The book of First John, especially the first three chapters, truly reveals the nature of our fellowship and growth in God through Jesus Christ. The first four verses set the tone for this, especially in the Message:

I. John 3:1-4- From the very first day, we were there, taking it all in– we heard it with our own ears, saw it with our own eyes, verified it with our own hands. The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we say it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us.

We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

He starts out the second chapter like this: I. John 2:1-3 (NKJV)

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (atonement, mercy seat) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

Then, he write about three dimensions or dynamics of growth:

1) little children, 2) young men, and 3) fathers:

I. John 2:12-14- “I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake. I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one.

I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.”

Three areas that we all have to deal with in each dimension, just as Jesus did in Matt. 4:1-11, is found in I. John 2:15-17:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- 1) the lust of the flesh ( Jesus tempted by Satan to turn “stones into bread”), 2) the lust of the eyes (All these things I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.) 3) and the pride of life (“If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down…It is written, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”) — this is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world (cosmos) is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (number, my emphasis)

I. John 3:1-3 (Message)

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it–we’re called the children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has not idea who He is or what he’s up to.

But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see Him– and in seeing Him, become like him. All of us who forward to His Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.

I. John 3:7-9 (Msg.) Little children, let know one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the workds of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

I. John 3:18-21 (NKJV) My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

What are some of the key ingredients of these apostolic equipping centers?

1) They must be “kingdom-minded” and not individualistic oriented. The individual calls are important but they must be able to submit one to another!

2) They must be founded in “father/son” relationships. And in a region or city, that means not necessarily “one father” but that there be multiple fathering relationships that honor and respect each other. Now in a house, local assembly and fellowship, there is only one “founding father”, and those sons and daughters that are birthed have the DNA of the apostolic father! Then, through maturity and multiplication, there can be a “succession” and synergy of fathers raised up as mature sons.

3) The church, the true ecclesia, must be more than a local fellowship, it must be recognized as “one church (corporately) in the city/region/area!” True pastors should always be functioning in the plural, as city elders, working with apostles and prophets and teachers in the city. Set Ministry according to I. Co. 12:28, is not just limited to a “local church” function, but should be an apostolic team or presbytery made up at least 2 or 3 seasoned, recognized apostolic elders with teaching and prophetic grace!

4) At the same time, respect and honor must be given to each house, local assembly and fellowship to the leaders, whether they are called bishops, pastors, senior leaders or apostles. Each house represents a tribe, and has a unique DNA that only they have, and that is why there are those called to be a part of those various tribes. There were 12 tribes of Israel, but they were all Israel! Trans local apostles do not rule over pastors and congregations just because they are apostles. Servant leaders are called to uphold one another and not move out of their spiritual metron– measure of rule and grace.

5) There are, I’m sure, a lot more, but if we are not seeing city transformation through the saints of God being equipped, empowered, and mobilized to serve in their vocations and occupations, then we are not truly apostolic. This gathering unto ourselves, and ruling with an fist of iron, is not the new order of the kingdom. We must not be “tight-fisted” but must be “open-handed” even with our sons. It is not our church, and they are not “my” sons. These are sons of God who have been called and set apart as saints, and the saints are the family of God made up of a “many-membered body”, the church! When we honor and love unconditionally, we can begin to “release” the saints and the sons because they have been birthed, trained, and raised up in trans-generational order of the kingdom!

Many blessings,

Jim B.

Haggai 2:1-9-  IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, on the TWENTY-FIRST of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying:  “Speak now to Zerubbabel the Son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying:

‘Who is left among you show this temple (house) in its former glory?  And how do you see it now?  In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?  ‘Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord;  ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest;  and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work;  for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts.

‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you;  do not fear!’  “For thus says the Lord of hosts:  ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;  ‘and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the *Desire of All Nations* and I will fill this temple (house) with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.

‘The Silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.  ‘The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former,’  says the Lord of hosts.  ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of Hosts.” 

The seventh month is the “First” month of the spiritual new year and it is the 21st day!  The “3rd” day from Christ is the same as the “7th” day from Adam.  Three x Seven=  ’21’!  This third day of Grace is bringing in the glory of God, ready to manifest in the seventh month, or the completion of an old year and bringing in of a new!

This is why the Father had us begin our Apostolic Campaign 2014/2015!( overlapping of two years) in the middle of a year, the 7th month, in representing that He was ushering in a New Year, and even more important, He is bringing in a “NEW ERA!”  This is the “EMERGING RELATIONAL APOSTLES”, who are not only relational in fellowship, but regional in stewardship!  

This is why we are seeing not only a great shaking going on, not only in the world, but in the church, but we are seeing the monumental SHIFT that will literally thrust the “remnant of HIs people” into the forefront of this hour.  The word of the Lord in Haggai 2:4b was, “and be strong, all you people of the land, says the Lord of hosts, and work;  FOR I AM WITH YOU, says the Lord of Hosts.”

Everything that can be shaken is being shaken, so that only the things that cannot be shaken may remain.  He’s shaking all the nations (people groups) to bring them to the ‘Desire of All Nations’, to His restored ecclesia, the glorious church in the earth!  This third day of grace follows two days, or shouts of “GRACE, GRACE (Zech. 4:7) and in and on the third day His grace becomes GLORIOUS!

The only way He can bring  the silver and gold to the church is only when it has been shaken at its very core!  We have not known how to handle the “wealth of the wicked”, so therefore He will not allow it to be used or wasted as it has been in the past.  He is purging the church and bringing about a new breed of apostles and leaders who will be able to steward all the silver and the gold, so that He can fill His house with His glory.

Hag. 7:9-  “The glory of this latter house (restored ecclesia) shall be greater than the former (early church),  says the Lord of hosts.  ‘And in this place I WILL GIVE PEACE,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Blessings,

JB

Malachi 4:1,2 (Amp)- FOR BEHOLD, the day comes that shall burn like an oven, and all the proud and arrogant, yes, and all that do wickedly and are lawless, shall be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

But unto you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS arise with HEALING IN HIS WINGS and His beams, and you shall go forth and grow up like calves (released) from the stall and leap for joy.

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Apostolic Regional Convergence- Apostles and Prophets!