Living Whole-Hearted by Pastor Russ Fochler

The word “courage” comes from the Latin root “cor” which means “heart”.  Courage originally meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.”
During a recent trip with Paul Manwaring to the U.K., Paul frequently talked about and lived-out before us the “keys” of authenticity and vulnerability.  “Keys” to what?  I believe that authenticity and emotional vulnerability are keys to living whole-hearted and connected.
As humans, we are “wired” for connection.   Babies instinctively look for a human face, for eyes that are happy to see them - and then seek for the heart behind those eyes to connect with.  Our greatest joys and our greatest griefs have to do with the quality of our attachments to others.  Authenticity and a healthy vulnerability make it possible for us to live connected - with God, with loved ones, and indeed with our own heart.  

Jesus lived His life on this earth whole-hearted – truly authentic and vulnerable.  And He got exasperated with those who taught and modeled a religiosity that was full of pretense and hard-heartedness.   Jesus was consistently authentic about who He was – even though it was sometimes offensive for many.   Jesus was vulnerable to those who were close to Him.   And we are invited to live like Jesus.

And while its tempting to think that if we had the same power that Jesus had – that vulnerability would no longer be a challenge for us; this is clearly not true.  Jesus lived with vulnerability.  So did His powerful ambassadors including the apostles Peter and Paul.  Leif Hetland lives in great faith and power - and also with vulnerability.

There are powerful forces that work against authenticity and vulnerability.   These include shame and fear.  How we respond to these forces either limits or expands the realms of our lives.

During our UK trip, the Holy Spirit showed me several people who were locked-up by a fear of disappointment.  It was scary for them to trust God because of past disappointments.  I could relate.  I’m chagrinned to acknowledge that for most of my life; I’ve limited my hopes and endeavors so as to avoid being “devastated” by failure or disappointment.   But, it turns out that failure and disappointment are just part of living – not a “life sentence” upon our identity.  The whole-hearted do not live in fear of failure and disappointment – and that frees them to be “present” and engaged with the gifts and opportunities of each moment.

Invitation to go deeper:

Do you have “no go” areas in your life because of fear of disappointment (or another fear)?   Simply acknowledging this to someone will remove most, if not all of the shame.  And then, I encourage you to ask Jesus: “What would it look like for me, if I gave You my fear of disappointment?”   Then wait and watch in your imagination what He shows you (or the feelings He releases).   With the truth that Jesus reveals, I’ve seen many people now choose to reach inside and hand over that fear to Jesus.  Declare: “I break all agreements with “fear”.  I will no longer look to fear to keep me safe.  Instead I look to Jesus to be my protector”.  Sometimes, people feel something like tendrils of fear trying to hold on.  Simply ask Jesus to remove those tendrils.   After that fear (and often associated spirit of fear) are removed, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His light, His love, His power, peace, and clear thinking (from 2 Tim 1:7).   You can also ask Jesus what He would like to give you in exchange for the fear.   Jesus is wonderful and often surprising in how He responds.

Engaging with our vulnerability - or trying to "numb" it:

Author and speaker Brene Brown writes:
“Vulnerability is not weakness, and the uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure we face every day are not optional. Our only choice is a question of engagement.”

So, I invite you to reflect about how you respond to the uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure of your daily life.   Many of us react by trying to “numb” or distract ourselves with food, TV, shopping, the internet, drugs, alcohol, or video games.  We crave control, certainty, and a “safe” distance.

Experiencing the Truth that frees us:

How do we find the strength to live authentically and vulnerably instead?  Only in experiencing the truth that we are eternally loved and celebrated by our Abba.  Only in experiencing the presence of our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty (Hero) God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Is 9:6) do we receive the continual grace to live whole-hearted.   And where our hearts are still fragmented, Jesus has come to restore our hearts to wholeness.  (Is 61:1)

Our heart connection with the Trinity empowers us to live authentically and vulnerably.  And being real and vulnerable enables us to have deeper heart connections with God and with each other.  It starts because He loves us first.

His love gives us courage!

Russ Fochler

Living as True Sons and Daughters! by Senior Pastor Brent Lokker

"I have called you by name~You are MINE!" Isaiah 43:1

My spirit is more alive and energized about the days we are living than ever before!  Sometimes in my alone times with God, I'm so "amped" I can barely stand it!  It has everything in the world to do with my status as Papa's favored son who He's chosen to be alive at this time and place in history.  My spirit is super excited even though I don't know all of what it means yet.  What I do know is I'm not missing my appointed destiny and neither are you!  I also know that It's a very, very good time to be alive in the Lord!!

Doug Addison recently wrote, "There are things that God is calling us to do over the next year that will bring an amazing amount of blessing and purpose into our lives, but first we need to complete things that have been left undone.  Over the next fifteen weeks, from June 12 to September 25, we have a strategic window of opportunity to finish things that have been hanging around undone or that God has been calling us to do. This is time to work hard toward completing things and tying up loose ends, as God is releasing new assignments this September. It is time to find anything that God had asked us to do and get it done! It is an exciting time of accomplishment toward your destiny!

"A good thing to do in response to this word is to take a look for things that are unfinished, even if it's as simple or mundane as cleaning out the garage, signing up for school, or updating your resume.

"June is a time that we will need to work hard to break through old mindsets and ungodly thinking. God is removing all limits. The major limitation we face is our own thinking. Watch on June 20th, a window of opportunity is going to open that will allow us to see more clearly. By July, we will begin to understand and gain insight into God's new plans that are being established in us."

Shifting out of an orphan mindset into True Sons & Daughters

One of the huge shifts in our thinking happening right now is from the old orphan mindset to the new mindset of living in the fulness of being Papa God's sons and daughters!  Last Saturday night, the title of my message was  "Entrepreneurial Sons and Daughters of the King!"  An entrepreneur is an innovator who is highly creative with a tendency to imagine new solutions by finding opportunities for profit or reward--An enterprising individual who builds capital through risk and/or initiative.

That's you and the Lord together thinking brilliantly for the sake of bringing heaven to earth with solutions not only to your own problems, but also to those of the world around you.  In a nutshell, here was the content of my message from last week:

Living as true sons and daughters of the King means:

    * No more orphan mindset for you!

    * No more entitlement mindset for you either!

    * You have an entrepreneurial spirit and the mind of Christ!

    * You continually ask God for His brilliant solutions and then act on them!

    * You are here to represent Jesus and nothing is going to stop Christ in you from impacting this world!

    * It's time to think Brilliantly!!

God won't let me put this down.  This Saturday night at Blazing Fire I'm going to build from last week and take this deeper still.  We MUST get this identity as Royal Sons and Daughters to the core of our being!  Even the earth itself is counting on it...

"The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters." (Romans 8:19, The Common English Bible)

Why don't you stop and ask Him right now in whatever situation you are facing, "Papa, if you were me, what would you do in this situation?"  He has the answers and He longs to share with you as His favored son or daughter.  It's time to think brilliantly with Him as true sons and daughters!

The Palace Is Your Playground by Pastor Karena Lout

"You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation," 1 Peter 2:9.  

Last Saturday night, I took our awesome kids (the Swordbearers) to the playground after worship. After awhile of running around and playing catch, one of the girls and I decided to play "Princesses of the Playground." It was very easy for her to assume the role of princess. It is obvious that she knows her worth as a daughter of the King and doesn't need to make apologies for it. A few other kids joined in the fun and soon dragons were being slain, imaginary ice cream appeared on command and the playground became our Kingdom.

CHILDLIKE FAITH
I love the way children look at the world with such awe as their creativity and imagination is encouraged. It is probably one of the reasons why Jesus said in Mark 10:14 "Let the children come to me for the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." Children are a constant reminder to look at the world through the lenses of pure faith and trust that nothing is impossible with God. During our healing service a few weeks ago, one of the kids had a word of knowledge that God wanted to heal cancer. She told me with such assurance that Papa was going to do it without question. As Princes and Princesses, we've been given authority to rule and reign with Christ. Sometimes we tend to complicate things. But truly, beauty is found in the simplicity of the Gospel.

SUPERNATURAL EXPLORATION
As His beloved children, the Father has given you the keys to explore His Kingdom. Several years ago at Blazing Fire, I remember one of the kids would point out all the angels in the room to me during worship. She would describe their appearance in detail and explain why they were there and what they were doing. I got so much joy watching her giggle as she played and danced with them. This is our inheritance as sons and daughters. We get to see into the unseen realm and receive it with childlike faith and abandon. There's nothing you need to do to make it happen. Our efforts to gain something that is already ours are futile. In The Chronicles of Narnia, young Lucy had eyes to see Aslan, simply because she BELIEVED.

AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE
As a little girl, my Dad used to take me to the beach where we'd play for hours on end. We'd swim out into the ocean where he'd toss me high in the air and I'd come crashing down with a huge splash. I felt like I was flying. Everything was an adventure and anything seemed possible. I want to bless you right now to return to that place of childlike faith and innocence. As a new creation, you really are born again into a life of freedom, supernatural exploration, awe and wonder. The palace is your home. Your significance rests in the truth that you are the Father's beloved son or daughter and He takes so much pleasure in you.

*SWORDBEARERS AND PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN GATHER SAT. NIGHTS AFTER WORSHIP

Much Love, Karena

A Life of Integrity by Pastor Brent Lokker

This is a page or two taken from my soon-to-be-published book, "Daddy You Love Me!". It's time for us to rise up, bouyed by the sound of our Father's voice, to walk as true sons and daughters!

Since we’re empowered to represent our Father’s very good heart here on the earth, the integrity of our lives is of utmost importance to God.  Fortunately this doesn’t mean God can’t or won’t use us until our character is perfect, otherwise none of us would ever get on the playing field!  However, developing your character to more clearly display His glory in you is hugely and strategically important to God.  So often, we want to charge to the top of the hill, consumed with doing great things for God.  He, on the other hand, is consumed with causing us to know who we are and walk accordingly!  In fact, when it comes to molding us into the spitting image of His Son, Jesus, He has all the time in the world!

Integrity refers to the state of being whole.  It means having the real substance through and through—walking in who you are because you know who you are.

Ephesians 4:1 in the Mirror Translation says it like this: “As one captive in the Lord, I urgently appeal to you therefore, with reference to your original identity, to conduct your life in such a way that your every move bears witness to the weight and value of who you really are!”

Paul isn’t saying, “Act like a Christian!”  He’s saying, “Know who you are!”  Your original identity is who God says you are.  Paul spent the first three chapters of the book of Ephesians going over it line-by-line.  Only then does he say, “Now that you know who you really are, be true to your real self!”  Paul’s saying, “You know that stuff the world is telling you to get messed up with?  It has nothing to do with you.  You are an integrous person—that other stuff isn’t you”

When we hear God tell us who we are and believe it, our hearts are changed bringing about integrity in our lives.  Just to be clear, integrity isn’t trying to be good and having the will power not to do bad things.  Integrity knows you were designed for freedom and greatness and won’t settle for less!  With this supernatural awareness, you will invite Holy Spirit to direct your life so you can receive all the benefits of your inheritance Jesus paid for on the cross.  Integrity is the natural byproduct of knowing you are Christ’s presence in this world.

Integrity is the opposite of hypocrisy.  Hypocrisy comes from a root word that means, ‘to be an actor.’  So hypocrisy means “I’m going to try and act a certain way around you so you’ll think a certain way about me, but it’s not who I really am.”  Integrity, on the other hand, is you being the real you to the core of your being.  The more you know who God says you are and hear it from Him, the more you believe it and agree,

“Wow, I’m really this great!  God’s made me an integrous person!”

Since this agreement comes by knowing and believing who God says you are, it’s imperative that you ask Him often, “Who do you say that I am?”  You can’t believe old lies about yourself and walk in integrity.  The way to battle those lies is to take them straight to Papa and ask him, “Is this true of me?”  I want to encourage you right now to get out a journal or write in your computer the answer God gives you when you ask Him this question: “When you look at me, what do you see?”

Please!  Stop and ask Him out loud and wait for His answer that will begin entering your thoughts.  Hearing God for yourself is completely transformational.

Write these thoughts down and keep them somewhere where you can review His words to you often, but never tire of asking Him to tell you again.  Daddy always has good things to say about you.  Always!  This is one of the layers behind the meaning of Jesus’ words when He said the Father gives us true bread from heaven that we are to eat of (John 6:32).  Every day you must hear his voice—especially what He thinks about you.

Living in the Gift - by Pastor Russ Fochler

Last Saturday night we celebrated water baptisms.  It was powerful!  As I stood near the tank to hold the microphone for Brent – it felt like there was a huge flash of light each time a believer went through the water.  

Pastor Brent spoke that night about Pentecost – both the Jewish feast of Shavuot and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that day.   As I meditated on this, I believe that God highlighted to me some truths from scripture about the Gift of the Holy Spirit to share with you this week:

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit:

Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”  (Matt 11:11 ESV)

This is astonishing.  Think about the great men and women who were "born of woman" before John the Baptist: the miracles and spiritual authority of Moses, the authority of Deborah and of Samuel, the favor of God upon David, the wisdom and splendor of Solomon, the miracles and power of Elijah and Elisha!   And yet Jesus said that the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than these?

So then, who gets to be in the kingdom of heaven – while still on the earth?

Jesus offered the answer to Nicodemus in John 3:3 - Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:3-6 ESV)

Being “born again” is about being re-generated with our Father’s DNA – by His Spirit.  Some think that the water that Jesus spoke of is the water of baptism.

John the Baptist baptized, and even Jesus baptized people with water through His disciples (John 3:22 and 4:1-2).  But this was not yet the fullness.  How do we know?  The Apostle John tells us:

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, asthe Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:37-39 ESV)

Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit! (John 1:33)  He began on the day of Pentecost.  Here are verses from Acts Chapter 2 (ESV).  The Apostle Peter is speaking to a crowd:

32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Just let the inexpressible extravagance of this gift wash through you!   The very Spirit of our Father given to us by Jesus!

If you’re like me, you may be wondering: “Okay, I believe that I’ve received gift of the Holy Spirit – so even if I’m the least in the kingdom of heaven; shouldn’t I show some evidence of being greater than the heroes in the Old Testament?”

Good question!   Part of the answer is that the full baptism of the Holy Spirit was not available until Jesus died on our behalf and opened the way for the Holy Spirit to continually dwell with those who trust Jesus.  That is a greater gift right there!  Yet, it is also true that few possess the Holy Spirit without measure or limit - like Jesus did in His human body.  So, let's keep seeking, knocking, and asking Papa God about that (see Matt 7:7 and Luke 11:9).  He will not withhold any good thing from us! (Ps 84:11)

This Saturday night (June 2), we'll explore living in the Spirit – especially in the realms of health and healing.   We have the honor of receiving from our own Eva Medina and Lonnie Ellis.   AND Abba has arranged for Pastor Felito Utuie from Iris Ministries/Mozambique to be with us.  Pastor Felito is warm, humble, full of the Spirit, and has seen much of heaven's reality come to earth.

Expectantly,
Russ Fochler