Friday 29 August 2008

RJW on not being defined by the flesh..........

"I am not who I used to be, not because of what I do or what someone thinks about me, but because of what Jesus did 2000 years ago. I will not be defined by my flesh. I am not a physical being having a spiritual experience; I am a spiritual being having a physical experience. The cross will have its way in me and I'm resting in that."

Jamie Weeks (aka RJW)  "Better than we know. Sharing our identity in Christ."

Thursday 21 August 2008

Rob Rufus on Suffering and the Glory

"Only those who are willing to suffer persecution, rejection and being misunderstood will carry the higher level of the glory".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 4" - City Church International, Hong Kong - 10th August 208.

Saturday 16 August 2008

Rob Rufus on Bible Colleges and Pastors

"Some Bible colleges actually train pastors to keep distance between them and the people!".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 1" -

Rob Rufus on True Christian Fellowship

"True fellowship is talking to one another out of the realms of the glory".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 4" - City Church, Hong Kong - 10th August 2008.

Rob Rufus on the Summary of Salvation

"Let me sum up what being saved is, what redemption is in one word - identification".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 4" - City Church, Hong Kong - 10th August 2008.

Thursday 14 August 2008

Bill Johnson on Perfect Theology

"Jesus Christ is perfect theology. For anyone who wants to know the will of God, look at Jesus. He is the will of God. Some pray, "If it be Thy will," as though God's will is unclear. You would have to ignore the life of Christ to come to such a conclusion.
How many people came to Jesus for healing and left sick? None. How many came to Him for deliverance and left His presence still under torment? None. How many life threatening storms did Jesus bless? None. How many times did Jesus withhold a miracle because the person who came to Him had too little faith? Never. He often addressed their small faith or unbelief, but He always left them with a miracle as a way to greater faith. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, perfectly illustrates the will of God the Father. To think otherwise is to put the Father and the Son at odds. And a house divided will fall."

"Our theology is not to be built on what God hasn't done. It is defined by what He does and is doing. The will of God is perfectly seen in the person of Jesus Christ. No one who ever came to Him was turned away."

Bill Johnson, "Face to Face with God. The ultimate quest to experience His presence."

Wednesday 13 August 2008

Bill Johnson on doing the works of the Father

"True believers are being positioned to display the wonders of the almighty God to the world around us. The Bible actually calls us a new creation, a new race of people that had never existed before. Many of the prophecies that Jesus made concerning His church have never been fulfilled. The "greater works" of John 14:12 are yet to come upon an entire generation. But this is the hour all the prophets spoke of. Kings and prophets longed to see what we have seen. It is important that we say yes to all that has been provided for us through the blood of Jesus. It is time for the people of God to rise as one and display the power and glory of God.
Jesus once told a crowd of people, "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me" (John 10:37). Angels, the prophets, nature, and Scripture all testified about who Jesus was. Yet He was willing to hang the credibility of all those witnesses on one thing - the works of the Father. Without question, the works of the Father that Jesus is referring to are the miracles recorded throughout the Gospel of John. If Jesus didn't do miracles, people were not required to believe. I look for the day when the church, His body, makes the same statement to the world around us: if we don't do the works of our Father, do not believe us."

Bill Johnson, "Face to Face with God. The ultimate quest to experience His presence."

Rob Rufus on Christianity in China

"The philosophy of the underground church in China for the past 45 years has been that everyday is a Sunday, every Christian is a preacher, and everywhere is a meeting".

Rob Rufus - "Prophetic Promises to Empower Prayer for China" - Let's Talk Magazine - NCMI - Issue 80 - (p28).

Bill Johnson on the Kingdom of Joy

"Jesus taught His disciples to seek the face of His Father. Those who do so get the affirming realization that we are the "sparkle in His eyes." From this place of intimacy with God we find answers and solutions. Concerning this, Jesus said, "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full" (John 16:24). Once again we see that joy is the expected result of a right relationship with God. It is normal. Everything below that is not. Some teach of the balanced Christian life as though we needed equal measures of joy and depression. Foolishness! The kingdom is one of joy. And I don't ever have to leave."

Bill Johnson, "Face to Face with God. The Ultimate Quest to Experience His Presence."

Bill Johnson on the Joy of His Face

"Joy is an important part of the Father's nature. We experience His joy, and now we inherit His joy as our own. "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You. How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O LORD, they walk in the light of your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all the day, and by Your righteousness they are exalted" (Psalm 89:14-16, emphasis added).
Our joy is a direct result of being before the face of God. A countenance filled with joy is the reflection of the Father's delight in us. Those who live before the face of God know the sound of darkness in heaven, not even a shadow, because the light of His face is everywhere. In the same way, there is no discouragement or depression in heaven, because the sound of joy radiates from the face of God. Praying for the kingdom of God to come now "on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10) is in essence a prayer for the atmosphere of heaven to permeate Earth - the atmosphere of joy."


Bill Johnson, "Face to Face with God. The ultimate quest to experience His presence."

Friday 8 August 2008

Terry Virgo on Defining Prejudice

"Prejudice is judging something before you have heard the facts".

Terry Virgo - "Stephen" - Main Session 3 - "Together on a Mission 2008" - Brighton.

Terry Virgo on the Supernatural in Church Today

"I do believe in this post-Christian era that there needs to be a breakout of the supernatural because we are back to Bible days! ... Sometimes we are saddened and shocked and not happy with the teaching that goes hand in hand with those who emphasise signs and wonders. The best answer is to preach it like it is and believe and trust God for it!".

Terry Virgo - "Stephen" - Main Session 3 - "Together on a Mission 2008" - Brighton.

Rob Rufus on the Devil's Plan of Distraction

"The devil wants to rob you of your peace because agitated people rarely hear the Voice of God. In a time of opportunity, the word is "distraction" on the devil's agenda. whereas God's agenda is laser-like focus - I was born and raised for this time!".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 2" - City Church International, Hong Kong - Sunday 27th July 2008.

Rob Rufus on Destiny and Circumstances

"God won't talk to you about your circumstances although He cares about it - He will talk to you about your destiny. God is after destiny for you and me - when you obey your destiny, your circumstances will improve".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 2" - City Church International, Hong Kong - Sunday 27th July 2008.

Rob Rufus on Delays!

"Every red traffic light, I feel is a demonic conspiracy to hold me up!".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 2" - City Church International, Hong Kong - Sunday 27th July 2008.

Rob Rufus on Destiny Governing Circumstances

"When you obey destiny, your circumstances will improve! But if you focus on your self-pity and rejections and your problems and say "God why aren't You helping me?" - He will not talk to you about your circumstances when you complain. He wants to talk to you about why you are in the earth - your destiny - what He has equipped you for".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 2" - City Church International, Hong Kong - Sunday 27th July 2008.

Rob Rufus on Sonship

"Out of my security as a son, I can minister as a servant".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 3" - City Church International, Hong Kong - Sunday 3rd August 2008.

Rob Rufus on Right Attitudes and Motives

"The question is not what are you doing but why you are doing it".

Rob Rufus - "Attitudes That Attract The Empowering Grace Of God - Part 3" - City Church International, Hong Kong - Sunday 3rd August 2008.

Monday 4 August 2008

Rob Rufus on Newfrontiers

"It is unique to find a family of people who so fully celebrate the wonder of the New Covenant - who embrace the freedom of grace - embrace the truth of the truth of the Word of God and are not nervous or unafraid of the supernatural power of God".

Rob Rufus - "Being Obedient to Faith" - Newfrontiers Europe Conference - 11th May 2008.

Tom Schreiner on the Prophet Agabus

"Some (Wayne Grudem for example) have suggested that Agabus was mistaken for the Jews did not literally bind Paul and hand him over to the Romans. Such a judgement demands too literal a fulfillment of prophetic words. In the Lukan perspective the prophecy is fulfilled for Paul used some of the words of Agabus in describing his own arrest".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p447).

Tom Schreiner on the Spirit's Hindering Mission Advance

"On two occasions the Spirit hindered the speaking of the gospel ... even the Spirit's hindering work ultimately therefore becomes the means by which the Spirit directs His messangers to specific localities".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p446).

Tom Schreiner on the Spirit and Peter's Trance

"The Spirit's speaking to Peter should not be construed as a private existential experience. The Spirit directed Peter because he was the means to which the Gentiles would hear the Gospel. The point of the story is not the Spirit's private revelation to Peter. The Spirit speaks to Peter so that he will bring the gospel to the nations".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p445-6).

Tom Schreiner on the Spirit carrying Philip Away

"We note again that the Spirit's carrying Philip away is the means by which the gospel is proclaimed in new areas".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p445).

Tom Schreiner on Word and Spirit

"The Holy Spirit's role in the writing of Scripture is one example of the alliance between the Spirit and the Word. The Spirit speaks through the written word of Scripture and the human authors of Scripture spoke their words under the aegis of the Holy Spirit".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p445).

Tom Schreiner on the Filling of the Spirit and Mission

"The filling of the Spirit immediately leads to an oracle of the Lord. In every instance the filling of the Spirit is related to bearing witness and speaking out the prophetic word. The prophetic work of the Spirit is not limited to the verb "fill".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p445).

Tom Schreiner on the Filling of the Holy Spirit

"The filling of the Spirit leads to the proclamation of God's word, to testifying about what God has done in Christ".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p444).

Tom Schreiner on the Spirit and Prophecy

"If we take stock of the foregoing texts, we observe a close connection between the "filling" of the Spirit and prophecy. John the Baptist was a prophet of the Lord and filled with the Spirit from his mother's womb ... Both Elizabeth and Zechariah were filled with the Spirit and prophesied ... the same pattern continues in Acts. When the 120 believers on the Day of Pentecost were filled with the Spirit, they spoke in tongues ... they proclaimed the "mighty acts of God" ... perhaps it is significant that the verb "fill" is not used on any other occasion when people speak in tongues in Acts. This is the only occasion in Acts in which those who speak in tongues are understood by the hearers so that God's word is proclaimed in a comprehensible manner".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p444).

Tom Schreiner on What Happens When the Spirit Comes

"When the Spirit comes, people speak forth God's Word. When Mary visited Elizabeth, the latter was suddenly filled with the Spirit and spoke loudly an oracle from God ... under the inspiration of the Spirit Elizabeth recognised that Mary was carrying the Lord in her womb and that Mary was the object of the Lord's special favour".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p443).

Sunday 3 August 2008

Greg Haslam on the Gift of Prophecy

"Prophecy is the living voice of the Spirit of Christ to living people right now ... prophecy is the supernatural ability to speak the mind of God on a given subject at any time by the prompting of the Holy Spirit".

Greg Haslam - "Prophetic Preaching - Part 1" Seminar - Together on a Mission 2008 Brighton

David Holden on New Testament Reality and Experience

"All that God has for us is to be experienced but it will only become a reality when we mix what we hear with faith. In other words it is possible to hear a lot of things but not experience them because when we hear them - we are not combining them with faith in our hearts".

Dave Holden - "Mixing It With Faith" - Newfrontiers Europe Conference - 10th May 2008.

Tom Schreiner on Luke 4:18

"The text proceeds to say that Jesus was sent to free the imprisoned, to grant sight to the blind, to free the oppressed and to herald the grace of God. Such a gracious ministry is due to the work of the Spirit in Jesus' life. It flows from the Spirit's anointing. We should also observe that Jesus described the whole of His ministry here, so that every dimension of His work depended on the anointing power of the Spirit. Every good work detailed in Luke stems from the Spirit Himself. Jesus truly was the bearer of the Spirit, the Man marked out by the Spirit, the Man was uniquely strengthened by the Spirit".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p442).

Tom Schreiner on the Power Behind Jesus Ministry

"Such healing and exorcisms occured because "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power" (Acts 10:38). We note again the close association of the Spirit and power, as in Luke 4:14. The effectiveness of Jesus' ministry, His miracles and healings flowed not from Himself but from the power of the Spirit".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p442).

Tom Schreiner on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

"When human beings receive the baptism of the Spirit, a new reality will intervene. Jesus will immerse them with the Spirit so that the hearts of His people will be purified".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p439).

Tom Schreiner on the Word "Baptism"

"The word "baptism" signifies a great immersion into the Spirit".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p431).

Tom Schreiner on the Purpose of the Gift of the Spirit

"The Spirit was given to Jesus to accomplish salvation not judgement".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p438).

Tom Schreiner on the Descent of the Spirit

"The descent of the Spirit then must signify Jesus' anointing for ministry. His public ministry will now commence and God clothed Him with the Spirit to empower Him to carry out His task. The Spirit descended on Him as a dove".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p437).

Tom Schreiner on Jesus and the Holy Spirit

"Broadly speaking Jesus' relation to the Spirit can be designated as one of anointing in that the Spirit anointed Jesus for ministry".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p436).

Tom Schreiner on the Coming of the Holy Spirit

"The coming of the Spirit is the hope of the Lord's people, for when the Spirit is sent, God's people will keep His law and reside in the land (Ezekiel 39:29)".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p431).

Tom Schreiner on the Holy Spirit and the Book of Ezekiel

"Ezekiel could almost be called the "prophet of the Spirit".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p434).

Tom Schreiner on the Holy Spirit and Prophecy

"The Spirit of God enabled people to prophesy and speak forth His word".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p432).

Tom Schreiner on the Holy Spirit as a Sign

"The Spirit is the eschatological sign that the new age has arrived, that the new creation has become a reality".

Thomas R Schreiner - "New Testament Theology - Magnifying God in Christ" - Apollos, Nottingham (2008) - (p431).