Home Sweet Home

When I minister in other countries, there is this barely perceptible, but yet real emotional/psychological thing that happens when I return. It seems that when I arrive back at the first major US airport, there is this sigh and relaxation that passes through me.

After much thought, I believe it is not just because I am going home, but I have arrived back in the US. This is where my citizenship is, this is where I have certain freedoms and rights. In other countries, we are not always sure of all the laws and rights/freedoms people have. I have to remember, I am a visitor in those countries.

Paul tells us that our “citizenship…is in heaven” (Ph 3:20 ISV). As a citizen of the spiritual realm of the Kingdom of heaven, where should I find I feel the most at home? Now I know we must exist in this present world, but how comfortable are we? I enjoy learning the cultures of other lands. I constantly ask why? What does that mean? Yet, I know that in many of those situations, it is not as significant to me as to those who are born and raised there. There is this awareness that I am not of that culture. I am a visitor there.

In my daily life, I must remember that I am an emissary or ambassador of another kingdom, which is where I should feel the most comfortable.

Food for thought – when do you feel the most at home? When immersed in the culture of the world? Or in the culture of the kingdom?

What Do You Smell Like?

We have all experienced this: we can tell when a certain person is about to enter our space because we smell their cologne or perfume before they arrive. I know, you are probably thinking about someone right now (maybe recalling their fragrance). It seems in our lives, this fragrance becomes identified with this particular individual.

This makes me wonder, how do I smell? No I do not mean my cologne (in fact, I have had many compliments on my cologne). Paul tells us “we are the sweet fragrance of Christ,” that is evident in the lives of those around us, both “saved” and those “perishing.” We have a spiritual perfume or cologne that is noticed by those around us.

I remember, years ago, we were traveling through Tennessee and we stopped at a rest area by the Tennessee River. When we opened our car doors, immediately we were engulfed by this sweet aroma of the blooming lilac bushes. This fragrance permeated the entire rest area; there was nowhere you could go that it was not noticeable. It was such a wonderful, almost fairy tale like, place. It was hard to not want to sit, relax and just breathe in the wonderful aroma.

How do we smell to this world? Is my spiritual fragrance one that when individuals come near me, they immediately inhale the fragrance of Jesus? Does my attitude and actions permeate my environment with the sweet smell of grace, mercy and compassion? Do I create for them an almost unbelievable place, which they want to stop, relax and breathe in something that is so unlike this world?

Yes, maybe I need to go and check my spiritual cologne today.

Making A Difference

Wonderful discussion this AM with two friends at Starbucks. The three of us are in agreement that if the church (now I mean the biblical church, not man's) is to impact this world, we must be willing to step out and do things different and act like the church. I have another friend who pastors makes a comment that if we desire to see the book of Acts type powerful revelation of God, we must start acting like the people/church of the book of acts.

I ministered a message this year entitled "The Difference is the Difference." In short, if we want to make a difference, we must be different. If we desire to impact this world with the Kingdom of Heaven, we must act or demonstrate that we are in/part of this kingdom. Jesus' first message was "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This word repent in the original means to change your thinking. If we want to possess/demonstrate/reveal the kingdom, we must first change our way of thinking. If we change our thinking, we will act different or be different.

If we are to make a difference we must be different.

Apostolic Notes

Just released latest edition of Apostolic Notes, an ezine that we publish about monthly. The topic of this one is "Send It On Down." It deals with the attidude that we are waiting for God to pour out on us some special anointing and we will become instantly powerful, walking in apostolic authority.

However, the biblical truth is we are to walk led of the Spirit in us and by faith demonstrate what we are being shown by the Spirit. Check it out at: www.apostolicmissions.org/senditondown.html

Reinforcing Our Traditions

This weekend was good for me in regards to kingdom connections. In one instance, I came across a new book this weekend on the web, Cardboard Astronaut by Armando Heredia. It is so great to find what you feel are like-minded Kingdom people. In the chapter on Informed Resistance he makes this statement:

"Truth comes in fragments, sometimes truth has thorns, sometimes it is heavy, and it rarely fits into our pre-made little fire ring, but rather than expand our ring we throw down the pieces that don’t fit and wait for the one’s that do, even if they are few and far in between."

you can order it here

This is so true. To me, this is a vivid illustration of how a stronghold of traditional thinking limits us. As God brings to each of us fresh illumination of His word and it's application, because it does not fit our pre-determined criteria, we choose to ignore it. This continues to repeatedly reinforce our strongholds.

How many times have God inspired applications been cast aside, because we cannot quite figure out how to place it in the confines of our structure. I am working on a future Apostolic Notes ezine regarding this and what Jesus said about putting new wine into old wineskin.

The End Product of Traditions

In the previous postings, we have listed some of the major traditions of modern Christianity that can be obstacles to operating in apostolic authority. The end product of these traditions is the creation of strongholds in our minds.

Paul states in 2 Cor 10:4 that the power we have can cast down strongholds. In the next verse, he elaborates on the nature of these strongholds. The Amplified Bibles says: "[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed one)" (2 Cor 10:5 emphasis add). Paul is telling us that strongholds are arguments, reasonings, thoughts and purposes that are contrary to the purpose of God.


This is why many in the modern church do not accept the illumination of the word of God. It goes against thier arguments, theories or reasoning. Comments like: "This is the way we have always done it" or "If it was good enough for my granddaddy, it is good enough for me" or even, "This is they way our denomination does it." Are all indications of strongholds. They are reasoning or arguing why they will not accept the illumination of truth.

In regards to church leadership and strongholds: How many times do we attempt to place new illumination of the word, into our standard form or procedures of doing church? We need to be willing to allow the Spirit to discern our thoughts that it can show us what is truly the the word of God in our structure/procedures and what is man-made that can be changed if necessary.

till next time
martin

More Traditions That Hinder

To recap, the traditions that are hindrances to the operation of apostolic authority are those that we teach that take precedents over the things of God. Jesus stated to the pharisees that they were "Making the word of God of none effect through your traditions." (Mark 7:13). The following are a couple more comparisions of the traditional church and the apostolic church.

A traditional church

…has most of its ministries inward focused
Due to the “bless me” gospel, most of the resources must be allocated to programs that make the individual feel good about themselves. This focus does not promote a transformation of the believer. There is a constant need to change the program to deliver the necessary stimulus to the people.

An apostolic church

…focus on outward ministries
Our focus should not be on self, but on others. Jesus commanded His church to go and make disciples – followers. (Matthew 28:19 AMP, Darby, NKJV). The focus of the church should be outside the four walls of the building.

A traditional church

…is built upon man’s ideas, structure and programs
Therefore, the result is only what man/flesh can produce. If a program is successful in attracting a crowd, it’s duplication is attempted by others hoping for the same results, producing the latest “fad” of church growth. Unfortunately, the success is not always duplicated, and frustration results.

An apostolic church

…is built based on the spiritual gifting in the body
The church should be structured around the giftings that the Lord has placed in the body. This would be the outcome of the ascension gifts (governing gifts) identifying, instructing, empowering and supporting the individual member’s gifts.


These last few posts have been presented to challenge our paradigm of church, not to condemn. As a pastor, I am addressing these issues, seeking the Lord’s direction as to how to lead this local assembly in a paradigm shift. The Lord will do this, because the church is His chosen vessel today. As we seek to align ourselves with the way He wants to build the church, we will find a flow of apostolic authority to accomplish His purpose.

till next time
martin