How leaders can grow in apostolic grace

Supernatural signs confirm the message of the Kingdom of God.  So how does a leader grow in the demonstration of spirit and power?

Look at this short inspirational video by Andre Kruger who has seen tremendous growth in his personal life and congregation in the demonstration of spirit and power. Form more on his teachings regarding this visit his page http://heavensflow.org/

Scriptures

Matthew 4:17-24

17  From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” … 23  And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24  So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.

Matthew 10:1-8

1  And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction… 5  These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6  but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7  And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Observations and Reflection

Note: Matthew, being a Jew, respectfully chose to use the euphoric phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” where the other evangelists used the phrase “Kingdom of God”.

1. List the similarities between these two portions from the Gospel of Matthew.
2. What was the message preached?
3. To whom did they preach?
4. What accompanied the preaching of this message?
5. What is “the Kingdom of God”? What synonyms could you use for the phrase “Kingdom of God”?
6. Why did these signs follow the pronouncement of the Kingdom of God? [hint: where does sickness, death, leprosy and demonic oppression come from?]
7. What was the purpose of these accompanying signs?

Personal reflection and Application

Jesus and his disciples preached the Good News of the Kingdom of God, calling the Jews to repent of their rebellion and sin and submit to the reign of God – and signs of this good reign of God followed as the blind saw, deaf heard, lame walked, the sick was healed and the oppressed were delivered, even the dead raised! These signs testify of the good and powerful reign of God.

1. Signs and wonders are more commonly observed during evangelic outreaches and gospel crusades. Have you witnessed this before? And why do you think it is so?
2. Considering today’s scripture reading, how would one grow in the apostolic anointing or demonstration of the Spirit and Power? [hint: apostle means ‘sent one, messenger or emissary’]
3. Jesus and his disciples preached ‘the Kingdom of God’ among their own people. Prayerfully prepare a 10minute message on the Kingdom of God and preach it to people you associate with. Then follow up with demonstration of the Kingdom of God by praying for sick or oppressed people. (Consider taking this message to hospitals or prisons in your area).
4. If you have not been on a mission trip in the last year, plan to join one in the next 12 months.

Prayer

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory,

Now and forever. Amen”

 

Leaders must grow in apostolic grace

God’s not dead. As Christian leaders we must demonstrate the power of God so that the faith of those we lead’s faith is secure in God, not just our words. 

In this short video Andre Kruger shares on how Christian leaders need to flow in Apostolic Grace from God. To learn more of Andre’s teaching and obtain a copy of his book Increasing Heaven’s Flow in 40 days go to www.heavensflow.org

https://youtu.be/-Y0vHIDIRdU

Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3  I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4  And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Observation and reflection questions

1. Reading Paul’s letters – even this one to the Corinthians – he seems to be an excellent teacher and philosopher. In light of his ability with words, how do you understand verse one?
2. In your own words, answer the following questions to better understand the line of thought
3. What was Paul’s intent in preaching? (verse 2)
4. Why does he mention both “Jesus Christ” and “Him crucified”? [hint: person and work] Why is this necessary when preaching the gospel?
5. What was Paul’s demeanor while preaching? (verse 3)
6. Why would Paul deliberately aim to come across “weak” when preaching the gospel?
7. What was Paul’s preaching like? (verse 4)
8. Why did he opt for “demonstration of Spirit and power” rather than “persuasive words” when he clearly has the ability to win an argument?

Personal Reflective questions

Leaders must usher people into the Kingdom of God.  His Kingdom is not is not found in religious observance, laws and rituals; it is in powerful demonstration of the reign of God (Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 4:20).

1. Jesus said “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
2. In which way does your life testify of the transforming power of God’s Spirit?
3. When last has God done a miracle through you?
4. Do you actively desire to know and experience God’s power? Why? How does your motive compare to Paul’s motive above?
5. When and where can you position yourself to experience and demonstrate the power of God “so that the faith of man may rest in God’s power” and not only your words? Schedule it.
6. Talk to a mature Christian friend about the power of God. Make a pact to agree to seek “to know Him, and the power of his resurrection” (Philippians 3:10).

Prayer

 

Stewardship 14 – power and rule

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on stewardship and God’s provision in power and authority.

Scripture

Daniel 4:29-37

29  At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30  and the king said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31  While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32  and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

33  Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. 34  At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

36  At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Observations and reflections

Note: This account chapter 4 follows Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s dream with the essence ‘repent of your ways, and know that “heaven rules”’ (v27).  At the time this was recorded by Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar was a great emperor who ruled many kingdoms in the Middle East and Europe, including Israel. 

1. From the decree by the “voice from Heaven” (v3-32) what do we learn of God’s providence and power in human lives (as in each of these phrases)?
   1. “The kingdom has departed from you”
   2. “you shall be driven from among men”
   3. “your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field”
   4. “you shall be made to eat grass like an ox”
2. What is the intended lesson from this account?

Application

1. How does this account challenge your attitude towards the ruler of your country?
2. Consider your current circumstance – what is entrusted to you, your influence and your authority. How does it feel that God knows where you are at, and that he is the one that has entrusted to you authority and power, your relational influence, where you live and your mental faculty?
   1. How does that influence your perspective on the successes in your life?
   2. How does that influence your perspective on the challenges you face?

Prayer

Pray firstly for the ruler of your country – for grace that He may recognize and serve God in his rules.

Then thank God for the authority, influence and even intelligence you have, and pray that you may serve Him well where you are.  Then bring the challenges you have in prayer to God.

Baptism 3

The Aim of this devotional study is to grow in understanding and desire of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 2:1-17

1  When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

2  And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  3  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.  4  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5  Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6  And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language… 12  And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

13  But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14  But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15  For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16  But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17  “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams …”

Observation

1. What is the reason why Jesus said he will give the Holy Spirit to his disciples, just before he ascended into heaven?
2. What happened when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost?
3. List what Joel prophesied would be the result of the giving of the Spirit on those who would receive the baptism?

Application

1. In which way have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
2. What has the baptism of the Holy Spirit changed in your witness for the Lord?
3. In which way has the baptism of the Holy Spirit changed your ministry to others? How does God minister more powerfully to others through your life because of the baptism of the Holy Spirit you received?

Prayer

Do you feel empowered to witness for the Lord?  Do you experience the power of the Spirit to prophesy and serve others with the grace and power of God?  “You have not, because you ask not” (James 4:2), so “ask, that your joy may be full!” (John 16:24)