How do you get people to change?

How do you get people to change? 

We have all asked that question and often the answer begins by changing the focus and saying, “what do I need to do to be the change?” and other clichés like that. However, that all changed for me today as I was reading, “Free Yourself To Be Yourself” by Alan D. Wright.  I think we have all resisted the kind of change that feels like you are being manipulated, coerced, ‘guilted’, ‘voluntold’…you name it!  

The fact of the matter is that we are all in the people-change business whether you are a parent, a salesperson, a pastor.  Let’s be honest!  Of course we want people to change, but what do we hear so often from the voice inside our head to the word on the street, “It’s not my job!”  I think we want everybody around us to change whether that is our daughter to worry less about whether she is amazing and beautiful…’without make-up’ to seeing our friends come to know Jesus!  

Moses wanted the children of Israel to change.  He wanted them to stop worshipping the golden calf and be more patient in waiting for God to show up.  He wanted them to stop complaining sooo much and realize just how amazingly blessed they were.  The prophets wanted people to change from worshipping foreign gods and Paul, the apostle wanted the church in Rome to be transformed by the renewing of their mind!  Jesus wanted people to change and that is why He touched lepers, lifted up prostitutes and poured so much time into the disciples.  Of course we want people to change.  That is why teachers teach, parents parent and salesmen sell. There is no sin in wanting people to change; however it is a sin if our approach to change uses the tactics of the enemy and the world such as guilt, shame, condemnation etc… We have to motivate the right way!

The most important thing we can do is pray and intercede for the people that we definitely want to see discover real change.  We should stand in the gap, envision God’s best for them, declare the promises of God over them ask God to put godly influences in their lives!

In addition to this, here are three great biblical strategies that Alan D. Wright shares in his book.

1    1.   We change a negative spirit by sowing the opposite spirit.

There is always a law at work called sowing and reaping and it’s undeniable.  If we sow jalapeno peppers they will not turn into green peppers!  The same is true with weeds.  We will never get green grass by sowing more weeds or letting weeds like dandelions continue to pollinate the yard.  The principle here is found in Romans 12:21, ‘do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’.  In order for Jesus to make people more forgiving, He forgave them.  We can’t heal by shaming someone.  Perfect love casts out fear. 

The orphan spirit cannot be yanked out of a person, it must be displaced in a person.  If a person is going to quit acting so insecurely, their insecurity must be displaced by continued acceptance.

Alan D Wright

A simple example, a husband will not stop overworking if a wife keeps telling him how disgusted and disappointed she is with him.  It needs to come from a spirit of grace by conveying how much she does love being with him and how much the children enjoy time with him.

2            2. We enable positive change through the power of blessing.

Other than the Spirit of God, the most powerful force for change is recognizing how important a blessing is.  It is more important than positive reinforcement or even affirmation.  It has the prophetic power to bring incredible change in a person.  We only have to look at Issac’s blessing of Jacob to know how significant blessing is.  One of the things that I am so diligent about is praying over my children before they ‘hit the hay’!  Now, Jordan and I will have more conversations, but the other day he was driving to Pickering and I took the opportunity to pray a prayer of blessing over him and pray for 4 angels posted on every corner of that Neon!  I will pray into my children’s destiny, purpose  and God given gifts to enable them to be bright and shining lights for Him!  I have discovered that our blessing especially as father’s can be so empowering.  We are often a ‘man of few words’ so when we speak blessing, our wife and kids will be listening.  It will also directly empower them to love each other more as well.  It is contagious.  Discipline can also come in the form of a blessing if we look for the right opportunity.  Remember that it takes seeds to grow, so be patient and don’t look for immediate results although that can certainly happen.

3      3. Learn to help people embrace responsibility by treating them as if they’re owners, not slaves.

Alan writes, “slaves are valued for their productivity, whereas sons are valued for their position.”  Though I may ask my son to do some simple chores, the fact is that I give him more than he could ever give me.  Slaves also primarily motivated by rules and not by a relationship.  Sometimes a child is more motivated by consequences of the lack of obedience, but they are more motivated by reminding me of the promises I’ve made to them like, “ We will go for a timmies run when you are done…” However, what motivates us to work hard in life?  How can we encourage others without shaming them?  So, often even preaching becomes in essence, “try harder, do more, keep working at it”.  Something is missing though and Alan speaks of it as a revelation that he received.  He shares the story about a time he found one of the elders at his church working on a Saturday afternoon.  Alan shared with him, “you know that isn’t your job” to which he responded, “well, it needs to be done”.  He went on to say, “I guess it is just a matter of ownership.” 

Sharon is co-owner of Ninabrook and she works hard at her job.  She doesn’t watch the clock or even track her hours.  When you are a slave to your job it is all about putting in hours and usually doing the bare minimum.  However, when you are an owner, you deeply care about what you are doing.  It has your name attached to it and you are invested in it.  So, when Sharon has to pull a number of late night to switch over 400 items to their new website, she could begrudge it or know that it will take her business to the next level.

“And that is the moment the veil lifted.  Only free people own things.“ That is the difference between slaves and heirs.  If we look at what we are doing from the perspective of an owner, everything changes.  The key to inner motivation for others and ourselves is to be liberated.  When we look at the perspective of an owner, everything becomes an investment.  If we choose to go the other route and shame people, we will just produce slaves who watch the clock and do just what they are asked. If we threaten with our love and acceptance, we will never set them free.

The children of Israel’s focus to possess the Promised Land was the fuel for them to move forward and make it worth the fight.  We will fight for what we believe in and we need to fight right thought patterns and belief systems that God has given us.  

Romans 8:14-17 

14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

So if as a husband, I am frustrated with the sex life with my wife, I can choose to act in two ways.  I can either choose to get upset with her and tell her she is not a good wife or I can choose vulnerability, connect on a deeper level with her, choose to affirm her beauty and focus on genuine attraction.

Here is another example from being a father.  My children are my heirs, but until they take ownership of their lives, it is really no different than a master /slave relationship.  When I tell my kids to eat their ‘greens’ and they ask how many, it is still a slave/master situation.  When I tell my kids to clean up their room and they come back every few minutes and say, ‘Is thisgood enough?’ I know we are still stuck.  However, one day, I trust my kids will choose to eat fruits and vegetables as a result of their own desire to stay healthy and take charge of their own body.  I hope one day my kids will clean their room not because they have to but because they see how amazing it is when they can actually find everything they are looking for!  We are getting there, well, most of the time.

“As a parent, I have the responsibility to tell my kids what they must do. But I have a bigger goal in mind- helping them to grow up into an inheritance.  My short –term need is to give them rules, but my long-term goal is for them to live, not under the fear of the law, but under the joy of ownership”

Alan D Wright

I want to lead my children from a place of self-control through establishing principles to the place of Spirit-control where they act based on the prompting of the Holy Spirit in love.

I am a freedom fighter.  Therefore I want to treat people in a liberating way.  I want to escort them into freedom.  I want to treat others like owners.  We are co-heirs with Christ in the new kingdom. 

Some great final thoughts from Alan D Wright:

Who have I been trying to change?  Am I doing it God’s way or the enemy’s way?

We need to quit trying to convince ourselves that it’s wrong to want other people to change and start focusing on how we can help others change in a biblical way.  We need to start asking: What is the right way to motivate, empower, and spur people toward the changes that we know would be good for them and those that they touch.

Choose today to abandon the unhealthy ways that you try to change others with shaming tactics.  After  an honest evaluation of how I want people I love to change, I will apply biblical strategies and patiently await God’s work in them.

World AIDS Day moving from hopelessness to HOPE!

Last Sunday started by listening to Pastor James who is visiting here from the Apostolic Faith Mission in Butha Buthe, Lesotho share with me the story of Biko, named after activist Steve Biko.  Biko was one of the foster children who lived at the Thikuli foster home.  He was a young boy who died of HIV / AIDS at the age of 12.  He was born with HIV through transmission that took place at birth from his mother.  He was a boy on a mission and God gave him a passion to witness for Jesus.  James shared the story with me how up to two weeks before he passed into the presence of His Daddy Father God, he was sitting down with his principal and every teacher in his school to challenge them.  He sat down, leaned forward in his chair, looked them straight in the eyes and said, “do you know Jesus as your Savior?’.  He wanted to make sure that everyone knew his hope!  I share Biko’s passion for seeing people come to faith and God has blessed me through my relationships to lead two very good friends to Jesus.  I am so thankful for the “My Hope” campaign of Billy Graham which was such an instrumental tool.  We watched this one in particular. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyCtpoJFZSo

On Monday, I spent the evening with my swimming buddies at MoMondays in the EBar located above The Bookshelf on Quebec St.  My swim buddy, Mike Salisbury, oversees the event and does an amazing job.  This month they partnered with the Guelph AIDS committee to feature speakers as part of their AIDS awareness week events.  I listened to some heavy and tough stories of people who are dealing with HIV on a daily basis.  I heard one lady share about losing her husband in ’95 to HIV / AIDS and she is still here because they finally found a cocktail of antiretrovirals in time for her. I listened to a man still living HIV positive and now living a normal life 25 years later.  I listened to a young lady share how she has lived with both of her parents HIV positive from the time she was born.  Miraculously she was born HIV negative.  All of their stories had a common thread.  They or their loved ones were told to get their “house in order” and prepare to die.  However, they are still here, sharing their story and hopefully as awareness and education continue will be the champions of overcoming the stigma associated with this disease.

Last night I attended Bracelet of Hope’s World AIDS day event at the River Run Center.  Check out the highlights here.

During the event, Dr. Anne Marie didn’t mince her words as she told us how her life was changed forever after travelling to Lesotho  with OHAfrica, a medical team that helped open the first HIV and AIDS clinic in Hlotse, Lesotho.  She spoke about being an “Italian mother” who was “pissed off”!  She shared how she came home and screamed about the injustice to her children, her family and her community and they listened and responded and how the 1^st million dollars came in for this foundation.  

She told the story of Makhauta, one of the children in the Thikuli foster home that I had the

amazing opportunity to visit.

She shared about Andy McDougall who is one of Bracelet of Hope’s workers in Lesotho.

"I put my hands on Makhauta’s small shoulders and asked if she was well. She is not. The nausea has returned, and her feet and legs are swollen and painful. They think it is the meds again.  They  have her scheduled for a checkup at the hospital next week. I have a really bad feeling about Makhauta’s future.  Not something based on fact, or science, or something that someone has told me. Just a really dark feeling that I could not shake throughout our visit today.

I am worried for her, and for my friends back home who know and love her.  But mostly I am worried for her grandmother.  ‘M’e Mamatseliso loves all of the children at the foster home – it is so clear when you see her interacting with them.  But this is her granddaughter. ‘M’e Mamatseliso has lost children at the home to death before. And she has lost several of her own children, including Makhauta’s mother.  She is such a decent, loving woman who does what she does because of her love for kids. She doesn’t deserve this. But I feel strongly that this is something that is coming into her life regardless."

Then Dr. Anne Marie, whom I’m proud to say is my family doctor share,

I have watched children die of AIDS, many of them.   The trauma of it runs so deep that the memories are seared into my brain where they have dramatically changed who I am and what I do.  I emailed Andy and asked him which medications Makhauta was taking.  He headed back up the mountain to her foster home to find out.  She was taking the typical third world regimen, the cast off drugs no longer used in North America replaced now by more potent drugs that are easier to take with few side effects.  I knew that in two days, Bracelet of Hope was sending a team of business people from Guelph to Lesotho.  I also knew which medications Makhauta needed.  Three drugs combined into one pill of which Makhauta only needs half.  I called the pharmacist we call Saint Danny and asked him if he could get me a 4 month supply of this medication, Atripla. I would pay for it and convince my colleagues to take it with them to Lesotho.  Danny was in my office the next day, two bottles in hand, a smile on his face with a look of firm resignation.  There was no way he would let me pay for them. 

My colleagues did not hesitate to join our little initiative.  Makhauta's new medications were tucked into a safe place where they made their way to Lesotho and up the mountain to her foster home.

Half a pill.  Once a day.

And two weeks later, more words from Andy.  

"She has been on the new medications since the day the team arrived.  She is feeling terrific and her health is much improved.  And to date, Anne-Marie, none of the possible side effects you mentioned have appeared.  She just feels great and is back at school and busy being a regular kid. 

It was then time for Pastor James to share and he spoke about one man who shared how AIDS is like leprosy was even in the 50’s when they had no cure, but now it can be eradicated.  Then he shared with Pastor James that it will be the same for HIV AIDS.  Pastor James closed by sharing how God is doing some great.

This is what Bracelet of Hope is all about and so my week finished with great hope and expectation and why I am proud to be an advocate for this organization.  One country HIV / AIDS free because of one city Guelph and we will be a model for all the rest of Canada!

I am super excited that God also laid it on our hearts and provided a way for us to go back to Lesotho, but this time with our whole family along with our niece, Carla.  We will be working with the Apostolic Faith Mission in Butha Buthe, Bracelet of Hope and LXP Lesotho from March 10^th to April 6^th.  We can’t wait to discover what is in store as we endeavor to be another piece in the puzzle for the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho for the glory of God!

Some links to articles on HIV/ AIDs in Canada and Africa

http://globalnews.ca/news/997584/mother-to-child-hiv-rates-decreasing-but-adolescent-aids-up-alarmingly/

http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/4248566-the-good-news-bad-news-story-of-hiv-today/

The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat

There is nothing as amazing as winning a championship even if it is a recreation hockey league.  I have been on the ice to score the empty net goal to seal the victory and I have also been the guy that gets stopped by the goalie's glove hand to only watch the other team pour off the bench and celebrate.  However if I let that sinking feeling of not being able to score when the game is on the line to dominate my thoughts, it can be paralyzing in future opportunities that I am given.

It was this same mentality that Randy Clark spoke of this weekend as I attended the Supernatural Conference on healing and evangelism at the Embassy in Oshawa.  He shared how if you let the agony of defeat keep you down in praying for the sick, you'll never have a healing ministry.  The challenge was are we ready to count the cost and pay the price?  I believe with all my heart that physical healing is provided for in the atonement of the cross of Jesus Christ as prophesied in Isaiah 53.  I want to share with you a summary of what God has been downloading in my spirit as I continue to be stretched in the area of healing.

The following is not meant to be a stereotype the following beliefs, but is a quick view of how the majority of those in different belief systems on how they see healing work:

Catholic -  Only saints with enough virtue to pray for healing have any real value in praying for the sick and I am no saint!

Protestant - Healing is not normative so don't expect it.  It is a rare thing and this gift is really no longer in operation today.

Liberal - God doesn't do miracles like this anymore because He won't break the laws of nature to accomplish it.

And then there are those who really want to see healing and believe it does happen.

Why don't more of us pray for healing?

1.  Intellectual challenges.  We want answers on why one person is healing and another in the same condition isn't.    The honest answer is, "I don't know."

2.  Pride challenges.  We don't want to be disappointed or pray with believing faith and be let down or let down others.   Do you want to know how to stay humble?  Pray for the sick.
3.  Emotional challenges.  We don't like to be sad or deal with the pain associated with it.  This ministry is 'others' focused.  The cross for us is to walk with Jesus in this kind of ministry and to deal with the pain, the suffering and disappointment when it doesn't happen.

Gordon Fee speaks of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is "the power to see the miraculous AND the power to persevere when your miracle doesn't appear."

There are a lot of heartaches in this kind of ministry.  If you allow disappointment to stop you, you won't know the miracle of seeing when miracles really do happen!

When someone significant passes away do you move into despair or do you go for this ministry even harder?

The realization is that most people won't pursue it, but God is calling us to be His instruments to be used for His purposes and healing is such a powerful one especially in bringing people to life in Jesus.

Healing Testimonies!

Revelation 19:10  For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

God can cause faith to rise up in you as you listen to the testimony of Jesus and what He has done in others.
The testimony of what God has done can bring healing!  You can be healed by just listening and hearing the stories of God's healing in others and Randy's website is chalk full of them.  http://globalawakening.com/

My son Rylan wanted to come to the conference and was absolutely mesmerized by the video stories.  He said to me, "Dad, you can go to the conference and then come home and train me!"  I love his faith.  Well, last night, as video stories were shared, people in attendance were experiencing healing even before they were prayed for.  One lady who was wheelchair bound for many years with fibromyalgia got up out started walking down the aisle.  She couldn't feel anymore pain.  I know what you thinking, 'no way, it's just hype'.  All the typical things that come to mind like repetitive music and a preacher with white shoes working the crowd into a frenzy, but it wasn't like that.  Randy was just speaking in a conversation like tone and the Spirit of God was moving!!

We need to keep telling the stories and not just at church.  The example was given of how a  hairdresser who wasn't a Christian had a client who shared she had cancer with her.  The hairdresser responded by saying, "you need to go to Bethel (name of the church), I hear a lot of people are getting healed there!"
The atmosphere is created by our living testimonies.

In Luke 8:42-48, we learn about the lady who had been 'subject to bleeding' for 12 years.  She gets healed by touching the hem of Jesus' cloak.  The only reason that she couldn't go unnoticed was that she was 'trembling' as a result of the power of God flowing through her.  I'm sure she had heard about the healing that took place only a few chapters in Luke 6 by word of mouth.

The takeaway for us is to tell our kids how God has worked in our lives, it is the power of our testimony that will activate faith and keep it strong!

Ok, so here is my testimony and a few stories from this weekend.  I still have one more session to go though...

As Randy taught us to pray for healing, he challenged us to listen for words of knowledge.  After he asked people to stand who wanted pray for healing and Sharon stood as she has been dealing with really bad sciatica.  He then challenged people around them to pray with the use of the diagnostic...basically ask questions and listen to what God is saying.  Sometimes we just go right into prayer without first taking that time to hear what the Spirit is saying to us.  I took time to listen and then prayed for Sharon and the LORD brought tears to my eyes and my body overcome to the point of heaves as I cried out.  I prayed with words of declaration affirming God's promises and spoke directly to her pain.  The pain then reached her head and I laid hands on her forehead and continued to pray over her mind.  God gave me so much love for her in that moment and it deepened our intimacy in such an amazing way.  It really was breakthrough for me as it showed me how much He loved her and how much love I have in my heart for her and how His love flows through me.

A lady we met at lunch kept hearing the song, "Footloose" as we ate together and then realized that it was a word from God for me.  She was too embarrassed to tell me that I was supposed to read the lyrics to the song so she came later to tell me while we were in the next session.  I had a good laugh because I know that song well from the 80s and it absolutely spoke to me.

This morning Robert, a man who just exudes love and who moves in the prophetic pulled Sharon and me aside.  We reached out to take his hand but he insisted on taking our hands and then he placed our hands together.  He said that our next ministry will be one that we will be joined together in.  He then told me that I have an evangelistic heart.  (It happens to be my top gift in the fivefold gifts.)  He then spoke of Sharon having a spirit in her to change the atmosphere.  He then read from Scripture, Revelation 3:7-13, as a promise over us and spoke of open doors that no one could shut.  It felt like an incredible confirmation of more ministry ahead as he spoke of us being pillars in the temple of God.  It was a great impartation and we are so excited for God's continued leading in our lives!

A New Chapter Begins!

This is a picture that I took while in Nepal travelling with Partners International.  It actually made the cover of their Christmas gift catalog a few years back!!

Today I start a new role with Partners International www.partnersinternational.ca as a "Development Representative' for southwestern Ontario.  I had the opportunity to meet the team I will be working with and deeply respect on Tuesday.  I had lunch with the president, Brent Mitchell and the director of development, Kevin MacKay. I listened to the projects that makes Partners' heart beat!  I listened as team members shared what targets they are trusting for in raising funds and awareness.  I listened as they continue to focus on a great opportunity for donors to give through the "Hope In Action" catalog.  You can give online @  www.hopeinaction.ca

PI Canada empowers local organizations that have a vision for holistic Christian ministry that impacts all dimensions of life. They work in many areas of mission and development, but have focused on seven primary operating categories:

7 Focus Areas:

• Children at Risk
• Education
• Christian Witness
• Entrepreneurship
• Health & Wellness
• Justice Issues
• Women’s Issues

Partners International

They develop long-term relationships and work through local Christian partners or indigenous ministries who bring the love of Jesus to thousands of vulnerable children, women and people groups. They are serving the physical and spiritual needs of poor people in some of the most remote communities in the world.  The primary area of focus that they work in is the 10-40 window.  You can read more about this part of the world at  http://www.joshuaproject.net/10-40-window.php

Through their partners they share and demonstrate God’s love in the world’s difficult places, often in a context of poverty. They feed children, help women start small businesses, develop clean water programs, establish churches that will care for entire villages and fight social injustice and I have seen it first hand and wholeheartedly have been supporting and giving to this ministry since 2007.  The crazy thing is that I had already been meeting with Kevin and Phil Dempster, a PI International Rep, who I knew from my church in Milton prior to leaving Grace.  I had already committed to serving with this organization in some form or capacity before my trip to Lesotho and now it is official!

A 'Venture Capital-like' organization!

I will be meeting with church missions teams along with pastors to talk about being 'partners' to come alongside ministries that in many ways resemble a 'venture capital' opportunity.

Partners often is one of the first organizations into a new area ready to build the infrastructure before 'major' non-profit players come in and set up shop.  They are on the ground in the early stages for many high potential growth start up ministries that are led by nationals with amazing personal vision and passion!

Howdy Partner!

You can be a partner and don't underestimate what you can do with a simple gift that can rescue a young girl out of the sex trade industry in Moldova.  You can free a modern slave out of generational debt in Pakstan.  You can put a teacher in a classroom for an entire term in Nigeria.  You can help support a national pastor as I do starting at $35- month in India.  Don't underestimate what your gift can do in these amazing countries where God is working through men and women with amazing vision.

Here are just a few of the stories of people that I met and if you want to be part of a vision trip like this, don't hesitate to contact me!!

Partners In Kolkota, India

So, here here we are back in Kolkota after a whirlwind tour of ministry in West and North Bengal. On Saturday, we met Vivek at the airport who whisked us off to his ministry in the city. It was there we were able to minister in two services to children and youth. He personally runs a ministry that reaches 350 youth and children. Each week these street children come to their home, actually their rooftop to be ministered to! All of the children come from Hindu homes. So, we shared the gospel and to get the point across this time, I talked about our Father who gives good gifts. If we ask for bread, would our earthly fathers give us a stone…so I took some stones and put them in my mouth, that got a good reaction, but more importantly hopefully we left a vivid image. Phil left clothing and we were able to give candy out! One little girl did a traditional dance for us. She was a little beauty!!

Ministry on the Sunderband Islands, India

I travelled to the southern islands outside of Kolkata. It was quite an experience as we travelled 4.5 hrs by vehicle, then a 45 minute boat ride followed by a 30 minute ride on a bike to where we met up with the evangelists that minister in this remote village area. I actually took a turn riding the bike that pulled us on a rickshaw.

The children sang for us as we were crowded into a house and they also sang inside, outside, upside, downside happy all the time! These children are sponsored thanks to the generous giving of the sponsored children of Partners. One of the evangelists that work here is Biswanath Mondal who has one lame foot due to polio and another man who lost his arm in an accident while travelling on a city bus. It was a testimony to the fact that uses those who the world might consider the weak to do his mighty work! Phil and I shared with the children that we are all part of God's family because we are all adopted into it. For lunch with ate rice, lentil, fish, sweet tomatoes and rice balls filled with sugar!

Ultimate Frisbee In Satali, North Bengal

Today we arrived at the home and ministry of Nicholas Narjinary. They minister to people of the Boro people as well as the Garo people. The primary focus of Nicholas is over 67 cell/ church groups in North Bengal. They plant about 20 -30 churches amongst these tribes every year. Are you kidding me!!  We arrived by train just after 8am, had breakfast and then we were ministered to by the children in the orphanage here. There are presently 86 children that Nicholas and his wife have taken in!! I had the opportunity to speak to the children about our ‘Abba Father’ and we had fun as I taught about trust by having a few children fall backwards off the podium into our arms. It is my subliminal way of teaching them how to body surf! They fed us so well and then in the afternoon Phil and I had time to be ‘jungle gyms’ for the kids. Thanks to Tarun, I was able to teach the kids ultimate Frisbee and they caught on real fast. It was a blast. We also took the opportunity to take the motorbikes for a spin. They were bought by Partners ‘Harvest Of Hope’ campaign to help the local evangelists in their ministry.

jackninaber@gmail.com or jack.ninaber@partnersinternational.ca

More about PI

Partners International Canada is part of a global alliance with offices in the UK, Japan, Australia, Singapore and the USA. Together we work in over 56 nations in partnership with over 120 indigenous Christian agencies. Our long experience in cross-cultural, cross-border partnerships has provided us with the expertise to provide the right resources at the right time to ensure Christian ministry growth while maintaining and ensuring our partner’s organizational health and long term viability.

Give me a shout @ 226-979-0676 to learn more about this amazing ministry.  I would love to talk about it personally with you or come to your church to share about it for free, yes free indeed!

Blessings,

Jack!

I am a freedom fighter!

 

This song is the cry of my heart!! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdCwxnZhk6Q

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

We have been set free, but set free to do what?  We are called to a life of faith expressing itself in love. Paul finishes this paragraph by saying, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6b   

But here’s the problem… You can’t give away what you don’t have!

We don’t have an adequate revelation of the love of God.  Religion has diluted it and corrupted our impression of God’s love and so often we find that people have settled for much less than what our Dad and Father wants to show to us.

Many people are saved and stuck!

Some people think that God punishes them for bad decisions.

Jesus said in John 13:34  “love one another as I have loved you.”   We are challenged to show the same love that He showed us and that love is unconditional, but we have settled for a love with conditions that we have made up or others have shaped for us.

God’s love is not conditional, it is not condemning and we really have to soak this in because we are hard ground!

In Ephesians 1 Paul wants us to get a revelation of what God has already done and show us that we have all the spiritual blessings we need and in Ephesians 3 we receive a greater revelation of God’s love.  So, how do I get a greater revelation of God’s love? Jeremiah 29:13 – seek it with all your heart!  He wants to reveal it more than you want it! 

Psalm 46:10  There is benefits to getting still – getting in the presence of God and we need more than 5 minutes!!!

Ephesians 3:14-21  Praise and worship will put you in the spirit realm.  It is an amazing entry point for us to experience the love of God.  There is counseling out there and it’s good, there is 12 step programs and they are needed; however don’t be mistaken by the power of God that can move through worship.  When we worship God with all of our heart, it changes our heart, it changes the atmosphere and it so often creates breakthrough in our lives!

Many people look at God’s love like a painting  and they only see it is one dimensional, but we need to go beyond that see all of its dimensions as Ephesians 3 challenges us to get an overview of His love, to be submerged in His love, to see His love completely spread out and washing over us.

Here is the truth.  You will produce fruit and grow when you experience His love.  We need to be rooted and grounded in it.  Love is the soil that we need to be planted in and it gives us the raw materials to love in word and in action!

Adam knew his wife.  The Bible uses the word know to describe the sexual relationship between a man and a woman.  To know this love in the passage is speaking of a very intimate knowledge – an experience that passes mere intellectual understanding of it.

Sometimes you have to get out of your normal context for God to get your attention.  Sometimes we have to get out on the mission field to experience it.

Many people want to be filled with the things of God,  the fullness of God, healing, prosperity, peace.  You need to have an experiential understanding of it.  It takes time and separation.  Its not about your timeline, it’s His.

Ephesians 3:20 It is according to the power that works in us.  Let the love of God flow on the inside of you.  He doesn’t flow outside of us.  One pastor shared that “Revival doesn’t come because you pray for it, you just need a revelation of it.”  It flows through people!

God is a real giver!   Get around a real giver and you start praising God and thanking Him for everything. It will start blessing you  Acts 13:2

God inhabits the praises of His people Psalm 22:3 KJV

He created you for relationship 1^st , not service.  You can’t out give God.

When my child blesses me, thanks me and embraces me, it enlarges my heart towards them.  Now think of your heavenly Father and He wants to open the floodgates of heaven to you.  He gives good gifts to His children in spite of us.

When I look over in church and see my son raising his hands in worship, it brought tears to my eyes.  Why?  It is because I know he is entering in and engaging his spirit with the Spirit of God and something is happening inside of him.  Do we have to raise our hands?  No, but when we do, it is often an outward display of an inward reality.  1 Timothy 2:8

In order for us to get a greater revelation of God’s love we need to stop focusing on the negative things and get clarity on what is good, positive, uplifting.  Phil 4:8  It is a real drag to be around people who only talk about everything that is wrong in the world.  It sucks the life out of me.  Surround yourself with those who are carriers of God’s presence, His love and joy!

Also, don’t question God’s love for you.  Tear down the wrong doctrines that have set you back in this area.  We don’t always “feel the love”!

Philemon 1:6  We need to acknowledge it!  Don’t pray, “God, help me to feel your love” Begin to rejoice in the fact that God loves you, not the feeling of it.  You can’t trust you feeling.  If you feel it and get goosebumps, great, but don’t live for that it.  Thank him for the peace and the joy.  You already have it, just acknowledge it!

Some of you are feeling junkies, get over it.  Don’t wait to ask God for something you already have been given!!

Most people go by what they feel but remember that God is always present.  Whether you see or it or not, He’s there.  Remember God loves you and you are His amazing child.  Thank Him for what He says about you.  Get to the place where the Word is enough. For example, believe that when the Word says you will lay hands on the sick that they will be healed!  Don’t wait for the feeling – pray in faith.

You can’t sustain the spiritual emotional highs.

He is more desirous to reveal himself to you than you are to look for Him.  Thank Him for what you are experiencing NOW even before it happens.

When you get to the place where you seek God with all your heart, where you long for it, you will find God and REMEMBER it looks different for everybody!

So, thanks to everyone who joined us for Friday Feast as 20 people joined us for a great time of food, worship music and sharing with each other.    Here is a testimony from one of those who joined us.

When I worship God I am led by the Holy Spirit, I mean in terms of how to worship. I stay in the moment and move about as I am led. Last night I was in the prone position at some points because I knew I was in the presence of a Holy God. When standing on a chair I experienced the worship rising up, what an awesome and amazing experience, our worship is our love being sent upward, at least that was what I felt on that chair the adoration we all have for our Creator. What a joy and pleasure to worship with you all.