C2C Family Fall Conference
September 20-22, 2013
Pittsburg, Kansas
John 4:23-24 “But an hour is coming, and now is,
when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;
for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”
Hosted by
Conference Schedule
Thursday, September 19
• 9:00-10:00 AM: Welcome and Worship
• 10:00 - 11:30 AM: 1. Preoccupation with God rather than the gift - Tom Bedford 45 minute teaching, 45 minute Q&A
• 11:30 - 1:00 PM: 2. Identifying Prophets and Prophesiers - Buck Hudson 45 minute teaching, 45 minute Q&A
• 1:00 - 2:30 PM: Lunch
• 2:30 - 4:00 PM: 3. Understanding the Journey that makes a Prophet - Tom Bedford
45 minute teaching, 45 minute Q&A
• 4:00 - 5:30 PM: 4. Equipping others through the gift and releasing emerging ministries - Buck Hudson 45 minute teaching, 45 minute Q&A
• 5:45 - 7:00 PM: Dinner
• 7:00 - 8:30 PM: 5. Impartation and Transference: A Biblical Basis -Doug Kreighbaum
6. Imparting to others through the gift - Paul Kidd
• 8:30 - ?: Worship and Impartation
Friday, September 20
• 9:00 - 9:30 AM: Worship
• 9:30 - 11:00 AM: 7. Blockages to the development of the prophets. Pastor’s and
Prophets working together and help them in their training. Dave Richards 45 minute teaching, 45 minute Q&A
• 11:30 - 1:00 PM: Panel covering all areas
• 1:00 PM: Lunch
• 5:00 - 7:00 PM: C2C Fall Conference, Registration
• 7:00 PM: Corporate meeting
• 9:00 -11:00 PM: After meeting refreshments
Saturday, September 21:
• 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: C2C Fall Conference, Corporate Meeting
• 11:30 - 1:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:30 - 2:45 PM: Breakout sessions, 4 classes simultaneously
• 3:00 - 7:00 PM: Break time
• 7:00 PM: Corporate meeting
• 9:00 -11:00 PM: After meeting refreshments
Sunday, September 22:
• 10:00 AM: Sunday Service with Covenant Harvest Church
We live in challenging times.
Cultural philosophies are rapidly evolving. This can pose problems for God’s people if false ideas become subtly woven into our spiritual experiences. If this happens we end up doing what the children of Israel did with the golden calf. We worship a false image of God that isn’t really Him.
Exodus 32:8… “They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it…and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel.’”
Dave and Chris Richards, Buck Hudson, and other C2C leaders will be there to help us become better equipped to walk both “in spirit and truth.”
Church Map
Parking
2
Building B
Shop 3 4 5
6
Building A
1
Sanctuary
N
Building
C
Building A Breakout Session Locations:
1: Infant Nursery (Ages 0 - 18 months) Position: Doug Kreigbaum in Building
2: Foyer (Registration) B, upstairs
3: Women’s Restroom
4: Men’s Restroom Practice: Buck Hudson in Building B,
5: Office downstairs south classroom
6: Double Classroom (Breakout
Session Location) Platform: Dave Richards in Building A, Building B Sanctuary
First Floor (Breakout Session location in
south classroom) Purpose: Tom Bedford in building A,
Double Classroom
Second Floor (Breakout Session in
cafeteria)
Upstairs Back building ages 4 years old
to 6th grade
Covenant Harvest Church has
Building C
Toddler Nursery (Ages 18 Months - 3
wifi available under “CHC”
years old) password “mountzion”
Childcare Information
For participants who brought children, below is some important information regarding their care while you are here:
Q: What ages may participate in childcare and children’s church?
A: Babies through 6th graders.
Q: Is there a childcare fee?
A: Yes, $15 per child. This covers the same meals that your fees include. This fee also applies to teens who came to help serve.
Q: Where are my children?
A: During the Prophetic Training, all children will be cared for in the modular building labeled “Building C” on your campus map. During the conference when the number of children is much higher, we will separate the kids into 3 groups:
Infants 0-18 months are in the infant nursery in the main building, Toddlers 18 months - 3 years are in Building C. Kids aged 4 years old through 6th grade will be in the upstairs area of our back building.
Q. What times/sessions will childcare cover?
A. Basically, when you are in a session, there is childcare. When you are on a break, you will need to pick up your child. Note that you will need to pick up your child during the lunch break on Saturday. They will eat lunch with you and then return to their designated childcare location for the breakout sessions. All children need to be picked up from childcare by 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday night.
Q. Is there a place for my teenage children to hang out?
A. No. There is no supervision provided for children older than the 6th grade.
Even if your teen came to help serve, they need to be with you at all times unless they are scheduled to serve at that moment.
Q. Who is in charge of the childcare program in case I have additional questions or concerns?
Rachel Posterick is over infants and toddlers. Her number is (620) 687-3970.
Paula Harrison is over the older kids. Her number is (620) 249-9694. Each team of childcare workers is being led by one of our experienced, highly qualified, regular team members.
Andrea Nwagwu is the overall team leader for conference administration. She can be reached via phone and text message at (620) 249-6339 or email at andrea.nwagwu@gmail.com
Atkinson
ypa
ss
69
B
N. Broadway Restraunts 20th Street
Broadway
Covenant
Harvest
Downtown Area
Church Restraunts
Frontage Road
4th Street
KS-126
Quincy Street
S. Broadway Restraunts
PSU Area Restraunts
Chatters
Mall Restraunts
Centennial Dr.
Local Restaurants
North Broadway Restaurants: South Broadway Restaurants:
Applebee’s Braums
Arby’s El Caballo de Oro
Cherry Berry Freddies
Chili’s* Hardees
El Charro* KFC
Jim’s Steakhouse Lotus Express
Kyoto’s Mazzio’s
Long Johns Silver’s Sweet Greens
McDonald’s Taco Bell
Wendy’s Typhoon Thai Cuisine
Sonic
Starbucks* Downtown Restaurants:
Subway Bob’s Grill
Harry’s Cafe
PSU Area Restaurants: Napolis
McDonald’s Otto’s Cafe
Papa John’s Signet Coffee*
Pizza Hut (locally roasted coffee)
Subway
Tropical Sno Mall Restaurants:
Wheat State Pizza* Cafe Del Rio
Mall Deli*
*Favorites of CHC Members Misc.
Chatters*
Prophetic Development Workshop
Preoccupation With God Rather Than Gift
Tom Bedford
The idea here is very simple but has proven to live out with great difficulty. This is due to the reality that prophetic gifting and ability create a measure of light and stature on the individuals who oper- ate in this grace. As people everywhere are trying to discover the divine and break into the realm of the spirit, anyone who carries a measure of prophetic grace will receive focus and attention. This will cause people to look to ministers who can manifest the divine. It is therefore extremely impor- tant that those ministers remember the attention given them is for the purposes of God and not for the validation of their humanity or the securing of identity. Identity must come from the Lord in order to remain balanced so that when the temptation comes to elevate prophetic ministers, that elevation does not distract them from The Lord. This is a cause of great stumbling in the light of the Glory of God as they face the temptation to take it for their own.
Ultimately, as the Psalmist said in Chapter 16, The Lord is our first preoccupation and our portion.
In other words, our satisfaction in life comes from Him first as we love Him first. Anything that comes before Him that we want to protect or promote beyond what He is doing in our lives runs the risk of becoming an idol that is destined to fall.
1. The example of Moses
A. Moses was the most uniquely anointed man in his generation.
I. Numbers 12:3 - Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.
B. Moses operated in extraordinary power
II. Exodus 12:12 - For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments — I am the Lord.
C. His physical appearance was altered that gave credible recognition to his gifting. Exodus
34:30 - So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
D. In spite of the honor bestowed upon him through the election of God, he refused to take that to himself and become self focused.
I. Exodus 32:9-10 - The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an ob- stinate people. Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.”
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E. He would rather have God than have ministry
II. Exodus 33:15-17 - Then he said to Him, “ If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?” The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight, and I have known you by name.”
2. The O.T. Prophets
A. Isaiah 6 - The vision and the Commission
I. The vision became a reset moment for Isaiah’s identity and focus in order to carry out a mission towards those who would be dull to receive it.
B. Jeremiah 1 - the Call and Commission
II. The call and commission established a foundation of priorities that would keep Jeremiah stable in seasons where he had to resist temptation to follow party lines and remain true to the voice of
God.
C. Ezekiel 1-3 - The visions of divine glory, call, and commission
I. The visions of God and angelic beings established deeply the one whom he represented
II. The prophet’s foundation was established with the scroll given to him. It was the source of his words and the strength to endure resistance to his ministry. God had to be his true preoccupation or he couldn’t survive the commission.
III. The commission is a difficult one for Ezekiel. The gift becomes a necessary enablement to achieve the larger objective of speaking timely words and being forbidden to speak at all when God wasn’t speaking.
3. The Example of Jesus
A. Made Himself of no reputation
I. Philippians 2:7-11 - Jesus emptied himself of his privileges and took on lowliness instead. Any gain he could have had in this life he forsook in order to remain complete before The Father. He revealed the heart and spirit we are to have to rightly represent His nature and character. Those who desire to operate outside of this pattern are doomed to fail and run the risk of entertaining demonic spirits instead.
C2C Family Fall Conference 2013
B. Jesus chose the will of God and solitude over the fame of men
I. John 2:23-25 - Jesus operated in great miracles but did not transfer his confidence to men. To do that might have gained momentary advantage but would have lost eternal purpose. The culture of ministry tempts ministers often with fame and opportunity in the moment but requires man’s ways and to be handled by men. It is like selling the birthright for a worldly version of serving God but is really just a sell out period.
II. Matthew 14:22-23 - Jesus sent the crowds away and went to a place to be alone for prayer. It is hard to imagine in the day we live in wanting to purposely send crowds away to remain in devotion to God. He constantly demonstrated The Father was His preoccupation and not the crowds or the opportunities he could have found gathering them.
C. The Seriousness of Jesus focus
I. John 6:26-71 - “Eat my flesh…Drink my blood.” Jesus was not willing to hold back on the mes- sage in order to keep followers. He is willing to put forth the whole counsel of God at the risk of- fending the fan base that could be the place of his support and able to save him later. Instead, His preoccupation is The Father and is willing to remain true by speaking the whole truth even if the twelve were to lose heart and draw back.
4. Simon the Sorcerer
A. Buying ministry - Acts 8:9-24
I. The sorcerer was famous and claimed to be the great power of God but was a fake. It wasn’t until the real Kingdom came through the Apostles that the measurement revealed they were not the same.
II. Money was the motive. He approached them on the terms he worked out of and assumed they would be the same. Often people try to reflect upon us their own pattern. He was in it for the money and what such a gift could produce for him. Sound familiar?
III. The gall of bitterness…
a. Deuteronomy 29:18 - So that there will not be among you a man or woman, or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of those nations;
that there will not be among you a root bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood.
5. An example of contrast in Paul’s writings
A. Super Apostles - 2 Corinthians 11
I. Purity of devotion to Christ - verse 3
II. Paul is inferior to those who claim somehow a measure of superiority over others by there sup- posed measure of Grace.
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B. Money was involved!
I. 2 Corinthians 11:13 - False apostles and false teachers operate to gain an advantage. Paul says this is in accordance with Satan who himself acts as an angel of light.
II. The nature of operating in ministry beyond the preoccupation of God runs the risk of falling ultimately into this group through the doorway of vanity.
C. 2 Corinthians 11:21-33 - The test of true apostolic ministry. Instead of a list of the gains and merits of his ministry to impress others, he describes the true cost of suffering in order to remain in step with the call of God. He was willing to look inferior to those who claimed great ministries if it meant real churches arising.
6. The example of John - Revelation 1
A. The persecution, which is in Jesus
I. Revelation 1:9 - John was on Patmos because of being faithful to Jesus. He was there facing tribulation in Jesus - not the church - not ministry - not his calling… In Jesus. It was being in Jesus that got him there. It was being with Jesus while he was there. His future was in Jesus what ever that may be.
II. He was there because of the testimony of Jesus. The preoccupation with gift and ministry will not stand when the day of testing for arrives.
III. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 states that a great apostasy is coming. How many are doing ministry for completely the wrong reasons? The day will test it. When the demand to deny Jesus to remain in ministry is given, true motives will be revealed.
B. In the spirit on the Lord’s Day
I. Being in The Spirit set him up to receive a major revelation. It would define the rest of his life and the legacy he left in the world.
II. The unveiling of Jesus Christ to the earth. He could not have received The Revelation had his preoccupation been something other than Jesus.
C2C Family Fall Conference 2013
Prophetic Development Workshop
The role of the prophet with the Ephesians 4 team
Buck Hudson
Module 7 explores the calling, function, and interaction of the different Ephesians 4 ministry gifts (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher) in apostolic teams, their unique contributions, how they work together, and how they relate to the local church and to translocal work. Session 7.2 looks at the prophetic ministry.
1. Not all who prophesy are prophets 1 Corinthians 14:3, 14-32, Luke 1:41,42,67, Acts 21:10
The gift of prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit for the individual to encourage, exhort and comfort the local church. Mature gifts of prophecy can release illumination and insight in corporate meetings.
The prophet is an Ephesians 4 gift from Jesus to equip and build the believer and church. Who they are is the gift, not just what they say.
Prophets are a gift to build like all other Ephesians 4 gifts:
• They can move in one or more Spirit gifts:
• Word of Knowledge (Looking backward or in the present)
• Word of Wisdom (How God will do it)
• Prophecy (Looking forward)
• Discerning of Spirits, etc.
By the Holy Spirit, prophets can give direction, counsel insight, warnings, illumination, impartation, insight, etc.
1. Prophets and their message Jeremiah 4: 1-4, Ezekiel 3:17-20, Exodus 33: 14-16, 1 Peter 1:9-12, 2 Peter 1:19-21, 1 Corinthians 14:29-32
• Change: The core message
• Building altars where people meet God (a home for the presence). Prophets always want people to experience and encounter the Lord!
• Working and flowing in the presence. Prophets learn how to cooperate with the Holy
Spirit, and some can ‘surf the wave of the Spirit’ in corporate meetings that bring people into this encounter.
• Build and extend the Kingdom of God by their message, life, revelation, insight, illumination, etc.
2. Three stages of prophetic development
Stage 1 All God’s people! • How to hear, see, and feel from the Holy Spirit
Those learning to release • Leaning the ditches or what not to do the Holy Spirit’s prophetic • Character, character, character!
gifts
Stage 2 Emerging Prophets • Learning to release the gift
Recognized or emerging • Learning to release breakthrough and revelation.
prophetic leaders in the • Learning to work with the presence and ride the wave local church in meetings
Stage 3 Ephesians 4 Prophets • Prophets and their message, ministry or sphere
Growing into translocal determined by the Lord. They can be local church, ministry regional, national, or translocal prophets.
• Agabus or Silas – team is essential
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Prophetic development
1. Steps on the journey 1 Corinthians 14:3, Ephesians 4:11-12
• Is this a gift of prophecy or a call to be an Ephesians 4 prophet? Both will prophesy but a call is a destiny determined by the Lord. (A call is not a commission – there is a difference!)
• Understanding the gift: young prophets often have anointing and power without understanding of what not to do. They need to learn the practical wisdom to function properly in the years ahead.
• Character – the gift dies but the man lives, a time of holy frustration.
Many have prophetic gifts larger than their character. Young prophets want to release breakthrough in words and meetings but need boundaries until character is formed. This a time of frustration that is actually from the Lord. A time of holy (God at work in them) frustration.
• Serving – submitting the gift in the local church, loving what God loves. Learning and applying the word of God in everyday life. Becoming ‘naturally supernatural’. Serving releases gifting, and young prophets need to learn to package their gift so it doesn’t scare people or leaders
• Measured responsibility – the art of pastoring and loving it. If a prophet cannot care or serve people in the local church, he should not be trusted.
• Becoming the Ephesians’s gift – learning God’s governance and government. Local becoming translocal. He begins to function in a spiritual dimension of government determined by the Lord
• Commission – sent by God with a mandate – you are a recognized Ephesians’s gift.
Commission comes from the Lord and is recognized by the team.
• Sphere – boundaries set by God (build up, increase, amplify). The work and arena for service is determined by the Lord
• Sons and Daughters – fathering, legacy, and school of the prophets. Legacy and passing on wisdom, understanding and experience to the next generation.
2. The Prophetic Personality (Are they all THAT way?) 1 King 19:9-11, Ex. 3:11, Jeremiah 5:22
Rejection
Makes or breaks the young
Embrace it, and you become the tool
Reject it, and you become spiritually idiotic
Insecurity
Part of the package, but not the destination
Sensitive but selfish
The need for recognition can lead to depression
Administration not a gift, but MUST be learned.
Creative or frustrated and working on both.
C2C Family Fall Conference 2013
Focused
Black or white in thinking
Loves boundaries, goals, and values.
3. Recognizing their types (one toolbox, different tools)
• Inspirational: Breakthrough and motivational
• Mystical: The eagle in flight, sees but usually hears
• Revelational: Information and revelation in the Word, about the church, business, culture, etc.
• Strategic: Understanding sequence and form. Able to build because He understands.
Insight with Application.
• Seer: Sees like Ezekiel but doesn’t always hear
Many other Prophets that work in business, marketplace, etc.
4. Checks and balances for all three levels
Must be a team member accountable to a local church leadership and/or trans-local team.
Must submit to a pastor.
Must have a recognized call and/or commission.
Must have proven character and love for the people of God.
Must submit their gift as well or their life. Where do they submit their gospel?
2. Working within the Ephesians 4 team
1. The prophet, Ephesians 2:20
• Part of the foundations along with the apostles in building the church.
• It is all about team! A prophet outside of team has an incomplete picture of what is to be built. He brings an aspect of visitation from the Presence that other team members need. He can or should be able to release or explain what the presence is doing in Corporate meetings.
• He can give insight, counsel, revelation, illumination into meetings.
• Trans-local prophets work with local pastors and teachers to build up and maintain the prophetic foundations in their churches. They stir the presence in churches and teach others to maintain and live in it.
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2. Strategic prophets and apostles
Apostles think in sequence. They see the blueprint and master plan and know what fits in the timing and sequence of things. Strategic prophets do the same things but not as wide or comprehensive. They understand the sequence (usually breakthrough prophets do not), and they can see the blueprint. Apostles, however, can articulate the steps with incredible practical application. A strategic prophet can do this as well but not as well as the apostle.
He is still a throne person who will always see the throne first in the plan. The apostle will always see the footstool or foundations first. The strategic prophet will see the foundations second. The apostle sees the throne second. It is the way they are hard wired. Because the strategic prophet sees the throne and understands the application, he brings to apostle the ability to communicate into the apostolic mentality.
Strategic prophets can go into situations and people will think he is apostolic until he talks about the presence. Prophets release presence (it is their gift). They are supposed to reveal throne.
Apostles will talk about presence and the spirit moves on their wisdom and application, but they cannot release presence in the same way.
A strategic prophet knows the direction but cannot bring the details in application the same way an apostle does. The strategic prophet’s application is not as wide or detailed as the apostle.
The apostles will teach the application with wisdom; the strategic prophet will reveal the application with illumination. Some strategic prophets can be very practical in application with their revelation, but this comes by their experience and not by their grace.
C2C Family Fall Conference 2013
Prophetic Development Workshop
Hebrew Prophetic Words
Buck Hudson
Three Hebrew words:
Prophecy comprehends three things: prediction; singing by the dictate of the Spirit; and understanding and explaining the mysterious, hidden sense of Scripture by an immediate illumination and motion of the Spirit.
The Old Testament uses three Hebrew words that are translated into the English word “prophet” or “seer”: nabi, roeh, and hozeh.
The English word prophet comes from the Greek word προφήτης (profétés) meaning advocate.
Nabi is the first and the most generally used for a prophet.
The Hebrew word derives from a verb signifying “to bubble forth” like a fountain; hence the word means one who announces or pours forth the declarations of God. The English word comes from the Greek prophetes (profetes ), which signifies in classical Greek one who speaks for another, especially one who speaks for a god, and so interprets his will to man; hence its essential meaning is
“an interpreter.”
In the time of Samuel another word, ro’eh, “seer,” began to be used (1 Sam. 9:9). It occurs seven times in reference to Samuel.
Afterwards another word, hozeh, “seer” (2 Sam. 24:11), was employed. In 1 Chronicles 29:29 all these three words are used: “Samuel the seer (ro’eh), Nathan the prophet (nabi’), Gad the seer”
(hozeh). In Josh. 13:22 Balaam is called (Hebrew) a kosem “diviner,” a word used only of a false prophet.
1. ro’eh = “seer” (BDB 906), 1 Sam. 9:9. Ro’eh is from the general Hebrew term “to see.” This person understood God’s ways and plans and was consulted to ascertain God’s will in a matter.
Roeh means “to see” or “to perceive.” It is generally used to describe one who is a revealer of secrets, one who envisions.
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2. hozeh = “seer” 2 Sam. 24:11; Amos 7:12. It is from a rarer Hebrew term “to see in a vision.”
It also means “to see” or “to perceive,” but is also used in reference to musicians. It is used to describe a counselor or an advisor to a king. The Hebrew does not necessarily indicate that the person is a prophet, but rather an advisor—someone who has wisdom. It means “one who has insight.” The translators try to indicate whether the message is spiritual. If it is spiritual, then they tend to translate hozeh as “prophet.”
If it does not give any indication of being spiritually generated, then they would render it “advisor” or “counselor.”
3. nabi’ = “prophet” (BDB 611), cognate of Akkadian verb nabu = “to call” and Arabic naba’a
= “to announce.” This is the most common OT term to designate a prophet. It is used over 300 times. A prophet is someone who speaks for God to His people (cf. Amos 3:8; Jeremiah 1:7,17;
Ezekiel 3:4).
Nabi literally means “to bubble up.” It describes one who is stirred up in spirit. It is the most frequently used of the three by the Hebrew writers. When the sense of “bubbling up” is applied to speaking, it becomes “to declare.” Hence, a nabi, or a prophet, is an announcer—one who pours forth the declarations of God.
4. All three terms are used of the prophet’s office in 1 Chronicles 29:29; Samuel - Ro’eh; Nathan -
Nabi’; and Gad - Hozeh.
C2C Family Fall Conference 2013
Prophetic Development Workshop
Understanding the Journey that Makes a Prophet
The Call of the Prophet
Tom Bedford
1. How God chooses to reveal Himself to a person imparts who He has made them to be. In other words, in the calling an identity is released, and the nature of that particular grace is activated in a way that will shape the outworking of that grace in each particular person.
Some examples
1. Genesis 17:1-22, God appears to Abraham and imparts his call and establishes the covenant.
Abraham receives much that will determine what manner of man he will be. Fights nations, builds altars, etc.
2. Genesis 20:3-7 God tells Abimilech that Abraham is a prophet. Psalm 105:15 again confirms this. This nature is seen in every element of Abraham. Genesis 17
3. Exodus 3:1-22, 4:1-17 God appears to Moses at his commission with the result of the prophetic call to lead the nation.
• In the initial visitation he is brought into a serious closeness with God that will be the trademark of his ministry. 40 days on the mountain (Exodus 24:18,34:28), face to face encounters with God (Exodus 33:11), etc.
• Also given an extreme ability to manifest the miraculous. (Exodus 4:1-9)
4. Joshua 1:1-11 God appears to Joshua at his commission; he becomes the commander to lead the nation.
• In that initial commission courage is brought up several times. (Joshua 1:1-9)
• Joshua will be a fearless leader who refuses to compromise his position even to the end of his life. (Joshua 24:15)
5. Isaiah 6, in the year Isaiah sees the Lord, He is commissioned in His prophetic call to another level. As his lips are touched, a messenger is made. One of the most eloquent and clear spoken prophets in the O.T.
6. Jeremiah 1:4-10, the revelation of God to Jeremiah confirms his prophetic call to build up, tear down, and to prophesy to nations.
7. Matthew 16:13-19 The revelation of who Jesus is brings clear call and identity to Peter.
2. Acts 26:12-18, Paul relates how he was called through the initial encounter that converted him and how that became his definition. How we see Him is how we serve Him.
Often when God calls a prophetic person, there are supernatural encounters that shape the nature of how that prophetic person will operate and will reveal the measure of their grace.
Samuel 3, The call of Samuel and first prophetic hearing is the beginning of his conformation as a prophet to Israel. In his initial revelation Samuel clearly gets understanding about the development and judgement of leadership in the nation. He becomes a Judge-style prophet, anoints Kings, raises up prophetic school, etc.
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Kings 17, Elijah’s first word and revelation from God is about judging the nation by prophesying the stopping of rain, thus speaking to the elemental world by the voice of God. This will be a trademark of his anointing: the ability to stop rain, call for rain, call down fire, part water, etc. Even his successor who inherits that same mantle will be able to do similar acts of power regarding the elemental world.
Though Paul is an apostle and we are discussing prophets, the story in Acts 26:12-18 applies.
At Paul’s conversion he is told of the nature of his apostolic grace. He will be strong towards the
Gentile people and will struggle with the Jewish nation. He also is shown the measure and cost of the warfare he will face regarding the demonic “turning people away from darkness to light and from the dominion of satan to God.”
Today, just like in the Old Testament, we can often see that there are varied prophetic personalities and styles that have accompanying manifestations and operate at different levels of sphere and influence. Not all prophets in scripture had the same measure of sphere and visibility.
Some wrote scripture (Major and Minor prophets), some did not (Elijah, Elisha, Nathan). Some spoke to more than one nation (Jeremiah. Ezekiel, Daniel), some only to one (Hosea, Jonah).
In the New Testament not all of the prophets had the same call and role.
1. Agabus lived in Judea and foretold the future through visible indication and signs.
(Acts 11:28, 21:11-12)
2. Judas and Silas travelled on an apostolic team throughout the churches.
(Acts: 15:22, 27,32)
3. Philip’s daughters seemed to be localized prophetic young women operating out of his house. (Acts 21:8-9)
The Development of Character
There is a clear principle in scripture where God first calls a person and then proceeds with character development to carry the call. Through hardship and struggle God breaks down human strength and reliance so that the man or woman of God becomes meek and broken to be useful to the Lord.
1. Examples: Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, the disciples.
2. Paul matured as he progressed through his missionary journeys and walked through life.
(1 Corinthians. 15:9 least apostle, Ephesians 3:8 least saint, 1 Timothy 1:15 foremost of all sinners)
As he progressed in his ministry, his movement narrowed (jail cell), but his potency increased through letter writing that has had eternal impact. The narrowing hardship produced eternal fruit.
It could be said that the ultimate call on Paul’s life was beyond planting churches; it was to become a Bible writing apostle that produced through his life the model to be followed for the next two thousand years on how the kingdom would advance through five-fold ministry.
C2C Family Fall Conference 2013
To have a strong manifestation of supernatural ability, there must be a corresponding level of painful shaping to match that ability.
Moses (at eighty) gets started in his commission. It took many years of hot sand rubbing down to get him into shape! (Exodus 7:7 Moses is recorded at eighty years of age). Many historians believe he was forty years of age when he fled Egypt. Whatever the age was, he was a much younger man when he fled Egypt, and it took many years for him to become ready to walk in his calling (and for the nation of Israel to be ready to follow God’s plan through him).
Often the story of a hard journey.
1. Psalm 105:16-22, regarding the life of Joseph, the scripture states: “Until the time of his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.”
2. The PIT (Prophets In Training) Joseph had a hard road to both get him to his destination and for the making of the man who could stand in the place of leadership and answer God’s call fully. He got thrown in the pit by his brothers - the beginning of his process.
Genesis 37:18-24
Luke 12:48b. To whom much is given - much is required. To be entrusted with real supernatural power, the process of teaching a prophetic person the results of not fully obeying the Lord can be extreme. Not trusting God and following through with His leading had deep ramifications in scripture.
1. David when he numbered the nation of Israel. 2 Samuel 24, 1 Chronicles 21.
2. Moses striking the rock - locked out of the land of promise. Numbers 20:8-13.
3. Elijah running from Jezebel. 1 Kings 19 - “Elisha the son of Shaphat you shall anoint as prophet in your place.” verse 16b
4. Thank God He is not as extreme on most of us, but God does not change and does not take disobedience from us. The process of hearing God’s voice and learning to obey Him in that anointing is an exacting process that often looks painful but is necessary to bring real maturity. Hebrews 10:36-39 God has no pleasure in unbelief.
The Process of Shaping and Training
1. Preparing for the work - training for operation
Gifts and graces are not designed to operate alone.
i. Prophets need other gifts in the process of their making to become balanced, having a perspective beyond their own viewpoint.
(Acts 13:1-3) In Antioch the prophets were with the teachers - the supernatural with the didactic. Truth and Spirit kept each gift clear. The result being the ability to hear supernatural direction that could be sent out reasonably, with the leaders being able to build by teaching all that Jesus had commanded them, not just living out of supernatural impulse alone.
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ii. Prophets can often use the supernatural element in their lives to justify why they do not have to submit to leaders and gifts different than theirs thinking they are more spiritual than those around them.
This vanity is a blinder that opens them up the other spirits beside the Holy Spirit, and they can become deceived. Thus they need other gifts to challenge and shape them, not for the purpose of killing their gift but for developing the package that can carry the gift.
• (Phil 1:15) Even though this passage is speaking to the preaching of false teachers, Paul is making a good case that selfish ambition in preaching the Gospel exists, and there are those operating out of a false motive that they believe is from God. Other graces examine that in prophetic types.
• Galatians 1:6-9. Paul makes the clear case that even if angels appear and preach false doctrine, it is accursed! Supernatural manifestations do not trump truth!
We should preach the word - not our visions and angelic visitations!
2. Supernatural gifting does not create an excuse to compromise Christian character.
• Colossians 2:18-19. A fleshly mind is able to quickly become inflated and can exalt visions and angelic interaction above being connected to the head and joined to the body by ligaments and joints.
• The apostle Paul says that growth happens in the body connection, not in visions and angels alone that a carnal mind can demand be elevated above truth and submission to a wider body. A carnal mind often produces a carnal lifestyle.
This tendency is extremely dangerous. Those who have this leaning need to be noted and worked with and used in the body cautiously lest they become deceived and deceive others. 2 Thessalonians 3:13-14 • Timothy 3:13-17 - it is interesting that this verse contrasts impostors with knowing the scriptures and sacred writings. The scripture is completely inspired to Paul and is able to equip the man of God for every good work. What great advice to a young leader!
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Prophetic Development Workshop
Equipping Prophetic People
Buck Hudson
God’s Word: the foundational for everything
It begins with God’s Presence Exodus 28:30, Exodus 33:19 Not substituting Technology for Presence in meetings
Co-working with the spirit of God in meetings (Faith in Him) a. When you connect to him, He connects to you b. When you take a step, He takes a step with you c. He works with you, not for you in meetings d. If you give away what you have, You will get more from the Spirit
Experiencing God’s Presence in Meetings
1. Five Spiritual Senses (hearing, seeing, feeling, impressions, dreams)
2. Presence carriers, Presence followers John 7.38
3. Three Types of Worship Leaders
Psalmists, Presence followers, Presence Carriers
4. Four parts of a meeting: how to lead people into the Presence:
Break in, Break out, Break through, Break Forth
Understanding the anointing in the meeting
a. Where are you Holy Spirit, and where are you going?
b. Match the anointing He brings and adjusting to it.
c. Riding the wave in the meeting (surfing meetings).
5. Three levels of Prophetic in a meeting:
Illumination (encouragement)
Revelation (direction)
Impartation (transference that brings change)
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Notes
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Prophetic Development Workshop
IMPARTATION AND TRANSFERENCE: A BIBLICAL BASIS
Doug Kreighbaum
Contents
IMPARTATION AND TRANSFERENCE: A BIBLICAL BASIS 1
Foundations of connecting with and releasing God’s supernatural power 2
A. We need our eyes open to God’s supernatural realm 2
B. The supernatural is for Kingdom advancement, not entertaining the saints 2
C. Overcoming rational offenses in order to move in the supernatural 2
D. Two important issues that influence our expectancy in the Supernatural 3
E. Five aspects of entering and connecting with the supernatural realm 3
F. We experience and enjoy the help of the Holy Spirit in two main areas: 5
G. Two keys to being used by the Holy Spirit 5
The doctrine of the ‘laying on of hands’ is essential for impartation and transference 6
A. Old Testament examples of laying on of hands 6
B. The New Testament and laying on of hands 7
C. When practicing laying on of hands, we expect a supernatural occurrence 8
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Prophetic Development Workshop
Imparting to others through the gift-office
Paul Kidd
Part of the Prophet’s Job description: Identification and Impartation
Note: Prophets are always looking for the next King (next leader) so that we can have the Kingdom in a greater measure
Romans 1:11 “11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established’
Laying on of hands
Used to ordain Joshua to leadership (Numbers 27:18-23), the ordaining of Aaron and his four sons (Exodus 29:1-28), and the ordaining of the Levites (Numbers 8:5-22)
Used to commission deacons (Acts 6:6)
“6 Whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”
To ordain Elders (1 Timothy 5:17-22)
“17 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily,”
To send forth various ministries (Acts 13:2-3)
“2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”
Was practiced to minister (Mark 16:18)
“18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
To minister the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17)
“17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.”
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To impart spiritual gifts (2nd Timothy 1:6)
“6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
To impart blessing (Matthew 19:13-15)
13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.
Note: it’s the vehicle or channel through which something is transferred to another
Laying on of hands has five distinct functions:
1. Impartation
2. Identification
3. Confirmation
4. Ministration of blessing
5. Commissioning of ministry
Deuteronomy 34:8-9 “8 So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended. 9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Note: The Hebrew word for anointing, mashah, meant literally to smear with the hand 1 Samuel 16:13 “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren and the spirit of the Lord came upon David.”
Impartation in the laying on of hands in the New Testament is seen in four aspects:
1. To minister healing (Mark 16:18, Luke 4:30, Luke 13:13, Acts 28:8)
Acts 28:8-10 “8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery.
Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.”
2. To minister signs and wonders (Acts 5:12, Acts 14:3, Acts 19:11) Acts 5:12 “12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.
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3. To minister the Baptism of the Holy spirit (Acts 19:5-7)
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”
4. To impart spiritual gifts (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
“6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”
Definition: Impart to give, to pass on, transmit, or bestow
Personal Stories;
1. Fuchsia Pickett
2. John Bevere
3. Kevin Leal
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Prophetic Development Workshop
Blockages to the Development of the Prophetic
Dave Richards
Differentiate between the seedbed of prophecy 1 Corinthians 12 and mature emerging prophets of
1 Corinthians 12:28-29 and 1:14.
A significant blockage that we have observed is when dividing walls of hostility between any of the fivefold ministries occur.
Pastors and Teachers, can, at times, get into problems and suspicions over the Prophets who, themselves, can be tempted in such circumstances to align in self pity with the Evangelists!
This can, if not dealt with wisely, lead to difficulties of suspicion that need to be removed!
It was never intended in Ephesians 4, for Christ’s Gift Ministries to the Church to be divided, but through their equipping to bring unity and maturity to the Church. Five 20% gifts of Jesus.
Any division through mistrust and disrespect brings disrepute to these ministries.
This is a major area of work…. Getting people to recognize the variety of gifts, perspectives, and workings that make up the fivefold ministries.
It usually requires an Apostle to help bring an atmosphere of acceptance, mutual respect, and honor for each gift.
This takes time and firm insistence from the Apostles.
These blockages are usually due to a mixture of the following issues arising:
A deep rooted insecurity or over-protection of the flock … by the shepherds.
A lack of flexibility of the Bible Teachers also can exacerbate this issue.
Prophets are not blessed, helped, nor encouraged by either position.
Evangelists and prophets themselves must be careful to avoid alliances built upon, “ Reciprocal lawlessness, “ which can and do occur .
Prophets must recognize some of the traps other ministries and the body observe at times, which unaddressed, can lead to blockages in the flow of God’s life.
It is hard for us to see our own shortcomings but others do.
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Some of these weaknesses are;
1. Poor character and conduct on behalf of those deeming themselves as prophetic.
Their behavior and character drowns out their words and they are not well received.
2. Rejection and insecurity issues. These make others nervous! Rejected people are often reactionary people. (See Elijah , Jonah, Jeremiah.)
3. Intolerance, impatience and lack of grace on the part of those claiming to be prophetic.
They are black and white characters. All or nothing. Elisha and Jonah…This again can cause withdrawal by other ministries, or the more sensitive members of the body of Christ.
Particularly mercy givers and pastors, whose role is to be either empathetic or protective to the flock, struggle with this attitude.
4. An inability to discern that they are given secrets from heaven, and being unwise as to where and when they share them. Amos 3:7. Isaiah points out they can run too soon! A great ministry that needs great care in exercising it.
5. Suspicion of their theological accuracy. Any weakness, clearly observed in their life in the
Word, is very dangerous for a Prophet, because to compensate, they will be tempted to rely on their feelings and experiences. This is a massive red flag for the Teacher. Tom Bedford and Buck Hudson are excellent examples of Prophets with strong theological foundations.
6. Lack of harnessing to Apostles, whom on a bad day they see as policemen.
Ephesians 2: 19- 22. A true Apostle loves Prophets, acknowledges they can’t do without them, and thrives on their fellowship, and co-laboring.
7. Failure by others in ministry in the Church to give recognition to their place which leaves them very insecure and at times very vulnerable. If they feel they are being overlooked or not involved in the initiation of strategy and development, they can get quite frustrated.
Often they will be tempted to entrepreneur a new opening if they are feeling overlooked or worse, ignored. Don’t use them for entertainment or a bit of excitement for the Church.
Treat their gift with respect or they will be rightly frustrated.
• They are blessed with great revelation but rarely have a number one leadership position and this can frustrate them. 1 Corinthians 12:27-30.
• It is crucial to include them when forming the big picture. This means other RECOGNIZED
MINISTRIES must identify their gift and help them to handle the gift.
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FINALLY:
• If they don’t feel they are being heard…immediately…They can take their gift and walk.
They can become trapped into a method or style which works for them, as it was an initial revelation, but to others it can become, at best, an irritant, or at worst, a mantra that they struggle with.
HOW CAN PROPHETS MOVE ON AND DEVELOP TO AVOID PLATEAUING?
1. Get discipled by a mature Prophet or Prophetess.
2. Work harnessed to an Apostle. Travel with him if you can. If you don’t have that kind of joining, pray for it to happen or make contact with your local pastor to see how this could be sorted and with whom. DON’T BE PUSHY! It is counter productive.
3. Get deeper into the Word. Your depth in the prophetic will require it. It will also be a measure for what you believe you are hearing and seeing. Tom and Buck are great examples.
4. Humble yourself…You may have become proud. It is a danger for the Prophet if they get an abundance of revelations. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
WHAT HAVE I SEEN WORK, AND HOW DO I INCLUDE PROPHETS?
What works best is love, acceptance, and inclusion in the heart of all our development.
IF you are foolish enough to leave strategic prophets out of the foundation process, and they have the gift for that, then you will have two fold trouble on your hands.
1. Not only will they get irritated and restless, and it will be your fault!
2. But the foundation will never be right without their input.
INCLUSION IS VITAL.
I have always valued prophets highly, and worked closely with Bryn Franklin the first seven years in
Witney, and alongside my wife Chris.
In the East Midlands we had Chris Warwick emerging, which helped.
In Salt and Light I built off Dennis Peacocke, Bob Mumford, and Ben Moore, and later, John Paul
Jackson, between 1975 to 2000.
When I arrived in Basingstoke, Barney asked me to lead a national team that would help shape prophetic direction across Salt and Light .
We did that as a Team: Bryn, Dave Oliver, Jonathan Aston, John Denning and myself, from 1980 to
2000.
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In Basingstoke I had the prophetic riches, of Dave Oliver, John Denning, Chris, and later Andy
Shepperd, the Wadsworth’s, Phil Thomas and others that I came to value greatly.
In 2003 I came into a joining of The Lord with Buck Hudson, an American prophet based in
Almhult, Sweden. This was a gift from God and a great answer from Heaven to what I saw as an increasing danger of prophets and apostles working in separation and dislocation, which was greatly concerning me.
Buck is a presence Prophet but also carries a strategic gift, which is now not only crucial to our work in the Nordic Regions and Coast to Coast in America, but also on the Salt and Light
International Team.
We have traveled harnessed together across the States, Africa, Europe, the Philippines, and India.
In our opinion (and those whom we serve), this has greatly added to both of us and strengthened the Churches we serve.
This relationship with Buck and Doug Kreighbaum, the American apostle, who leads C2C, has also joined me to major prophets in the United States:
Tom Bedford, Paul Kidd, Scott Squires, Sherry Smoyer, Jeremy Pingel and several other men and women, who have taken me to both another level of working together, and another level of understanding.
This has not only deepened my love and appreciation for the Prophets and a great appreciation of their strengths, but has given me a clearer perspective of their weaknesses and the need for greater wisdom in handling them by other five-fold ministries and local church elders.
Over the years I have made many public statements that I will not work without prophets alongside of me.
I feel that it would be a violation of Scripture to work alone as an apostle.
David worked with Nathan, the Seer.
Haggai the prophet worked in harness with Zerubbabel and Joshua, the High priest.
Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, and Luke, worked with Silas and Agabus as Prophets.
So my question is: Then what right have we to do otherwise?
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Our Position is in Christ with Jesus
Firmly at the head
Doug Kreighbaum
I. Our calling (both local church and family of churches)
A. A family on mission together with Christ as the head
Centered around Jesus revealing His fullness through His church (Ephesians 1:22-23)
B. The call to demonstrate and declare Christ and His message (Phil 2:12-16)
Christ’s headship must firmly be in place
Christ’s Headship - A revelation of Jesus from which we hear and respond to His voice - both what has already been said and what He continues to say.
C. In the process Christ corrects deficient revelation that exists both in His people and the world He is trying to reach.
Example of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4
II. Avoiding the danger of spinning God
Spin - Putting forth favorable or unfavorable interpretations of the words and actions of another based on the reporter or listener’s personal preferences.
A. Avoid both the church spinning God to the world and the world spinning God to the church
B. Two current trends that can pressure the church to spin God
1. The Rise of the mega church experience
2. Pragmatic philosophies of life
C. Warning from God’s word about His people spinning Him
God’s people are particularly prone to spinning Him in the area of His attributes
D. Experiences God’s people face that makes them most prone to spin Him
1. Temptation to sin
2. Facing difficulty - Example of the golden calf incident Exodus 32
Attributes of God that are appealing and unappealing to us
E. Ultimate results of spinning God
1. Freedom in Christ will be elusive
2. Embrace and communicate accurately God or His message
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Our Practice is the Values and the Spirit of how we
Implement them under the Lordship of Christ
Buck Hudson
SALT & LIGHT: The Way We Think!
CORE VALUES
Values determine family life and atmosphere.
How do we relate?
Friends first and leaders second.
Servant leadership.
Good government brings peace.
Relationship
Everything in the Body of Christ is relational! We believe in brother/sister relationships, pastor/ disciple relationships and small group relationships are a key to leaders, and local churches.
Family on a Mission together
The mission is transformation of our nations through kingdom living under Christ’s governance.
God works through spiritual and natural family, to give us a place of belonging, love, fun, joy, security, friendship, vision, encouragement, and care. Fatherhood and motherhood is a key to strong, healthy families!
Fathers and mothers
Fatherhood reveals the government of God. Mothers equal in influence and gift, but not ALWAYS in government (exceptions to every rule).
Every Pastor needs a pastor
Relational first – positional second. Care and accountability. Authority is more horizontal than vertical. All leaders are also followers. The right of Appeal: coming alongside when you need someone to stand with you (we stand together, we fight for each other). Churches can appeal when leaders are injuring themselves or injuring them. Appeal is more relational than positional, and must work through relationships.
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How do we function?
Success is Successors: The best - and maybe only - way to measure success is if we have successors. Examples are Elijah – Elisha and Paul – Timothy. That’s our hope.
Discipleship
Discipleship is a key to growing all of God’s people into maturity, so that each one can play their full part in the purposes of God’s Kingdom. We encourage strongly the fostering of relationships of discipleship, where personal pastoring and mentoring are key.
Ephesians 4 ministry
We believe that receiving apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers into local churches brings increased vision and spiritual impact, and provides good care, counsel and accountability for local church leaders.
Different but not wrong.
Diversity: We value the diversity of our family of churches where there are different styles of leadership and models of church. We believe this helps us to understand and enjoy the richness of the body of Christ, and we want to live in an atmosphere of respect and mutual appreciation.
A Throne and Footstool people (Isaiah 66:1)
We want both the prophetic power, presence, and purpose of God around the throne and also the apostolic application of it on earth. Esther 66:1. We are a people of His Presence and Foundations.
Everyone has a grace and a place. As fathers and mothers we will mentor, train, equip, and release these gifts. Every gift should reveal and release the Kingdom of God.
SALT & LIGHT - WHO ARE WE ?
Salt & Light is an international family of churches and leaders. It has developed over the last 30 years as leaders and churches were been drawn together by a common desire to see the Body of
Christ grow to be all God wants it to be. We believe in strong, loving and committed relationships within local churches and across the Body of Christ throughout the nations.
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Our Platform is the outpost of Heaven
The local church is God’s masterplan for all things
Dave Richards
Ephesians 1: 15-23. 2: 11- 22. 3: 7-13.
Acts 2: 36-47.
Our responsibility…..Is to love and honour the local church Jesus is building.
Our privilege…..Is to be redeemed to become a useful member of the local church.
Our joy…..Is to discover where, with whom , and how he wants to build it.
Our purpose….. Is to demonstrate how the church should live as family…..And then reproduce it through the message the kingdom.
Remember the fort analogy…..“Why was the fort so important in the development of America?”
“To subdue, develop and increase a region through good peaceful government and practice.”
Making a start…..Samaria, a biblical precedent….
Acts 1: 6-8… Jesus gives clear instructions..
1. Receive the power of the holy spirit.
2. Go and start affecting these three spheres… Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth.
Case study….
Samaria.
1. Initial breakthrough….. Jesus started it all in John 4 at Sychar. Started at Jacob’s well…..Where we start is important.
The gospel of the kingdom was established… In that town… Heaven had touched earth …….
But the church had still to be built.
An initial breakthrough does not mean things get built!
Cf Luke 9: 51-56. Rejection and reaction in Samaria.
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2. Jesus knew the woman at the well was only the start…..Greater things would his disciples do..
Samaria was still on his heart in Acts 1: 6-8. This followed their 40 day kingdom seminar at his feet.
3. Acts 8: 1-40. Persecution in Jerusalem…..Followed by Diaspora… Where? Judea and Samaria!!!
Philip’s Samaritan crusade
2nd phase breakthrough…..Endurance.
Every breakthrough needs a follow through…..Still not properly established…
The apostles in Jerusalem send Peter and John…..To help Philip.
Right foundations are critical to a strong church…
Fivefold ministries need to be rightly joined for the work to succeed.
They grounded the samaritans… After works, wonders, come words.
4. Reaching the region…..Philip moved on to the Gaza road…..Judea…..Acts 8: 26-39. The gospel continued as far as Ethiopia…..Sphere three! Then from Azotus all the way up to Caesarea. Acts 8:
40 The apostles moved amongst Samaritan villages. Acts 8:25
5. Sooner or later the local church must be established….
Peter in Joppa acts 9. Call from Caesarea……From Cornelius…..Angelic visitation…..A trance…..
Vision. Preaching of the gospel…..Holy ghost outbreak… Conversions and baptisms and now the church established. Acts 10.
A fort emerges in Samaria……
Paul visited en route from 18 months work in Corinth, then Ephesus , on his way home to
Antioch…
And he greeted the local church at Caesarea
Acts 18:22.
6. Philip’s home in Caesarea was the place Paul stayed for many days…..Agabus came there……
Acts 21: 8-16.
From the evangelists house …. Paul was prophesied into Jerusalem and further into the Gentile world … Rome was waiting… Sphere three of Acts 1: 6-8.
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What can we learn from Samaria?
1. Every breakthrough needs a follow through.
2. Every follow through must produce foundations.
3. What is built must have an equally strong family perspective as a missional kingdom perspective.
4. It takes a variety of ministries, and supernatural events, over a period of time, to breakthrough…..To follow through…..To ultimately build and yet keep missional. Jesus and the twelve. The woman at the well. Philip. Peter and john. Cornelius and the angel. Peter and his vision whilst in a trance. Paul…..Agabus and Philip’s four daughters who prophesied.
5. Our goal is bringing heaven on earth in all its redemptive glory through the church!
So we must preach a high view of the local church and practice it!
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Our Purpose is connected to the Gospel of Jesus and the
Kingdom of God being extended with Signs and Wonders
Tom Bedford
Introduction
Isaiah 9: 6-7
“6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on
His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal
Father, and Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
In these few verses we see the purpose of God revealed through the Son and the missional nature of The Gospel.
1. The Gospel is the message that reveals the Kingdom of God.
• The Gospel of the Kingdom. Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, Mark 1:15, Luke 16:16
• Initiated by Jesus in the Gospel books. Matthew 11:15, Mark 1:14-15, 8:35, 10:29, Luke 4:18, 16:16
• Preached by the apostles. Luke 9:6, Acts 15:7 (Peter), Romans 1:16 (Paul)
1 Thessalonians 3:2 (Timothy)
• The established Kingdom structure of missional ideology and communication.
Romans 1:1, 2:16, 16:25, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 11:4, Galatians 2:2, Ephesians 6:15-19
2. The Doorway of preaching The Gospel
• Preaching the gospel was accompanied with signs and wonders. Matthew 4:23, 9:35, Luke
9:6, Romans 15:19. 1 Thessalonians 1:5.
• Opened the door to repentance and salvation. Mark 1:15, Acts 14:15.
• Opened the door for Paul’s fatherhood in Corinth. 1 Corinthians 4:15, 9:11-13.
3. What the Gospel is not
• Not the gospel of the church. Matthew 24:14
• Note: Jesus mentioned the idea of the church 2 times in the Gospels. He speaks of the
Gospel 12 times.
• Not the gospel of ministry. 2 Corinthians 4:5
• Not to be perverted. Galatians 1:6-9,11, 2:14, Philippians 1:16
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4. The Issue of Expansion
• Expansion is the goal, The Gospel is the message. Mark 16:14-18. Luke 9:6, 16:16.
• Maintenance is not the goal of The Gospel.
• The book of Acts. The message was always on the move and not stationary in the mention of it.
5. Expansion comes in Power
• The apostles had to demonstrate supernatural power to back up the message.
Acts 2:22,43, 4:23-31, 5:12, 6:8, 14:3, Hebrews 2:1-4.
6. Expansion comes through spiritual authority
• Enemy strongholds are only broken through authority. Acts 16:16-33.
• The apostles understood that preaching The Gospel would confront demonic strongholds
• Acts 19. The whole chapter is a story of The Gospel confronting an existing demonic religion that had overtaken an entire region.
• The Book of Ephesians is a commentary that speaks to the events in Acts 19 as a backdrop to a great deal of the discussion in the book of Ephesians.