Discipleship Is

‘Discipleship Is …’ 60+ Leaders on Discipleship

Lindy Lowry —  June 13, 2013

For the last several months, Exponential has been asking church and network leaders to share their definition of discipleship and identifying quotes from venerable voices to help elevate the discipleship conversation. Each issue of our weekly e-newsletter, Church Planter Weekly, has featured a leader’s definition in the “Discipleship Is…” section.. Below is the collection of quotes we’ve gathered from more than 60+ leaders, including local church practitioners and venerable voices such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, Oswald Chambers and more. We need your voice. Click here to share your definition. Each week, we’ll add more responses to the growing collection.

“Discipleship is not about learning more. It’s about discovering and developing the reason why you were created. God designed the process to involve other people, and that’s why discipleship is ultimately about connecting with someone who will help you connect with God for the purpose of fulfilling your God-given destiny.” Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands
“Discipleship is about living out of the overflow of God’s love and grace for our lives by pouring into others.It’s life on life, spiritual mentoring that invites someone else to follow Christ with us. Discipleship leverages the power of God working through us to equip others.” Efrem Smith, Evangelical Covenant Church leader
 “A disciple is one who thinks, feels and acts like Jesus Christ. It is being conformed to the image of Christ as Romans 8:28-29 states–that God’s No.1 purpose in our lives is to make us like Jesus.” Rick Warren, pastor, author

“Discipleship is becoming more and more like Jesus and letting Him live His life more and more in me.” Alan Hirsch, author, missiologist
“I believe discipleship, at its essence, is finding someone a few steps in front of you on the spiritual journey and following them.” Paul Williams, author, leader with The Orchard Group
“Discipleship is simply answering the call of Christ to, “Go and make disciples. I define discipleship as an organic process of helping others become and continue to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is not a program that has a beginning and an ending point.” Winfield Bevins, author, pastor and church planter

“Simply, discipleship is a follower of Jesus encouraging others to be followers of Jesus.” Neil Cole, author 

“Discipleship is an intentional process where one believer engages one or more younger believers helping them process and discover their next steps spiritually in becoming more like Christ.” Mac Lake, visionary architect for The Launch Network
“Discipleship is rooted in a deep belief in the universal reign of God through Christ. To be a disciple is to acknowledge that reign and to embrace the lifelong journey of submitting more and more of every aspect of your life to His good, just, and peaceable reign, as well as alerting others to God’s kingship by both word and deed.” Michael Frost, missiologist, author
“Discipleship is the process of becoming a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. We don’t complete the process this side of eternity, but it is a continual learning of who Jesus is and striving to be like Him. Discipleship combines teaching, studying, circumstances of life and Holy Spirit revelation to transform us into His image.”  Ron Edmondson, pastor and thought leader
“Discipleship is the art and science of helping people find, follow and fully become like Jesus. Discipleship happens as God’s people show love, share truth and live life with one another, making new disciples along the way.-Brandon Cox, church planter, pastor
“Discipleship is not knowing more information about Jesus, but knowing Jesus and being transformed into His image through the constant exposure of the Gospel of grace in the context of a local church.His life becomes ours. His mission becomes ours.” Derwin Gray church planter, pastor
“Discipleship is the process of moving from unbelief to belief about what is true of Jesus and the Gospel, in absolutely every area of life. Caesar Kalinowski, GCM Collective Director, author
“I don’t know if discipleship is ever complete, but discipleship is well on its way when the one who is mentored, in turn, mentors someone else.” Tom Nebel, director of church planting, Converge Worldwide
“Discipleship is helping each other belong in a healthy relationship with God through proclaiming and modeling the Gospel; equipping each other to become more like Jesus through the study of His Word and experiencing biblical Community; and holding each other accountable to bless His Kingdom and our world through sharing, serving and giving of ourselves.” Shawn Lovejoy, pastor, author
“Discipleship is all about taking our next steps toward Jesus. We become more of who Christ designed us to be. We engage his mission. For me, discipleship has primarily happened through mentors, spiritual disciplines and serving others.” Tony Morgan, author, leadership coach 

“A disciple is an apprentice learning a trade. For Christians, it means growing to be more like Jesus and helping others to do the same. I prefer to translate the Greek word for disciple as ‘an apprentice’ rather than ‘a learner.’ We have too much of the head in Christianity and not enough of the heart.”                  Bill Easum, pastor, coach, consultant

“Discipleship is life on life transformation. Jesus’ purpose was to build into the lives of a small group of people so that His mission to bring the kingdom would be carried on their shoulders. In the same way, we are to build into others, discipling them the way Jesus did.” Kim Hammond, Forge America leader

“Disciples make disciples. Anything less is a cheap Gospel.”Jen Hatmaker, author, speaker, church planter

“In its simplest form, discipleship is becoming more of a disciple. Scripture teaches that God grows us, but we also receive a consistent theme that we place ourselves in the posture to receive the growth that God has for us. So discipleship disciplines (prayer, fasting and reading the Bible) help place us in a position to receive spiritual growth from the Lord, leading us to be more faithful and fruitful disciples.” Ed Stetzer, pastor, author, LifeWay Research President 

“Discipleship is making lifelong, devoted followers of Christ–people who have committed everything they believe and do to what we find in the gospels.” Matt Smay, author and pastor

“When I think of discipleship, I think leadership development. It’s not a phrase directly used in the New Testament, but it epitomized the ministry of Jesus.” Matt Keller, pastor, author

“Discipleship is equipping the individual to live in God’s community.” Randy Frazee, pastor, author

“At its core, Discipleship is Love. Connecting. Connecting With Purpose. First Connecting with Christ; then with others. With a Purpose. A Purpose found in both persons. To grow in Christ. As the first grows, they, in turn, exhort the other to follow.” Pastor Ken Sartain, senior pastor, First Baptist Church of Hughson, California
“Discipleship is the process of exemplifying, in an ever increasing manner, the character, convictions, and conduct of Jesus.” Dr. Daryl Stagg, Director of Missions, Harmony Baptist Association
“Discipleship is bringing someone’s life back into order.” Pastor Rowel A. Violenta, Harvester Church International, Philippines
“Discipleship is life lived together in pursuit of becoming completely ourselves completely in Christ.” Bob Lawler, Director of Missions, Redwood Empire Baptist Association
“Discipleship is the process of maturing into an ever-increasing reflection of the image of God to Christ in everyday worship, to other followers in regular community and to all peoples (near and far) in mission.” Mark Myles, Converge Church, Campbell River, BC

“Discipleship to Jesus Christ is the intentional, communal, lifelong journey of being conformed to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s purpose in the world.” John Herman, Greenbackville, Va.

“Discipleship is encountering truth, experiencing life, and expressing love; beginning with you and continuing through another.” Rusty Miller, Interim Senior Minister, Capitol City Christian Church, Lincoln, Neb.

“Discipleship is a relational process of accompanying another person (as an example, provider of resources, companion or guide) for their spiritual growth, service and testimony in following Jesus where they, in turn, repeat the same pattern with others.” Jim Klaas

“Discipleship is, In every context, sharing my redemptive life with others, surrendered to the Father, empowered by the Spirit.” Jimmy Larkin, Fellowship of Grace, Overland Park, Kan.

“Discipleship is filling the vacancy left when someone accepts Christ as their personal Savior and sweeps clean the garbage of their former life. Unless that life is filled with sacrifice, service and regular communication with God, bad habits will return.”
Ken Hoving, teacher and mentor

“A disciple of Jesus is one who is living his/her life as Jesus would if He were us; given our setting—our family, our friends, our church, our skills, our gifting, our vocation, and our circle of influence.” Steve Palich, director of Ministry Center Development, CMF International

Venerable Voices on Discipleship

“Let us always remember that Christ calls men and women not only to trust Him as Savior, but also to follow Him as Lord. That call to discipleship must be part of our message if we are to be faithful to Him.” the Rev. Billy Graham
“When Christ calls a man, He bids him to come and die.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Never discard a conviction. If it is important enough for the Spirit of God to have brought it to your mind, it is that thing He is detecting. You were looking for a great thing to give up. God is telling you of some tiny thing. At the back of it, there lies the central citadel of obstinacy: I will not give up my right to myself–the thing God intends you to give up if ever you are going to be a disciple of Jesus.” Oswald Chambers
“No man has the mind of Christ, except him who makes it his business to obey Him.” George MacDonald
“It seemed, sometimes, to be rather repelling men than attracting them to say to would-be disciples, “If you will follow me, do this, and do that,”–perhaps, some very trying ordeal; yet that was the Saviour’s usual habit.”  Charles Spurgeon
“Evangelism is the spontaneous overflow of a glad and free heart in Jesus Christ.” Robert Munger

“In our faith, we follow in someone’s steps. In our faith we leave footprints to guide others. It’s the principle of discipleship.”  Max Lucado

“Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me. martyred missionary Jim Elliot

“The fruit of my work grows on other people’s trees.” Bob Buford, via video at Exponential 2013

“Christian disciples are sent men and women–sent out in the same work of world evangelism to the which the Lord was sent.” Dr. Robert Coleman
“Until you have given up your self to Him, you will not have a real self.” C.S. Lewis
“Give me 100 men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergyman or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the Kingdom of Heaven upon the earth.” John Wesley
“The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples–students, apprentices, practitioners–of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from Him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.” Dallas Willard

“No one can sum up all God is able to accomplish through one solitary life, wholly yielded, adjusted and obedient to Him.” D.L. Moody

“When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we confess a Christ without a Cross, we are no longer disciples of the Lord. We are mundane.”  Pope Francis at his first mass
“Knowing that we are fulfilling God’s purpose is the only thing that really gives rest to the restless human heart.” Charles Colson
“I want to share with you where my mind has come to rest as I approach the end of my pilgrimage on earth, and it is: God wants His people to become like Christ. Christlikeness is the will of God for the people of God.“ John Stott (from the last sermon he preached:”The Model: Becoming More Like Christ”)

“[Jesus'] plan called for action, and how He expressed it predicted its success. He didn’t say “You *might* be my witnesses,” or “You *could* be my witnesses,” or even, “You *should* be my witnesses.” He said, “You *will* be my witnesses.”  Charles Swindoll

“When a person makes a confession of faith and is never taken through a formal discipleship process, there is little hope of seeing genuine spiritual transformation.” Dr. Howard Hendricks

Letters from LK10

Dear LK10 Community,

I apologize for not send out a Community Update for several weeks.  Tamela and I were back east for her father's funeral and when we got back I was laid low with a bad cold.  Having said that, I'm excited to share with you some exciting stories this week!

1.  Church 101 Course impacting college students.  Truman Lo (see picture) is a LK10 member and on staff with Cru (for us older folks, this used to be Campus Crusade).  Truman recently posted on our LK10 Forum that he has been helping to lead a Cru Summer Project in Vail, CO.  As part of the discipling process, he is taking these students through our Church 101 Course.  (These students are from California, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan and Rhode Island.)  Here are some of the amazing comments from these students...

"This is right in line with what I sensed God has been teaching me." 
"This is awesome! I'm making a call tomorrow to the guys I'm rooming with in the fall. We're going to do SASHET."
"I sense God saying I need to start doing this with my dad."
"This doesn't necessarily have to be just for Christians. I sense God saying I need to teach SASHET next year to all my residents as their RA."

Truman goes on:  "I've even had other staff approach me asking, "What's this listening prayer thing I keep hearing about from the students? They keep saying how great it's been."

To read more of what Truman posted and to interact with him, go to  http://lk10.com/community/community-discussion/?cid=23&show=1071

2.  The LK10 Labor Day Conference.  Last year at this time, we had 3 people registered for the Conference.  (We ended up with about 50.)  Today, 49 of you have already registered and we are well on our way to our goal of 100.  Very exciting!

In the video below, Al Paradise shares that last year's Conference was a real turning point in his experience of church.  Al was a seminary graduate and, over the course of 40 years, he had been an elder in five different churches. But, he had become so frustrated at church as he had known it that he and his wife had just stopped going.  Watch this short interview to hear what Al experienced at the Conference.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfUinON94-4

3.  Register here.   If you haven't registered for the Conference yet, go here for all the information and to register:   http://2013lk10conference.eventbrite.com/

If you prefer, you can hold your place with a non refundable, pre-registration fee of only $50/person.  (The remainder is due by August 1.)  Go here:  http://pre-registration2013lk10conference.eventbrite.com/

4.  Who will you invite to the Conference?  Tim Morris has encouraged us to begin praying for those people God has put on our heart to come with us to the Conference.  Share the first names of those you hope to invite and we will join together with you to pray for them.  Share the names in the LK10 Forum here:  http://lk10.com/community/community-discussion/?cid=24&show=1073

Also, feel free to forward this email to friends you are planning on inviting to the Conference.

Questions?  Contact me at:  john.lk10@gmail.com

John

John White
Team Leader
LK10:  A Community of Practice for House Church Leaders
LK10.com

Stay Connected with Skype and FaceTime

by Marty Duren on Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Separation is never easy. As modern families travel separately and move apart, staying in touch can be a challenge. But two relatively new means of communication in particular are bringing family members face to face even when they are miles apart: Skype, which can be used free with a normal computer and some tablet computers, and FaceTime, which is available preloaded on newer iPhones and iPads.

Face-to-face Communication

Skype allows both video and audio for any two people with the program installed and an Internet connection. Using a microphone and USB camera (both of which are generally built into newer computer models), users can talk and see each other during the call.
Steve and Kay Hortman of Locust Grove, Ga., used Skype almost every weekend when their daughter Kalina was on a nine-month missions trip in China.
"Using Skype really lets you get a better feel for being with the person even though you're half a world away," they say. "It really helped our emotional stability to be able to see Kalina's facial expressions while we were communicating — to hear her voice. It makes for a more enriching time of talking than having to email or text message back and forth."
FaceTime, a tool available over Internet or iPhone/iPad data plans, allows face-to-face conversations via the front facing camera on each device. Each face shows on each screen for a conversational experience.
Jason and Terah Sampler of Louisiana used FaceTime when a new job took Jason out of town for an extended period of time.
"I absolutely hate talking on the phone," admits Terah. "I like face-to-face interaction, and FaceTime provided that. For those long months when Jason was out of town so much, our marriage would have lacked substantially without it.
I relied heavily on seeing his reactions, and I express myself through facial expressions and body language. FaceTime really was a huge blessing."

See You Soon

The ability to see facial expressions and body language is important to another group: single Boomers. Recent statistics show that nearly one-third of Baby Boomers are single.
Skype and FaceTime provide a helpful tool if or when a relationship is pursued and can provide an ideal get-to-know-you environment.

Look at This

Others have found Skype and FaceTime to be especially effective in keeping children in touch with grandparents. The daughter of Boomer parents, Cristina Bailey notes how the visual aspect is better than mere audio with preschoolers.
"For us, it's better than a regular phone call. Whenever we're talking to someone on a regular call, we often put it on speaker so our oldest can say hi, but (the younger kids) want to show the person different things. We have a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old, and Skype helps the kids talk to their grandparents." She continues, "They get excited when they see their grand-parents (on the screen), and our family members enjoy getting to see (our kids) grow during these early years."
This article is courtesy of More Living Magazine.
Marty Duren is the social media strategist for LifeWay Christian Resources.

UCFM Celebrating Our Freedom

 
FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST!
Thank God Almighty we are free at last!(That's a paraphrase of our late great, beloved Rev Martin Luther King.) He spoke these famous words that will live on forever. He was talking of being free from oppression. But, he also knew of the freedom that we receive when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.
As we approach July 4, 2013 let us not forget the sacrifices our Lord made for us. But, let us not also forget all the people that died for freedom worldwide, not just here in the USA.

 John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that who so ever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Help someone today to obtain that everlasting life.

 When we accept the Lord Jesus we are set free Yes, we are free from the burden of sin which is death. As it says in John 3:16 we have life everlasting. Have you thought about what your membership in UCFM can mean to everyone you meet and talk with. It can mean that through you, an Ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ they can also find that freedom.
I believe that many times we are called and obey the calling to serve the Lord so we become ordained. Then somewhere along the way we decide that it is no longer important. That is the lie the devil will have you believe! Each one of you is very important, even if you only lead one soul to the Lord in your life as a minister. Or worst case scenario, maybe you don't directly lead someone to Christ. Maybe you only planted the seed. Well done my child enter in! More times than not our very actions speak much more than words. Our daily walk and talk speaks volumes of whom we serve.  Make each day count in someone's life. Help someone repeat the words of Martin Luther King. Only let those words be for Salvation Freedom as well as oppressive freedom.
  United Christian Faith Ministries

The Uniqueness of Christian faith

If I was  to ask you what you considered to be the most signficant
difference between Christianity and any other world religion I wonder what
you might say. Some might say it's the emphasis on a moral code and right
behavioir, or its the ability to transforn an individual or a community or
nation. Others would say it was the community of love that it promotes both
within its ranks or the overflow of that love into the world around. But
these are but the fruit of something else which is the essense of our faith
itself. It is.... " Christ in you the hope of Glory!" The measure of the
effectiveness of all these other suggestions i.e. ones 'right behaviour'
 or the transformation of our sociery, is relative to the degree of His
presence and power within us. An indivudual Christian and the Church
corporate is only as effective as this is a reality.

You see, God's first command to Adam was to eat, to drink and to rest. He
was to eat of the Tree of Life and drink from the River of Life and rest in
the finished work of God. His first day was Sabbath, his rest day! We too are
to eat from the Tree of Life and drink from the River of Life that is Jesus.
It is by eating of Him that we grow more like Him. It is NOT by eating of the
Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This only teaches us  the moral
code. Such feasting will only serve to condemn us because like  Adam, we
will know the moral code but in knowing it, we will also become conscious of
our inability to keep it. Our innocency like with Adam will be destroyed and
in the knowledge of our sin we will make every attempt to cover it up.
 This is called sin-consciousness' and 'sin-consciousness' will always
lead to cover up, to lies and deceit and more sin.......and so the circle
begins to turn.

Sin is a word which is used in the sport of archery. It is used to
describe what happens when you miss the target. The greek word is
 'hamartia'. It simply means that 'missing the mark.
It is falling "short of the glory of God" Rom 3 v 23 and we have all done
that. Praise God ...Jesus can break that vicious circle!

No our beloved faith is not based upon knowledge of and adherence to a
moral code, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, but to eating of the
Tree of Life....Jesu Christ.

As Christians we have been given God's uncreated life. Jesus was not
created but was and is God, One with the Father. As such you are not called
then to live by a Christian code of ethics but to live by God's life which He
gives. You are to eat of Him. That is why the Eucharist, or the Holy
Communion service, the Lord's table or Supper play such a role in our
observance because it continually reminds is to feast on Him. That life that
he offers us, pulsates with Godly emotions, reactions, impluses, instincts,
promptings, senses and tendencies. As Christians Christ came into our lives
when we repented and asked Him in. He came and now dwells within us. Yeilding
to these promptings is the secret of growing up into the Head who us Christ
Eph 4 v 15. Individually and corporately as we live by the Lord's life from
within us, the character of Jesus begins to take shape amongst and within us.
Gal 4 v 19.

We begin our transformation as earthen vessels of clay but as we embrace
Him and His life, as we eat  of the Tree of Life, then the clay is
changed into 'living stones' which He builds together into his temple. He,
Himself is the Corner Stone.

Like Jesus, who is made of the same DNA as the Father, had "nowhere to lay
His head" so  the Father longs for a 'home'. Eventually these 'stones'
themselves become changed into 'gold' and 'precious stones' which are the
very building materials of the "habitation of God' on earth where He can
finally "tabernacle with man" for all eternity. Rev 21 v 3.  This will
be the New Jerusalem, the tabernacle or habitation of God.... "coming down
out of heaven and dressed.......... like a Bride"

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You had nowhere to lay your head. Take my heart and make it
your home.

Father God, You long for a resting place with man. Change me into those
precious stones and pure gold fit for your temple. I understand now that you
change me as I eat of the Tree of Life.  Thank you Father

Thankyou Holy Spirit for revealing this to me.

Thank you Jesus for being my food and drink. The Tree of Life and River of
Life to me

Amen

God bless you all this week

Howard Barnes

Co director

T.O.M Intn'l

Unity of the Church - Time Out Ministries

In this week’s ‘Word for the Week’ I want to share three things
that are central to T.O.M’s core teaching but more so are central to the
heart cry of Jesus for His Church/Bride.  They are all about Unity of
the Body of Christ.

Jesus prayed…“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who
will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You,
Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the
world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have
given them, that they may be one just as We are one”... John 17:20-22

I don't know about you, but I am completely blown away that the One who
put death in its place by rising from the grave, reversed the curse through
His atonement, and is ever living to make intercession for the saints is
praying for unity amongst His people! Wow, talking about praying, "Thy
Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Is there a
secret we are missing here? Is thud key to effective mission?.....Of course
it is! Jesus says that if we were able to experience this Oneness with the
Godhead….”then the World would believe that you sent Me”.

We don't have to guess what God's will is on this matter because Jesus
spells it out for us. His will is that His Body, His Church, would be one.
This is literally a prayer that we can agree with and experience God's will
being done on earth just as it is in Heaven. However, I believe it's going to
take more than just prayer. Let me explain.

If you study the Greek New Testament you will discover that the word used
in our key text above for "one" is ‘heis’ (Strong's #1520). ‘Heis’
stands for the cardinal number 1, yet it is also used metaphorically to mean
union and accord. The unity between Jesus and His Father was revealed to us
as a singleness of purpose that was mixed with determination, which
ultimately led Jesus to the Cross. His unity with the Father and the Spirit
was beyond unity. It was Oneness

Spiritually speaking, the equivalent Hebrew word reveals that sacrifice is
necessary to have the oneness that Jesus is praying for and the blessing it
will bring. This is because every Hebrew letter has a pictograph; therefore,
these letters paint a type of spiritual picture of the word they spell.

Further study showed me that the Hebrew counterpart to the Greek word used
for "one" is echad (Strong's #259). Echad is spelled with the three Hebrew
letters: aleph – chet – dalet.

Aleph – is the picture of a strong ox and represents a sacrifice. You
can't have unity of purpose and oneness of heart without sacrificing your
will for His will. To walk in tandem for the glory of God, there can be no
pulling or struggling against the other.

Chet – is a symbol of a fence, something which separates and protects.
Unity is destined to surround and protect us. It visually separates us from
the world. We should look different, after all; then others will know we are
His because of our love for one another.

Dalet – is a symbol of a door, a passage way. Yes unity comes with a
cost, but it will give us access to God's commanded blessing.

The second point I want to share is about the blessing of Unity

Jesus said…..“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running
down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his
garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of
Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing – life forevermore.”
Psalm 133

I always thought it was odd to say it that way. Commanded blessing is not
very poetic. Why not say something like "the blessings of God will fall down
like dew upon you." "They will saturate and satisfy you forever." Now that's
poetic! Yet as I meditated on this psalm, I saw something stunning. I saw the
God who created calm out of chaos with just the utterance of His voice
commanding a blessing in the lives of those who are in unity. Not only
speaking a blessing – commanding it! Imagine God commanding a blessing over
you, pronouncing peace and prosperity as a result of unity. What can stand
against God's command? Nothing.

To be clear, the Hebrew word used for "unity," here in Psalm 133, and the
word we just looked at for "one" are different words; nevertheless, they
share the same goal. In fact, it's interesting to note that there is only one
letter that differentiates between the two words. The letter is the yud. The
Hebrew letter yud is a picture of a hand, symbolizing power and strength.
There are many times that sacrificing your will for the sake of unity will
take all the strength you possess, but it will bring the oneness Jesus
passionately prays for.

The third point is about the power of Unity

Jesus said….“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth
concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in
Heaven”. Matthew 18:19

We see this fulfilled over and over again in the Book of Acts as the new
Church was in "one accord." The phrase one accord is a unique Greek phrase
found 10 times in the Book of Acts. It helps us to understand the uniqueness
of the Body of Believers. It means: with one mind, with one accord, with one
passion.

There is power in unity, and it starts with us. May we endeavour "to keep
the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). May we join in
the intercession of Jesus by setting set our mind and sacrificing our will to
walk in unity, bringing glory to His great name. It will bring the oneness on
earth that Jesus is in Heaven praying for and it will produce God's commanded
blessing.

Amen and amen.

Be so blessed

Have a great week!

Howard Barnes (Servant Apostle)

Co director of T.O.M Intn’l

Letter from Time Out Ministries - Calling as a Bridegroom

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" —Revelation 22:17

In this passage of Scripture the people of God begin to understand that
Jesus, the Son of God, who is also the Son of Man, is someone even more
personal and intimate than they ever before understood Him. They see Him as a
heavenly Bridegroom.

From that revelation they also begin to understand their own identity and
eternal destiny for it is from the overflow of that revelation, that they see
themselves in an entirely new light as a cherished, lovesick bride.

This new spiritual identity changes our emotional chemistry. It changes
everything about us. When the Holy Spirit and the church are in unity in a
bridal identity, together we will cry out, "Come! Come Lord Jesus!"

As the Holy Spirit reveals to God's people the attributes and character of
the Bridegroom, lovers will rise up to wholehearted devotion. This revelation
of the Bridegroom God will empower, sustain, shield, and protect the bride
during the difficult times that lie ahead.

*PRAYER *

Father, as the Bridegroom God is revealed in greater measure to my life, I
long more and more for the day when He will come and claim me as His Bride
for all eternity. Thank you that the Holy Spirit is at work revealing the
Bridegroom King to us.

Amen

Encouragement from Rahel Faes

Dear Dave,
Just recently my husband and I moved with our little son from the United States back to Switzerland. We had stayed abroad for more than two years before that so we did not possess anything besides our personal belongings like clothes, toiletries, etc.
We needed a lot of things, like for example a car, or an apartment to simply get started with our life here. Most of it came together before we even moved back. Then there are also all the little things that you need to live daily life. Normally you don't think about this in detail but I tell you... when you suddenly have to think about everything that you need to cook a simple dinner and to eat and then also to clean the dirty dishes, you are amazed at what comes together.
Before we got back here we did not have any of this. However, the Lord and the people around us did not let us down. We could move into our apartment and start a "normal life" with everything we needed from the first day. Everyone around us jumped in and contributed from little things to big things. We even received things that did not even cross our mind that we would need them.
This experience just showed me once again that the Lord is so faithful to provide in every area of our lives. He knows about our needs and desires and He will always fulfill them. He will never let us down but give us everything we need. You might not always receive everything exactly when you see it fit, but the Lord has the perfect timing. He is never a second too soon nor a second too late, but always right on time. You can trust Him!
What do you need and what do you desire right now? Are there things that you have already been desiring for some time and maybe you wondered if they will ever come to pass or you will ever receive them? If so, let me tell you: The Lord will come through for you! If you asked Him for something, He has heard your prayer and He is working on bringing about the answer in your life.
As I pondered on the awesome blessings that the Lord brought about in my life in the last while, I was also reminded of several scriptures in which it speaks about the abundant blessing that the Lord has for us and that He desires to give it to us. Here are some of them:
Then you will see, and flow together, and your heart will fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea will be converted to you, the forces of the Gentiles will come to you.

Isaiah: 60:5 Then you will see, and flow together, and your heart will fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea will be converted to you, the forces of the Gentiles will come to you.
Psalms 45:12 And the daughter of Tyre [will be there] with a gift; the rich among the people will entreat your favor.
Deuteronomy 28:2 And all these blessings will come on you, and overtake you, if you will listen attentively to the voice of the LORD [Yahweh] your God. 

What stands out about all of these verses is that the blessings come to us. We don't have to work hard to receive it. It comes to us just like that. All of these verses are promises that the Lord has given us. It is for us to take those promises and to make them our own.
So if you have been experiencing a lot of lack lately and you somehow lost hope that the Lord will provide for you, change your attitude and your expectation. It says in the Word that the abundance of the sea will come to you and that the blessings will overtake you. This promise wasn't only valid for the people of old but it is valid for you right now!
Dave, know that the Lord has not forgotten you but that He has promised you everything. It is for you to reach out in faith and to expect that He will give it to you and you will see that He will do it. You are His beloved child and there is no bigger desire for Him to bless His people and to see them happy!
Have a wonderful week and walk in the Lord’s blessing like never before! Know that we here at AMI are standing with you for your needs and desires! We would love to hear about the miracles that the Lord is doing in your life and how you experienced His blessing!
In His Love,

Rahel Faes
AMI Lecturer
Apostolic Movement International

A letter from Apostolic Movement International

 

Dear Dave,
Have you been wanting to know if God's called you to be a prophet? Here are ten sure fire signs to help you find out!
1. Ministry to the church

As a prophet you will find yourself drawn to ministering to believers and very often to those that have backslidden. If you end up "speaking to someone on the street" the chances are they knew the Lord and wandered away. God has called you to teach His Church to know Him. (Ephesians 4:12)

2. Unique Approach

From the beginning you always did things differently! As much as Jeremiah rocked the boat in the Old Testament and Agabus tied Paul's hands with his belt - you have always tended to do and be something and others did not expect. This has likely brought about some rejection, however there is a silver lining in this cloud - it means that people will never forget you!
3. Swinging the pendulum

Prophets are notorious for swinging wildly from one extreme to the next. Much like their Elijah counterpart they are head strong on "taking down the prophets of Baal" one day and wailing and wanting to give it all up the next.

The Lord is gracious though and does not leave the prophet to his little pity party. Just like He came to Elijah with a still small voice in his time of frustration, so the Lord is always there to pull you out of those times.

4. Humiliation

Put this one at the top! Because of your unique approach, you have likely hit a wall or two in your time. Some things worked out and some others definitely did not! Jesus Himself was stripped and laid bare on the cross, humiliated before everyone and you too, as part of your humbling process have gone through the same experience many times.

Although it is not fun, this particular point keeps you humble and reminds you that the gifts of the spirit, the prophetic calling on your life and everything you are is under the hand of God - it is not your own great idea!

5. Singleness of purpose - Black and White!

There is no compromise with a prophet. You are saved or you are not. You are anointed or you are not. You are chosen or you are not. There is no shade of grey - just black and white. Hot or cold is acceptable, but lukewarm is not!

Just like all the prophets in the new and Old and New Testament, there was no compromise in their message. Some in the Church may call you confrontational or "too focused" on one thing all the time. We call it seeing things in "black and white" and having a singleness of purpose!

6. Unconscious revelation

Because God uses the prophet to introduce Him to His people, revelation is like breathing to a prophet. In fact, you would have flowed in the gifts of the spirit without realizing it. From simply sensing if something was right or wrong to flowing in dreams and visions, like the child Samuel, the Lord calls the prophet out from the beginning to see things from His perspective in the spirit.

7. Allegorical Thinking

Prophets love pictures! They think allegorically and from childhood they are the ones in their little worlds. This is because the realm of the spirit is one full of rich types and shadows. It is the language of the spirit.

As a result even from childhood a prophet will be geared to see things allegorically and in the spirit. They see the deeper meanings and the pictures that others do not. They love parables just like Jesus did and cannot come to the Lord and cannot even minister without using allegories and the pictures that God shows them.

8. Prayer Orientation

Prayer is like breathing to a prophet. Whether in travail like Daniel for the lives of God's people or like Micah who presented the cause of the people to God. Either way, prophets love to pray and seek God on behalf of themselves and others.

Looking for someone in prophetic ministry? Look no further than the intercessory team! Right there you will find prophets in the making, shaping their very call with the hand of prayer.

9. Bringing God’s Presence Through Music

If asked what should change the most in services, the prophets would be the first to say, "TAKE OUT THE CHAIRS SO WE CAN DANCE!" Like David who worshipped God with all his being, prophets love music!

Not only do they make the most anointed worship leaders, but they have an anointing from God to release His presence in praise and worship. That includes dance, sing or simply worshipping God with all their might. This does not mean having talent… this means having the anointing!

10. Tough Experiences in Life

The enemy sees a prophet coming from a mile! From the moment one is born he puts a target on their backs. God is so gracious though and just like He snatched Jesus from the clutches or Herod, he reaches in to save that prophet time and again.

There are times the prophet feels much like John the Baptist, stuck in the wilderness and misunderstood, but the time does come to be "shown to the world." These tough experiences in life do not get the prophet down, but shape him for the call on their lives.

Are You a Prophet?

You are not alone. The journey is tough, but you really can move on to resurrection from here. Learn to walk out your calling and become equipped to pour out to others as well! Not only have I been training the prophets since 1999, but here at AMI we also give them a place to belong.

Fulfill your calling! Throw aside the pendulum swinging and come to hear the gentle voice of God. Come to experience His power and to receive the confirmation you need. All of us here know that the walk is not easy. However all of us here have risen up and are reaching believers all over the world... you can too!


http://www.apostolic-movement.com/