John 15:13-17- Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. “These things I command you, that you love one another.”

Ephesians 3:14-21- “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height–to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen.”

This is true “Friends and Family!”

JB

Dear Friends:

It’s been a while since we have written here on our blog, So I thought I would write a little update before we list the “7 R’s” of true apostolic reformation!  Pam and I have been on a mission the last three months to be stretched and stirred to a new place of desire and intensity in the Lord.  Since August, we have lived in Houston for “10” years and although we have seen some great things and believe we have seen some apostolic kingdom advancement in the region, we were just not satisfied with what we were seeing.  And, we are not “works” oriented anymore, inasmuch as just doing good things just to be doing them.  We have truly labored to “enter into His rest” by ceasing from our own labor and then just ‘functioning’ according to that which He would have us do.

Earlier this month, which was one of the last times we posted here, Pam and I celebrated our “30” wedding anniversary.  Yet, we were still in the mode of transformation in this three month period, that we knew we had some things to still walk out in this pivotal month of September.  So, we postponed going out of town, just had a nice day of rest and dinner that evening.  Last week, we went to Arkansas to see my Dad and family, as we had not been back to Magnolia since my mother’s passing in late May.  We didn’t know if we would go in that three month period of time from July-September, but we really sensed we needed to go.  At the same time, we were under “intense” dealings of the Lord in prayer and with knowing there were great changes going on in us!

After spending a few days in Ar. and coming back through N/E Texas, the Father really gave us a “BREAK-THROUGH” that we desperately needed, just a knowing that our “labor was not in vain” and that our “weariness” would not remain.  It was very refreshing, yet it was just the beginning of a new season to enter more fully into His kingdom purposes and plans.  After going to minister in the Austin area over the weekend, now being home for several days, we are beginning to feel the “weight” of the adjustment that He is making in us, personally, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.  I’m sure we will write more on that a little later, but just wanted you to know, that our “pulling in” was not a RETREAT, but literally a “going back” to get ready to go forward!

So, two main passages of scripture that have dear and near to our hearts for many years contain these “seven” R’s of reformation!  I want to share these passages and these R’s with you tonight.  First passage is Isaiah 58:12, then, Acts 3:19-21″

Isaiah 58:12-  Those from among you shall (re)build the old waste places;  You shall raise up the foundation of many generations;  And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets (paths) to dwell in.

Acts 3:19-21-  “Repent therefore and be converted (return), that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, “whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

Since we are in a “true” reformation of the apostolic ministry and church in the earth today, we are in a “New ERA” of the kingdom!  So, we must go back and ‘recover’ all the things that have been lost or stolen, so we can move forward and “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (teaching) and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and in prayers…” (Acts 2:42)

I’m sure by now you have seen the 7 R’s of apostolic reformation in these two passages:

1)  RAISE UP-  THIS IS THE HOUR OF THE “FATHER”, SO THEREFORE ‘father’s’ are being raised up to see the generations fulfilled.  This is basically the “recovering” of the generational blessing that is passed from ‘father to son’.  We are being RAISED UP!

2)  RE-BUILD-  THIS IS THE DAY THAT WE DO NOT ‘BUILD’ ANYTHING, WE MUST “RE-BUILD” ACCORDING TO THE FOUNDATION WHICH NO MAN CAN LAY THAN THAT WHICH IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST. (I. CO.3:11)  THE LORD IS BUILDING UP ZION, SO HE CAN APPEAR IN HIS GLORY.  THE WORD FOR “BUILD” IS TO “FOUND, CONSTRUCT, SET UP” THE SONS AS THE BUILDERS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS!  THE BUILDING OF SONS IS AFTER THE ORDER OF THE SON, CHRIST JESUS, THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR CONFESSION.

3)  REPAIR-  WE ARE CALLED TO BE “REPAIRERS OF THE BREACH!”  A BREACH IS A ‘GAP’, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN LEFT DESOLATE!  WE MUST REPAIR THE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE FATHERS AND SONS, THE KINGDOM AND THE CHURCH, APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, ETC. 

4)  RESTORERS-  WE ARE ALSO CALLED TO BE ‘RESTORERS OF PATHS TO DWELL IN.”  THIS IS THE LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION THAT IS BEING BUILT UPON THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, WITH JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.  WE MUST, “GO THROUGH, GO THROUGH THE GATES!  PREPARE THE WAY OF THE PEOPLE;  BUILD UP, BUILD UP THE HIGHWAY!  TAKE OUT THE STONES, LIFT UP A BANNER FOR THE PEOPLES…”SAY TO THE DAUGHTERS OF ZION, ‘SURELY YOUR SALVATION IS COMING;  BEHOLD, HIS REWARD IS WITH HIM, AND HIS WORK BEFORE HIM.'”  AND THEY SHALL CALL THEM THE HOLY PEOPLE, THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD;  AND YOU SHALL BE CALLED SOUGHT OUT, A CITY NOT FORSAKEN.”  (ISA. 62:10-12)

5)  REPENT AND RETURN-  I HAVE PUT THESE TOGETHER AS ONE, FOR THE KINGDOM CITIZEN, REPENTANCE IS SIMPLY A TURNING TO THE KINGDOM, A RE-TURNING TO THE LORD!  IT IS A RE-ALIGNMENT OF THAT WHICH THE FATHER HAS ALREADY DONE IN US.  HE HAS “CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE,…” (EPH. 1:4)  WHEN YOU FALL, YOU FALL FORWARD TOWARD THE KINGDOM AND GET UP AND RETURN UNTO THE KINGDOM…

6)  REFRESHING (TIMES OF,)-  THESE “TIMES OF REFRESHING” ARE “KAIROS” TIMES, SPECIAL TIMES AND SEASONS WHEN THE FATHER JUST REFRESHES, RENEWS,  AND REVIVES US SPIRITUALLY AND IN EVERY WAY TO FULFILL HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE…HAB. 3:2-  O LORD, I HAVE HEARD YOUR SPEECH AND WAS AFRAID;  O LORD, REVIVE THY WORK IN THE MIDST OF THE YEARS!  IN THE MIDST OF THE YEARS MAKE KNOWN;  IN WRATH REMEMBER MERCY. 

LET US GO ON INTO MATURITY…

BLESSINGS,

JIM & PAM 

The current chaos and cataclysmic conditions in the governments of the world and nations of the earth are not the signs of a shaking alone, they are manifest evidence that the awakening in the kingdom of God and His Christ are signs that the LORD IS BRINGING THE CHURCH OUT OF CHAOS AND DIS-ORDER FOR MANIFESTING HIS KINGDOM IN THE EARTH… for God has not given to us a spirit of fear, but of love and power and of a sound mind.  (2 Tim. 1:7)

Genesis 1:2,3-  The earth was without form, and void;  and darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  Then God said, “Let there be light”;  and there was light.

When things are in “chaos, or out of order”, it is a prime time for those very things to be brought into order, or divine alignment.  Many are feeling the shaking and shifting of this hour, and do not know what to make of it!  However, the Spirit of God is moving upon these situations and bringing light.  Light makes darkness manifest!  There really is no darkness, there is just an ‘absence of light!’  When you are surrounded by confusion or darkness, just look up into the light and “In His Light you shall see light.”  (Ps. 36:9b)

We must not be “moved” by the ‘surge of darkness’ in this hour in the world system, we simply walk as “sons of light” and these sons of God are led by the Spirit of God. (Romans 8:14)  “For it is God, who commanded “Light shall out of darkness”, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  (2 Cor. 4:6)

2 Thess. 1:3-12- We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you suffer;  since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.  These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified ‘in His saints’ and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.  Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, THAT THE NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST MAY BE GLORIFIED IN YOU, AND YOU IN HIM, ACCORDING TO THE GRACE OF OUR GOD AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

JB.

Apostolic HUBS in a particular region begins with a two-fold work of apostolic ministry: 1) Apostolic fathers, and 2) Regional apostles. The two primary scriptures for these are I. Cor. 4:15- for though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, you have not many fathers…; I. Cor. 12:28- And God hath set these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers…;

Apostolic Hubs will focus on Christ Jesus as head of the body, the church and king of the kingdom! The gathering of apostles and prophets first and foremost will help “bridge the gap” between regional apostolic ministry, and local/city pastors and presbytery.

These hubs will center in on the focal points of ministry:

Acts 2:42-And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (teaching) and fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayer.

Acts 13:2- As the ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, “Separate unto Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

The “wheel within the wheel” is the HUB!

The HUB IS: 1). The center part of the wheel.
2). A center of activity or interest; a focal point.
3). A center around which other things revolve or from which they radiate.

The kingdom of God is the HUB from which the church revolves around. However, the focal point of the kingdom is the “apostolic ministry of Jesus Christ!” Since we are being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone, apostolic and prophetic ministry must be the ‘point ministry’ for the church to become RADIANT, shining with the glory of God.

When men try to ” build the church” instead of preaching the kingdom, we lose our focus on the mission, therefore losing our balance and getting out of alignment with the will of the Father! We become “counter-productive!”

As apostles and prophets demonstrate the kingdom of God in cities and regions, then apostolic evangelists like Philip can come in with signs, wonders, and miracles to turn cities “upside down”! Churches will automatically see increase and be empowered with the message of the kingdom.

Apostolic HUBS will be established in the regions, so the “church in the city” will be unified as local assemblies with pastors and teachers connect with the heart of God in the city!!

Apostolic alignment is all about “TIMING!”  It’s about the “wheel in the middle of the wheel” and when the turning begins, you will find yourself right in the middle of the revolution!!       If you do not understand alignment in the kingdom, just stay on the wheel!  If you haven’t found your assignment in the kingdom, keep turning!  When you line up with the will of God, you will find yourself right in the center of His kingdom and His wheel!

Mt.6:33a-  But see ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness… 

Therefore, biblically, Apostolic kingdom Alignment (AkA) does these things:

1).  Exalts Christ Jesus as head of the body!

2).  Equips the saints for the work of ministry!    (Finds their function and where to serve)

3).  Establishes divine order through agreement and appointment, bringing assignment!!

4).  Edifies, or builds up the body to become a habitation of God in and through the Spirit!

5).  Empowers the saints, as well as leaders, by the grace of God to receive activation, innovation  and impartation!  ( The desired end result is the UNITY OF THE FAITH!- Ps. 133:1-3)