Session 4 Apostolic National conference "Messiah complex"

Ps Dave started this session with the story of a therapy group comprised of people who thought they were all Jesus. Sufferers of the 'Messiah complex" have a superiority mindset and find it hard to acccept that they are falible. Jesus spoke about 'a city on a hill' illustrative of the church being a 'lighthouse' for humanity reflecting the Glory of God - not its own glory. Dave went on to examine the 3 temptations of Christ in the wilderness, specifically the lure to turn stones into bread and feed his human needs - this is the 'fast food' generation - we want it all & we want it now! What are we serving up to our churches?, what they want or what they need, as there is a vast difference. We need to be pointing all to Christ as the ultimate sourse for all need.
Satan was tempting Jesus to act independantly of God's will and use the power he was given to meet his own needs and further his own cause. We need to carefully examine our personal motives and assess the ministry of our local church. Working alone or independantly can become a stumbling block to our effectivness in fullfilling the will of God for our lives. Dave asserted that we need to be focused on the 'essence' or end result of our minisrty in producing 'servant leaders' not independant or rouge disciples.
A probing question for leaders "Are you addicted to 'spectator approval' or the applause of men?" Dave noted that in the Welsh revivals - the Holy Spirit broke out in the context of small communities and moved in a systematic way (the point being that God moves in the context of community as a rule, not in isolation - but he has the perogative to do both)

• Forgivness of sins assured people of God's approval
• Baptism of the Holy Spirit empowered people with God's fire
• The Gifts of the Holy Spirit enabled people in God's grace
• The great commission thrust people into God's purposes

Quote: "Those that forget the past cannot be pioneers"

Dave explained that the Jesuit model for ministry or insignia is a picture of a priest with one foot raised / this signifying a willingness to 'Go" wherever the Lord would guide them and open doors. (Wow what an attitude! are you willing to lift up your foot?)
PS Gibbons finished this session with the reply that Jesus gave Satan "Man shall not live by bread alone (but it is a legitimate need) but (primarily) by every word that comes from God's mouth (divine revelation & inspiration are to be the higher priority)
Great session! again provided much opportunity for soul searching and a purging of motives.
Hope that this inspires you - c u next time.
Blessings
Ps Rhett