THE KINGDOM

BRAND | THE
OUTSTANDING
GOD...
JOURNEY &
RELATIONSHIPS

PHILIP DUPONT
www.ph-dupont.com Philip DuPont
 Introduction

1. AN OUTSTANDING GOD
GOD GIVES

THE KINGDOM
MAN RECEIVES AND RESPONDS
MAN ALIGNS AND ADMINISTRATES

BRAND | THE
GOD GIVES GROWTH

OUTSTANDING WHAT DOES GOD GIVE?

GOD... 2. OUTSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS

JOURNEY & THE SON REVEALED THE PATTERN

THE PATTERN WAS BUILT IN ABRAHAM

RELATIONSHIPS THE PATTERN WAS BUILT IN DAVID

THE PATTERN WAS TRANSFERRED

3. OUTSTANDING JOURNEY
THE COMPONENTS
THE CULTURE

Introduction
I am both amazed and concerned about what christians are posting in social medias. I am also both
amazed and concerned about then content of the messages delivered in churches. Maybe I am
exagerating, but it seems that...
1) ... what is said is absolutely obvious... it is common sense, psychology 101. I have even found out
that both Buddha, Confucius and some hindu gurus express the same thoughts.
2) ... this fact speaks loud about what some people need to hear, and what some want to hear.
Both personal conclusions are extremely sad.
Some say that God is coming down on our level. Yes and no. Yes He did when He sent His Son into our
world, became 100% Man while He still was 100% God. He lived under the exact same conditions as
we and He fulfilled His assignment. So he came down on our level once and it was the last time He did.
When He did that He raise us up on His level. No more coming down on our. In Christ He came down,
but Christ opened the way to rise. From that very moment we meet Him on His level. We fulfill His
requirements. We align to His plans and will. We invest in His agenda. Speaking about our level is the
sign that we might have received salvation but not understood it.
God is not a man, He is outstanding.
The Church is not an organisation, or an association or a cultural house... the church is unusual, divine,
extraordinary, supernatural; the Church is outstanding.
God’s plans are not professional carreers blessed by God... they are supernatural, outstanding.
In this document we will have a look at this “OUTSTANDING” issue:
God is OUTSTANDING.
Therefore what He has prepared for His sons and daughters have the same nature. And consequently...
... relationships are OUTSTANDING.
... the journey is OUTSTANDING.
OUTSTANDING GOD
Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to
carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food;
for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still
not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and
divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you
not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through
whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos
watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is
anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he
who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his
own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers;
you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of
God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the
foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he
builds on it.”
1Cor 3,1-10
Paul wanted to bring their attention to the fact, that God is
outstanding in everything He says and does. The problem is that it
is difficult if not hopeless for Him to partner with people who are
childish and carnal. How can they be His fellow workers? His field, His
building? Even His representatives?
What about praying in the name of Jesus?
Relating is not an issue. God could dwell among the israelites, look
after them, defend them, heal and rescue and forgive them as well
as lead them through the wilderness even though they lived under a
limited covenant, their hearts were hard and unchanged, their necks
were stiff which means there was a reluctance and even a resistance
to look in the same direction as God. They had their own focus and
targets. Oh yes they wanted God, but in their own way.. They wanted
His blessings but used them for their own purposes... meaning abuse
them. The blessings of God are meant to lead us to the God of the
blessings, know Him, honor Him and choose to be led by Him,
In the same letter he wrote:
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the
mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found
faithful.”
1Cor 4,1-2
Certain issues must become very clear for us in order to see these
dynamics become a workable reality: to be the field He has cultivated
and developed, to be the building He has built and which He will fill
with His glory and power, to be His fellow workers so they can be
involved in changing communities and societies: neighborhoods,
workplaces, companies and educational institutions.
Let me give a statement at this point:
God gives
Man receives and responds
Man administrates
God gives growth
1) God gives
He is a giver. The bible also calls Him a gardener and a sower. He is
a builder as well. We know that because we read the bible. And we
know Him and can easily identify what happens to us as we love Him
and are led and shaped by Him. It is in God’s nature to give freely.
But it is also His nature to build and to develop His creation. He gave
mankind such a beautiful planet to live on, a planet built and formed
by His hands. And not only beautiful but breathtaking in both its
simplicity and complexity. Whatever man discovers when it comes
to nature, the universe or the human body, he is “just” discovering
what has been there all the time, what has clock-worked all the time
without human help, resources or supervision. When man’s research
is successful and new particles are discovered, he is praised for his
consistent efforts and pursuit as well as his scientific achievements,
but God should praised even more for His initial creation which
has just been discovered. Finally man has developed the scientific
processes of research and the technology to analyse, measure When
man lands on Mars, the project is admired, but Mars has been there
all the time and gravitated accurately. God’s creation is OUTSTANDING
both on the micro level and on the macro level.
Examples of God’s righteous generosity?
- God lets the sun raise and lets the rain fall on both righteous
and unrighteous (Matt 5,45).
- If we lack wisdom, we can ask for wisdom and He will give
wisdom… and give generously and without reproach (James 1,5-8).
- Marriage is a beautiful gift… a life-companion is a gift… children
are a gift… family is a gift.
- Work is a gift: God gives the sower seed to sow and bread to it.
Some scriptures to meditate upon:
“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you
the kingdom.”
Lk 12:32
Not only the Father is a Giver and a generous Giver… He finds
pleasure in giving, He is truly outstanding!
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I
give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
He gives peace. When the world gives peace, there is still a seed of
trouble in it, there is fear bacteria. God gives in an other way... there are
no side-effects. His peace is clean and goes beyond understanding.
His unconditional love, His generous giving, His consistent investment
are outstanding. But it goes beyond that as we will see later.
2) Man receives and responds
What a privilege! God gives and we receive. Therefore His Son was
given, so we could receive. We know the word saying:
“And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more
blessed to give than to receive.’“
Acts 20,35
Nevertheless we have found that it can be more difficult to receive
than to give. Sometimes it is difficult to give. Sometimes people find
it even humiliating to receive. God truly loves a glad giver, and He
undoubtly loves a glad receiver.
God is an excellent Giver, let Him find excellent receivers. Our ability to
receive is important. Hear the words of Jesus:
“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as
a little child will by no means enter it.”
Mark 10:15
So there is ‘what’ we receive and there is also ‘how’ we receive. Our
approach and attitude regarding receiving must therefore be accurate
and purposeful. It is linked to entering new territories, growing,
expanding and increasing capacity and influence.
Now there is a second component in Man’s relationship with a
generous Father and it is called ‘response’. Have a look at this:
“Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the
midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there
met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up
their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw
them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was
that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw
that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell
down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are
the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God
except this foreigner?”
Lk 17,11-18
And this one:
“Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And
behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was
passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they
cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to
do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So
Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes
received sight, and they followed Him.”
Matt 20,29-34
Here we see the two other components: receive and respond. We must
not be passive receivers. We must also respond. The gift must affect
us. We are not robots. It is not an extra chip or device whichis plugged
into us. When we received the gift of salvation, we responded by
saying a personal Yes to the call to a new life. Not only saved by Christ,
but followers of Christ… that is the response. The yes-word became a
walk-yes. For married couple the yes-word in public became a yes-live
in private.
Ten received healing, one responded according to the story in the
bible. In the other story two blind men received their sight, and both
responded. How do we know? The text says so: “… immediately
their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.” They received and
responded (followed). Jesus walked away as He followed His agenda.
And they immediately joined him. They joined Him in His agenda. His
giving was generous and unconditional, their receiving was immediate
and joyful and their responding was a free-will commitment and
connection.
How were the first generation of believers?
“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day
about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
bread, and in prayers.”
Acts 2,41-42
They gladly received and were baptized, which means that they
baptized their whole iife into the Kingdom… dead from themselves
and from their plans and agendas. And alive in and for the Kingdom.
Next step? They devoted themselves to the apostolic fathers training,
to one another, to prayers and to having a repentant heart. Yes they
did receive and did respond. And their response was also a connection
with others who responded in the same way.
The art of well-receiving must be rediscovered and mastered again.
There are clear evidences that a decreasing process was already taking
place in the days of Paul. He wrote to the believers in Corinth:
“O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You
are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now
in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.”
2Cor 6,11-13
Paul addressed the issue of “return”. We can speak and speak, preach
and preach. People can listen and listen. Christian TV provides
an endless amount of programs, we watch crowds listening. We
watch worship-teams worship. And the applauds are there, and the
screaming is heard. But it takes more to receive and respond.
The parable of the sower and the seed speak clearly about the
interaction between the seed and the ground. To put it in other words
it speaks about the receiving capacity or lack of the same.
Here are some more scriptures to meditate upon:
“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a
little child will by no means enter it.”
Mk 10:15
Not only receive, but how to receive. Receive as a child. Find out what
it means and align.
“John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been
given to him from heaven.”
John 3:27
“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive
with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
James 1:21
Here: Receive with meekness.
“I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not
able to receive it, and even now you are still not able…”
1Cor 3:2
They were fed but didn’t receive.
Our life-condition must not be a restricting factor. Our capacity to
receive and respond must be fully valid in all situations. We must live in
the righteousness, peace and joy of the Kingdom which enables us to
stay connected to Heaven and constantly receive from there. Daniel is
a master example of that. In the middle of high pressure he said:
“There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”
Dan 2,28
And Daniel was able to receive clear information from God. External
pressure didn’t affect internal clarity.
The believers in Thessaloniki had developed the same capacity. Paul
gave his witness to it with uncompromised words:
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our
prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love,
and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and
Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel
did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit
and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among
you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having
received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you
became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from
you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and
Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so
that we do not need to say anything.”
1Tess 1,2-8
Obviously they were not only able to receive under great afflictions,
but they were even able to be honorable stewards and rightly
administrate it in spreading it to others so it reached Paul’s ears. It
leads to our next thought.
3) Man aligns and administrates
Remember the words of Paul: “According to the grace of God which was
given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and
another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.”
There two issues here. The first is that the building must be raised
on the foundation already built: take heed how he builds on it. The
second issue is: take heed how he builds on it. The first issue is then
about alignment. The second is about stewardship.
It means that somebody built the foundation. It is a gift. Somebody
else had to build upon it. And Paul brought an extra urge on the
management-part: “Take heed how…” A child is entrusted to parents,
and he/she doesn’t belong to them… They received a tremendous and
precious gift. A new life, a new human being. The parents must look
after the child, love it, care for it, raise it, feed it, train it, guide it etc.
When God helps us with our finances, we receive and respond… then
we must be honorable stewards and rightly administrate it. What we
recive must be developed, increased, multiplied. A healthy relationship
is a wonderful gift, but it must be nurtured. The garden of Eden was a
tremendous gift and Adam and Eve had to grow it, guard it and even
govern it. The same is the case with your job or your education.
That’s the place where spiritual understanding comes into the
picture. We cannot administrate what we don’t understand.
Spiritual understanding must be translated in thoughts and
language. Therefore our minds must be formed and reformed and
transformed to be able to administrate the things of the Spirit without
contaminating, diluting and distorting them with our own additives or
interpretations.
4) God gives growth
Remember the words of Paul: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God
gave the increase.” That is what God promised. And it is what man
cannot do, only God.
Jesus received the disciples as a gift, he responded to the call
to live with them, teach them and train them. And there was an
adminitration-part: He corrected them, invested in them. He created
and made space for their talents. And the Father gave growth.
The same was the case among the believers: After they received their
new life, they devoted themselves fully to it. Fully means both devoted
themselves to the gift of revelation but also to the fathers who were
the custodians of the revelation… and God gave both favor and
people. People got saved and joined them on a daily basis. They were
given a new generation of believers.
This is the Kingdom-road we must follow. Disorder in the proces will
hinder God in creating the growth.
It is shocking how many pastors attend church-growth seminars,
conferences and training. No parents take child-growth training, how
to grow the bones, the nails and the hair of their child. When it comes
to the last, we are expected to limit them. Parents do that they know
the way it works. Moses was aware of these issues, and therefore God
showed him His ways… and showed the people His deeds.
How to grow a church? Follow God. If you follow Him, you will be
located on His way, and He will grow you and give you people. To
follow God’s way means to receive, to respond and to administrate.
Now let us ask an important question.
What does God give?
- God gave Himself through His Son…
“Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders,
and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves
also know-- Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and
foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified,
and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death,
because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”
Acts 2,22-24
Because of Christ, the Son of God...
• He gave us life, an unstoppable life.
• He gave us His Word, an incorruptible Seed.
• He gave us a new heart… now everything He planned for us can
happen because the internal has changed, and the external can
and surely will align.
• He gave us the Holy Spirit establishing a highway of
communication between earth and heaven… prayer and worship
are possible, revelation becomes normal, supernatural abilities
and resources are available.
- God gives insight…
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made
this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Acts 2,36
During the last period of the earthly life of Jesus as recorded by John
in the 13th to 16th chapter of his book, He told his team several times
that He would not leave them alone, even He would leave them. After
His ascension back to the Father, He would send the Spirit and one
of the roles of the Spirit would be to speak to them, guide them to all
truth and help them to understand the truth. The Spirit would both
speak what He hears in Heaven, and He would also remind them of
what Jesus had already told them in the years, He had been with them.
Immediately after the first believers came into the Kingdom Peter
began to give them insight in the things of God. And they immediately
received it by believing, responded to it by investing their lives into it
(baptism which means death from self-life and resurrection to His life
and plans) and administrating this insight by devoting themselves to
the move of God.
- God gives fathers…
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship.”
Acts 2,42
And they connected immediately to apostolic teaching given to them
by their new fathers and mothers. God gives children to parents, and
He gives parents to children. Parents don’t need children, but children
do need parents. So these thousands of new believers received a
new Father in heaven and also the earthly expression of that through
spiritual fathers on earth to shape them, train them and raise them for
everything God had prepared for them, equip them for their work of
and for the Kingdom
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the
saints for the work of ministry.”
Eph 4,11-12
- God gives brothers and sisters…
“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? ... And
they continued steadfastly in ... fellowship.”
Acts 2,37,42
Not only they devoted them to God through repentance and baptism,
and devoted themselves to apostolic fathers… they also devoted
themselves to fellowship, which means to other believers who
had received the same gifts, responded to the same call, made the
same choices and taken the same training. They had received new
companions walking on the same road, pursuing the same destiny
and now they responded to that by devoting themselves to them. In
order to administrate this new companionship they decided to build
a new togetherness. “Day by day attending the temple together and
breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and
generous hearts praising God…”
A new Father in heaven, fathers in the House on earth as well
as brothers and sisters provided what was required for a new
communication. Therefore they met.  • People’s souls were affected. Emotions were deepfelt.
- God gives tools, mindsets and attitudes
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in
the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
Acts 2,42
The record of Luke tells us that they devoted themselves to apostolic
truth, to relationships, to repentant life-culture and to consistent
communication with God... which means that they deliberately built
these tools into their daily life. These elements are not a church-
program. They became new values and therefore also active tools.
When it comes to prayer, Jesus gave their fathers the new pattern
of prayer, not the prayer of the pharisees and teachers of the Law.
Now the fathers passed it on to their sons and daughters. It became
a powerful tool in the hands of these thousands of new believers.
It became such a part of their lives that when resistance and even
threats began to raise against their fathers they knew exactly what
to do: “They lifted their voices together to God” as one Man and they
prayed. What happened? The place was shaken, they were filled with
the Holy Spirit and a new measure of boldness was given to them.
Their reception of, the response to and their administration of what
God gave them included one more important issue: the breaking
of bread. Religion and formalism have reduced these words to the
communion taken Sunday morning in the church-building. But it goes
much beyond that. To break the bread was to celebrate that Jesus was
broken for them, for their growth, for their healing, for answers to the
deep questions of life, for restoration of broken relationships… He was
broken so every need could be met. They devoted themselves to that,
and proclaimed that they wanted to have a repentant heart. He had
been willing to die to self, they would be willing to die to self as well
and receive new thoughts, new mindsets, new attitudes. And it began
to happen almost immediatey. For example their attitude to money
and possessions was new: they were together and they had all things
in common.
- God gives transformation and changes…
“Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were
done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had
all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided
them among all, as anyone had need.”
Acts 2,43-45
Actually the new mindsets had practical consequences. It didn’t
stay on a concept-level. The first transformation is that the whole
atmosphere is new. Luke called it ‘fear’, or ‘awe’. Heaven was present
with its purity, intensity, resources, unlimited possibilities. The sky was
not the limit... there were no limits. What happened?
• People’s bodies were affected: Many wonders took place.
• People’s lives were affected: Many signs took place. Maybe new
business ideas came to some people’s minds, technical
innovations were birthed, book-titles or musical compositions
came to some, solutions to complex political or social/
humanitarian situations, projects aiming at community-needs ect.
All these were signs that a supernatural atnosphere had been
created making the invisible visible and unthinkable thinkable.
• People’s culture was affected: Generosity exploded among all. It
was not only the rich who shared. All shared from what they had,
because all had something.
• People’s attitudes were affected: Things were sold and and the
money was distributed according to their needs. So there was
a transparency and openness without personal shame and public
humiliation. People could freely give and others could freely
receive.
It is not only transformation, it is a revolution, a peaceful and
meaningful one.
- God gives a deep sense of togetherness and
corporate identity...
“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple.”
Acts 2,46
In most churches people attend, they enjoy the good worship, they
enjoy the good message, they enjoy the good atmosphere, they
enjoy the good friendships… but they can do all that without really
joining and engaging. It’s like ‘shopping’ regularly in a very good
place. Everything there is enjoyable and therefore it is the place for
very regular visits. Even if it is expensive to frequent the shop, the
experience far outlives it. But you will never consider it your family,
there will never be something like connection.
The first generation of believers didnøt live and relate on this level.
God took them much further and they received it, responded and
engaged it fully.  more people people enter His Kingdom and live there, represent it and
- God gives adulthood, or maturity…
“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread
from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of
heart, praising God.”
Acts 2,46-47
They met in their homes which means that they met on their own.
There was not a pulpit, and a speaker and a worship-leader and a
prayer-leader.
Maturity and stature comes from God’s gracious but meaningful and
firm dealings with us. These dealings are the cleansing and refining
fires making the gold emerge in our lives. The statement “God for
Gold” stirs passion and determination, but it really means: “Go for Fire”.
Champions are not only the ones who produce results stirring the
crowds and breaking the records. Champions are made of a certain
stuff. Lasting results will flow from that.
The first believers were in charge of their own lives. They sought the
words of the fathers, received them, responded to them by following
them… Something tangible was formed in their everyday life. They
took responsibility. The instructions were implemented in their
homes, and it was easily readable. Their daily life was the first sphere
of implementation. It was already an important issue in the jewish
culture and it was taken to a new level. Sabbath was held in the home.
The first Passover was also held in the home. Western cuture has
eridicated the original Kingdom-values which were already present
and practiced in the jewish cultre. Sabbath as actually not an option.
It was one of the three most holy things in the Law, which God gave
them. The two others were the Torah and the Temple.
The foreigner and immigrant had to be taken into their homes,
and was then considered a part of the family and its privileges and
responsibilities.
Too much in our lifes in western society has been transferred to the
State. And consequently when people join the church, the church
becomes their new ‘state’. The church and the home are directly and
unseparatedly linked together. Fatherhood and parenthood in the
family are sacred as well, because they flow from the Heavenly Father
and His earthly representatives, the fathers of the Church.
- God gives influence… appreciation and favour
spread to other relationships, professional,
cultural and social.
“So continuing daily with one accord ... and having favor with all the
people.” Acts 2,47
Paul was chased by the crowds in many occasions, but he had favor
with individuals.
“Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying,
“Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” So the whole city was filled with
confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized
Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions. And
when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow
him. Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him
pleading that he would not venture into the theater.”
Acts 19,28-31
These ‘officials of Asia’ were actually high-ranking magistrates in the
province of Asia and part of Paul’s circle of friends. Paul didn’t contact
them t oask for a favor. They intervened in this dangerous situation.
They must have followed him closely, looked after him in order to
know what was going on. They knew things he didn’t know, they were
used to operate in global environments where things happen and can
spin out of control. They knew when to stand up and fight, when and
how to negotiate, but they also knew when to draw the line and leave.
This dimension must be restored, redefined and refreshed. Maybe
also re-explained. Christians love crowds, mega-churches and huge
conferences. So do pastors.
Recenty a surprising and even shocking statement hit my mind: “The
war of brands is on, stay out of it”. There are:
- The church brands: the megachurch brand, the micro church
brand, the Hillsong brand, the Bethel brand, the Elevation brand
- The mega-events brand like One Day, and Passion in the US and
their ‘babies’ like Day of Praise and Brighter in Denmark…
and others in other countries.
- There are the individual brands like Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen
and others.
This is human tools, good ones and they mus inspire us for the real
brand: The Kingdom Brand. When the perfect comes, the partial must
pass away. And God is eager to speak about Himself, about His Kigdom
and most of all about His mankind and planet Earth. Consequently he
is eager to instruct us in the ways we can engage it.
- God gives expansion… sons and daughters,
the next generation comes in.
“So continuing daily with one accord ... And the Lord added to the
church daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2,47
This is the dream of all pastors, all church-leaders and all church-
members. With no exception. All want to see more people know God,
spread it.
In order for this to take place the God-way, we must meet the
requirements. For God to give the growth, somebody must sow
and somebody must water. Here in this passage we have similar
requirements:
• They continued... it speaks about determination, about courage,
about sacrifice, about consistency.
• Daily... it speaks about regularity and continuity.
• In one accord... it speaks about unity of walk and purpose,
about death to selfishness and individualism.
When God saw these values, these convictions deeply rooted and
translated into actions, He vindicated their lives and fellowship by
sending people to them. He rejoiced because He saw His Son in facets
of their lives and He saw the fullness of His Son in the corporate House.
- God creates external implications...
Rivers of life flow from the House.
“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer,
the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was
carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called
Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing
Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing
his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his
attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said,
“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the
right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones
received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked.”
Acts 3,1-8
When the ‘river’ flows in the House, it will at one point flow out of the
House. It was the pattern in the life and work of Jesus:
“And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard
that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that
there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He
preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic
who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him
because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when
they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic
was lying.”
Mk 2,1-4
The son of God was i ntheHouse and the city was at the door. What
was in the House affected what was outside.
At Pentecost in Jerusalem the river came from Heaven and filled the
upper room and the whole House. Then it flowed into the streets.
Honest and intelligent marketing is necessary, quality events are
necessary, educated staff and excellent equipment, financial wealth
are necessary in the right season and for the right motives and
purposes… but the primary dynamic must be and always remain ‘the
river in the House’, His presence and work in the lives of the ‘living
stones’ of the Church. Internal must become external. External will not
affect internal, at least not in a lasting and sustainable way. Just like a
diamond or a holiday on an exotic paradise island will add to the love-
foundation of the couple but will and can never become the primary
source of covenant-life. An extremely pleasant addition to it though.
- God gives followership.
“... and entered the temple with them - walking, leaping, and praising
God.”
Acts 3,8
Even Jesus had experiences when people were supernaturally healed
but didn’t follow him. Some of them didn’t even come back to thank
him or show Him respect by testifying to what had happened in their
bodies. But here this man didn’t walk home even he was both able and
free to do so. No, he entered the temple. God creates moves which
ill draw people from outside the House to inside the House because
they have touched the generational legacy and met its present
representatives.
Peter explained the what, the why and the how of the miracle:
“Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as
though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His
Servant Jesus…”
Acts 3,12-13
The healed man had caught all that and therefore he immediately
entered the temple -which represented the generational legacy-
together with Peter, its contemporary ambassador and spokesman.
And he joined all the other sons and daughters inside the temple.
- God gives crowds.
“And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew
that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple;
and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened
to him. Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John,
all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s,
greatly amazed.”
Acts 3, 9-11
 God loves crowds and He can sovereignly lead them. His Son drew the
crowds:
“Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick
people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those
who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed
them. Great multitudes followed Him--from Galilee, and from Decapolis,
Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.”
Matt 4,24-25
DON’T TAKE
But he left them and walked up the hill, and the disciples followed
him. And he instructed them, the training-program had started. In the
same way he could leave the crowd on the beach and crossed to the
other side of the lake.
Before Jesus, John the Baptist drew the crowds. It was not
unproblematic but John was not affected by the numbers or their
WHAT IS
professions and he did well:
“Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him,
“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to
yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is
able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the
INTENDED TO
ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 1So the people asked him,
saying, “What shall we do then?” He answered and said to them, “He who
has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food,
let him do likewise.” Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and
said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect
no more than what is appointed for you.” Likewise the soldiers asked him,
saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate
BE GIVEN
anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.” Now as the
people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John,
whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, “I indeed
baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal
strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out
His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He
will burn with unquenchable fire.” And with many other exhortations he
preached to the people.”
Lk 3,7-18
Philip’s life and words drew the crowds:
“Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to
them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by
Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits,
crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and
many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy
in that city. “
Acts 8,5-8
God thrives in such places. But the crowd carried something which
had the potential to deviate and abort the mission. The ‘something’
was a person by the name of Simon who also was praised by the
crowds:
“… Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the
people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they
all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great
power of God.” And they heeded him because he had astonished them
with his sorceries for a long time.”
Acts 8,9-11
God touches crowds. He did at Pentecost in Jerusalem. But crowds can
turn around like they turned against Jesus and those who shouted
“Hosianah, Son of David” also shouted “Crucify Him!”.
God must position us like He did for His own Son, like He did for John
the Baptist, like He did for Peter and the rest of the team (at Pentecost
in Jerusalem, during the following days in jerusalem, later when he
went with john to Samaria to partner with Philip), like He did for Philip
who was at home with the crowds and at home with the ethipian
magistrate on the desert road to Gaza), like He did for Paul. There will
be crowds and God alone knows how to handle them. Let’s walk with
Him, He is outstanding and He has prepared an oustanding journey
for us.
We have to learn how to minister to the crowds. And not only what
to do to the crowds, but also pay attention to what the crowds can
do to us, because they harm us or they can highjack us. But God can
highjack them like He did when the Spirit led thousands of people into
the Kingdom as recorded i nthe first chapters of the book of Acts.
Therefore mega-churches have mega-challenges. The challenges are
not only administrative and managerial, they are not primarly about
leadership structure and teaching programs, communication charts,
they are not only financial or physical (buildings and venues)… they
are spiritual and have to do with legacy, with accurate destiny and
with apostolic formation of people for Kingdom assignments. Crowds
must not be servedwit hwhat they want but with what they need.
- God gives tested relationships.
“Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple,
and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they
taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day,
for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word
believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”
Acts 4,1-4
It already happened during the journey Jesus had with His team of
key-individuals. And He had to make adjustments, instruct them and
even correct them. After he died He had to chase two of them and
speak to them again… their heart were burning and they ran back
to Jerusalem and to their companions. But it was late with Judas. He
refused Jesus’ help and resign from His training program. Not even his
brothers’ love and care for him affected his decision.
As we read the book of Acts we see a lot of situations affecting
relationships and even bring relational issues to the surface. It
is absolutely legitimate and necessary. It is the acid-test of the
qutenticity and quality of what is going on. John goes even further:
“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until
now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for
stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in
darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has
blinded his eyes.”
1Joh 2,9-11
And:
“Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer
has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, because He laid down
His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But
whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts
up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little
children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
1Joh 3,-15-18
How do we know the quality and authenticity? When it is tested.
- God gives openings to high levels of society.
“And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,
as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as
many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at
Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked,
Acts 4,5-7
Why ‘high levels’? Does God prefer people in high positions? No,
he doesn’t but He knows that people living and operating on high
levels of society have influence on many. It happens through their
professions, through their decisions, through their goals and the
fufillment of their dreams and plans. Therefore God wants to place
people there on high levels, God wantsto speak with people on high
levels and lead them, inspire them, instruct them and protect them.
And high levels don’t mean high devils. High levels mean high
potential… more wisdom, more resources, more influence.
There can be more turbulence on high levels. But God doesn’t create
turbulences but He might allow some of them to happen. We are
familiar with the life-stories of the patriarchs, of Daniel, of Peter and
Paul, and of the first generation of Kingdom-believers.
People on high levels can inspire the crowds and lead them. Not only
for evil but als ofor good. Saul’s influence was for evil for a while:
“Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution
arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all
scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the
apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great
lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering
every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to
prison.”
Acts 8,1-3
A man from the city hall made a big difference… actually he rescued
Paul’s and others’ lives:
“And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus,
what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is
temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which
fell down from Zeus? … For we are in danger of being called in question
for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account
for this disorderly gathering.” And when he had said these things, he
dismissed the assembly.”
Acts 19,35-41
At the end of his life Paul frequented more individuals than crowds,
and especially individuals in high positions. Palaces and prisons, but
mostly palaces. And he was treated kindly (Acts 27,3).
Things happen! Not even the devil is necessarily behind them. Some
christians don’t believe that there is something called coincidences.
I do. I don’t believe in fatalism. But what we surely know is that God
knows everything. Nothing happens without His knowledge. And in
the case of Kingdom-believers He is in full control and no weapon
made against them and their roles in God’s agenda will prosper.
In this passage we see that the turbulences don’t only test the quality
of their relationships, but they opened the doors to unreachable layers
of their society: The rulers, the elders, the scribes, the high priest and
his whole family. But none of the disciples were nobles and none of
them had access to these intellectual, political and religious spheres.
But now they were in their midst and they asked questions. God
created it.
So:
God gives
Man receives and responds
Man administrates
God gives growth
Now we understand better why real and therefore lasting growth
has not happened for 2 milleniums. God can and wants... but the
partnership is dysfunctional. Therefore we understand that a deep
reformation must take place to bring us “back” to the life of the first
generation of believers. For that to happen we do need an increase
of prophetic capacity and a release of apostolic insight in Kingdom-
patterns.
Then growth is both natural, healthy and sustainable.
And multiplication is both natural and healthy and sustainable.
The sky is definitely not the limit!
God is surely OUTSTANDING!
Now let’s have a look at relationships.
OUTSTANDING RELATIONSHIP
God is outstanding. Therefore what He creates, what He plans for
and launches is in His image, it is outstanding. Creation is an obvious
and tangible evidence. Whatever scientists do is just a discovery of
something which has been there since the moment of creation. When
astronauts land on a distant planet, the planet has been there long
before these people or their forefathers were born. It has gravitated
after the laws of astrophysics which have regulated its movements and
formed its itinerary.
After God created Man in the first place He placed it in a very specific
relationship to Himself. Its shadow could be registered in the lives
of the patriarchs, some of the kings and definitely in the lives of the
prophets… but it became clear like the purest diamond when the Son
of God came. He is the pattern and made it possible for us to step into
a relationship of this unique and outstanding nature.
The Son of God revealed the pattern
We read in the letter of Hebrews:
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away
sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and
offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt
offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I
have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will,
O God.’ “ Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and
offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are
offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your
will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. “
Heb 10,4-9
It was not a sacrifice according to the Old Covenant pattern and
statutes. Jesus made very clear in this passage:
- “For it is not possible…”
- “… you did not desire…”
- “… You had no pleasure…”
- “… He makes away the first…”
No place for confusion. The obedience of the Son was not legalistic.
It was an alignment rooted in His heart, in His relationship with the
Father.
This is the hidden pattern behind the record of His baptism in the river
Jordan, when the voice of the Father was heard:
“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water;
and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of
God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice
came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.”
Matt 3,16-17
He established a Kingdom-pattern by doing what was required. And
the pattern is still fully valid, meaningful and effectful. It has the
following components:
1. The Father made the heavens available to His Son. The heavens
were opened to Him, not only over him, but to him. This is the first
effect of what took place. There was a direct access to the Father.
This is the pattern designed by Him, and provided for His sons and
daughters. And His Son revealed it for the first time in history. He took
the lives of the patriarchs, of the kings and prophets to a totally new
level. God would in the future open the heavens to all His sons and
daughters, those who let Him form them after the likeness of the Son.
2. The Father let the Spirit descend upon His Son. Paul wrote to the
Colossians:
“… that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love,
and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the
knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in
whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Col 2,2
The Spirit descended on Him and all the treasures of wisdom,
knowledge, giftings and tools could descend on Him as well.
Resources will come to Him as He walked with the Father in all that
was prepared for Him. This is the pattern the Father has designed for
all the coming sons and daughters, because the Son is the firstborn of
many.
3. The Father elevated the 30 first years of shaping and training
of the Son as the pattern. Not the 3 years of intensive work and
phenomenal results. The reason is that they had begun yet. We elevate
the 3 years, the Father elevated the 30 years. And He pronounced
them as 100% successful. Could it be the reason why our “3 years of
intensive life and work” -which by the way have become 2000+ years-
have produced so little influence and so few changes and results? After
the 30 years something essential had been completed in the life of
Jesus. The Father spoke from heaven and said: “This is My beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased.” This is the pattern to be reproduced in the
Kingdom Church. Firstly that the Father wants to shape us, transform
us in the likeness of His Son. That is the only life, the only relationship,
the only partnership He recognizes and will vindicate and use. Nothing
else will be accepted to have access to Kingdom resources, carry
Kingdom-mandates and fullfil them. Secondly it means that what had
just happened to the Son is intended and expected to happen to all
the sons and daughters in the future.
The pattern had been already been built into
Abraham
“Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he
was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes
and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he
saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself
to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight,
do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and
wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree… And Abraham ran
to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he
hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he
had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree
as they ate… Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom,
and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the Lord said,
“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely
become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall
be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command
his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the
Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham
what He has spoken to him.”
Gen 18,1-4,7-8,16-19
God was ready for such a partnership built on a true and solid
heart-relationship with Abraham. He was sitting at the door of his
tent, which means that he was conscious that something important
was about to happen. There was an internal sphere and an external
sphere and he knew that God will give him both and God will enter
both. So he stood there betwee nthe internal and external and looked
into the horizon. And God showed up. Things would not happen just
by telling him; a specific walk was a basis of such a future. So what
about Abraham? Where was he in all this? All what God had told him
previously would have to start somewhere. God was ready for the next
chapter. Now God is speaking about a region. And Abraham picked it
up very quickly:
“Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but
Abraham still stood before the Lord. And Abraham came near and said,
“Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?”
Gen 18,22-23
So Abraham was ready. He was easy to activate. He was at the door
of the tent, he jumped immediately when the angels came and made
a meal. When God spoke about the region, immediately he sent a
clear signal with great boldness. This was the beginning of an usual
relationship.
James described it in these unusual words: “And the Scripture was
fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to
him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.”
Abraham… the friend of God!
It had been established in King David
Samuel came to the home of Jesse because God asked him to get
there as the next king will be one of Jesse’s sons.
“Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.
So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the
Lord’s anointed is before Him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look
at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused
him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” And the Lord said, “Arise,
anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and
anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came
upon David from that day forward.
1Sam 16,5-7,12-13
These daily and practical words makes it very clear for us that David
was chosen because his heart met the divine requirements. And the
requirement had everything to do with the heart, and nothing to do
with the appearance or the height of his stature, his giftings and CV.
Here we have the start of the spiritual “carreer” taking this peculiar
teenager to the highest level of the political administration and
governance of the nation. His heart-relationship with the God of the
nations took him to the international scene where God was operating,
but he never sought to get there by himself. The heart-relationship is
powerful and is potent enough to lead anywhere necessary. there is
no no-go zone. God’s friends became his friends and God’s enemies
became his enemies. God’s strategic men became his companions,
Samuel became his spiritual father and prophetic mentor. He was
given awesome friends and he met fierce enemies .
The statement of 1Sam 13,14:
“But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for
Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to
be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord
commanded you.”
… is quoted in Acts 13,22:
“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to
whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of
Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’”
Let’s look at King David at the end of his life as recorded in the book of
Chronicles.
“Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might: gold
for things to be made of gold, silver for things of silver, bronze for things
of bronze, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood, onyx stones,
stones to be set, glistening stones of various colors, all kinds of precious
stones, and marble slabs in abundance. Moreover, because I have set my
affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God,
over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special
treasure of gold and silver: three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of
Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls
of the houses; the gold for things of gold and the silver for things of silver,
and for all kinds of work to be done by the hands of craftsmen.”
1Chr 29,2-5
The whole motivation for this deliberate and extremely generous
giving was rooted in the unique life-long relationship of David with
God. Hear his heart in the following words:
- Now for the house of my God
- I have prepared with all my might
- I have set my affection on the house of my God
- My own special treasure.
It is all over the place, in every gram of gold and silver, in every
moment of giving, in every step, thought and decision, in every
consideration. There is not a nanogram of religious formalism or
sacrifice. Therefore his leaders have with abundance (1Chr 29,6). And
when the people saw this scenario unfolding before their eyes they
were proud of their fathers and leaders, and they rejoiced (1Chr 29,9)
because the whole situation was saturated with heart-dynamics: “Then
the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a
loyal heart they had offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also
rejoiced greatly.” All rejoiced about all.
No wonder that this man and his leaders and his people called on
God’s attention, they attracted heaven. God rejoiced!
All understood that God is an outstanding God, and because of
the nature of their king’s relationship to God, He made them an
outstanding nation, which they still are.
““Blessed are you, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours,
O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, the victory and the
majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is yours; Yours is the
kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head over all. Both riches and
honor come from you, and you reign over all. In your hand is power and
might; In your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. “Now
therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.”
1Chr 29,10-13
David had found pleasure, genuine peace and joy, and he
wholeheartedly rejoiced in this relationship. Therefore he led his
people into it as well. That’s the heart Abraham had, that’s the heart
King Saul did not have and did not even seek.
David knew about his forefather Abraham:
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer
so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and of your own we
have given you. For we are aliens and pilgrims before you, As were all our
fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope. “O Lord
our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build you a house
for your holy name is from your hand, and is all your own. I know also,
my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for
me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things;
and now with joy I have seen your people, who are present here to offer
willingly to you. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers,
keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of your people,
and fix their heart toward you.”
1Chr 29,14-18
David… a man after God’s heart!
It was transferred to their next generations
Let’s follow David in this story. Then he turned to his son Solomon in
his praying worship or worshipping prayer:
“And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep your commandments and
your testimonies and your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the
temple for which I have made provision.”
1Chr 29,19
After a long life of deep friendship and partnership with the God of the
nations, there is only one focus, the heart: Create in my son the same
heart. Yes, David transferred a mandate, but most of all the transfer
was about the heart. The heart is not transferrable. It is personal and
therefore has to be created, it has to be formed. Therefore it must be
nurtured and protected.
What was the reason of the success of king Solomon? Not his wisdom
as we have thought and preached but the heart:
“So they ate and drank before the Lord with great gladness on that day.
And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and
anointed him before the Lord to be the leader, and Zadok to be priest.
Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his
father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. All the leaders and the
mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, submitted themselves
to King Solomon. So the Lord exalted Solomon exceedingly in the sight
of all Israel, and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been
on any king before him in Israel.” Everything became very easy, even the
most sensitive, complicated and difficult issues as accepting a certain man
as their leader, the royal succession, extreme prosperity, obedience and
submission, exaltation and royal majesty… al these elements are present
in the mentioned passage of the Scriptures.
1Chr 29,22-25
Without this outstanding heart-relationship all this can grow terribly
wrong. David knew it from his life, and he brought his son to a new
place, to a new atmosphere, to a new culture… a heart-relationship
with God.
The very day Solomon began to deviate from the ways of his father, his
rule declined. Do we understand this?
Finally pay attention to the speech David made for his son, his leaders
and his people who will become his son’s leaders and people:
“Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and
my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the
covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made
preparations to build it. But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house
for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’
However the Lord God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father
to be king over Israel forever, for He has chosen Judah to be the ruler; and
of the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of
my father, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel. And
of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) He has chosen my
son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and
My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father.
Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe
My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’ Now therefore,
in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of
our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the Lord your
God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance
for your children after you forever. “As for you, my son Solomon, know the
God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing
mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the
thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him,
He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to
build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.”
1Chr 28,2-10
David exposed his son Solomon to this and led him into it. What did
Solomon do? Exactly the same.
“My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within
you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to
understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice
for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for
hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And
find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth
come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the
upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths
of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. Then you will understand
righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path. When wisdom
enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will
preserve you; Understanding will keep you…”
Prov 2,1-11
The heart-legacy is present in all the words, between the words and
beyond the words.
And it goes on:
“My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; For
length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy
and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the
tablet of your heart.”
Prov 3,1-3
And finally the famous statement:
“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”
Prov 4,23
If we go to the New Testament and move directly -with no stop at
all the miracles- to places like Joh 13 to 17 and to John 21, if we read
attentively the letters of the apostles -with no stop at the breat-taking
revelations- we will undoubtedly realize that:
… the heart-legacy rooted in God Himself, was still fully alive and had
been successfully transferred from generation to generation, and all
the way to HisKingdom workforce.
All the way from Abraham. Even though the writings of the apostles
carried high-level understanding and even new revelations hidden
until then, the heart-dynamics are strong.
This legacy came under pressure in the church-era shortly after the
explosion in Jerusalem and the following waves of healings and the
massive entrance of crowds into the Kingdom.
“And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church OUTSTANDING JOURNEY
and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had
done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose Paul wrote to Timothy:
up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them
to keep the law of Moses.” Now the apostles and elders came together to “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up faith.”
and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God 2Tim 4,7
chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of
the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them Yes, there is a journey with God, and because He is outstanding, the
by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction journey will carry the same nature.
between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why
do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither
After He came out victoriously from his clash with the devil in the
our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the
wilderness, Jesus entered the public scene and spoke publicly to the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as
crowds. The next thing He did was to call His first men:
they.” Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul
declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James answered,
Matt 4,19
saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at
the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And
There was a walk before them, a journey together with Him taking
with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I
them from a place to an other.
will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may
seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Now let us stay with Paul a little while and read his own reflections
Lord who does all these things.’” about his journey with God, with the Kingdom and with his sphere
Acts 15,4-17 of relationships, circumstances and influence. In his first letter to the
Corinthians he wrote about his “race” like he did to Timothy. And in his
Paul, Barnabas and their crew, and Peter met with apostles and second letter to the same company of believers he wrote about his
elders, global and local leaders. The atmosphere was tensed, opinions life-journey in a more detailed way… and we will have a close look at
strongly differed, and the debate was middle-east style… meaning: it. There is a reason why these very personal and unique insight are in
hot. And Peter gave a report of which the three main elements were: the Scriptures. He had a specific role in the Kingdom, so do we. A lot of
things were specific to his life, but there are certain components which
1) God decided that the gentiles should hear the word of the gospel are present in everybody’s journey in the Kingom and therefore his
and believe, thoughts have been passed down to us so we get an understanding,
2) God knew the hearts and cleansed the hearts, become clear so we can take a mature decision.
3) God sovereignly launched the Kingdom among the gentile world.
Didn’t Jesus say in Lk 14:28-29:
Yes, it is a heart-thing.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and
count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it - lest, after he has laid
Here is some home-work for you.
the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock
From the hand of Paul, read and study: him…”
Rom 1,11 and 16,3-15
Phil 1,7 A journey which doesn’t finish is not a journey.
Col 4,14-15
1Tess 5,12-15. So let us look into the sixth chapter of Paul’s second letter to the
believers in Corinth and discover…
From the hand of Peter, read and study:
1Pet 5,12-14 and 2Pet 3,14-18. … the components of the Kingdom-journey
From the hand of John, read and study:
1Joh 2,1,12-14 4,7 2Joh 1,6 and 3Joh 1-4,15
From the hand of Jude, read and study:
Jude 17,22
Paul mentioned three categories of components in his journey. The
first category is made of tremendous valuable jewels, qualities and
forces in his life:
- Purity: It is not limited to sexual morality (thoughts, life-styles
and relationships). The sexual aspect of it has been addressed in
christian circles for decades. Sometimes in a wrongly moralistic way,
and sometimes in a wrongly liberalistic way. Sometimes it has been
intentionally ignored and has left youth defenseless in the brutal claws
of a perverted culture. Jesus addressed the issue with his disciples and
made it straight. The issue of sexuality is vital, especially in our days
when gender and therefore also sexuality is not an abslute but it is
what you think and feel it is. But purity goes beyond that. God is pure
and He is holy, and we should be as well. It means singlemindedness,
it means the absence of mixture. The bible speaks about clean hands
and clean hearts. ‘Clean hands’ means to be actively engaged and
involved in God’s plans with undivided motivation. Both your ‘hands’
are strongly into it. Clean hearts has to do with being undivided in
attitudes. desires, purposes, culture and life-patterns. God’s challenge
with Man before the work of Christ was the heart of stone. His
challenge after Christ is the divided heart. We want God to lead us, and
at the same time we basically and mostly lead ourselves. The words of
James in his letter can put an end to this situation.
- Knowledge: Paul wrote that we should not be ignorant of the
things of the Spirit (1Cor 12,1). This is an extremely important
statement. But christians have spoken much more about Paul’s
“Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” than about the
previoulsy mentioned. But these words are spoken in the context
of food sacrificed to idols.
To the Colossians Paul wrote about Christ:
“… in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Col 2,3
Solomon is consistent:
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction
is stupid.”
Prov 12,1
“The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.”
Prov 14,18
“Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.”
Prov 23,12
He followed the road set by his father David:
“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.”
Ps 119,66
Then Paul went on mentioning other important issues which are
essential to experience the outstanding journey God has prepared for
us. That’s an other and totally different category. Because nobody
said it would be ‘easy’, but it will surely be outstanding. The mentioned
issues are not characterial goodies, philosophical and theological
delicatesses, or even intellectual nuggets. They are extremely practical,
because they are vital parts of the journey. They are building blocks,
which God wants to form in our lives, so we have what it takes to make
the journey successful, the assignment completed, people affected,
situations and circumstances transformed, our satisfaction high and
His joy deep.
Here comes the list for your consideration and refelction:
- Longsuffering
- Kindness
- The Holy Spirit
- Sincere love
- The word of truth
- The power of God
- The armor of righteousness
I will leave this to your personal home-work. Study and get Spirit-
understanding as you walk deeply with Him.
Then Paul mentioned an other category of components, and there are
the ones which will protect us from being limited, affected or even
restricted by other people’s lives, choices, words and actions. They are
all relational, and here comes Paul’s list:
- Honor or dishonor
- Slander or praise
- Well-treated or mistreated
- Trusted or offended
Add these issues to your home-work.
The next category according to Paul is about “how we feel” about
situations and circumstances. The way we feel about them might be
legitimate or truthful. Or they might be deceitful. In all cases they still
have the capacity to affect our journey. They are all emotional. Here
comes his list:
- Feeling unknown, but being known
- Feeling dead, but being alive
- Feeling punished, but still working
- Feeling sad, but full of joy
- Feeling poor, but still observe a distribution of riches
- Feeling empty, but still realize the presence of resources
We have both what we feel, and what is the reality.
More home-work. Remember: Emotional intelligence must go hand in they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls
hand with spiritual intelligence. of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We
must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” So when
they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they
An other category can be labelled: Afflictions. commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Acts 14,11-23
“You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.”
2Cor 6,12 Here we see the category called: Extremes. One part of the crowd
considered them as gods and wanted to sacrifice to them, and the
“Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on
other part wanted to stone them.
your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our
tribulation. For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no
Welcome to the Kingdom-journey. Let us be fit for the journey.
rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside
Outstanding? Absolutely.
were fears.”
2Cor 7,4-5
Paul mentioned the following:
“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed
on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the - Afflictions and hardships
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of
- Calamities and beatings
their liberality.”
2Cor 8,1-2 - Imprisonments and riots
- Labors and sleepless nights
This category comes from the ‘tough department’. And it is not a
question of “if” but “when”. Jesus already mentioned this issue so we - Hunger
could be prepared, practice and position ourselves, so the journey
would not be aborted: It is not only about their content and the level of pain, which they
produced, but it’s about the deep tracks they leave behind them in our
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the
inner man and the consequences it might have for the fulfillment of
world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the
our journey and its assignments.
world.“
Joh 16,33
So let us have a look into more of Paul’s sincere sharing from his life.
Back to Paul and his daily life: Let us discover…
“Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their … the culture in the Kingdom-journey
voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down
to us in the likeness of men!” And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul,
Culture is important. Why? Because culture is made of patterns. It is
Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose
strong and influential; it can stay unnoticed for a while but have the
temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the capacity to re-emerge and re-conquer the picture any time. It goes
gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the apostles
deep because it has been around for a while. Maybe it comes from
Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among parents and even ancestors. It might come from the history and the
the multitude, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these
values of a nation where we are citizens. It can come from living in an
things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you evironment characterized by unusual and even extreme values.
that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who
made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, who It can also come from the latent but potent “spirit of the age”
in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
saturating and dominating contemporary society and culture, and
Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did altering values, forming mindsets, redefining lives and building into
good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts
people a reluctance to God. Maybe an antipathy to Him and even an
with food and gladness.” And with these sayings they could scarcely
unconscious rage against Him, His truth and His people.
restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. Then Jews from Antioch
and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they
stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went
into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And
when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples,
But here are some of the values of the culture which is required for
a successful Kingdom-journey, values which must be developed,
established and well-rooted as we live and operate in our
neighborhoods and professional sphere in order to influence them
and attract people, lead them to Christ and His outstanding Kingdom.
Paul wrote explicitely to the church in Corinth in his 2nd letter:
- Stay free 6,11
- Widen your heart 6,11-13
- Watch your relationships 6,14-16
- Stay clean… cleanse your self 6,16 to 7,1
- Grow in holiness and fear of God, 7,1
- Make heart-room for your fathers 7,2-7
- Keep growing and changing, 7,8-10
- Be strong and deliberate investors 8,1-15
This reminded me of Jacob the patriarch. Coming to the end of his
journey, this is what the bible says:
“Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and
Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?” And
Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one
hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years
of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life
of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” So Jacob blessed Pharaoh,
and went out from before Pharaoh. And Joseph situated his father and
his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best
of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. Then
Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with
bread, according to the number in their families.”
Gen 47,7-12
Pay attention to his words:
- The days of the years of my pilgrimage,
- The days of the years of my life,
- The days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their
pilgrimage.
He spoke openly about his own journey, the journeys of his fathers.
In this specific situation he also considered the journey of his beloved
son Joseph as well as all the events involving his other sons. We must
remember that a journey is not just the series of events in our lives. It is
much more than that. In the minds of mature and responsible people,
in the minds of people conscious of destiny and having developed
stature, the journey has to do with assignments.
We are flies on the wall of the pharaonic palace and we sense
the intensity and the realism of the moment when Jacob spoke
DON’T ABORT
about the lives of his forefathers, about his life and the reality of
sorrowful moments, painful episodes, stretching experiences, heavy
disappointments. However it is beyond any doubt that this is not the
whole picture. Before him stod Pharaoh in person. His own son Joseph
THE OUTSTANDING
did as well. Both were political and global partners on the highest
level possible. They represent a whole region with millions of families,
businesses and properties which have overcome extreme devastation.
But even facing these tremendous successes which could create a
JOURNEY
legitimate sense of pride, the condition of his family weighed more in
his mind, heart and spirit.
But he could rejoice over the fact that the legacy had been transferred
and it had been fully operational. The evidences were multiple and
spoke loud. Kingdom-patterns work, individually, generationally and
globally. And therefore Jacob could bow on his stick and worship His
outstanding God and Father. And relate rightly to the journey.
“Then the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according
to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the
journey. He gave to all of them, to each man, changes of garments; but
to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of
garments. And he sent to his father these things: ten donkeys loaded with
the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain,
bread, and food for his father for the journey. So he sent his brothers away,
and they departed; and he said to them, “See that you do not become
troubled along the way.” Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the
land of Canaan to Jacob their father. And they told him, saying, “Joseph is
still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart
stood still, because he did not believe them. But when they told him all the
words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which
Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.”
Gen 45,21-27
It was definitely readable. Not only in a materialistic way, but Jacob
saw that God had turned what was meant for evil into good. Not only
good for people, but progress for the Kingdom mandate.
“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By
faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and
worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was
dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave
instructions concerning his bones.”
Heb 11,20-22
Every ‘end’ was taken over by a ‘continuation’. The Kingdom-legacy
can be questioned, challenged and even sidetracked and dormant
for decades and even generations... but it is unstoppable. Jacob
worshipped leaning on the the top of his staff… the staff representing
a journey. Even when he was dying, he spoke about the continuation
of the outstanding journey, and about his participation. Quite passive
but truly real. his bones had to be together with his forefathers
because he was their “continuation” and he had finished his race and
kept the faith in the genrational assignment.
In our days we see persons of destiny, some more like Jacob, Joseph
and Pharaoh, some less, like the other sons. But hopefully we will find
and be people like Jacob who is clear, realistic and conscious. And he is
spiritually real. Joseph not less:
“Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in
order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now
therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And
he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he
and his father’s household.”
Gen 50,19-22
But in the middle of these five books there is one book, the book of
Leviticus which is quite peculiar... stirring for the curious and hungry,
boring for others. During this book the people is going nowhere; all of
it happens at Mt Sinai. Actually very little happens here. And the time-
frame is just one month. And there is no narrative. The original name
of the book is not Leviticus, but “God called” according the the first
verse of the first chapter and the book becomes a ‘bridge’ between
the first two books and the last two books of the so-called Pentateuch.
Not without a reason though. Here at Mt Sinai God called them to
Himself and gave them the necessary elements of the coming journey,
because the coming journey will be a corporate walk, not the walk of a
leadership-elite followed by crowds of nobody’s. They didn’t even have
the lowest status of slaves any more.
A major shift was taking place. Chapter 19 is a pivotal passage in the
book of Exodus and chapter 19 is a pivotal passage of the book of
Leviticus:
- Don’t turn to selfmade things, to man-made programs, ideas
and roads... everything God is and has is outstanding, why leave
it for something else, why deviate, why abort the assignment?
or as Paul told the Galatians: “How is it that you turn again to the
weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in
bondage?”
For the same reason Peter wrote to the believers in the dispersion
regarding their walk with God:
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope
fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts,
as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in
all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
1Pet 1,13-16

He saw the bigger picture, his brothers didn’t. Their fathers had ‘left’ as
he had run his part.
“Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed
him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his
father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for
him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and
the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. And when the days of his
mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying,
“If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of
Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying;
in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall
bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will
come back.’ “ And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made
you swear.”
Gen 50,1-6
As you move from Genesis to Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy, something will capture your attention. In the middle of
these five books we find the book of Leviticus.
Genesis is about the forefathers and the first Kingdom-family which
developed under God’s consistent leadership and work positioning
them for much more.
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, This is the foundation of a corporate journey including Man and
then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the God, the Body of Christ and the Head who is Christ. This is also the
earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy foundation of representing the Kingdom and its King as well as
nation.” operating on Earth as His covenanted partners.
Ex 19,5-6
May God raise a company of people walking in an outstanding
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of Kingdom so its nature shapes their persons, their lives in such a way
the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your that they are fully involved in the agenda of an oustanding God.
God am holy.”
Lev 19,1-2 May their walk take them into outstanding relationships so they are
positioned individually and corporately for an outstanding journey. In
It means that God raises people, not semi-gods. He raises a nation, the course of that journey, the results will be outstanding.
not an elite. What went wrong shortly after Exodus 19 (first the refusal
of hearing God’s voice, then the making of the golden calf as their Let it be, live and let it grow... and it will surely spread.
god) must not go wrong... and therefore the book of Leviticus. And
therefore the highly solemn words in chapter 19 have a strong and
relevant echo ringing into our days:
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of
the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your
God am holy. ‘Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and
keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. ‘Do not turn to idols, nor make
for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.”
Lev 19,1-4

In Exodus this family becomes a nation which God brings to Himself,
and to which he brings Himself in the tabernacle.
The books of Numbers and Deuteronomy describe the journey from
Egypt to the Promised Land and God’s agenda for this journey: His
sovereign training program so the nation could become a royal
priesthood and a holy nation.
It means:
- Walk with God in a partnership of holiness... God is outstanding,
- Develop a culture of honor to whom honor is due, to the
home-base... family and church... covenant relationships,
generational legacy are outstanding,
- Be at rest, trust God, His agenda, resources and orchestration...
the journey with God is outstanding,