Tag Archives: Core Values

Authenticity!

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, Disciple, Discipleship, Excellence, Faithful, LifeGiving, Mandate, Mature, Maturing, Message, Mission, Movement, Revolution, Righteousness, School Of The Spirit, Teamwork, Training, Transformation

This Blog is the first of three in the series I am calling authenticity, authority and anointing.

These three attributes, or characteristics, are core values that I look for when looking for relationships generally in my life, specifically in the kingdom of God, and especially in those to whom I choose to submit my spiritual well-being.

A lot is being said and written again about women in ministry. I wrote a Blog called Women Ministers on October 26 of this year where I did not delve deeply into the contrived controversy. Instead, I asked a series of logical [to me] questions that I hope will create a hunger to know the truth about this issue.

While this series is not specifically about women, or women ministers, it does involve that vital subject. I would rather sit under the ministry of a woman who is authentic, under God’s authority, and anointed by the Holy Spirit than any man who is not authentic, under God’s authority, and or not anointed by the Holy Spirit.

In fact, a man could be under authority and anointed but if he was not authentic I would never submit my life to him!

Authenticity is such an important virtue! Unfortunately it is becoming more rare, even in the body of Christ. When ministers refuse to preach and teach what they say they believe because of how the people they lead or the people they lead with would respond, they are not being authentic.

According to the Dictionary app on my MacBook Pro, the first definition of authentic is “of undisputed origin.” I love that that is the initial view into the meaning of the word.

Dictionary.com defines authentic thus:

  • Not false or copied; genuine; real
  • Having an origin supported by unquestionable evidence; authenticated; verified
  • Representing one’s true nature or beliefs; true to oneself or to the person identified
  • Entitled to acceptance or belief because of agreement with known facts or experience; reliable; trustworthy

Confusion is not from the Father so if a person is unwilling to authentically represent Him in their life and or ministry then they are causing the origin [Author] of their life, and or ministry to be disputed. Additionally, it is absolutely acceptable to call into question that person and their stated beliefs.

God does not call people to represent Him and then to deny the very things He has revealed to them, in them and through them. PERIOD!

Galatians 3 – “1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”

Apparently the Galatians had fallen prey to preachers who brought another gospel, one that according to Paul was not the authentic gospel. In part, part of the deception was the denial of the supernatural ministry of the Spirit of God.

“2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?” Working miracles is one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Do you realize you can admit [not deny] the existence of God and daily deny Him in your life? Jesus said, “Deny me before men, and I will deny you before My Father.”

Are you denying God in your life and or ministry?

How are you denying God in your life?

What has God revealed to you that you have accepted as His truth?

Are you wholeheartedly revealing those things to the people God has called you to lead, or to lead with? This begins in the home by the way!

What is going on in your heart if you are fearful of being authentic with the people you are in community with?

I am not talking about the typical recognized sinful behavior [denying Christ is a sin]. I am talking about authentic encounters with the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, whether directly or in His Word.

Where are you going? Who are you leading? Where are you leading them?

Are you going into Authenti-City [authentic community]?

Or, are you leading people into confusion, compromise, chaos, and dispute – because that is where you currently reside in your compromise?

Donna and I founded and led a vibrant church for 16 years. We lost count of the times members of other churches would seek our counsel [ministry] because they could not trust the leaders they were in community with. We would ask, “Why are you submitting your soul to someone you do not trust?” Their answer, almost to a person, had to do with non Kingdom matters. We knew that what they received would not be received where they attended church – and that they would remain in the community where compromise was a core-value. Sad!

Authenti City – a rare commodity and community – for sure!

Receive and steward God’s passion, power, presence, priority, process, promises, protection, provision, pruning, purging, purity and purpose!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury, DMin
A radical spiritual revolutionary
Revolution Movement Co-Founder
http://www.revolutionmovement.org
kdrury@revolutionmovement.org

People of Purpose, Purity and Power

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, Disciple, Discipleship, Excellence, Faithful, LifeGiving, Mature, Maturing, Righteousness, School Of The Spirit, Teamwork, Training

Now, more than ever, is the time for God’s people to be people of purpose, living on purpose for the sole purpose of fulfilling God’s purpose for giving them His life. Two ways to ensure that happens is by living in purity and power.

All of the New Testament writers, in one way or another, spoke into the importance of this truth. And the truths they wrote about are timeless, speaking into every generation of people who read and heed their wise counsel.

Jesus, who is heaven’s model and our role-model for all life and ministry, is the Author and Perfecter of this life of faithful obedience to the Father.

May wife Donna and I have a call on our lives that in part is to train, equip, and activate maturing saints in the Biblical lifestyle of purity and power. Having a DNA of “In earth as it IS in heaven” [Matthew 6:10 KJV], requires us to pursue the life Jesus lived and to lead others into experiencing.

Mistakes happen! A mistake is a momentary lapse of good judgment. We have discovered there are way too many people who use the “I made a mistake” excuse for a lifestyle of repetitive “lapses of good judgment.” At some point people need to grasp they are not making mistakes. but they are revealing corrupt core values that if not repented of will lead them to dark places and possible eternal destruction.

Peter, a disciple of Jesus who made some mistakes in his life, wrote the following instruction to people displaced because of their commitment to Christ.

1 Peter 3 – “10 The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and [he must keep] his lips from speaking deceit. 11 He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Do you desire life? The life Peter is referring to is the life God possesses and passes on to those who desire His life.

Do you desire love? The love Peter is referring to is the love God possesses and passes on to those who choose to receive and communicate God’s love. God’s love does not change when a person rejects His love, because God never changes in His nature and character. He is eternally consistent!

Do you desire to see good days? The good days Peter is referring to that can be seen [experienced] are upright, honorable and therefore useful to God and to us. In other words, these “good days” are days when we live right according to the life God desires we live, and we choose to live because we choose to honor God.

Please pay close attention to this text!

This is a quote of Psalms 32:12-16 and Peter uses this text as he writes to believers in Christ who previously were not the people of God. Some believe Peter is writing just to Gentiles. Others believe he is writing to both Gentiles and Jews who previously were not born again believers in Christ. Either way, they are now Christians by virtue of their “being chosen by God, according to the foreknowledge of the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled by His blood” [1 Peter 1:2].

Look at what Peter says in 1:2 about the people he wrote to who were scattered into at least 5 areas quite possibly because of persecution.

1. Chosen by God according to the foreknowledge of the Father

This does not mean God only selects a select few to be saved. This means God saves those who choose to be selected to be saved. “Whosoever may come”, and “Many are called but few are chosen” are truths that reveal 1] everyone has the opportunity to come, and 2] only those who do come can be chosen. The call to salvation is offered to all, but only those who accept the call and the conditions of God’s call are saved.

2. By the sanctifying work of the Spirit

True separation to God always produces the life God saved us to live
. This sanctification must lead to a holy [pure] lifestyle
. In other words, if our life is not holy God did not give it to us. “14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy'” [1:14-16].

3. To obey Jesus Christ

There can be no purity without complete obedience to Christ who fully obeyed the Father. Our love for God is proved in our obedience to God. Peter is saying that we are chosen to obey Christ. This is a different reality than we are chosen to go to heaven.

  • John 14:31 – “But so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.”
  • John 14:15 – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

I find it interesting Jesus followed up His “Loving Me means obeying Me” with “I love the Father by doing exactly as the Father commands Me.” True leadership is seen in setting the example for those who follow us. Pharisees [False leaders] put things on people they refuse to do themselves. By the way, the world is watching to see if what we say is congruent with how we live. Do we prove to the world we love God by fully obeying Him? Jesus did! And He is our role-model.

4. To be sprinkled by His blood

Being cleansed from all impurity must lead to a consistent lifestyle of living pure. This is an illustration taken from the Old Testament examples of – 1] The Hebrew people and the mixed multitude who were delivered from Egypt and the death angel by putting the blood of a sacrificed lamb on the doorposts of their homes [hearts]; 2] The sanctifying of all the materials, furniture, and utensils of Moses’ Tabernacle and Solomon’s temple; 3] The sanctifying of the priests where blood and oil was placed on their right ears, thumbs and big toes representing cleansing and anointing for service. Once these were sprinkled they were never to be used for any other purpose.

Peter lists some vitally important lifestyle characteristics of Christian character that leads to the life God desires for all people, but especially for anyone claiming to be His.

They:

1. Must keep their tongue from evil

  • ‘Evil’ here means worthless, destructive that comes from a belief that is not true
  • “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Our mouths reveal what really is in our heart.

2. Must keep their lips from speaking deceit

  • ‘Deceit’ here means a decoy [misleading for the purpose of luring away from what is true and holy]

3. Must turn away from evil and do good

  • ‘Turn away’ here means to turn completely from the wrong direction, or to head in the correct direction, to shun anything and anyone living unholy so we do not emulate their bad behavior
  • ‘Evil’ here is the same word used above [worthless, destructive that comes from a belief that is not true]
  • ‘Do good’ here means to produce, be the authors of, and abide in all that is honorable and beneficial to a holy lifestyle

4. Must seek peace and pursue it

  • ‘Seek’ here means to demand, require, crave and to pursue on purpose in order to find what you are seeking. It does not means meandering around pretending you are looking for something.
  • ‘Peace’ here means harmony, security, safety, prosperity, connection to others, and rest. This is the equivalent of the Hebrew word shalom.
  • ‘Pursue’ here means to run swiftly, passionately and purposefully in order to obtain the goal or prize.

Peter states the reason for these to be adhered to is because:

1. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous

God loves the unrighteous but His eyes are toward the righteous!

  • ‘Toward’ here means over and on
  • God’s eyes are not on those who are evil
    • Habakkuk 1:13 – “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness.”
    • This is why God turned away from Jesus on the Cross, and for the first time there was a disconnect between Father and Son. When Jesus became sin God could not look on the wickedness He bore for us.

2. The ears of the Lord attend to their prayer

  • ”Ears attend’ here means to be aware of, attentive to, and understand
  • ‘Prayer’ here means needs, desires, long for and even wants, and to make those known through seeking God, asking and entreating God. The idea here is our seeking God will direct what we desire and want to be what He desires and wants for us, which includes a holy life set apart to God and His purposes in the earth.

3. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil

  • ‘Face’ here means the countenance, eyes, look, appearance, expressions, and presence
  • This should convince those who believe God never shows a different “face” when He is dealing with people in different situations that He absolutely does.
    • Mark 3:5 – “After looking around at them with anger.”
  • This is a very descriptive verse that reveals Jesus not only looked directly at each one of them with anger, but the anger was not just for looks
  • Jesus communicated with His facial expression His strong displeasure with them
  • “Anger’ here means a violent emotion, temper, and an exhibition of punishment or the punishment itself. It is very hard for many to wrap their mind around this truth. Is it really possible for the perfect God who came as perfect Man to get so angry he directed it toward people with just a look?
  • ‘Against’ here means to position in front of, or to be directed toward. This means God deals with those who misbehave face to face, or He confronts the people who are misbehaving. God never sweeps misbehavior under the rug or pretends it does not exist. God always approaches from the front to speak directly to those who are not living holy and or healthy, especially in a Christian community context. God never talks behind someone’s back, and neither should we.
  • ‘Do’ here means the same as ‘ do good’ above. To produce, make, construct, author, to cause someone to do something – with the word ‘evil’ following it is the exact opposite of ‘do good’ in verse 11
  • ‘Evil’ here means of a bad nature [which would mean live like you are still unsaved], to cause trouble or injury that originates in thoughts that are wicked [twisted, or twisting truth]

I am concluding this blog by going back to the beginning. To be people of purpose, purity and power, we must desire life, [desire] to love and want to see good days. To realize our desire we must direct our attention toward the God who through His love saved us, toward those who are in right relationship with God and us, hear [understand] what they say to us, while simultaneously turning completely away from those who do evil, and seek to harm us by ensnaring us in their evil.

Keep HIS Passion, Power, Presence, Priority, Process, Provision, Pruning, Purity, Purging, and Purpose!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury, DMin

A Spiritual Revolutionary

Devilish Distractions

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, Excellence, LifeGiving, School Of The Spirit, Sports, Teammates, Teamwork, Training

The devil is not someone that should be feared or taken lightly. He roams around seeking those he “may” devour.

This means that he cannot devour anyone who does not give him access, permission, or substance to devour.

In the Garden God sent the serpent on his belly to feed his belly with dust. Dust can be a metaphor for our carnal, non Christlike behavior. If we do not provide him food he cannot feast on us. Remember, God formed man from the dust of the ground!

In the Garden man, who had been given responsibility by God to guard and tend it, lost focus on who and why they were. When they took their eyes off who God said they were and what God told them to do they sucked the serpent into their Paradise instead of confronting him outside the Garden.

What have you lost sight of that invited the serpent into your world?

There will always be “good reasons” to disengage, even for a moment, from what you are trying to accomplish in life. Look at what Paul says,

2 Corinthians 2:11

“. . . so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”

  • The context of this verse is love, forgiveness and restoration!
  • But we should always be aware of the strategies our enemy will employ to distract and detour us with the ultimate goal of destroying us, or what God has called us to do for Him.
  • ‘Schemes’ speaks to a language that I understand well. That language is the language of sports. Schemes can speak of a certain strategy and or plans that are used by a competitor to exploit any weakness that has been discovered through the various scouting procedures used.
    • The Greek word used means: The processing power of the mind that develops perceptions that are foundational in decision making. It has to do with the way we think, not just what we are thinking about.

Ephesians 6:11

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

Notice that once we put this armor on we are never to take it off!

  • The armor of God is God Himself
    • Truth – “I am the truth”
      • “Your word is truth”
      • “The word became flesh”
    • Rightousness – “Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness”
    • Gospel of peace – “For He Himself is our peace”
    • Shield of faith – “Author and Perfector of faith”
    • Helmet of salvation – “He put on . . . a helmet of salvation on His head.”
    • Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God – “and the word became flesh”
  • Stand firm – Established, remain in place, remain in the place God places you, unwavering and not hesitant
  • Schemes – Deceptive tricks [using what looks like truth but isn’t, using what looks good but is really not good or beneficial], using circumstances to manipulate [maneuver] us off of our path to our purpose
    • The Greek word used in this verse is different than the one used in 2 Corinthians 2:11. This word means: The methods used in manipulation, the path travelled to accomplish an agenda that is at variance with what is considered correct, or right[eous], that which includes that which is false, absurd, or a distorted representation of someone or something
  • Devil – To slander, falsely accuse, mislead with untruths

The devil himself, “appears as an angel of light” to create chaos and confusion within the community of Light. He is the master at manipulating people and events to impugn God so that people will disconnect from, or never connect to, God.

Two ways the devil maneuvers people is through weariness and busyness [business]. Once he knows your weakness [where you will cave] he begins maneuvering to make and keep you tired and busy with business that is not productive to who you are and what you are called to do.

This can be in relation to your ultimate purpose in life or just a part of your life you are pursuing because God is breathing on it in this season.

I am too tired! I am too busy! I can’t! It won’t!

Where do you think these come from?

This must be one of our core values: “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me [who gives me His strength and ability].”

Paul, the apostle, is my hero on several levels. One very important level is the way he did not allow all of the adversity and opposition to his identity and mission mess with his staying on message in his ministry.

2 Corinthians 4

“17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Paul is saying he stays on course because he keeps his focus on what is eternal, not temporal. Once the devil knows he can trick us into taking our eyes off the eternal he continually offers that which is temporary.

I know way too many people who got sidetracked when they got stuck in something that was momentary believing it was an ongoing issue. Even a season of sin can be manipulated to convince you that is who you are. This lie can convince you there is no need for you to repent and return to the Lord.

Let’s take a look at some of the momentary and light afflictions that he pressed through.

2 Corinthians 4

“8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

2 Corinthians 6

“3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet  possessing all things.”

2 Corinthians 11

“23 Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far  more labors, in far  more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through  many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external  things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without  my intense concern?”

All of these Paul called, “light and momentary afflictions.”

What excuses are you allowing the devil to feed you so that he can feed on you and eventually feed off of you?

What distractions have commandeered your call and or your career?

What weakness is the devil exploiting because you tipped your hand when you compromised out of what you believed to be convenient?

What inconvenience did you not press through and now you are finding it more difficult to overcome circumstances that you used to not even realize were there?

I tell couples who come to me for pre-marriage counseling who have been engaging in pre-marital sinful sex, “If you cannot say no to sex with each other now, knowing it is sinful, what guarantee do you have that when the opportunity to have sex with someone other than you spouse comes, you will be able to say no?” You should see some of the expressions I see!

If you cannot say no today you have nothing stable to stand on to say no tomorrow!

If you compromise today you have given place for the one who compromised in heaven to control you and your decisions today and in the future.

My advice to them and to you is this – Make a decision right now to stop doing what you know is wrong, and a compromise to Godly core values, so that you will have confidence that when confronted with options to compromise in the future, you won’t give it one thought because you have already decided how you are going to live.

Jesus said this, “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;”

The devil is always “coming” to see where he can exploit us. Jesus said, “he has NOTHING in Me.” He has nothing in Me or on Me that he can use to manipulate Me to compromise who and why I AM!

Can you say, “He [the devil] has nothing in me?”

If you can’t then maybe you should evaluate the level of commitment to Christ you claim to have.

Stop providing the devil food to feed on you or to you!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury, DMin

A Hisstorymaker

Cain, Rejectee Or Rejector?

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, Excellence, LifeGiving, Righteousness, School Of The Spirit, Training

Have you ever felt rejected personally when you believed the person you valued did not appreciate the work you had done for them?

People who have their identity in what they do and not who they are do not respond well when their hard work is not enough to keep them where they believed their hard work had placed them. Their “old self” shows up.

The question that must be asked and answered is: Was there ever a new self or did the person just hide their “old self” well until they believed they were rejected? And then everyone gets to see their old self!

Cain was such an individual. Cain worked hard for God. Cain believed his hard work positioned him in a special place with God, and when God did not have the same value for his hard work, Cain proved his heart was never after God’s heart. This is the very reason Cain’s hard work was rejected. By the way, God did not reject Cain! God rejected his hard work as an offering of true worship.

Cain never understands their hard work does not place them where they are. Acceptance, value and honor place them where they are but their lack of honor disqualifies them for remaining where they had been placed!

When what we do is rejected we discover our lack of depth in the relationship with the one we did the work for! Cain saw God as his problem and the one who did not value their relationship.

3 So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. 4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” 8 Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.” Genesis 4

When the Lord rejected Cain’s offering [of the work of his own hands] the world around Cain felt the wrath of Cain’s lack of honor for God and His will [true worship based on His work].

God is looking for those “whose hearts are fully His!” [2 Chronicles 16:9] This statement is within the context of King Asa who only obeyed God when it was convenient. The king lashed out at the prophet who represented the God who rejected his partial obedience.

People who think God is impressed with their hard work and deserve special treatment because of their hard work reveal that they do not understand real relationship with God, or the kind of worship God looks for. God looks for those whose heart is fully His.

That is why Jesus would later talk about a people, “Who worship Me with their lips but their heart is far from Me.”

Relationship with God and His people begins with valuing what He values. Cain never connected to God’s heart because he was only interested in his hard work. His false belief created a heart that was hard and out of his hard heart he fell into what he carried in his heart – wrath.

People who carry wrath in their heart instinctively want judgment on others who do not do what they want.

They believe God has judged them so now they have a license to judge others!

Punishment of others is comfort food for Cain!

God gave Cain the opportunity to rise up after his countenance fell. God offered Cain a promotion! God offered Cain the opportunity to rise above the place he dwelt in his heart so that he would be able to see and experience God’s heart. Cain rejected the promotion!

Instead of seeing what God had offered him, Cain, because he did not value God or God’s community, continued his downward slide toward murder. Cain carried murder in his heart before God rejected his offering. When God rejected Cain’s offering Cain took it as personal rejection. The rejection did not create Cain’s hard heart but it did reveal it.

There are a lot of Cain’s in Christian communities [churches]!

Cain, God bless them, worship what they create instead of worshiping the Creator!

There are many examples of this in Scripture. Lucifer, Cain, Saul, and Judas are just a few of the personalities in Scripture that fell because they worshiped ‘their’ worship instead of the God who looks for worshipers who will worship Him in [by] spirit [not self] and [His] truth.

Idolatry is false worship and is condemned by God because it elevates what we have done above what God has done and is doing.

False worshipers become apparent when their expression of worship [what they worship] is not accepted by God. They look for someone else to blame instead of dealing with their false worship. This reveals their true intentions and why they are in the Community of believers. They need people of faith to affirm what they do because they do not have a real relationship with God. We know this is true because when they feel rejected they begin accusing God and those who they feel have rejected them.

They want and need to be accepted for what they do because they are hiding among the baggage of their old self! Never realizing they have been accepted and if what they do is rejected it is not a reflection of the value that God or His Community has for them!

When we believe we are rejected instead of understanding that our behavior is being rejected we disconnect from the people and place that has accepted us!

In verse 8 we read, “Cain told Abel his brother.” What did Cain tell Abel? Did Abel respond to Cain? If Abel responded to Cain what did he say?

Let’s look at a possibility!

Abel was Cain’s brother until Abel did not come into agreement with Cain. People who want others to tell them what they want to hear cannot handle being told what they need to hear. Now, Cain has felt the sting of rejection by God and his brother. And Cain is going to destroy the very one who was representing God to him by telling him the truth!

When Cain shows his true self [his old self] he proves he was not worthy of being in the Community.

9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to Me from the ground. 11 “Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 “When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear!14 “Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 So the Lord said to him, “Therefore whoever kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord appointed  a sign for Cain, so that no one finding him would slay him.16 Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and settled  in the land of Nod, east of Eden.” Genesis 4

Verse 16 is a sad but revealing verse. “Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.” Cain settled [sat in judgment] in the land of Nod [aimlessness, no connection to anything stable], east [that which is before] of Eden [the place of God’s pleasure].

The Garden God created for man to have access to and have responsibility over was ‘east of Eden’. Cain, because of his irreverent and dishonorable behavior settled farther east of the place of God’s original pleasure, which was the place He placed original man, his parents.

Cain wanted nothing to do with God or what pleased Him. Again, this decision revealed what Cain carried in his heart the whole time he was in God’s presence. He wanted the benefit of a relationship without being responsible in the relationship and when he did not get his way he totally disconnected. That never works out well!

Many people believe God drove Cain out from His presence! Cain is the one who said God was driving Him away. Cain, who was never truly connected to God, now totally disconnected from God! “Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.” Cain was still operating out of his will be done, not God’s!

God stated in verse 12 what had always been a reality in Cain’s heart. “You will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth.” God was simply revealing to Cain the truth that he was already a vagrant [a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging; one who wavers] and a wanderer [an aimless traveler] on the earth.”

To waver means you can not settle on what is established truth. Cain mixed his version of truth with God’s truth and then he settled on his version of truth.

People who mingle their version and perception of truth with God’s established truth will always feel rejected by those who have settled the matter of whose truth they will live by. Unsettled people cannot connect completely to settled people!

They are vagrants and wanderers. These are the ones who say, “God called me to serve you and to serve with you” and then when their lack of honor and reverence show up and is confronted, God mysteriously changes His mind. Now, “God told me to go over there and serve over there.” No He did not! God knew where you needed to be and when what you carried in your heart was confronted by those God called you to serve you revealed your vagrancy and your inability or unwillingness to settle down in established [God’s] truth.

Nepios [carnal, childish] believers are revealed by their instability!

Ephesians 4:14 – “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine [their own version of truth], by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;”

Mature believers can handle the truth because they speak truth!

Ephesians 4:15 – “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,”

Truth is found in what God wants us to hear not what we want to hear!

Can you handle THE truth?

From their instability nepios [immature] believers blame the mature believers when they are not moved [manuevered or manipulated] by their immature behavior.

Instead of staying connected to those who are stable they disconnect and drift into places where they find other immature believers so they can feel comfortable with their immaturity.

The Cain’s of the Community are self-centered!

Verses 13 and 14 reveal this truth – “Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is too great to bear! Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the [good and productive] ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.'”

Cain continued to blame God for his condition because the Cain’s of the Community can never be in the wrong!

“Whoever finds me will kill me” is a clear indication that Cain was looking for self preservation. He was not concerned with the preservation of God’s established truth or his brother Abel’s life. Cain’s only think of themselves! ‘How is this affecting me?’ is one of their core values when, ‘How is my childish behavior affecting the Community?’ should be their core value!

Loyalty and faithfulness are discovered in the process of disagreement and options!

Can you, or will you be loyal and faithful during disagreement or will you use the disagreement as your excuse to disconnect?

Because you have so many options for “worship” will you stay in the process of refinement where God called you to be and set you in to grow, or will you use the disagreement to move to Nod farther east of Eden, and therefore be a vagrant and wanderer forever, or at least until you decide to quit running and hiding?

Only you can answer these very important questions!

One thing is for sure, your future well-being depends on how you answer these questions!

Keep HIS Faith! Keep HIS Passion!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury

His Hisstorymaker

It’s Time To Act Up! Part 2 – The Apostle’s Doctrine

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, Excellence, LifeGiving, Righteousness, School Of The Spirit, Training

This is the second blog in the series It’s Time To Act Up!

Now is the time to rise up to your rightful place as a co-heir and co-laborer with Jesus the Christ.

In this second installment I want to revisit something we saw in the first blog – The Primitive Church.

On the Day of Pentecost Peter preached a pentecostal sermon and 3000 people were born again and ushered into the Kingdom of God.

In verse 42 of Acts 2 we read the following account written by Luke. This Luke is the author of the Gospel of Luke.

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine . . . “

Who were these apostles? What was the doctrine of these apostles? Why would anyone pay attention to what these apostles had to teach?

All of these are very good questions but in this blog I will focus on the apostle’s doctrine.

The Apostle’s Doctrine

I want to go ahead and inform you that I will not be delving into every aspect of the apostle’s doctrine in this blog. But I have chosen some aspects of it that I want to highlight.

Our selected verse begins by emphatically stating those who heard what was said on The Day of Pentecost “continued steadfastly” in the apostle’s doctrine. So let’s begin with what this means as a segue from Blog 1 to Blog 2.

To continue steadfastly means ~

They purposed to purposefully pay attention & not be passive hearers!

They purposed to purposefully direct their attention to the speaker and what was spoken!

They purposed to be purposefully unwavering, unswerving in their commitment to continue!

They purposed to purposefully position and posture themselves for optimum success!

In other words, these first century saints accepted personal responsibility for their progress in the faith. This means they understood the role that faithfulness plays in their personal progress. Or, they knew, “That preacher just doesn’t feed me anymore” is not a valid reason for their lack of growth.

What Is the Apostle’s Doctrine?

We get a vital clue early on in the day on that first Pentecost Sunday.

Acts 2:5-12

“5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs–we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?””

The wonderful works of God formed a framework for the Apostle’s doctrine [teaching, belief system, core values].

The apostle’s beliefs and core values were the platform from which they communicated through their words and lifestyle what they believed.

The way we live communicates more to others what we believe than our words!

Actions speak louder than words!

“The wonderful works of God”

  • God’s works are wonderful [full of wonder]

  • God is wonderful [full of wonder]

  • God is really good

  • God is really good at being really good

  • God is worth talking positively about

  • God is worthy of our praise

“We hear them speaking in our own tongues [languages]”

God cares enough for every person to communicate to every person in a language they can understand. This means that God is speaking to every individual in a language they recognize and should respond to in a way that connects, or reconnects them to God who loves them passionately.

God’s Awesome Deeds!

Psalm 66:5,6

“Come and see the works of God, who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men. 6 He turned the sea into dry land; They passed through the river on foot; There let us rejoice in Him! 7 He rules by His might forever.”

“Come and see the works of God”

God invites every generation to benefit from His past activities.

“Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men”

God is awesome and He points His awesomeness towards the sons of men. This is a different depiction of God than the judgment preachers have. The Hebrew word for ‘awesome’ is yare [yaw-ray’]. This word means: To reverence, to be in awe of, to honor and respect, to have a healthy fear that leads to faithfulness in the relationship. This word can also mean to be afraid of.

The idea here I believe is a combination of the New Testament revelation where Jesus said [paraphrase], “Do not fear man or what man can do to you. Fear God who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” Jesus was clearly saying there is a day of judgment so don’t treat God with contempt. The context is clearly on the goodness of God should lead to honor and respect for God.

Also, “It is the kindness of God that leads men to repentance.” When we see the ministry of Jesus He confronted sin but loved the sinner. He even confronted the sin and corrupt mindsets of His disciples. But He came to save not to judge and condemn. “It is appointed unto man once to die, AND THEN the judgment.”

What is God inviting us to see?

“He turned the [Red] Sea into dry land” speaks of God delivering His people out of 430 years of Egyptian bondage and slavery. This is equivalent to the born again experience and water baptism. Through the new birth we are delivered from the domain of darkness [Egypt] and the prince of darkness [Pharaoh] and translated into the Kingdom of light [the Kingdom of God’s dear Son Jesus the Christ].

“They passed through the [Jordan] River on foot” speaks of God leading His people into their inheritance [destiny, His purpose for their lives].

God wants us to see that salvation without the proper destination is an unfulfilled salvation.

God does not save people to get them to a place called heaven. God saves people to be heavenly citizens on earth. In other words, born again people are God’s gateway to bring heaven to earth. Born again people are stewards of heavenly realities with a responsibility to overcome the world and occupy the world until God comes. The purpose of occupation is always transformation!

“There let us rejoice in Him”. God will lead people to the place of destiny but will not make a person enter, embrace, enjoy, expand or export their destiny. To rejoice denotes joyful celebration.

Where are we to rejoice? Not after crossing the Sea but after we have passed through the River by foot [we enter by our own volition] into our place of inheritance and destiny.

This does not mean we should not celebrate our deliverance from Egypt. It means we must proceed on to our destiny. Too many Christians think forgiveness is all there is to the Christian life. Forgiveness and conversion is the doorway to destiny.

Psalm 119:111

“Your testimonies I have taken as an inheritance forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.”

The Hebrew root word for ‘testimony’ means to repeat, to do the same thing over and over.

When a testimony of God’s activities in our lives is released it carries an invitation for others to experience God in that very same way. It is like a prophetic word from God saying, “I will do it again for you [them].”

Psalm 78:5-8

“5 For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, 6 that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, 7 that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments, 8 and not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not prepare its heart and whose spirit was not faithful to God.”

“God established a [the principle of sharing the] testimony [of His wonderful works]  in Jacob [the Prince who was living out of a false identity based on his behavior instead of his calling]!”

“[God] appointed a law in Israel [the redeemed and new name for Jacob after His conversion at the river Jabbok], which He commanded our fathers [those responsible for stewarding the miraculous interventions of God in the affairs of man].”

God wants each generation to pass on to future generations His testimonies! There are at least 3 or 4 generations of covenant people that should be introduced to the testimony depending on how you interpret verses 5 and 6.

Sharing God’s testimony creates confidence and courage in the lives of those who hear it and it keeps current the truth that God cares and is active in their lives. This results in faithfulness to God and His commandments [which are: Love God! Love people!] [Verse 7]

Failure to share the testimony causes people to forget God’s faithfulness which results in rebellion against God. [Verse 7]

God indicted the “fathers” for their failure to faithfully follow His decrees! God calls those who fail to pass on His testimony stubborn, rebellious, unprepared and unfaithful to Him. [Verse 8]

We see the results of this failure as we keep reading Psalm 78.

Psalm 78:9-11

“9 The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.10 They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, 11 and forgot His works and His wonders that He had shown them.”

These 3 verses need little commentary. Ephraim was one of the largest tribes numerically. History records them as the tribe that led the rebellion against God. They are often used to describe the “10 tribes”, the “house of Israel” as compared to the house of Judah.

The text tells us although they were prepared outwardly they were cowards inwardly. Because they “forgot” God’s works and His wonders that He had shown them they deserted in battle and their decision destroyed their destiny.

Psalm 78:40-43

40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! 41 Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They did not remember His power: The day when He redeemed them from the enemy, 43 when He worked His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan;

These sons of the rebellious unfaithful fathers continued their downward spiral into apostasy. This should be a WARNING for anyone who believes they can live for God without living responsibly in the relationship with God.

Can you believe you can provoke and grieve and tempt and limit God?

We see again how rebellion in the heart causes amnesia in the head. I wonder if some of the mind and memory deficiencies we are seeing in our society today can be traced to unfaithfulness in sharing  with others the wonderful works of God in our lives.

The Hebrew word ‘signs’ in verse 43 is “oth or owth” [is sound like oath]. According to Brown-Driver-Brigg’s Definition this words means:  A sign or signal, a distinguishing mark, a banner, a miraculous sign, and proof.

According to Strong’s Definition is means: A beacon, a flag, a token and evidence.

The Hebrew word for ‘wonders’ in verse 43 is mopheth [mo-faith]. Yep! I love God! This word means: a wonder [as a special display of God’s power], a sign or token of a future event [do it again].

Mopheth comes from a Hebrew root word that means: To be bright, beautiful, conspicuous, and to beautify.

From these two graphic Hebrew words we can see how God wants to advertise His care for people and announce His intentions to help when life happens and we find ourselves in situations that need resources from the only Source that can truly deliver.

A great lesson in this is mopheth creates more signs and wonders and more signs and wonders creates mopheth!

For the life of me I cannot wrap my mind around the many modern, post modern, contemporary and relevant church cultures that refuse to allow the Spirit of God to manifest the gifts of God. Especially the gifts of healings and miracles.

Some “say”, “we believe in that”, but never allow it. They don’t want to create a climate for disappointment in case someone doesn’t get healed. What about those in their midst that have no hope other than God’s miraculous intervention? What about ‘mo faith’? Haven’t they already disappointed the very people that are out of human options?

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

“1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

Paul used testimonies to reach the people of Corinth! His ministry in Athens was based on debate. His trip to Corinth gave him time to evaluate his methodology and when he arrived his change of strategy ended in greater success.

What was his change in strategy? He moved away from intelligent debate and made room for the moving of the Holy Spirit in supernatural power. The goal of his new method of ministry according to Paul, “so your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

The fruit of this change in strategy? A Church was born! A significant church that brought the Gospel of the Kingdom to a new continent and invaded new cultures with the Kingdom culture.

Paul’s message was Jesus Christ, and Him crucified! Paul taught the life, supernatural ministry, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. I am sure he also included his own personal testimonies that included his supernatural encounter on the road to Damascus, and his healing at the hands of Ananias, the skeptical servant of God.

This simple message about the Person named Jesus of Nazareth, God’s only begotten Son, who came from heaven to earth, to deliver all of God’s creation from bondage in the land of darkness [Egypt / sin], and to provide for us throughout our journey of discovering our purpose in life [40 years in the wilderness], and lead us into our inheritance [our destiny] – turned the world upside down in the first century.

Until the life and ministry of Jesus the Christ, and the simple message about His life and ministry, people were left to fend for themselves. The climate of the culture of that day was despair. Why? Rebellion! From Malachi to John and Jesus there was 400 years of silence from heaven.

Matthew 28:16-20

“16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated [Mount of Olives]. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

Jesus’ commands were part of the apostle’s doctrine [teaching]!

There are over 40 commands given by Jesus! Some are found in this text.

  • “Go” – 2/3 of God’s name is GO. The Gospel begins with GO! What are we waiting for? We are not waiting on God. He is always on the GO!
  • “Make disciples” – Please notice Jesus did not say, “Make converts”. While conversion is important and the first step into discipleship we must remember and teach others that salvation may be a free gift, discipleship will cost us everything!
  • “Baptizing them” – Water baptism may not save a person but it is a requirement for discipleship. To be baptized in water in the 1st century was a huge deal. When most “converts” came up out of the water they were disowned, disinherited and a disgrace to their family, friends and faith [Judaism]. They were choosing to “lose everything in order to gain Christ.”
  • “Teaching them to observe ALL I commanded you” – Wow! What about that! Without obedience there is no relationship. This is a foreign concept today in our modern, post modern, contemporary and relevant Christianity.

Jesus was asked what are the greatest commandments. He replied, “Love God! Love people!

Jesus took His 10 commandments where 9 were negative and transformed them into 2 positive commandments. Under the Old Covenant the focus was on what we could not do and what we should stay away from. Under the New Covenant the focus is on what we get to do and Who we are to get close to.

So, what Jesus was saying is this:

Love trumps Law! Love is greater than rules and regulations!

If you are married, are you faithful to your spouse because the Law says, “Do not commit adultery” or are you faithful because you love them and would never do something that would violate them?

Well then, it is possible to remain faithful to God by demonstrating our love by not violating His heart!

The Miraculous Lifestyle Is Part Of Jesus’ Commands!

Matthew 9:35 – 10:1,7,8

“35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’ 1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.'”

V35 – Jesus always modeled Kingdom ministry. Kingdom ministry combines teaching and preaching the Gospel of the [His] Kingdom with demonstrations of supernatural power to destroy human maladies. Please notice He healed EVERY sickness and EVERY disease!

V36 – When he saw the human condition of dis-ease, dis-[re]pair, and dis-ability He was moved with compassion [with passion]. When we think of Christ’s passion we limit it to the work of the Cross. The work of the Cross was the payment for the results of the work of the Cross which Jesus dispensed before He went to the Cross.

Compassion is not sympathy. It is a stronger emotion that requires intervention. Sympathy sits impotent wishing things were different and doing its best to help the suffering endure it until they eventually die. Jesus saw the weariness [and hopelessness] and loss of relational connection [scattered].

Why were they in this condition? “They were LIKE sheep having NO shepherd.” They had shepherds but their shepherds were not intervening with God’s power to deliver them from their dysfunctions.

V37 – Jesus then directed His disciple’s attention to the real condition of the crowd. Jesus did not create a culture of worrying about not disappointing the people in the crowd. I also believe it was at this point that Jesus realized the ministry was too big for Him and He needed to empower His disciples to Act Up!

V38 – Jesus then employs the disciples to pray because prayer is the path to correct posture with God. Prayer means humility and dependance. Prayer is like plugging an extension cord into a wall electrical outlet so that the same power at the wall can be extended to where it is needed.

V10:1 – Jesus then licenses His disciples to do God’s work with God’s authority and power. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom and as King He grants certain privileges and responsibilities to the citizens of the Kingdom.

The word ‘power’ in this verse is not the best translation. It is the Greek word exousia [ex-oo-see’-ah] with the emphasis on the “see”. This is relevant! The English transliteration is authority, not power. Picture a traffic cop directing traffic in a busy intersection where the traffic light is not functioning.

The vehicles have more power than the lone policeman but the authority granted him by the governmental body he represents creates the climate of respect so when he blows his whistle, and or raises or waves his hand, the drivers in those vehicles obey. They stop when he says stop! They move in the direction he directs them to. This is what Jesus was granting to His disciples.

Jesus instructs them to do what they just watched Him do by “giving them authority to cast out unclean spirits, and to heal all [the different] kinds of sickness and all [the different] kinds of disease.”

V10:7 – Jesus then instructs His disciples to move forward – “As you go”. Next He tells them what to say, “The Kingdom of heaven [God] is at hand [here].” “The present tense reality of God’s rule is right here, right now, and is within your reach.”

V10:8 – Jesus gave 4 commands in order to demonstrate to those hearing that God and His Kingdom are here [present].  Please notice He did not command them to become better communicators of Truth. We should be better communicators of Truth but what we do to demonstrate Truth is more powerful than mere words in proper format. Those 4 commands are:

  1. Heal – the sick! Which ones? Those who are sick. Remember Jesus healed every sickness and disease among the people and gave His disciples a  “do it again” with this new crowd of people.
  2. Cleanse – the lepers! Leprosy is a type of sin that destroys people’s lives and separates them from society. This involves physical healing as Jesus physically healed lepers. The greater reality here is about the restoration to the community of those who have issues that are no longer hidden inside and have caused a disconnect in relationships.
  3. Raise – the dead! Which ones? Those who are dead. Jesus was always ruining funerals and the mindsets of the mourners.
  4. Cast out – devils! This is dealt with in Luke 10 where Jesus ups the ante by giving His disciples power [dunamis – dynamic supernatural power] and authority [exousia] to tread upon serpents and scorpions [types of unclean spirits]. I believe what He intended here is not simply commanding devils to leave people as it was to teach the people how to live free from demonic influence. Remember, Jesus said in another place that when an unclean spirit leaves it goes through arid places and then returns to see if the “house” has been put in order. The best way to cast out darkness is to infuse a house with light. The best way to remove evil is to practice God’s presence and righteous living. To “tread upon” evil spirits is to live above their influence by walking in purity and power – which is Biblical Christianity.

Giving is another commandment!

Luke 6:38 – “Give and it shall be given back to you . . .” This is a command not a suggestion. The context of this command is not money by the way. It applies to financially supporting God’s work but it not limited to it as some preachers seem to think and teach.

Acts 20:25 – “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Jesus is not saying receiving is not a blessing and beneficial. He is simply saying there is something significantly greater available to a person that possesses their possessions instead of their possessions possessing them.

By the way, this statement attributed to Jesus is not found in the Gospels. That was for free!

The Supernatural lifestyle is another commandment!

Luke 24:49 – “Do not leave Jerusalem until you are clothed with Power.” “Do not leave your place of conversion to go do My work without My Power!”

Acts 1:4,5 – “4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.””

Remember, Luke is the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. He clearly clears up any ambiguity that may exist in the minds of the multitudes who believe this is not a command.

If you will do a study of Jesus’ instructions to His first disciples in the 4 Gospels you will find that almost every time, if not every time, He connects preaching to the miraculous. How we think we can advance His Kingdom in our day without the supernatural tools mandated and made available in that day is beyond me.

Acts 1:8 – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Power is what Jesus said would be the prevalent evidence of a Spirit led and Spirit empowered life. This power is the miraculous power, strength and ability that is the Holy Spirit. This power is granted to the saints who in obedience to Christ, the Head of the Church, to destroy the works of the devil. This power, as we have seen in this blog is released through anointed preaching and teaching and in the undeniable release into the lives of people oppressed by the devil.

Acts 8:4-8

“4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.8 And there was great joy in that city.”

Persecution from the unsaved Jews in Jerusalem was now in full swing and some of the believers fled the city. Look carefully at the methodology and fruit of ministry by these “primitive” believers.

V4 – They preached the word – God’s word is always the foundation for ministry

V5 – Philip arrives in Samaria and preaches Christ. Notice He did not preach Jesus. He preached Christ which tells me the emphasis was on the Spirit baptized, Spirit led and Spirit empowered Jesus. Christianity that reduces the importance of or eliminates altogether the supernatural and miraculous is not the Christianity Jesus started and handed off to the “primitive” disciples.

V6 – Those in Samaria conducted themselves the same way those in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost [See The Primitive Church blog and the beginning of this blog]. These hearers with “one accord HEEDED the things spoken by Philip.” Luke goes on to say they ‘were hearing and seeing’ the miracles which he did.” The Gospel of the Kingdom continued to be seen and heard nearly 5-8 years after Pentecost. Miracles, not wise and persuasive messages got the people’s attention.

V7 – Notice that the text does not say Philip commanded the unclean spirits to come out of people. It does not even say he laid hands on the lame and paralyzed. He may have! I believe the Presence of God was so thick and the atmosphere in Samaria was so full of God’s glory that darkness had to flee.

V8 – The fruit of ministry that includes the miraculous was an entire city was filled with great joy. The way to win our cities is to allow the Spirit of God to demonstrate the power of God. We need to get back to the simplicity of the “primitive church”.

Acts 10:38 – “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Before the river Jordan experience Jesus was a law abiding, ethical and moral man. After His encounter with the Holy Spirit He went on the attack. I have multiple blogs and messages on what true Biblical Christianity is and is not.

When Jesus handed the baton of advancing His Kingdom from Jerusalem to the rest of the planet He wanted His work done the way He did it when He was personally and physically on the planet.

When Jesus came He said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” This clearly communicates God sent Jesus to model Christianity.

The doctrine of the apostle’s was ~

God cares!

Jesus came!

He is the standard for all life and ministry, and He set the standard!

He is calling you!

He is calling you to be His disciple, not some preacher’s disciple!

He is calling you to reach your God-given purpose in earth!

It is time to Act Up!

A portion of this message  and future messages can be watched on YouTube at Bethel By The Sea. I am getting closer to publishing my book CHRISTIANITY THE WAY JESUS LIVED IT, Releasing The Christ Within You. A lot of this material is in this book.

Keep THE Faith! Keep THE Passion!

Our hunger and thirst for God escorts us into deep satisfaction in God!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury, DMin                                                                                                                                      A Hisstorymaker