Key Cultures to Develop in 2010

In everything we need to pursue and nurture intimacy with God, and a passion for His Presence

And remember: the secret of holiness is not in trying to be holy – that only leads to legalism  and empty religion. Rather it is in becoming one with Him through faith and love – which leads to Christlikeness. It is in remaining in Jesus and nurturing friendship with Holy Spirit. The secret of Godliness is this: He appeared in a body! (see 1 Tim 3:16)

“Holiness is not a principle to be practiced but a Presence to be pursued”

Along with this here are some cultures (the mindsets, beliefs and practices which shape our lifestyle) which we need to build and develop this year.

1. An increasing Belief in The Goodness of God - “The Lord is good to all” (cf Ps 145:9, Matt 5:45)

Many of us don’t believe God is as good as He really is! We still think he gives us bad things for good reasons……But it is that belief in His Goodness that is foundational for authentic Living in the Kingdom, and for moving into all that He has for us        It is understanding this that creates Hope and Joy along with confidence in His desire and ability to change things for our good and His glory. Without a true understanding of the goodness of God our view of Him is stymied…..

We have a good Dad….who doesn’t do, or give bad things, is not moody, and does not motivate us by guilt. He only gives good things so if something bad happens we need to understand it is coming from somewhere else and not Him. Indeed, He only has good things to give. (cf Matt 7:7-11)

The Joy of the Lord is our strength and a confident Hope in the goodness of God releases that Joy. Our Hope is based on the understanding that God really is ‘gooder’ than we think, He genuinely rejoices over us, and passionately wants the best for us.  Psalm 27:13 “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”        Psalm 33:5 “His goodness is abundant”

http://www.lifeandgodliness.org/module_data/file_manager/news/Stuart Scott — The Goodness of God (NANC outline).pdf Make daily Declarations about the Goodness of God (See Resources Page)

2. A Culture of Honour - The first commandment with a promise is Eph 6:2 “Honour your Father and mother……that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth”                   “Honour one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10)

Honour is at the very heart of God’s nature. It is super abundant in HIm and flows freely in the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit…. so much so that when God creates inHis own image He creates family/community…and one that is oiled by the honour and Love that flows between its members.

A True reflection of God must include honour. To represent the heart and nature of God we must learn how to honour others as He honours within Himself eg as true friends with no competition, criticism or superiority, just a simple desire to honour the other.

Someone helpfully said this: “Never look down on someone unless you are about to lift him up” and this I think helps us to understand what giving honour means. A good definition might be ‘to lift up another and celebrate them for what God has made them to be, recognising the value He places upon them’

What would it be like to live in a world where people lived for others as well as themselves? Where there was an absence of criticism and only a genuine desire to lift up and encourage? Where the elderly were honoured instead of degraded and where children could play in safety without fear? - it has to begin here in the community of the saints. “By this shall all men know you are my disciples, that you have love for one another ” – Jesus (John 13:36)

A community or family that lives together with love and honour is the place where God Himself loves to live! Let’s find ways this year to creatively honor others daily and lift them up, and in so doing attract His Presence.

3. A Spirit of Generosity - “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt 10:8)     “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” ( Luke 6:37-38)    “ One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. ” (Prov 11:24)

“There are three kinds of givers — the Flint, the Sponge and the Honeycomb…. to get anything out of a flint you must hammer it. And then you get only chips and sparks. To get water out of a sponge you must squeeze it, and the more you use pressure, the more you will get. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness. Which kind of giver are you?”

If we are to overflow with generosity then first we must know God’s goodness and ability to provide for us. Isaiah 58 encourages us to sow seeds into the very need we have ourselves eg for healing. Whatever we sow we will reap. As we do this in faith, trusting God, then our own healing and provision will appear.

Note: We can do more together than we can alone and that includes the realm of finances. Whatever we do together is going to cost money. This year we want to push further into God’s purposes in training, equipping and releasing. Accommodation requires money, Training requires money, Resources require money. Giving financially is a strategic move! Please consider what you are giving to the vision and what the Holy Spirit is asking you to do – it is actually a good health check. “When God touches your heart He also touches your pocket!” (Anon) “You cannot serve God and money” - Jesus

“You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.”   “Plenty of people are willing to give God credit, yet few are willing to give Him cash.” We will create opportunities for corporate acts of generosity in the months to come. Please let God speak to you about the part you can play. Generosity breaks the spirit of poverty.

4. A Life of Miracles - We are born for a Supernatural Lifestyle. “Let your Kingdom Come, Your will be done on Earth as in Heaven” (Matt 6:10)

We have been learning that a family of believers is created for the purpose of being a Gateway bringing Heaven to Earth. In the TV series, Stargate Atlantis is a porthole that people can walk through and enter into another world . Likewise people should be able to walk into our relationships and gatherings and by doing so touch another world or realm where the powers of the age to come are breaking through. So how can we increase in this?

a) Share stories of God’s Goodness in healing and provision. It provides a legal precedent for more “A testimony is a legal standard that sets a precedent for more of the same” - Bill Johnson. The bible is a book full of stories and testimonies which create faith that God will do it again!

b) Drink in and Release the Goodness of God – getting so soaked in His Presence that we leak His goodness over those we meet.

c) Understand and Practice the Power of Declarations – in short, making Declarations in line with God’s heart “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Prov 18:21) and we as God’s children have the authority to stop bad things and release the goodness of Heaven by the power of our words and declarations coming with faith from our hearts. (See Matthew 16:33)

d) Fast from Negativity - the antidote to fear, disappointment and destructive thinking is to believe and speak out the goodness and love of God, making  a choice to be full of positive faith and joy, receiving His mercy and grace. During February we are going to corporately share in a Negativity Fast. Join us, it will do you good and help create an atmosphere of hope in which miracles are made!