in the sense He is stepping back because the decision is there. He IS there, just in the background out of view. 

 

And I've run out of room - sorry to cut it off there - we'll pick it up next week with another example of emotional healing in the gospels...until then, blessings,

    

    John Fenn

 

www.cwowi.org and email me at cwowi@aol.com

 

 

New CD/MP3 Series

 God's Culture of Generosity

There is a common thread woven throughout the kingdom of God yet most Christians have never heard of it. In fact any study of the kingdom of heaven is incomplete and misses the point without it. This element of kingdom culture permeates everything from ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son’ to ‘Jesus…went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil’ and all that Jesus did and said. It is the way the Father is, the reason we love one another, the reason we open our lives and homes to others, and even why we give to others. This study will fill in some big blanks in your understanding of the Father and the kingdom of heaven in many ‘oh that is why’ moments – a must have!

 

 

Just a word about our On-line Video Bible School - these classes, so far; Old Testament I & II, Righteousness and Our Authority in Christ - are a go-at-your-own-pace, no test, investment in your own faith and understanding of the Word and Lord. Once registered, your password is good for a whole year so you can take your time, but as I'm hearing from students, once they start they have a hard time stopping! Each class is about 45-55 minutes long, so they are in easy to receive segments...consider investing in a deeper study of the things of God!