"This is how Esau despised his birthright"
Esau was legitimately entitled to the family birthright as first born - nevertheless he 'despised' this privilege by selling it to Jacob for a bowl of soup. Overwhelmed by his temporal & immediate physical needs he traded his future inheritance. We as Churches can fail to comprehend the awesome privileges and scope of our heavenly inheritance, by prioritizing the immediate, the trivial, or that which is only beneficial to our local needs.
• We have a personal birthright...
It is recorded of Isaac that he prayed for Rebecca, his barren wife and "the LORD heard his prayer" He stood in the place of priest and interceded for his wife, exercising the prerogatives and authority of the spiritual position given him. So to we need to stand in the spiritual authority and position we have graciously been given and exercise a priestly ministry on behalf of those who are unable to get a breakthrough for themselves. As leaders in God's house we need to understand our 'birthright' and begin to function in it.
• We have a 'Birthright' as individuals & as a movement...
Holiness - The apostolic movement is identified as a Holy people. We must all be striving for a Holy life; in word, in deed, and in thought. As leaders we must prioritize this as many are looking to us to see this modeled. Sexual immorality in the church needs to be lovingly confronted and judged according to scripture. Dishonesty & lying need to be forsaken for truth & transparency. Division must bow to unity, everything 'un' holy in our lives must be willingly forsaken, repentance and restoration applied, and a striving to embrace the life of Christ, through the empowering of Grace. It’s important that every member of the local church understands the impact of their life on the corporate community. So let’s 'get our Holy on"
Missions - The roots of the Apostolic/Pentecostal movement are unashamedly missional. It is a 'distinctive' of this movement that defines us as a people of/for God. The Welsh revival birthed missions to Australia that started the growth of ACA in this nation, in turn missionary initiatives were birthed in New Guinea, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, and now Laos. Countless souls have been impacted and the Kingdom advanced because the responsibility and priority of missions was held onto.
Sacrifice - Many individuals have sacrificed much to contribute to the advancement of the Kingdom through the ACA over the years. We honored Ps Harry Reer at the conference; at 91 he is still serving God and ministering to God's people. Ps Harry pioneered in the Highlands of New Guinea with his wife, building a house in the jungle with his own hands and serving the Highland natives with the Gospel of Jesus. Long and difficult was his journey - but many Highlanders came to know Christ. I wonder as leaders what is the extent and depth of OUR sacrifice for the Kingdom? The local church? your brothers & sisters around you? God is calling many of us to a new demonstration of personal sacrifice for the greater good. I think 5 minutes talking to Ps Harry about his time in the Highlands would challenge us to the core about what it really means to be a servant of God.
The Apostolic 'Pattern' is leaders functioning as servants / equippers / developers / imparters of vision, gifting, enabling to do the work of God in the world. It is the well known Eph 4 mandate - and it is all the more pertinent today for leaders & Pastors. Paul said to Timothy "All seek their own and not the things that are of Christ Jesus" We have become a self-seeking, indulgent, shallow, indolent generation of believers generally; But God is shaking & waking us up to the glorious opportunity we have to move in our 'inheritance' recapture our distinctives, and raise up a fully equipped, God enabled people to do his work in our generation; the salvation of souls.
This is our time as leaders, Pastors, workers in the local Church!
Hooah! Ps Rhett
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