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In This Issue
1. Applying the Kingdom – By Dr. Myles Monroe
2. LIVING WATER JUST AHEAD – By Tina Marie Pope
3. HAS GOD CHOSEN YOU? – Mario Murillo
4. News Headlines
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1. Applying the Kingdom – By Dr. Myles Monroe
Food, drink, clothing, shelter, cars, money, luxuries; these are the things we live for. These are the things that we get out of bed and go to work for every day. These are the things that make up the objects of most of our prayers. And it is the pursuit of these things that drives human culture and the economies of nations. Yet, these are the very things Jesus said we should not live for. In fact, He told us not even to worry about them. He stripped away all of our confusing, energy-draining, deceptive, distracting, misleading and misplaced priorities and left us with one simple focus: seeking the Kingdom of God. In so doing, He also gave us the key to a simpler, more fulfilling life. Pursuing one central priority in life instead of ten or twenty secondary ones—what could be simpler?
Furthermore, Jesus says that when we make the Kingdom of God our one priority, all these other things that we have spent our lives pursuing will turn around and pursue us! They will chase us down! This is a fundamental principle of the Kingdom of God.
This is one of the simplest statements in the Bible, yet one of the least obeyed. We are possessed by our quest for things and for the good life, while God is looking for Kingdom-possessed people. All who seek and gain the Kingdom of God also gain access to all its riches and resources. Why settle for a scrap here and there that we are able to eke out on our own when the fullness of the Kingdom with its abundant provision is available to us?
Kingdom-possessed people do not live just to make a living; they live for the Kingdom. Kingdom-possessed people do not work just to get a paycheck; they work for the Kingdom. Kingdom-possessed people do not strive day in and day out to meet their needs; they strive continually for the Kingdom. As Kingdom citizens and children of God, they know that all these things already belong to them. Kingdom-possessed people understand that their lives are not for the pursuit of selfish gain but for seeking opportunities to introduce others to the Kingdom.
For Kingdom-possessed people, all of life is about the Kingdom of God. To be Kingdom-possessed means to have the Kingdom of God as our sole priority, for the Kingdom priority demands an exclusive claim on our lives. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matt. 6:24).
By our Manufacturer’s design, we are not equipped to serve two masters. One will always take precedence over the other. There is room in our hearts for one and only one top priority, and Jesus said that top priority must be the Kingdom of God. This is why He said we are to seek first God’s Kingdom and righteousness. The Kingdom of God is so vast that our pursuit of it will fill us to capacity so that we have no room for other priorities. It also will satisfy us so completely that we have no need of other priorities. All the priorities that we recognize as essential or beneficial to life will be satisfied when we set our hearts to seek first the Kingdom of God. This is His promise to us. But He requires our exclusive allegiance. He demands from us our whole heart, our undivided loyalty.
As we have already seen, the command to seek first the Kingdom and righteousness of God comes with a corollary promise that “all these things” the world strives for will be given, or added, to us. Think about this: anything you work for was not added. Added means you receive something you did not work for. God blesses most of us with the health and ability to work for the things we need to support ourselves and our families but, as I’ve said before, we should never live for those things. If our priority is focused on the Kingdom and righteousness of God, He will add all the rest to us. He wants to give us many things that we did not and even cannot work for. But the key to this life of favor and blessing is to seek, to pursue, to walk in the righteousness of God.
Righteousness means right positioning with the government. It is when a person takes up citizenship in a country and pledges to obey its laws. Those are simple requirements. When Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” He was saying, “Seek to become a citizen of the Kingdom of God and then stay in alignment with the government’s law. If you do those two things—citizenship and obedience to the laws—then everything you need will be added to you.” What could be simpler?
The key to success in a kingdom is for the citizens to maintain right relationship with the government. This is righteousness. At the same time, the government is responsible for the rights and well-being of the citizens. Citizens benefit from their righteous relationship by qualifying to make demands on the government. Righteousness gives you power. If you are keeping the law, then all the rights of the constitution are yours. Citizens have rights. Righteous citizens can demand what is rightfully theirs. That is why it is a legal term.
Our two priorities are to seek Kingdom citizenship and the relationship that puts us in a position to demand things from the Kingdom. And the Kingdom government is responsible and obligated to the citizen. Righteousness gives us rights and rights activate the government to act on our behalf.
The kingdom places us in citizenship; righteousness places in us relationship.
Kingdom gives us rights to government benefits; righteousness gives us access to government benefits.
Kingdom makes us legal; righteousness maintains our legal status.
Righteousness is manifested in holiness.
Holiness is not a doctrine; it is a result. Jesus never taught on holiness. He taught on the Kingdom and righteousness. Living holy simply means you are obeying all the Kingdom laws. If you are righteous, you don’t have to “do” holiness; it is a by-product of right standing. Holiness is a manifestation of righteousness. Food, clothing, and rituals don’t make you holy. Holiness is based on relationship, and relationship comes from righteousness.
Excerpt From: Dr. Munroe, Myles. “Applying the Kingdom.”
2. LIVING WATER JUST AHEAD.
By Tina Marie Pope
Dream 12-17-18 4:44am
There was a gathering of the body builders. So many people were going. It was out in the open country.
I get there and you can see the people flexing and doing things ( not posing) that show their muscles.
All of a sudden everyone is in this huge ‘trench like’ river cut out that started flowing , moving with clear living water, glowing or luminescent , and it was so warm and felt amazing!
I said where did this clean warm water come from? Whats keeping it from mixing with the dirt? I want to swim but the current is strong and the water is packed full! Anyone can get in. Some choose just to watch as many participate.
As I was dreaming this I am impressed with the physical training that a body builder goes through. The regular workouts, the intake of certain foods and the blind trust not to cheat on any of this as it would occurred to me that anyone can get in this river of living water but if we want to be an active part it is through time with the Lord , relationship and training ( prayer, fasting, study, intimacy)
There will be many in the living water that did not put the time in but come to love and know the Lord as we do. The living water will be full of people. I believe this is representative of the season ahead of us.
I also know in times of war , the trench is a place the warrior is safe, but still able to fight. So no matter what the circumstances we have to know all is well.
There was such an inviting presence in the living water. It ‘glowed’ with power and peace that only obedience can bring.
There were many spectators also. Not everyone will know God. We are to show his goodness.
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““But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?”
“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.””
John 4:11,14 NLT
“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’””
John 7:38 NLT
““For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me— the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!”
Jeremiah 2:13 NLT
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Maybe you can see that something radical needs to happen. May you see how Satan has sold so many believers fool’s gold. Instead of taking up weapons mighty to the tearing down of strongholds, they pursue money, cheap grace, and safe spaces.
Maybe you can see how shallow, flattering, teaching is the perfect greenhouse gas. It’s fumes dull reality. It kills natural urgency. Taking a stand has become a distant fantasy to many…but what about you?
You see how faith has grown flabby. You can bear to see how many don’t know our weapons. They don’t know our authority. They have no marching orders. They don’t know what to say to this generation. Most of all, you feel a deep urgency and you are shocked at how ignorant so many are about what is right around the corner.
Peter recognized when government crossed the line. Acts 4: 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
He also understood what to do when government tries to ban the Gospel: “Acts 5: 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
They are coming after our freedom. They will force feed our children the Antichrist agenda. That is…unless we wake up to our purpose and destiny. I am calling you out for special power in this hour. However, we are to be alert not alarmed. Let the dire consequences light a fire in your soul! Is God selecting you to give a weapons grade faith and boldness?
If you are finally ready, then do these things:
1. You must be filled or refilled with the Holy Spirit. You must have fire, or you must have fresh fire. The courage to face the onslaught of hatred that will be thrown at you can never be met by human power. To say what you need to say, to obey when you need to obey can’t come from human motivation. You must have the same Spirit that fueled world-changing saints in all times. God never meant for anyone to preach or lead without a clear baptism of the Holy Spirit.
2. You must flow in signs and wonders. Our culture is beyond words. They must see proof of the power of God. God means for you to provide that proof. The authority you need won’t come cheaply or instantly. (Read my blog on the price of God’s miracle working power https://wp.me/p1vrzp-53e
3. Get ready to do something for God that will boggle your mind. God is selecting people and working in them for unmatched power to attack evil. Habakkuk 1: 5 “Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.”
He is creating people who can turn the tide of wickedness. He doesn’t care about your age or your education. He searches for someone who is travailing over the evil and will die without power and purpose. They want to be in the fight—they want to be in the thick of it. Isaiah 6: 8 says, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
4. Prepare to pray in a way you never imagined. God is pulling you out of the damaged religious crowd into special intimacy with him. You are not going to pray like before. E.M Bounds said, “To say prayers in a decent, delicate way is not heavy work. But to pray really, to pray till hell feels the ponderous stroke, to pray till the iron gates of difficulty are opened, till the mountains of obstacles are removed, till the mists are exhaled and the clouds are lifted, and the sunshine of a cloudless day brightens-this is hard work, but it is God’s work, and man’s best labor.”
What do all of these things I am asking you to do have in common? Every one of them involves a leap out of dead religion. They are a courageous declaration of war on the godless ideologies that are destroying our nation. They are an irrevocable decision to be in the middle of God’s greatest acts in history.
https://mariomurilloministries.wordpress.com/
4. News Headlines
A Plea from Syrian Christians to the US Christians Dec 26, 2018
A Plea From Christians in Syria to the US Christians: “Please Do Not Abandon Us” –“We thank President Trump and the US for all help given … [but] we ask you urgently as our brothers and sisters not to abandon us.” – Excerpt from an open…
Religiously mixed marriages of Muslim Men and Christian Women have created decline in Christianity Dec 26, 2018
Jordan (MNN) – Christianity was once the religious majority in Jordan and other countries in the Middle East. Yet, over the centuries, as Islam has entered into the region and there were Muslim conquests in the Middle East and North Africa, Christianity has gradually…
First-Time Author Reveals Inspiration for Telling Her Story – Steve Eastman – Wait Till You Hear This Dec 25, 2018
Every one of us is born with a dream of what we can be. Think of it like a vision, a calling or a gifting. But as we grow up, we often get distracted from this dream. Robyn Moss has just achieved one of her dreams ─ writing a novel, Cherry Pie; and we can all…
Changes in Egypt create concerns for Christians Dec 25, 2018
Egypt (MNN) – Small changes in Egypt cause concerns for the future of Christians in the nation. Changes in Egypt Addison, an Egyptian believer, says the government is treating Christians well, but Muslims they meet on a daily basis and the changes they make can cause…
LAME MAN WALKS – Bill Linda Campbell, Prepare The Way Dec 25, 2018
LAME MAN WALKS The man in the green pants was completely paralyzed, unable to move his arms or legs, and could not walk. His elderly mother had to care for him in every way. Every morning he was placed in a hole that had been dug in the bedroom of their house. His…
Fake News on Steroids: CNN Journalist of the Year From Germany is Fired for Fabricating Stories on a “Grand Scale” Dec 21, 2018
Some of the stories were set in the United States and played to unpleasant European prejudices about Americans, raising questions as to why Der Spiegel accepted them so trustingly. Because the news publication Der Spiegel is to Germany what the New York Times is to…
Prayer Alert News: UK, Europe, and Worldwide News Dec 21, 2018
Praise Reports The most wonderful time of the year A testament to God’s power Significance of Jesus’ swaddling clothes Europe Protests and demonstrations Ukraine: birth of new church brings violence British Isles and Ireland Intercessor Focus: New Year, new…
Chinese officials force third prominent house church to close Dec 21, 2018
China (MNN) — Over the weekend, Chinese officials raided and forcibly closed a third prominent house church in Southern China this winter. Around 60 police officers raided a children’s Bible study the Rongguili Church in Guangzhou Saturday morning and forced the kids…
Pat Boone Requests Prayer for His Wife, Shirley: ‘Expecting Miracles’ Dec 20, 2018
“We Are Expecting Miracles”: Pat Boone Asks for Prayer for His Ailing Wife – Shirley and Pat have welcomed hundreds of people into their life and world and have been spiritual parents and gatekeepers in the entertainment industry. They have hosted…