DARK, UGLY, STINKY THINGS

DARK, UGLY, STINKY THINGS
 
A few months ago I began to hear something in my spirit; something rather startling and yet exciting! This is what I heard:
 
"God specializes in taking ugly, dark, stinky things and transforming them into beautiful, bright, fragrant things for His glory and for our good."
 
As I thought about it, I became convinced that it was a word from the Lord to me, but also a word that God wanted me to share with others. From that time I have believed that word and have said it often to myself and to others. Then the other day on one of my prayer walks I asked the Lord to give me scriptural grounds for such a statement. He gave me three:
 
        "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." NLT
 
        Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and the Lord used their selfish, stinking, murderous act as a means of their own salvation, for it was Joseph who was used of God to provide food for them years later when they and their families were starving.
 
        The most heinous, dark, ugly, stinky thing mankind ever did was when we nailed the Son of God to that cross and watched him die. But God turned that foul deed into the means for the salvation of the world.
 
The story is told of a survivor of a shipwreck who was washed up on a small, uninhabited Island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but all in vain.

          He eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his meager possessions.

          But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

          "God, how could you do this to me?" he cried. He went to sleep that night in a state of deep grief and discouragement. Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island. As the boat from the ship touched onto the shore he ran into the surf shouting, "How did you know I was here?"

          "We saw your smoke signal,"

          That which now seems to be nothing but total tragedy may be the instrument in the hands of God to bring you into total victory.

          "HE WHO HAS JESUS AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAS NO MORE THAN HE WHO HAS JESUS AND NOTHING ELSE." - C. S. Lewis

          Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during World War II, was invited to do the commencement speech at Yale University right after the war. He walked to the podium and stood looking at the vast audience for a long moment, then began his speech. The graduates and their invited guests sat waiting to savor every word of the great orator as he began to speak. Churchill boomed out the words:
 
"NEVER GIVE UP!"

(long pause) 
 
"NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!"

(another long pause)

       "NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!"
He stood there in silence for a long time looking out over the audience, then turned and walked back to his seat on the platform and sat down.     It was the shortest commencement address in the history of the University . . . but it might be the only one that will never be forgotten.
 
 
Robert & Joni Fitts
www.robertfitts.com

Where it all Starts
All fruitfulness flows out of intimacy. Out of the womb of prayer, praise and worship all things in the kingdom of God are conceived, nurtured, and brought to birth to the glory of God and for the good of mankind.

 A Declaration of Unity
I belong to everything that belongs to Jesus and everything that belongs to Jesus belongs to me! It's not us and them. It's just us! There's only one Body of Christ, and the problems of the church, the whole church, are our problems, for we are the church and we can do more united than we can do divided! So let's unify, simplify, and multiply!
 
Divine Appointment Prayer
Father, give me a divine appointment today with someone who is hungry for God, or sick, or in need, and give me grace to minister the love of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
A Prayer for More Workers and More Miracles
Father, send more laborers into this harvest and grant us boldness to speak your word, by stretching forth your hand to heal and that signs and wonders be done in the name of Jesus. 

Winning the War on Terrorism Through Prayer
"Father, give every terrorist in the world an encounter with Jesus like Saul of Tarsus had on the road to Damascus."

LAW, NO! GRACE, YES!
The law demands, demands, demands, but gives me neither feet nor hands.
Now Grace and Truth are better things, they bid me fly and give me wings!

"DAVE, I CALL YOU AS AN INTERNET MINISTER"

“DAVE, I CALL YOU AS AN INTERNET MINISTER”

(SEBUAH PANGGILAN UNTUK MELAYANI MEREKA YANG TERHILANG & ENGGAN KE “GEREJA”)

Tidak terasa sudah setahun kami berada di kota Bandung. Terkadang aku merasa sedih sebab merasa belum melakukan pelayanan secara optimal karena terkendala oleh faktor keuangan. Namun haruskah itu menjadi suatu alasan untuk tidak melayani Tuhan dengan segenap hati dan kekuatan? Ketika aku membandingkan pelayanan yang kini kukerjakan dengan apa yang selama ini kukerjakan selama di luar kota Bandung, rasanya sangat lambat apa yang kukerjakan disini. Apa yang Tuhan taruhkan dalam hati kami seolah sulit kami kerjakan, tiap kami share dengan organisasi gereja yang ada. Belum ada yang tertarik untuk mendukung kami sepenuhnya, bilamana ada pun mereka menghendaki tenagaku, “sebagai staf gereja” dan melupakan visi yang Tuhan taruhkan dalam hati kami. Haruskah kami menyerah karena masalah uang dan melupakan visi yang Tuhan beri?
Ada rekan-rekan yang mempertanyakan panggilan kami ke kota Bandung, banyak rekan yang menyarankan agar kukembali saja ke Surabaya dimana ada begitu banyak pintu pelayanan dan kesempatan yang dapat mengakomodasi visi tersebut. Kami pun pernah berpikiran begitu kalau boleh jujur. Mungkin kami salah mendengar suara Tuhan. Mungkin kami terlalu emosional. Tapi kota Bandung telah ada dalam hati kami sekeluarga.
Itulah pergumulan kami, kami sangat yakin akan panggilan Tuhan atas hidup kami atas kota Bandung namun mengapa perintisan kami berjalan begitu lambat? Adakah yang salah dengan kami? Apakah kami kurang doa? Apakah kami terlalu eksklusif? Beribu pertanyaan menghujam pikiran kami.
Saat asa mulai hilang dan lemah kekuatan kami, saat itulah Tuhan mulai berbicara pada kami. Saat kami ikut beribadah di GKA Bandung City Blessing, Tuhan berbicara padaku secara spesifik,”Dave, I call you as an internet minister.”
Lalu Tuhan mengingatkanku akan pelajaran yang kudapatkan di Surabaya dua tahun lalu dari Steve Knight yang memiliki pelayanan Cyber ministry, ia seorang pelayan Tuhan yang tergabung dalam pelayanan Billy Graham. Ada banyak pelayanan Kristen melalui media ini namun “really” do something to do outreach (sungguh-sungguh mengadakan penjangkauan) dapat dikatakan jarang atau hanya dilakukan sporadis.
Pada bulan Desember tahun lalu, Christo dari Gereja Oikos Surabaya, memperkenalkanku pada cara penggunaan blog. Sejak saat itu, aku mulai menulis artikel-artikel kembali. Seiring dorongan untuk menulis dari dua temanku Fanny Lesmana (editor Renungan Wanita dll) dan Juanda (editor Tabloid Keluarga) dan dua “bapa rohani”ku, Pr Christopher K dan Ko Sam (Samuel Saputra). Hingga akhirnya aku mulai membuat beberapa blog, mengaktifkan milist yang sudah beberapa tahun lalu aku buat, aktif menulis di beberapa website teman-teman (Pustaka Lewi, Terang Dunia, Sahabat Surgawi, dll) dan melakukan outreach melalui website persahabatan seperti Friendster, Hi5, Tagged, Christian Vibes, dll dan juga menggunakan program chatting untuk membina hubungan, konseling maupun doa. Kendala keuangan untuk start pelayanan pun teratasi. Pelayanan jenis ini tidak memakan biaya sebesar kita merintis persekutuan atau gereja dengan beragam fasilitas yang dibutuhkan.
Tuhan berbicara saat kami menyembah Dia dan semuanya menjadi jelas. Aku kini sadar bahwa Tuhan ingin aku tidak “old fashion”, dan memikirkan pola pelayanan yang itu-itu saja dan mengandalkan pengalaman pelayanan selama 17 tahun terakhir ini. Aku bertobat dan belajar peka, siap untuk taat dan ditertawakan orang sebab lagi-lagi “Dave” punya pelayanan yang aneh dan berbeda.
Waktu kupindah terpikir dalam benakku untuk merintis persekutuan atau gereja bagi anak-anak geng dan subkultur lainnya seperti punk dan sejenisnya namun ternyata first step dari Tuhan berbeda dengan ide baikku. God’s idea is not always same as my good idea (Ide Tuhan tidaklah selalu sama dengan ide baik saya).
Namun buah ketaatan itu indah, melalui pelayanan dunia maya, kita bisa menjangkau seluruh dunia dalam hitungan menit. Ada banyak orang tersentuh melalui tulisan-tulisan dan kesaksian kami, ada banyak orang yang meminta konseling dan dukungan doa, ada yang minta dimuridkan, namun tentu ada juga yang tidak suka dan marah. Semua itu indah, meski banyak orang mempertanyakan pelayanan jenis baru ini. Seperti salah satu mentor saya, Inban, ajarkan,” Sebagai pemimpin kau tidak bisa menyenangkan semua orang.” Saya menyadari pasti ada pro dan kontra, terlebih bila kita dipanggil untuk melayani kaum terbuang atau marginal dengan cara yang tidak umum pula.
Tuhan mengajarkan pada saya bahwa kini adalah saatnya bagi setiap kita membuka diri terhadap Tuhan dan mulai berpikir “out of the box” (di luar kotak).
Apakah anda tertarik juga untuk menjadi seorang internet minister? Ingat ada begitu banyak orang yang on-line setiap hari. Ada banyak kesempatan bagi anda untuk menjadi saksi Kristus bagi mereka. May God bless us all.

Ibu-Ibu PA Haleluya 17 Agustusan

LAPORAN PELAYANAN KAMI

LAPORAN PELAYANAN EAGLES NEST MINISTRIES AGUSTUS 2008

Lama kami tidak memberi kabar maupun berita dalam blog yang kami asuh. Pada akhir bulan Juli lalu, laptop kami terkena virus hingga pekerjaan kami tersendat. Kami tidak dapat menyetor tulisan kami ke Renungan Wanita. Puji Tuhan, pada akhirnya setelah bergumul dan mencari anti virus yang tepat….ta..na…we are back!!!! Kamsia untuk advice Christo dan adikku Lucille untuk dilemma menghadapi virus jenis worm Generic_c.M, yang sempat menghilangkan damai sejahteraku untuk menulis. Thanks untuk pengertian cs-ku tercinta editor Renungan Wanita, Fanny Lesmana, yang dapat mengerti kondisi kakaknya ini.
Thanks juga buat rekan-rekan di www.pustakalewi.net yang telah memuat banyak tulisan kami. God bless U 2, guys.
Akhir Juli lalu, kami sekeluarga (Dave dan Novie) diinterview oleh Berlian, dari CBN untuk mengisi acara Solusi di televisi. Puji Tuhan pada tanggal 5 Agustus lalu bertempat di Antapani-Bandung. Saya telah melakukan shooting untuk acara Solusi. Sedang untuk kesaksian Novie tertunda sebab para saksi/narasumber berada di Medan dan kami belum memiliki dana untuk membiayai mereka datang untuk proses shooting kesaksian Novie. Ya, tunggu waktu (kairos) Tuhan deh. Thanks untuk mbak sutradara Sutha, Ferry and the gang lainnya yang telah berlelah-lelah dari Jakarta. Makasih untuk Oma Elly yang telah jadi narasumber bersama istriku Novie, juga Om dan Tanteku keluarga Hotma Simanjuntak SH di Antapani.
Puji Tuhan, juga untuk PA Haleluya yang dipimpin istriku, Novie mulai berkembang secara kualitas dan kuantitas. Dukung doa dan juga dana untuk acara sosial yang akan kami lakukan untuk Panti Werda Karitas, yang kondisinya memprihatinkan di Cimahi. Target kami adalah membawa sembako bagi para lansia ini dan dana yang dibutuhkan adalah sekitar dua juta rupiah sekali kunjungan. Saat ini baru terkumpul sekitar 500ribu Rupiah dari sumbangan para anggota kelompok PA. Bagi yang terbeban dapat mentransfer dana ke rek BCA no 0081824788 atas nama Dave Broos. Bila anda mentransfer tolong beri tahu berapa jumlahnya dan juga kapan, agar tidak salah dalam pengalokasian dananya. Kami telah menargetkan membantu panti werda ini secara berkala terutama “di bulan-bulan sepi kunjungan”sebab mereka tidak memiliki donator maupun relawan tetap. Kami prihatin dengan kondisi ini.
PA Haleluya juga membutuhkan alat musik akustik, gitar sebab selama ini pujian penyembahan hanya dilakukan secara akapela. Hingga dua bulan terakhir ini kami pun pinjam pada tetangga kami..hahaha kacian deh lhu. Puji Tuhan untuk keluarga Panggabean yang telah dengan murah hati meminjamkan gitar akustik mereka tiap hari Jumat.
Praise God juga, bulan lalu akhirnya aku dapat menyelesaikan Diploma in the Deaconate and Ministry-ku dari Prophetic Voice Institute, yang dipimpin oleh Rev. Joseph Kostelnik PhD.
Tanggal 22 Agustus lalu merupakan HUT pernikahan kami yang ke sembilan..ih, tidak terasa ternyata rumahtangga kami sudah berjalan sekian lama…seperti baru kemarin kami menikah.
Selamat ulangtahun juga untuk GKB Cibadak dan Pak Yahya sebagai gembala sidang. Thanks untuk sobat lamaku, Suwita Antoro alias Dede.. atas undangannya. Maju terus teman-teman, meski daku sudah tidak di GKB lagi tetapi kita tetap satu dalam Tuhan dan memiliki tujuan untuk mengembangkan Kerajaan Tuhan.
Makasih untuk Pdt Amos Benyamin, GS GKB Eklesia Malang, yang masih sering kontak-kontak… thanks Bro…atas persahabatan kita.
Senang juga dapat kontak dengan kakak rohaniku, Hermina Usmany (Kak Nona) di Jakarta yang masih sibuk dengan outreach dan pendoa syafaat yang setia bagi kaum Kedar. Ayo, Kak Nona, kita terus bersyafaat sampai something happen…PUSH (Pray Until Something Happen) tea.
Kami juga berterimakasih pada keluarga besar GKA Bandung City Blessing yang telah menerima kami sebagai bagian keluarga dalam Kristus. Khususnya untuk Pastor Yosi (Yohanes Sudarmadji), Ibu Atiek dan anak2. God bless U all.
Untuk mensupport hidup sehari-hari saat ini, kami coba untukmensiasati dengan berjualan pakaian dan buku rohani, jualin barang-barang dari teman kami, Bram dan Lily. Thanks untuk kepercayaan kalian…teman. Juga beberapa usaha jual kaos kaki dan kain kiloan bersama Pak Deddi, salah seorang pengurus di GKA BCB….doakan agar kami berhasil….
Hidup masih pas-pasan…pas butuh pas ada….Tuhan tetap pelihara kami..meski harus mengalami pengalaman Elia di tepi Sungai Kerit.
Puji Tuhan juga untuk putra kami, Philip, yang telah duduk di kelas 3 dan terpilih jadi Ketua Kelas….good 4 U, my son, go for it..go for the things of God.
Oya, selamat atas pernikahanmu ya Sildo Soukotta di Surabaya..sori kakakmu ini tidak dapat menghadiri acara paling bahagia dalam hidupmu…Om Dan dan Tante Wel, selamat atas pernikahan Sildo….akhirnya!!!!
Untuk Ever Sopamena sekeluarga…makasih untuk update beritanya di Surabaya…memang kamu MR. KABAR-KABARI…hehehe.
Makasih untuk Gereja Oikos Surabaya dan Om Yo (Pnt Yohanes Hardjanto) yang telah banyak membantu. You guys are the best supporter 4 us. Juga untuk “komunitas rumah” Sriwedari…LungLung and the gang….thanks untuk support and doa kalian juga.
Juga semua anak-anak rohani dan keluarga rohaniku di Surabaya…we miss U, guys. Akur-akur disana…ya, saling membangun dan mendukung…doa kami beserta kalian semua…pokonya semua yang dulu pernah aktif baik di PD SYCC maupun GKB “CKB”/ICC. We still love and care for you guys. And also for our mentor in Surabaya, husband and wife, IC and R, I know that you don’t want me to mention any of your names but we want to really appreciate for every good influence and teachings that you have ever plant in our lives. We just want to say that what you guys plant in our lives is not useless. Thanks for the good and bad times that we ever go along together in the past. In everything that ever happen, the Lord use them to mold us, so His character is appear in us. I pray and hope, you guys have a fruitful and happy life in Surabaya.
Sekian dulu kabar-kabari kami dari Bandung.

DAVE, NOVIE AND PHILIP

DARK, UGLY, STUNKY THINGS

DARK, UGLY, STINKY THINGS
 
A few months ago I began to hear something in my spirit; something rather startling and yet exciting! This is what I heard:
 
"God specializes in taking ugly, dark, stinky things and transforming them into beautiful, bright, fragrant things for His glory and for our good."
 
As I thought about it, I became convinced that it was a word from the Lord to me, but also a word that God wanted me to share with others. From that time I have believed that word and have said it often to myself and to others. Then the other day on one of my prayer walks I asked the Lord to give me scriptural grounds for such a statement. He gave me three:
 
        "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them." NLT
 
        Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and the Lord used their selfish, stinking, murderous act as a means of their own salvation, for it was Joseph who was used of God to provide food for them years later when they and their families were starving.
 
        The most heinous, dark, ugly, stinky thing mankind ever did was when we nailed the Son of God to that cross and watched him die. But God turned that foul deed into the means for the salvation of the world.
 
The story is told of a survivor of a shipwreck who was washed up on a small, uninhabited Island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but all in vain.

          He eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his meager possessions.

          But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger.

          "God, how could you do this to me?" he cried. He went to sleep that night in a state of deep grief and discouragement. Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island. As the boat from the ship touched onto the shore he ran into the surf shouting, "How did you know I was here?"

          "We saw your smoke signal,"

          That which now seems to be nothing but total tragedy may be the instrument in the hands of God to bring you into total victory.

          "HE WHO HAS JESUS AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAS NO MORE THAN HE WHO HAS JESUS AND NOTHING ELSE." - C. S. Lewis

          Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during World War II, was invited to do the commencement speech at Yale University right after the war. He walked to the podium and stood looking at the vast audience for a long moment, then began his speech. The graduates and their invited guests sat waiting to savor every word of the great orator as he began to speak. Churchill boomed out the words:
 
"NEVER GIVE UP!"

(long pause) 
 
"NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!"

(another long pause)

       "NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!"
He stood there in silence for a long time looking out over the audience, then turned and walked back to his seat on the platform and sat down.     It was the shortest commencement address in the history of the University . . . but it might be the only one that will never be forgotten.
 
 
Robert & Joni Fitts
76-6309 Haku Pl.
Kona, HI 96740

Surat dari Peter C Wagner

A Message From Peter
 
Alignment!
Looking toward the Future 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 11, 2008

Dear Friends:  
            The Bible says that the days of our lives are seventy years, with the caveat that by reason of strength they might reach eighty years.  When we get to this place, we need to look to God and ask Him to teach us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  This is all in Psalm 90.  
            Doris and I have been doing this over the months, and we have been giving much thought and prayer to our future.  I'll be 78 next month, and we definitely want to number our days properly.  

            Growing Old
 
            Many people our age are in denial that they will ever "grow old."  Doris and I try to be much more realistic than that and we feel very responsible for the well-being of our heirs.  I think this reflects the high value of the intergenerational impartation that we and our friends have been preaching about.  In our case, we want this impartation to be accomplished with excellence.  Just as an example, we do not want to burden our children with unnecessary decision making when they are grieving over our deaths, so we have prepaid our funerals.  Our mortician's fees are paid, our caskets are selected, we own our cemetery plot, our headstone is in place, and we have outlined the details of our memorial services.  Furthermore, our wills and accompanying legal documents have all been prepared and updated with the advice and consent of our children and filed with our attorney.  No surprises!  

            I think it is important to establish similar plans concerning the long-range future of our ministry, GHM.  For years our Board (as well as our children) has known that our desire is that Chuck Pierce, our son in ministry, become the heir to GHM.  However, the timing for this transition has been ambiguous.  It has been "if we go down in an airplane" or "when we retire" or "when the time comes."  What has actually come clear to us for the first time is that we should begin to plan for this transition now if we have our heirs' best interests in view.  Of course the legal heir is the GHM Board, our personal choice for our ministry heir is Chuck.  

            Speaking of "when we retire," neither Doris nor I have any plans to spend our days in rocking chairs or being "put out to pasture" as we used to do with our dairy cows who stopped giving milk or our horses who could no longer pull plows.  Our plan is to keep doing the ministry that God has given us until we die or until we suffer physical or mental disability.  But none of that should serve as an excuse for neglecting our current responsibilities to prepare to finish well and strong.
 
Alignment and Alignments  

            A large part of the apostolic ministry to which God has called me is facilitating  biblical alignment.  When the Bible says that apostles (and others) are to "equip" the saints for the work of ministry, the literal meaning of "equip" is "align."  I have established several structures designed for alignment such as ISDM, ICA , ACEA, ACPE, EVAT, ACKW, and others.  So I need to consider all of these as I look toward the future.  I don't foresee any changes in ICA or EVAT.  I feel that my fresh assignment for this season is in the area of wealth transfer, so I plan on continuing to develop entities like the Zion Apostolic Council, The Hamilton Group (THG), and the Apostolic Council for Kingdom Wealth (ACKW).  
 
            Doris and I are the Founding Apostles of the International Society for Deliverance Ministers (ISDM).  Since this is Doris ' professional field, she will be taking more of the leadership, assisted by Bill and Janet Sudduth, our ISDM Ambassadors, who have moved here from Florida and installed their offices in our GHM building.  

            The Apostolic Council for Educational Accountability (ACEA) brings together some 80 schools and serves as a creative alternative to traditional academic accreditation.  I founded it back in 1998, and I am preparing to transfer the leadership to Leo Lawson within the next year.  

            In the late 1990s I agreed to help Cindy Jacobs start the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders (ACPE), providing the necessary apostolic leadership.  ACPE has developed well, and I plan to turn the leadership over to Cindy next September.  

            Through the 1990s and up until recently, my major vehicle for providing alignment for the prayer movement was what ultimately became known as the U.S. Global Apostolic Prayer Network (USGAPN).  I assigned Cindy Jacobs to lead this for a season, then transitioned to Chuck Pierce.  At the beginning of 2008, Chuck stepped down and dissolved the USGAPN.  This was a huge step forward because it opened the gates for the formation of a variety of new networks providing alignment for many aspects of kingdom ministry.  Let me just mention several of the newer networks being led by apostles who are members of my inner circle, Eagles Vision Apostolic Team (EVAT).  These developments show that the wineskins of the past must give way to wineskins of the future:

·     John Kelly has founded the International Christian WealthBuilders Foundation (ICWBF).
·     Cindy Jacobs has founded the Reformation Prayer Network (RPN) and the Deborah Company.
·     Ché Ahn has formed the Revival Alliance.
·     Dutch Sheets has launched the U.S. Apostolic Alliance (USAA).
·     Tommi Femrite has started the Apostolic Intercessors Network (AIN).
·     Barbara Wentroble has initiated the Breakthrough Business Network (BBN).
·     Robert Henderson leads the Freedom Apostolic Alliance.
·     Mel Mullen is introducing new thrusts and emphases to his Life Church Network.
·     John Benefiel continues to build the Heartland Apostolic Prayer Network.  

Global Spheres, Inc.  

            And one more.  Chuck Pierce, along with Doris and me, has initiated another vehicle for apostolic alignment, Global Spheres, Inc. (GSI).  This is directly related to Doris ' and my future   When we go, there will be no need for transition because it is Chuck's organization, incorporated in the State of Texas .  
            What is Global Spheres?  Much of the answer to this question will become clear over the next few months as we work out the details.  Meanwhile, GSI is focused on alignment.  As the apostolic movement has mushroomed, an increasing number of leaders are recognizing that they lack formal apostolic alignment, and they are actively seeking it.  Both Chuck and I receive frequent appeals from other apostles and prophets, as well as from evangelists, pastors, teachers, and workplace leaders for us to provide necessary alignment.  How can this be provided?  One very public example of this is the recent apostolic alignment of Evangelist Todd Bentley with the Revival Alliance.  While we applaud that stream, we realize that if we are going to be looking to the future, we in our stream must also provide a comparable vehicle.  One size does not fit all!  
 
            The kingdom of God furnishes the template for our stream.  We believe that God's desire for this season can be discerned through "The Dominion Mandate" and "The 7-M Mandate."  Chuck has laid groundwork through his books, The Future War of the Church and God's Unfolding Battle Plan.  I have been doing the same through The Church in the Workplace and Dominion!    We want to provide a viable opportunity for apostolic alignment for leaders who minister in all seven mountains.  The International Coalition of Apostles (ICA) cannot do this because it is restricted to apostles only, not allowing prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers as members, whether in the religion mountain or in one of the other six, namely family, government, arts & entertainment, education, media, or business.  EVAT has no more openings.  We believe that Global Spheres, Inc., will fill a gap for many who believe in the direction that Chuck, Doris and I are taking into the future and who desire official alignment with us as their apostolic leaders.
  
            When Doris, Chuck and I met recently to review who we are and to begin to anticipate what type of ministries or leaders would desire to align with us, we could not escape the international missions perspective that molds all three of us.  As you know, Doris and I served for 16 years as field missionaries in Bolivia .  Then I taught for 30 years in the Fuller Seminary School of World Mission.  We coordinated the AD2000 United Prayer Track.  Chuck reiterated that he surrendered to missions in a Baptist Student Union Convention, and he spent years working behind the Iron Curtain.  I see why we are all driven with a passion to see nations change.  

            The Lord showed Chuck, while he was meditating on John 21, that there would be 153 sheep nations that would follow into the discipleship of Christ.  He shared that he felt his predominant call was to find the apostolically developed leaders in these nations and get them fully aligned for the future.  We feel that Global Spheres, Inc., will fill a gap for many who believe in the direction that Chuck, Doris and I are taking into the future, and who desire official alignment with us as their apostolic leaders.  We do not want it to be a traditional, religious organization, but rather an aligned network of leaders from all seven spheres that make up societal structures.  This is a way that we can do our part toward fulfilling the Dominion Mandate.  

            I'm excited!  Are you excited as well?  I'd love to hear what you are thinking!  

Blessings,

C. Peter Wagner (along with Doris Wagner and Chuck Pierce)

THE NEW YOU

The New You
(Excerpt taken from the new book: "The Butterfly in You")
Many Christians actually believe that they are dirty rotten sinners and they are here on earth to survive as best they can until they die and go "home" to heaven. I have even heard believers, when confronted with their true identity in Christ, retort by saying that their true identity is Sinner!
Sinner or Saint?
What about you, dear reader? Do you also believe that you are a sinner? Well, if you do, I am here to prove you wrong. You were a sinner, but now you are a saint.
But God demonstrated his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).
Notice the phraseology in this scripture: "while we were yet sinners." Christ died for us when we were sinners. But we are no longer sinners. We were at one time. That's when he died for us, when we were still in that state. But now we are different. Now we are in a new place. Now we are in Christ and Christ is in us. Oh yes, it's true that we may sin at times. But we are no longer sinners. We no longer have a sin nature. We have been freed from the power of sin. Now we can choose to sin or not to sin. We are no longer slaves to sin. The old man has been crucified with Christ. Sin no longer has any power over us. This is the wonderful message given to us by Paul in Romans 5, 6, and 7.
When the Saints Come Marching In
So, if you are no longer a sinner, then what are you? You are a saint! The Bible says that you are a "holy one." This may be hard for you to accept at first. But it is the gospel truth. You don't have to be "canonized." If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are already a saint.
But you may be wondering about all those bad things you have done. A saint wouldn't do those things. How could this be? Let me tell you what a saint is and how it is possible that you have become one.
The word "saint" literally means 'a holy one.' But what does it mean to be holy? The term "holy" means to be separated or set apart to God and his purpose. Whatever is holy is no longer common but is now "special" in the sense of being separated for God. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross, you have been separated and set apart for God. You are his possession. You are a holy one. It doesn't depend upon what you do. It depends upon what he already has done. That is something called grace.
Grace or Law
For the law was given through Moses; grace and reality came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).
Many Christians believe that they are still dirty rotten sinners and they therefore need to repent every minute of every day. These believers still live under a mountain of guilt from their past. They have not fully received the completed work of Jesus Christ that he accomplished on the cross. They somehow believe that his work on the cross is incomplete. When he said, "It is finished," he was just kidding. Now we, the sinners, must atone for our own sins by repenting, repenting, repenting, ad infinitum. These poor Christians are still functioning under the Old Covenant law of Moses. They are still living in condemnation and guilt.
There is now then no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has freed me in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:1, 2).
These believers either have never read or they have never understood the message of the letter to the Hebrews. In chapter ten, the writer deals with this issue of sin (and sacrifices for sin, i.e. "repentance") once and for all.
For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after having said, 'This is the covenant which I will covenant with them after those days, says the Lord: I will impart my laws upon their hearts, and upon their mind I will inscribe them,' He then says, 'And their sins and their lawlessness I shall by no means remember anymore' (Hebrews 10:14 - 17).
The problem is that even though God has forgotten our sins, we have not. Many cannot completely receive God's forgiveness and so feel that they need to do something to pay for the sins themselves. Sorry. That's not God's way. He already did all the work and paid the price for your sins. You are forgiven. You are clean. You are holy. Not because of your holiness but because of his. Now, he is your holiness.
Many Christians have still only believed in the baptism of John (the Baptist) which is a baptism of repentance. They have not moved on to the baptism of Christ. Paul ran into a group of believers like this in Ephesus (see Acts 19: 1-7). We don't want to hang onto John once we have met Jesus.
The Need for Repentance
Now please don't misunderstand me. I am not saying that there is never a need for a Christian to repent. Actually, the term "repentance" in the original language means "to turn." We should be constantly turning to the Lord. There are times in our lives when we have sinned and turned away from the Lord and we definitely need to repent (turn back to him). But the focus should always be him, not the sin. If we are always thinking about not sinning, guess what we will do. Sin.
We want to see as he sees. And he sees us as holy, blameless, and above reproach (Eph. 1:1 - 4).
This is why Paul uses the term "saints" to greet the believers in the various churches (See: 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2).
The Two Men
You need to be able to see yourself from God's viewpoint. His perspective is really the only one that counts. Wouldn't you agree? So the key here is to capture his perspective on your identity.
As far as God is concerned, there are only two men in the whole universe. Those two men are the first Adam and the last Adam.
So also it is written, 'the first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit' (1 Cor. 15:45).
You were originally born into the first Adam. You were part of Adam's race. You were born a sinner. But then you received Christ and were transferred from the 'old' humanity to the 'new' humanity. You were brought from the first Adam to the last Adam, who is Christ. Now you no longer have any identity in the first Adam. Your only identity now is in Christ. You are part of the "new Creation." You are a member of the "new man."
Your identity is now based on that of the new man, the last Adam, who is Christ. You are now dead to the first Adam. You can no longer take the thoughts, feelings, attitudes, actions, and lifestyle from that old race. It just doesn't fit who you are. And if you try to do that, it just won't work because you no longer belong to that race. Yet, we all try to do that, don't we? We all still believe that our identity is based upon the first Adam. Let me ask you a series of five questions to prove my point. Answer them as honestly as possible.
1.Do you believe that your identity is determined by what you do? Does doing determine being? Does your career define you? Does what you do every day determine who you are? Remember the age-old question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
2.Do you believe that your identity is established by your relationship to other people? Are you a mother or a father? Are you a husband or a wife? Do these relationships define who you are? Ever heard of the "empty nest syndrome"? This is when a woman (or man) becomes emotionally distraught and depressed because her children have grown and left the home. Her whole identity was wrapped up in her kids.
3.Do you believe that your identity was given to you by your parents? "I have become my mother!" is an exclamation that women sometimes make. And men say, "I have become my father!" Are you the sum total of how you were raised? Do genetics determine who you are?
4.Do you believe that your circumstances determine your identity? You have been burned and abused by other people, even by other Christians. You have gone through some hard times financially. You lost three jobs and your wife left you. Are these circumstances who you are? Are you a helpless victim of your environment?
5.Do you believe that your decision determines your identity? You have (perhaps) made many mistakes in your life. Does that mean you are a failure? Do your choices determine who you are?
Is it not true that most of us derive our sense of identity from one or more of these five areas? But don't be fooled. None of these things define who you are. You are now part of a "new humanity," the last Adam. All of your identity comes from that new position.
Written by Milt Rodriguez