Tag: Paul the apostle

Reigning in Life!

~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

Reigning in Life… Romans 5:1-5,17 (NKJV)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us….

Vs. 17- For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Pam and I were gone most of the day until early evening filled not just with excitement, but an expectancy that helped carry us through a long, arduous journey. This journey was not a trip, so to speak, it was actually the fulfillment of the last three months to the day of some important breakthroughs and increase, line upon line, and faith to faith and strength to strength! This last day of Sept., Sept 30, 2014!

Just when it seemed that this load might be too heavy, the Father God, the Father of spirits, released His life and His perseverance, His character, and His hope that does not disappoint, but causes His grace and life to abound in our lives and hearts. The outward demonstration of the physical is just a sign of the inward manifestation of Christ in US, the hope of glory. We seemed to be in a place where the cup was so full, that it could not be emptied to fill back up again. But His word and His Spirit knows when the “fullness of the times” is come and released to accomplish His desires and purposes.

There’s nothing like the “abundance of grace” and of the “gift of righteousness” which goes before you, not by your works or endeavors, but by His own purpose and grace that He has purposed and destined for you. We know “NOW IS THE TIME”, the SET TIME, for the favor of the LORD to come. (Ps. 102:13) Now is the awakening of the sons of God to arise, shake off the dust, and put on your strength, O Zion! (Isa. 52:1,2) The word Pam has had for years, to be “relieved” so you can be “released” into the fullness of the kingdom!

This release is not just some “theoretical”, high sounding, spooky spiritual non-sense,and soulish wish that now the time has come! This is the Sound of the Lord and the release of the captives. Now is the time to sieze the moment, not in the flesh, but with joy in tribulation, that ALL things work together for the good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. Many are called, but few are chosen. And the chosen must make their calling and election sure! When we stand on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ and walk in the newness of His life in us, we receive the “confirmation” and the “commission” for the new day in Christ! The day to “REIGN IN LIFE” through the One, Jesus Christ!

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer..(Rom. 12:10-12)

JB.

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The Apostolic Career!

~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ 2 Comments

Jim Becton

1 Tim. 1:18-20- (Message)
I’m passing this work on to you, my son Timothy. The prophetic word that was directed to you prepared us for this. All those prayers are coming together now so you will do this well, fearless in your struggle, keeping a firm grip on your faith and on yourself. After all, this is a fight we’re in.
There are some, you know, who by relaxing their grip and thinking anything goes have made a thorough mess of their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two of them. I let them wander off to Satan to be taught a lesson or two about not blaspheming.
Great passage from Paul concerning his son, Timothy, about keeping the faith and “waging the good warfare”- strateia- “the apostolic career”, which is where the real fight of faith is! The apostolic career is not just a “profession”, or saying I have 20 or 30 years in my career so I can now retire! No, the apostolic career is a lifestyle of spiritual “military service”, the apostolic career (as one of hardship and danger): — warfare.
This warfare is as a soldier serving in a military campaign; To Paul and Timothy it was executing the apostolate (the apostleship) with its arduous duties and functions, to contend with carnal inclinations. Go to War-fare. It is about dealing with the mindsets and strongholds that hold men in fear, religious traditions, and even heresies, or those being diverted from truth. When we see the apostolic as contending with carnal minds and inclinations, then we can understand what the “good fight of faith is.”
We will be looking at this more extensively over the next few weeks, as we prepare for our apostolic campaign beginning in the month of July. We will look at the scripture concerning the apostleship and how territories are where the greatest battles are, because men are “territorial!” The apostolic career is NOT something we choose, it is the calling and choosing of the Father that through apostolic fathering relationships, we can begin to take back the land through inheritance, blessing, and birthright. May we continue in “fighting the good fight of faith…”

Apostolic Fathers Today!

~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ 1 Comment
Clearly the Father God is revealing Himself through the knowledge of the Son of God!  Jesus said in Matt. 11:27- ”  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father.  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
Jesus then said in St. John 14:23- “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;  and My Fa…ther will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode (home) with him.”  John said in I John 2:22,23-  “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.  Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either;  he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
The pattern in the Godhead that reveals the order of relationships in the Spirit is the order of “Fathers and Sons!”  Today, there has returned an emphasis on relationships that are birthed our of relationship with our “heavenly Father” through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus said in John 14:6- “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father  except through Me.”
Therefore today the key to relationships in “Fatherhood and Sonship.”  Once again, Jesus demonstrated that in His sonship to the Father.  Heb. 3:1,6-  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him to who appointed Him,… but Christ as a SON over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
Now today, many are jumping on the bandwagon of “apostleship” but many are not embracing the “Fathering” heart of our God!  Many apostles are building networks and wanting “pastors” to join their network as a “covering” but once again instead of relational authority it is “positional authority!”  They are wanting to be apostles “over churches” but it is viewed more as an “organization” than as a spiritual operation of the Holy Ghost.  It will not work in this New Day and New ERA because the “new wine simply cannot be put in an old wineskin.’
The classic text found in I. Co. 4:15 simply defines the difference in the styles of leadership today:  “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers;  for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”  There must again be a “birthing” of these relationships that clearly demonstrate “father and son” in the order of God!
Many are shouting “Apostle, apostle” today but where are the true sons, or “the son” that reflects and reveals the pattern found in heaven through the Father and the Son!  Instead of trying to “cover” pastors and churches by networking, there should be a Fathering heart of God and a “spirit of sonship” with a crying out of “Father, Father!” Paul went on to say in I. Co. 4: 17 concerning His son in the faith, “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”
The bottom line must be who is “representing” the Father by maturing and being called an “apostolic father” and where are the sons that are crying out, “Father, Father” as mature sons who are about their Father’s business!  If the apostolic is not linked to fathering, it is a ‘false start’ and cannot produce true sons in the faith that will be one with their father!  This is the pattern in the heavenlies that must be revealed in the earth!
I once heard a man of God say,” If you are an apostle, and you are not “apostle-lyzing” (not proselytizing) LOL, (that is, becoming a father by relating to sons), you may be “called” to be an apostle, but have not been “commissioned” as an apostle.”  True apostles will be first and foremost fathers whose hearts will be “turned” to sons, or children, and the hearts of many children will be turned to “their” fathers. (Mal. 4;5.6)
Jesus said in John 14:7- “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also;  and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

STEWARDSHIP OF AN APOSTLESHIP!

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Stewardship of an Apostleship!
Pam and I are so thankful that the Father has entrusted to us as ambassadors of Christ the ministry and word of reconciliation.  We understand that we have been given this to carry out the hidden wisdom in a …mystery, that is, to those that He sends us to and receives us!
Romans 1:5-  Through Him ( Christ) we have received ‘grace and Apostleship’ for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
I Co. 9:17-  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward;  but if against my will, I have still been entrusted with a stewardship.
Gal. 1:15,16a-  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME,…
Col. 1:25-  of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD.
 
Photo: Stewardship of an Apostleship! Pam and I are so thankful that the Father has entrusted to us as ambassadors of Christ the ministry and word of reconciliation. We understand that we have been given this to carry out the hidden wisdom in a mystery, that is, to those that He sends us to and receives us! Romans 1:5- Through Him ( Christ) we have received 'grace and Apostleship' for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; I Co. 9:17- For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have still been entrusted with a stewardship. Gal. 1:15,16a- But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, TO REVEAL HIS SON IN ME,... Col. 1:25- of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD.

Local Church Leadership and Presbytery!

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Joshua 3:4b, 5- “…for you have not passed this way before. And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify (consecrate) yourselves, for tomorrow thw LORD will do wonders among you.”
 
The last dozen years or so we have corporately been moving into the “Joshua Generation!”  Of course, this is the shift from “Moses, the Man of God” to “Joshua, the new or next generation leader!”  He was established and set in by Moses and the elders of Israel!  He represents a “new breed”, a new order of ministry!! If you have begun or took a congregation/ministry in the last 5-10 years, you have by now noticed that “church or ministry that you saw before, is no longer the same!!”  Under-statement, right?!?  (smile)
 
We have not passed, or crossed over and gone beyond this way before!  Intellectualism (human wisdom) and administration abilities alone will no longer accomplish the task!  We must be “set apart” unto the LORD, and “set in” by proper eldership and relationship.  If you are “pastoring” today and do not have a “prophetic-apostolic-presbytery” (PAP) of two or three apostolic-prophetic fathers/elders, you are no doubt experiencing tremendous frustration/anxiety over your current condition!
 
This is the day of sincere relationships and apostolic team-ministry that will help set order and peace in the assembly ministry!!  Pastor, do not be afraid, “for God has not given you a spirit of fear (timidity), but of power and of love and if a sound mind!”  (2 Tim. 1:7)
 
I. Timothy 4:14-  “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which as given you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”  (presbytery-body or council of apostles and prophets and teachers)  JB.