Wow ! It’s the final day of, ‘12 days of discovering your identity’ ; a journey we have traveled together !
As my wife and I were flying to Christchurch a couple of years ago the Lord dropped this thought into my spirit.‘Jesus said ; Go ! Not hide’.
The preparation we talked about yesterday is only for a time or season at the most, but not a permanent position.Faith is not faith until it is tested ! This will only happen in a place of action. Acting upon what is given or entrusted to you speaks of a deposit ; given in that hidden place with the Father.
If Jesus or David just stayed on the mountain or away from crowded places in prayer, soaking and learning to hear the Fathers voice, we would not read the great testimonies that followed ; testimonies of the Lords glory ! The time spent with the Lord would have been infertile, barren and of no effect.
James 2:14 (NKJV)
My dear brothers and sisters, what good is it if someone claims to have faith but demonstrates no good works to prove it? How could this kind of faith save anyone?
In the book of Luke before Jesus ascended to heaven, He tells His Disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for the one He would send (The Holy Spirit) for they would need Him for their journey ahead.
This is a great picture for us of obedience, waiting for a promise or breakthrough, but unless they listened, went and waited in Jerusalem, then they would have got nothing ! And remember they waited 50 days without really understanding, for what ! Luke 24:49 (NKJV)
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Often when we hear messages of Jesus saying ‘go’, we are taught from Matthew 28:16-20 (The Great Commission). But I love the way Mark writes about this season of the disciples journey, in discovering the new level of their identity.
Mark 16:14-20 (NKJV)
The Great CommissionLater He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons;they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”Christ Ascends to God”s Right Hand So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
So the disciples went, they waited, they trusted and believed.
In this place (waiting) they got the breakthrough, the promise (The Holy Spirit) and they started using it and God did His part by showing His power and glory everywhere they went.
I love the way Paul explains this : Ephesians 4:1-13 (MSG)
To be Mature (& Gifts)In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is,He climbed the high mountain,He captured the enemy and seized the booty,He handed it all out in gifts to the people.It’s true, is it not, that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
Nb. Emphasis is mine
All of you have a gift given to you by God, are appointed by God and are a gift to the world from God. A gift is no good if it’s is not given, stays on the shelf or in it’s wrapping. It is at it’s most beautiful and has the most impact on the day it is given. The gift I am talking about is your identity and you have arrived at a place where, I believe you can only realise your full potential by using your gift to help others discover their identity.
So here is your last challenge
1. Ask the Lord to lead you to identify one person in your sphere of contacts, that needs help discover their identity.
2. Now use all you have learnt through this 12 day journey to teach, encourage, inspire and uncover their true identity. Ask the Lord to be the Master Guide for this journey with them. My prayer is He will show you a new and exciting way of doing this, completely different from the one you have been on, and tailored for you to teach . But if you need help with this here is a link to introduce this course. Nb. At the bottom of the Introduction Page is the option of starting on Day1. http://www.encounterministries.org.nz/uncategorized/12-days-of-discovering-our-identityunderstanding-our-identity-in-christ/
3. Take some time out of your daily life and ask the Lord to reveal His plan for you for the next 5 years, or maybe challenge yourself by pushing this out to 10 years.
4. Write down all His leadings and directions. Maybe also people to connect with on this next part of the journey you are embarking on (For revival has been planted in all of us individually, but will only be seen in this nation through a combined expression) ! CP
5. Ask the Lord for 5-7 decrees (declarations) ! These will be your weapons for future battles, so write them down and keep them handy.
6. Will you join me in this prayer. ‘Father we have started together and have arrived at the end of this journey together’. ‘Father we ask corporately for Your individual direction and help as we now step out on the path You created for us to walk on’. Amen
7. Give thanks for all He has done through this course and throughout your life. Ask Him what is the next step for you ? Maybe, say a prayer like ; ‘Father I am open, free and obedient to Your call’. ‘I now know my identity in You and willingly, fully trust You and give You the rest of my life. So Lord what now is my next step ??
We personally honour you for all you are, all you carry, and all you have uncovered and become through this course. Thank you for being such a conscientious student. Well done faithful people, you have been good steward’s of what you have been given ; now step into the fullness of the Lord. (Matt 25:23)
Let me end with the beginning ! I now pass to you my most honoured scripture that the Lord gave me when we were about to enter our current ministry. My prayer is that it’ll bless you, and prove for you a comfort, while also shaping you, as it has me !
Isaiah 50:4 (NIrV)
The LORD and King has taught me what to say.He has taught me how to help those who are tired.He wakes me up every morning.He makes me want to listen like a good student.
Let’s close in prayer
Father I pray for Your help, that we may hear Your word clearly, and also learn to understand the application to Your word. That we will through the journey of stepping out, see your Glory and that others will come to know You. And in this discover more of our identity in You. Thank you Jesus. Amen
Craig and Winnie Patten
Itinerate Pastors/Apostolic Leaders
Encounter Ministries
