Light of the Word

Last night's revival service confirmed what the Lord has been repeatedly yet gently speaking to me. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Several times before last night, God has been impressing on my heart the importance and urgency of having a daily intake of His word.

Pastor Joe stated that without the guidance of the Word in the church and in one's personal life, it is so easy to stray -- and stray far -- from the truth. This confirmation shook me awake from my insufficiency in the area of voraciously consuming the Word on a daily basis. Yes, I read the Bible and hear on my iPod, but I realized I don't do it deliberately enough. Changes are going to be implmented, by God's grace.

I now feel a greater sense of urgency to really immerse myself -- and the guys in the cell group with me -- in the Word. So help me God.

The Bible is our daily bread, our source of joy and strength, our light, our guide, and without it, living life would be like using a technically complicated equipment without reading the manual.

2 Kings 23:2 says that King Josiah, when he found the Book of the Covenant and realized how far off the nation was from God's standards, read the Book of the Law to all the people "in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant." When they learned of what God said was right, they made restitution -- they repented, stopped sinning and took corrective action. We who read the Bible now should have the same response.

God's Word IS a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Why stumble through the darkness of ignorance, uncertainty and sin when we can shine His truth on our lives and live in perpetual brightness?

TKB Notes on Humility

Notes on the [The Kingdom Builders] cell group discussion on humility.

- - - - -

+ The quality or condition of being humble, meek, subdued, modesty, lowliness


+ Just like faith, humility is attractive to God. If faith moves the hand of God on our behalf, I believe humility turns the face of God toward us. Several passages in the Bible show the appeal humility has on God.


+ The attitude of humility has turned God away from His anger.

2 Chronicles 12:7 – When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah: "Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.

2 Chronicles 12:12 – Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD's anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed.


+ Humility in God’s people has caused Him to turn His ears to their prayers.

2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 34:27 – Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.


+ God finds humility a very desirable character in a man and as a result, He does the following for those who are humble hearted:

God saves them
2 Samuel 22:28 – You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
Psalm 18:27 – You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.

He guides them
Psalm 25:9 – He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

He sustains them
Psalm 147:6 – The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

He crowns them with salvation
Psalm149:4 – For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.

He gives grace to them
Proverbs 3:34 – He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

He esteems them
Isaiah 66:2 – This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

He makes them greatest in the Kingdom
Matthew 18:4 – Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

He exalts them
Matthew 23:12 – For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

He lifts them up
Luke 1:52 – He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
1 Peter 5:6 – Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.


+ Other benefits of humility include:

Wisdom
Proverbs 11:2 -- When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Honor
Proverbs 15:33 – The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (First you learn humility, then you experience glory.)

Proverbs 18:12 – Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Wealth and life
Proverbs 22:4 – Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.

Reconciliation Favor Peace Security


+ We can see the importance of humility throughout the Bible when God’s word instructs us to:

Seek it
Zephaniah 2:3 – Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.

Serve the Lord with it
Acts 20:19 – I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.

Matthew 20: 26-28 – Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Treat others in that attitude
Philippians 2:3-4 – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Clothe ourselves with it
Colossians 3:12-13 – Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

1 Peter 5:5 – Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Show it to all
Titus 3:1-2 -- Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.


+ Humbling situations are a test of what’s in our hearts

Deuteronomy 8: 2-3 – Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.


+ God has the ability and the authority to humble and lift up his people

1 Samuel 2:7-8 – The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world.

The Kingdom Builders

Introduction to the new name of our cell group.

- - - - -

--- Why are we changing the name the cell group?
The Lord has been speaking to me about the group’s direction in the last few months and I believe the time is right to rename the cell group even as we have entered into a new season in the Spirit. This name change to The Kingdom Builders is a natural progression from where the group started last year – as the Davidic Generation – now going on with more emphasis on bringing the rule and reign of God into our lives.

The focal point of Jesus' ministry on earth was the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom of God and the demonstration of the reality of the kingdom (Matt. 4:23 / Matt. 9:35 / Luke 4:43 / Luke 8:1). This is echoed in one of the main visions and missions of the Maranatha Christian Fellowship – to be able to take part in the proclamation of the good news of the Kingdom of God in the power the Holy Spirit to our generation.

So in essence, we are merely stepping further into our identity as individuals by defining and aligning the group's identity to the vision of the congregation.


--- What does it mean to be a Kingdom Builder?
Being a Kingdom Builder is reflective of the Davidic Generation. Each one of us is anointed to be a priest, prophet and king with a mandate to build and establish the God's kingdom in our personal lives, our families, our communities, our generation and every area of influence that God puts us in.

In the Old Testament, David is our main reference of what a Kingdom Builder is like. Through David's life, God built His kingdom, shaped His people into a powerful nation, cut off their enemies, and enabled them to live peacefully in the land He had promised to His people.

In the New Testament, Jesus is the model of a Kingdom Builder. He was the perfect example of one who walked in the authority and reality of heaven. Jesus is a King, a Priest and a Prophet and He used these anointings to establish the Kingdom of God on earth.


--- What passage of scripture are we using as the basis for the cell group's new name?
I feel strongly led by the Spirit that Matthew 6:33 should be the group's identifying scripture. This will also serve as our vision and guiding principle not just in our life together as a group, but more importantly in our lives as individual men of God. The following translations should paint a clearer picture of what each one in this group is called to be and do:

[The Message] Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

[Amplified Bible] But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

[New Living Translation] Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

[New King James Version] But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

--- How are we to build and establish the Kingdom of God?
First of all, as the above scripture clearly states, we build the Kingdom of God by seeking Him first. This means that every decision, every desire and every plan we have must be placed in submission to the authority of God by asking for His will to prevail. Simply put, it is asking the King what He wants to do with what He owns. A lifestyle of intimacy, humility, submission, sacrifice and obedience to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is necessary in establishing the Kingdom of God in our lives.

Secondly, we are to build the Kingdom of God from the inside out. We are to first start establishing the rule and reign of God in our lives, attitudes, and character. We do this by allowing the Word of God and the Spirit of God to place in us Kingdom truth and power to not only grow in godliness but also to overcome the influence of the devil in our lives.

Thirdly, we build God’s Kingdom by influencing others to live godly lives after exemplifying a godly lifestyle in our own lives. We are to bring the lordship of Jesus to our families, our friends, our communities and our areas of dominion by preaching and demonstrating the power and reality of the Kingdom of God.


--- Are we equipped to be Kingdom Builders?
Yes, we are. The Bible says that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) and that He will supply our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:9). It also says that He has given us the authority to overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). Jesus also commanded us to work for the expansion of His Kingdom in Matthew 28:16-20.


--- So now what?
Now, we go and do what God called us to do; what He filled us with His Spirit for – establish His Kingdom on earth in the leading and power of the Holy Spirit. We live out our lives as the Kingdom Builders that God sees us to be – like David and Jesus before us.