Being absorbed in the Father heart of God allows us to see others through the lens of God's holy destiny for their lives. Becoming a man or woman after God's heart means we will be able to see both ourselves and others through lens of eternity. As we look at one another as we look at ourselves in the mirror, as we seek God together, it's important that we see ourselves and we see one another, through this eternal lens, this eternal calling that God has for us.
Full transcript below:
And it's a joy to be with you here this morning for the School of spiritual leadership. And I want to thank you, those of you who are here, especially for just your devotion, to study the Word of God, and to seek the Lord together. It's a real honor to be here and to serve you in the School of spiritual leadership. We do not do at Air Nova, we do not do the school of spiritual leadership, any schools of spiritual leadership, by distance, we only do them in person, because we have a time of teaching in the mornings. And then usually we follow that up with some times of impartation prayer, activation, and body ministry to the body of Christ. And then usually we do the same again in the afternoon, and these all day events. And thank you all for your dedication to the school of spiritual leadership. And most of you dedicate an entire year at a time to the schools and we come back and do installments. And so we're very excited, we're able to offer some of the some of the teachings on our website, and on the net cast so that others can listen to some of the teachings. But for those who do listen to the teachings, those of you that have that have listened to other teachings of ours online, thank you for your participation, thank you for your support your prayers, your giving, it means so much to us. And please remember that the teaching is a good start. But the ministry that happens afterwards is also very, very critical in the training and impartation, for spiritual leadership. So it's a great honor to be here with you today. And before we get started, let's pray. And we will embark upon this New Year in the School of spiritual leadership studying, becoming a man or woman after the Father's heart. Lord, that's our desire this morning, to become a man or woman after your heart, Lord, we know that all have the ministry in the world and service in the world cannot measure up to at the very core us becoming people who seek you who seek your heart, who seek to be transformed on the inside and on the outside, by relationship with you by your influence on our lives. And Lord, we just recognize before you today, that without you, we cannot do this, that we need you we need your presence inculcated deeply interwoven into our lives, our relationships, and all that we are in do, that you may have your full way in us, and that we would express the presence and love of Jesus to the world. And so Lord Today we ask you open our hearts and our minds, we humble ourselves before you. And we ask you to teach us because you are the master teacher. We ask You, Lord, to impart into us. Those things you want to impart, we pray that you will plant the seeds of your person, personality and desire and values, those things that are important to you and principles and truths, that you will plant the seeds into our hearts and cause them to have full growth in us. That your glory may be known and seen in our lives experienced in our relationships, that people may be touched by the love of Jesus. And so Lord today, change our hearts transform us into your image. Make this a wonderful time together help us to learn from one another especially in the ministry times and sharing afterwards. Even during the question and answer periods we pray that You oh Lord will minister to us one to another by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name. We welcome you. Amen. A man. Well, it's what like I said before, it's wonderful to come together and do this and I want to say some People have asked why this course as an early course, some would say prerequisite course. It's really our first year course in most of our schools of spiritual leadership, becoming a man or woman after the Father's heart, and doing some introduction to ministry and some other worldview, things that have to do with the spiritual worldview, we've done several of those things but becoming a man or woman, after the Father's heart is at the as one of those core courses that we teach, for several different iterations in the first year of the school spiritual leadership, because we believe that no matter what we learn, and do in ministry, if we do not if we do not become a man or woman after the Father's heart, and we absorbed the Father's heart, and the father imparts to us who he is, and how he relates to people, then many of our ministry endeavors in whether it's in full time ministry, or whether it's in ministry, on the streets, in the job, wherever that ministry may take us, it's going to be very difficult to effectively see the impartation of what God wants to do into the lives of others. We believe this is critical that we become a man or woman after the Father's heart. And so we're exploring how we can become people after the Father's heart, and equip God's people for ministry. And we have different areas that we train on in the school of spiritual leadership. But this is really at the very core. First thing I'd like to talk about before we get deep into becoming a man or woman after the Father's heart, this is sort of an introductory session. And I call it seen through the lens of who we are becoming. And that is learning as believers to see through the lens of who God is creating us to be who we are becoming in God, and to see ourselves not through the lens of our failures, but to see ourselves through the lens of God's holy destiny for our lives. Now, this is important not only for us as individuals, but to see others around us God's people are brothers and sisters, not through the lens of their failures, but through the lens of their destiny of eternity of what God says about them, and what God wants to do in them. And seeing people through these lens cannot just be fabricated. In other words, I cannot just look at myself or look at someone else. And say, Well, I'm going to make up these lens. And I'm going to Yeah, I'm going to imagine what you will be or what God has called you to be. I need to know what God says about yours and my destiny. So that when I look at you, I'm looking at you through that scriptural lens of what God says what the Scriptures say, what God says through the Holy men of old in the scriptures, and the holy women of old what God says, through his people, even today, in their encouragement in prayer, so that everything I see in you I'm seeing with faith, and I'm seeing through that lens of destiny of who God is calling you to be and to and to even be like Abraham, who calls those things that be not as though they were, perhaps I look at my own life. And I say, you know, I wish I were doing better in this area. Well, as I look at my life, if I look through the lens of God's promises, and his promises to be an overcomer, his promises to be loving his promises to be full of loving kindness, and gentleness and wisdom, and all of these different attributes that God desires for us. Then I learn to see myself through those lens and I learned to live, live out that destiny as well. We must see ourselves and one another, through the lens of eternity, also not just what God says about us in this life, but what God says about us in eternity, so that when you and I interact, I have this, I want to have this awareness of who you are in the age to come. Now we know that we do not know who we shall be, as John said in First John three. And we've talked a lot about that recently in several different teachings. We do not yet know what we shall be but when he appears we shall be like Him. However, there are many glimpses given to us of the people of God in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, concerning eternity, and what God's says about us. And so we take those glimpses, and we use them as lens to see one another through those lens of eternity. I'm going to teach a brief teaching here actually, it may not be so brief, it may be this whole session together. From another one of my teachings, I'm borrowing this called the lens of eternity and God's heart. And I borrowed this section of the teaching from that series on the lens of eternity in the heart of God. Because I believe that as we delve into this study, if we can start with the right Asmath it will help us a whole lot in the coming days as we study these various areas in becoming a man or woman after the Father's heart. So in order to know one another, after the Spirit, it helps us to see through the eyes of the inspiration of Scripture. Someone says, Well, what do you mean by know one another, after the spirit now refers to second Corinthians chapter five, Paul said, in verse number 15, of Second Corinthians five, I'm reading from the New King James, and then I'll read into the early part of verse 16, also, and he died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves. But for him, who died for them, and rose again. So there, so stop there for a minute, the resurrection is what Paul's talking about the death and resurrection of Jesus. And it is prepping us to see what he is about to say in the next verse. And so he begins that verse number 16, with the word therefore connecting what he's about to say to what was just said, From now on, we regard no one, according to the flesh. And Paul is, is teaching us here in this moment, in this place in Corinthians, that we do not know each other after the flesh, as the world knows each other. We don't know each other, after what we look like, it physically look like we don't, we are our relationship is not based upon what we look like, you know, the world identifies people that in its value system are beautiful, and in its value system, who are not beautiful, and the world likes those people that it says are beautiful, or the world likes those people it says who are famous or it says who are this or who are that you can attach whatever values you want to, on that fill in the blank there from the world's values. And the world says those are the people that we value. And they know people based the world system, the world's community knows people based upon how much money they have, how beautiful they are, what kind of car they drive, what their income is, what their profession is, or how famous they are. And Paul is telling us that we do not know our relationship is not based on that we do not know one another in that regard. And actually this, this English word here, he says we we no longer regard he uses the English word regard. That's the Greek word Oita, which means we no longer know or understand one another. Another word translated is honor, we no longer honor one another based upon the flesh. Another translation is recognize we no longer recognize one another after the flesh, and why does he say no longer, because that's the way we used to be. We used to know people or regard people in based upon our the systems and values in our world, rather than based upon the spirit, we know them based upon who they are in God, because of what Jesus did in the crucifixion, and the resurrection. This this is extremely powerful. When it's released in the practical aspect of our lives, were actually experiencing this, because we learned the beauty and the contours of one another spirits and the glory of God and His grace, that is so beautifully deposited into every human being who seeks Him who received that grace. And so there is a deep beauty of God that is manifested in people who receive the grace of God. And we experience Jesus expressed in humanity in very unique ways through every brother and every sister in Christ, of every age from young to old and old to young. We accept perience the beauty of God and and the glorious wonder of who he is expressed through each one. We we like to say take your hand and look at your fingerprints for a moment. And when you and I look at our fingerprints, they're really astounding. Probably no one in this room. Probably no one in the world could freehand draw a beautiful fingerprint as beautiful as the fingerprints that are on our hands. And yet, each one of us has this beautiful print this glorious artwork on our hands, that is unique to only us, no one else in all of humanity, and in all of the history of humanity will ever have a fingerprint like ours. We are made unique by our Creator. But he not only makes us unique, he also makes us with glory and majesty built into who we are. The fingerprint, of course, is an outward expression, but it's an outward expression, or the evidence of what God does on the inside of people as well. And so when we receive the grace of God and His beauty, his presence, his his love into our lives, God works this beautiful paints this beautiful miracle of His glory, and of His Majesty inside of each one of us. And for a few moments, today, I'd like to take a look at what some things are that God gives us. I'll say it this way, some glimpses God gives us of who we shall be in the coming ages. I'd like to read from Revelation Chapter 19. When I I've read this passage many, many times in Revelation 19. And I noticed something after many, many years, there's something that stood out to me that had never stood out to me before. And I'm reading now let's look at verse number five. We'll read a few verses, I'll stop and comment. And then we'll finish the passage, the portion of that we're going to read, he says in verse five of revelation 19, New King James, then a voice came from the throne, saying, praise our God, all you His servants, and those who fear Him, both small and great. And I heard as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of mighty thunderings, sang, Ali lujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns, let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, right, blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, these are the true saints of God, let's stop for a moment. So he speaks. And there's this powerful voice that sounds like the voice of many waters, speaking this proclamation, and for many, many years in my life, I thought, Whoa, this is Jesus speaking, this is powerful. And then he turns to John, and he says, These two statements to him, because John says, Then he said to me, and then again, in the next verse, John says, Then he said to me, actually, both of those are in verse nine. And John thought the same thing I thought, when I read this for many, many years, is John says, Who knew Jesus well had been with him in our in the in the flesh on the earth, John says, and I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, See that you do not do that. I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren, who have the testimony of Jesus, worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Now this voice was so mighty, and so powerful, like the voice of great multitude and the sound of many waters and thunderings that John thought, like I thought that he was Jesus. Yet we find here this man says, Hey, don't do that. And then You would think he would say I'm an angel. He goes, he didn't say I'm an angel. He says, I'm one of your brethren. And to be clear, I'm one of your brethren who has the testimony of Jesus. This is so powerful that we see a glimpse of a man who is a Christian who loves God, who has the testimony of Jesus. And yet the glory of God was so mighty upon him, that the apostle John, the one apostle, who knew Jesus better than all of the other apostles, that we understand in the Bible, or perhaps, if not better, pretty, pretty close to better than the other apostles. And even John himself thought, this is Jesus, the glory of God is so mighty upon him, it's Jesus. And it turns out, he's one of our brethren who has the testimony of Jesus, friends, here's just a short glimpse of the glory of God, that will be upon many of his people. And we understand from other scriptures that those who are overcomers. So let that glimpse sink in and think about while that could be me, there's an eternity that you and I will soon step into. And when we step into that eternity, there is a glory and majesty of God that he wants to set upon us. It's so important in this life that we live faithful unto God. Let's look at the next passage here. Hebrews chapter one. Hebrews chapter one, I'm looking at verses number 13, and 14. And we'll look briefly at what the Hebrews writer says about the ministry of angels. In verse number 13, he says, but to which of the angels Has he ever said, Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits set forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Now, friends, as believers, as followers of Jesus, as servants of Jesus, and as friends of Jesus, I pray, we are all of those. Those who inherit salvation are you and me. And the Hebrews writer here says that the angels, these powerful beings, who move about in the higher realms, and sometimes even into our own realm, according to Paul, that these higher and powerful beings, that they are there to serve the people of God, those who shall inherit salvation, and he gives us this glimpse of the angels called in their glory, to serve the people of God. All right, just keep that filed in the back of your mind. Let's go to First Corinthians chapter six. First Corinthians chapter six, we will read the first three verses, in First Corinthians, Paul says, dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you? Are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? Now, friends, I won't pretend to know exactly what Paul's talking about here. I don't know. I you know, we have some hints and other passages and what have you. But Paul makes a couple of statements. He says, Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And then he says, Do you not know that we shall judge angels talking about the holy ones of God, the people of God. Now, I don't know exactly what that means. But it does sound pretty intense. And it sounds critically important, whatever it is, but he says that there is this higher responsibility, of judgment or judging of some kind, that will be set upon the saint in the coming age. So we see that in some magisterial role or judicial role, I'm not sure or but in some type of role like this, the saints will be set into place with that authority. Now, as we think about these things, think about yourself, of what the scripture saying about you. And then think about your brothers and sisters, on your left and on your right. And the people you know, the people that perhaps you get along with and the people perhaps that you don't get along with as well. So the Scripture Paul says this about the saints and saints means holy ones, so So it's the people of God who I believe, live and walk in holiness. Starting to get the picture. So Paul is giving us this picture, if you will, of our destiny in God in glimpses of things that are to come when we cross over to the other side, if you would turn with me to Revelation chapter 18. Revelation chapter 18, we'll read verse one. He says, After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority. Now, let me stop here for a moment. If there are angels that have great authority, I suppose it's possible that there are angels who have not so great authority, I don't know, I think I think there's probably different measure measures of authority that angelic beings operate in. But it's just an observation that if he makes a point to say this angel has great authority, it probably means that not all angels have great authority, but probably have authority. But this is he's making mention or highlighting that. And then this last phrase, in 18, one of Revelation, He says, The earth was illuminated with his glory. So he says, the, basically the whole earth is like the sun, you know, I mean, the sun illuminates the earth, at least one side of it at a time. And we see an angel, who is so great in authority, that the glory of God that's upon him is so great, that that glory of God upon that angel illuminates the entire earth. Now, if the glory of this angel illuminated the earth, imagine the kind of glory that's even possible for the people of God. Now, this is not about being shiny, we're not talking about just having a lightbulb or something really bright. Yeah, it's not just about having something bright on our lives. It's talking about the glory and the beauty, and the and literally the light of God upon them, and we believe upon us as the people of God. It's about the eternal glory and beauty of God. Now, if Paul says that we will judge angels, if Paul says that says, Do you not know that the saints will judge the world now again, I don't know exactly what that means. But if he says that there's a judgment of angels, and a judgement of the world, or role of the saints in this, and then he describes an angel with great authority and says, this glory that's upon this angel is so great that it illuminates the entire Earth. Imagine what is possible upon the people of God. Imagine what is locked up in the heart of God that he wants to set upon his sons and daughters upon his people, because he loves them so much. And because he's drawing us into a great destiny that none of us really know much about, that we really can't see too much about. At this point, we it's very difficult to perceive. So I asked you to consider that it is, as we look at one another as we look at ourselves in the mirror, as we seek God together, it's important that we see ourselves and we see one another, through this eternal lens, this eternal calling that God has now there are many glimpses in Scripture, of who we shall be, there's quite a few glimpses that just like what we've talked about. But I just want to start with this first session by saying, God help us, give us a glimpse these glimpses that would open our eyes, to see the kindness of your heart, and Lord, the deep dreams of God at least to get a feel for the deep dreams of God, of what you want to do in us from seeing these things throughout Scripture. And we pray that God will give us an understanding of one another so that when we relate to one another, we're not relating to one another, simply as who we are sitting over there in that chair, or simply as who we are, when it's, you know, mealtime and we're looking across the table and having a sandwich together. But that when we see one another we can see far, far beyond the natural and I believe this is what Paul means when he says that we do not, we no longer regard one another after the flesh, that we are looking and relating to one another. We're loving and forgiving one another, through the lens of seeing seen through the lens of who we are in the coming ages. And if we can catch glimpses of who God has called us to be from scripture, then we will start to understand the love of God toward us. And we will start to understand the love of God toward our neighbor, toward our brother toward our sister. And it changes how we act and how we live. You know, it's not enough just to change your actions, you have to be able to see, don't you? Yeah, there needs to be an ability to see, to perceive. It's amazing when you can see something, how much better you can handle or work with it. I had a friend many, many years ago who was tragically blinded in a very bad accident. And I went to see him a couple of months afterwards after he got out of the hospital. And he and I asked him, I said, Well, I said, How bad is it, he said, I, he said, he was blinded so badly. He said, I can't even tell if it's day or night. And I thought how tragic This is. And he had been at home for a couple of months. And he said, you know, Rod, he said, one of the scariest things in the world is getting lost in your own house. And I've thought about that statement for many years since he first said that to me, and I thought how precious eyesight is, how precious it is, to be able to see. And something that you and I may take for granted. Like knowing where you are in your house becomes so simple, when you can see. But when you can't see, you can be lost in your own house. You can, it's a big world, but you can get lost in your own house, there are many believers who are lost in their own house, they can't see who they are, they can't see who God has called them to be. And so their inner their their personal self image and how they see themselves is very difficult, and how they relate to others, they become difficult in how they relate to other people as well. Good people who love them, because of the frustration, of the darkness. And so it's it's my desire My prayer for us today, that as we embark upon this study, that God will give us insight in eyesight to see these glimpses of who He is making us to be who we are becoming in this life, but especially in eternity, that we may relate to one another and see ourselves in one another through that destiny. Now when we come back together, for the next session we were at we will actually explore a few more scriptures, all along the same lines, to set us up for success in this series, becoming a man or woman after the Father's heart. Let's pray, Lord, we want to thank you for these glimpses. We thank You, Lord, for showing us in scripture from place to place to place these glimpses of our destiny and God, Lord, that there are dreams, there are thoughts in your heart about who we are becoming what you want to do in the coming age in the new creation, what your plans are, that have been hidden in your heart since before time began. We thank You, Lord, that we're still in the process and the very Womb of that plan and of that creation. It's such a joy to know, Lord, that you have created us as immortals, people who live forever, because of Jesus, you have placed eternal life within us. And you've given us the opportunity to become people of honor people of the majesty of God, even as the scripture we read earlier in this session on the righteousness of God, that we may be the people who live in that righteousness, that culture of God. And so today we want to thank you for this. We pray, Lord, that you will help us to see more and more through these lens in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you for joining us today. We pray that you will be drawn ever closer in your walk with God and that you will see his dreams unfold in your life in extraordinary ways. Thank you for your faithful prayers and gifts that enable us To take the Friends of Jesus movement to the nations as we watch the rise of the presence of God and His people throughout the earth. For more information, visit us online at aeronova.org