I am astounded at the truth that I have the ability, with Christ radiating in and through me, to help unlock and reconfigure another persons understanding of God! Think about this ... Everything I do as a Spirit-filled believer either promotes or diminishes peoples' revelation of God. This is remarkable and sobering.
Well, you may be thinking - Ryan, how do you get to this conclusion? Simple really ... In John 14 Jesus reminds Philip that He is the Face of the Father; moreover, the author to the Hebrews explains perfectly in chapter 1 that Jesus is the exact representation of the Father in every way. Now this Face of the Father, Jesus, resides in every believer. In Colossians, Paul rightly explains Christ as 'in us, the hope of Glory'. Furthermore, His Presence and residence in us enables us to be transformed into His likeness, that is Jesus' likeness, from one degree of Glory to another. Therefore, it is agreeable to say that as He is within us and we are becoming more like Him in reflection and likeness, we are also reflectors of His likeness!
Now, it has been said countless times that we are the hands and feet of Jesus - we all agree with this. Could it also be that we are the face of Jesus too? I think so. How many times have you said 'when people see me I long for them to see Jesus'? This is not a fanciful, super-spiritual statement; it is truth and it is power! As I said previously, this is remarkable in privilege and weighty in responsibility!
What does this mean for us or how does this impact on who we are and what we do?
1. The little acts of Grace count! Never before have I truly grasped that my Spirit-led acts of kindness, from a warm greeting to a hug or words of encouragement or honour, have great bearing in helping the recipient know and perceive the wonder of God. We have this one dimensional perspective that all revelation happens in moments of personal devotion or worship. Not true - nature reveals the wonder of God (Ps19) and so do we!! Our momentary encounters with people can, and should, have a dramatic impact in shifting peoples' deformed view of God to one that is truthful. Wow! I am all the more convinced that when I reflect Jesus, and hence Father, in my actions I create an opportunity for the recipient of a simple act/word to grasp a deeper aspect of God Himself!
An example ... The word 'honour' is rooted in the word 'glory' in the Bible. In essence, the Biblical emphasis of glory is twofold - a weight or imprint and to have an opinion! Now when we have God's opinion regarding someone and we share that with them we impress upon them God's likeness and create and opportunity for them to perceive as God perceives. That person is shaped by words of honour which shapes them into a person of glory, reflecting Glory. Such a simple truth with such powerful results, and all through the vehicle of interpersonal relationships! My little acts of grace count, and remember that actions speak a thousand words!!
2. Community counts!
Under God, we need each other in communities called church to help us have an increasing revelation and understanding of who God is! Such is the enormity of the grandness of the Face of Jesus that we require the many reflections of Christ around us to enhance our knowing of God. I love the fact that one person will remind me of the fact that God is a Mighty Warrior, and then another next to me will whisper of His romantic intimacies as God the Lover. We see this in the way people worship, pray, preach, lead worship, communicate with people in fellowship ... The list goes on!
I find it crazy when people say they love Jesus but don't need the Church. Such people become rather one dimensional let alone parochial!
Now many of you may be fretting as you read this saying 'Ryan, the Holy Spirit leads us into the fullness of truth!' Bravo, you are right! But such is the beauty of God that He would design us in such a way that as we live together, intentionally in step with the Spirit in community, we subtly and subsequently create an atmosphere of revelation that is an accessory to the primary Person of Revelation, the Holy Spirit, through the Living Word!
Let us look to reveal the Father through Christ the Son in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit in every little way we act, speak and engage amongst people, whether in the church or in Costa. Then we will see the scales fall from peoples' eyes and the evidences of joy appear as they grow in their knowing of the Living God!!
Huge love,
Ryan
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Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Observations and Anticipations
Wow, what a whirlwind these last few months have been! I thought moving nation and house with little children was intense enough, but moving several hundred people 5 miles to a new home in SW London is another ball game altogether. From the logistics to the spiritual aspects, it is an altogether different kettle of fish. Ha, but Grace prevails in it all and here we are ... several weeks into our 'amazing space' with so many stories to tell already, still sane, and very much full of God and with 'great expectations' for what He has in store for us!
I would love to give you an inside track to some of my observations over this last while; some of the nuances I have noticed in captaining a team and a church through an historic move ...
I have seen how people are explosively unlocked by vision and purpose - a vision and purpose that terrifies people to the very inner parts. As we know "Without vision, people perish" and this is also true in its converse state ... people flourish when they have something huge and remarkable to live for. Now, there is nothing hugely adventurous about moving to a landmark building in SW London, is there!?!?! But more than bricks and mortar, the adventure is about what is behind the bricks ... people's lives! And I have seen young and old in the KingsGate family come alive to a new level as they have seen the vision of what Father has planned for us. People want to give their lives to something so inspiring that it rips them out of the cautious and conservative Christianity that plagues Churches throughout the world. This past season has been a breeding ground for such dangerous vision. It is dangerous in that all lesser, self satisfying, man-centred thrones now have targets on them ... and they are all getting blasted!!
I have also noticed that God has designed every one of us to dream, and dream big! When we dream in colour and ditch the mundanity of the various shades of grey we so often tend towards, we begin to step into the realm of faith and we know that faith pleases God. We can become overly theological about a statement like that in Hebrews, but I liken this to my son sitting me down and rambling passionately about all he wants to do even at his young age. There is never a moment where I walk away without a smile on my face and a greater determination in me to ensure that he remains bold, courageous and passionate about those little dreams that will become the stepping stones to him becoming a world changer. During this time, this God-given venue has given many people permission to dream like children. I love it!! and our desire as leaders is to facilitate these dreams as far as we possibly can. Keep dreaming!!
I have observed many more matters this last while from a willingness to serve, to an increased heart for outreach in our prime situation, but what inspires me and satisfies me most absolutely is that increasing numbers of people are getting that HIs Presence with us is what counts the most. We have a mind blowing new home, but this space without His defining and distinguishing Presence will soon become another monument to human effort that appeals to people in a humanistic way and we will no longer be a vessel of noble purpose living to usher in His life-transforming Kingdom Gospel!
I have many great expectations and anticipations for us as KingsGate going forward. I am so thankful that we have been gifted this brilliant facility to help administrate the dreams and vision that many people have been envisaging for ages. I look forward to us evidencing greater measures of Revival in many, many lives being radically saved and all of us in KingsGate becoming more and more passionate for our one true love, Jesus. I also look forward to significant bridges of contact and service being established within spheres of politics, business, social service, arts and media, sports, etc. in such a way that we can serve society for the sake of Reforming the way people think, live and behave. I cannot wait to see us plant and establish, both locally and internationally, new beach heads of Kingdom Life called churches, and various expressions of local church, that usher in the Kingdom, life by life.
But my all time greatest desire is that we will quickly become a house of such radical love for God and all people, where every person in KingsGate is deeply compelled by Christ's love that we all live beyond the crippling bounds of obligation, fear of man, and living for the plaudits of man, so that we become a church of dangerous, adventurous, courageous 'laid down lovers' where there is no one too difficult to love, no outsider too wicked to embrace, no nation too far to reach, no obstacle too fierce to overcome, no sickness and disease too advanced to see healed ... This is my passion, such an army of love raised up and released on a waiting world!!! As I write this, this army is already rising within KingsGate ... the dream is becoming a reality, fast.
Keep going for it people - keep living passionately and intentionally for Jesus ... He alone is worth everything we have to give!
Hugest love and blessings, and be sure to read my next update on our remarkable time in India ...
I would love to give you an inside track to some of my observations over this last while; some of the nuances I have noticed in captaining a team and a church through an historic move ...
I have seen how people are explosively unlocked by vision and purpose - a vision and purpose that terrifies people to the very inner parts. As we know "Without vision, people perish" and this is also true in its converse state ... people flourish when they have something huge and remarkable to live for. Now, there is nothing hugely adventurous about moving to a landmark building in SW London, is there!?!?! But more than bricks and mortar, the adventure is about what is behind the bricks ... people's lives! And I have seen young and old in the KingsGate family come alive to a new level as they have seen the vision of what Father has planned for us. People want to give their lives to something so inspiring that it rips them out of the cautious and conservative Christianity that plagues Churches throughout the world. This past season has been a breeding ground for such dangerous vision. It is dangerous in that all lesser, self satisfying, man-centred thrones now have targets on them ... and they are all getting blasted!!
I have also noticed that God has designed every one of us to dream, and dream big! When we dream in colour and ditch the mundanity of the various shades of grey we so often tend towards, we begin to step into the realm of faith and we know that faith pleases God. We can become overly theological about a statement like that in Hebrews, but I liken this to my son sitting me down and rambling passionately about all he wants to do even at his young age. There is never a moment where I walk away without a smile on my face and a greater determination in me to ensure that he remains bold, courageous and passionate about those little dreams that will become the stepping stones to him becoming a world changer. During this time, this God-given venue has given many people permission to dream like children. I love it!! and our desire as leaders is to facilitate these dreams as far as we possibly can. Keep dreaming!!
I have observed many more matters this last while from a willingness to serve, to an increased heart for outreach in our prime situation, but what inspires me and satisfies me most absolutely is that increasing numbers of people are getting that HIs Presence with us is what counts the most. We have a mind blowing new home, but this space without His defining and distinguishing Presence will soon become another monument to human effort that appeals to people in a humanistic way and we will no longer be a vessel of noble purpose living to usher in His life-transforming Kingdom Gospel!
I have many great expectations and anticipations for us as KingsGate going forward. I am so thankful that we have been gifted this brilliant facility to help administrate the dreams and vision that many people have been envisaging for ages. I look forward to us evidencing greater measures of Revival in many, many lives being radically saved and all of us in KingsGate becoming more and more passionate for our one true love, Jesus. I also look forward to significant bridges of contact and service being established within spheres of politics, business, social service, arts and media, sports, etc. in such a way that we can serve society for the sake of Reforming the way people think, live and behave. I cannot wait to see us plant and establish, both locally and internationally, new beach heads of Kingdom Life called churches, and various expressions of local church, that usher in the Kingdom, life by life.
But my all time greatest desire is that we will quickly become a house of such radical love for God and all people, where every person in KingsGate is deeply compelled by Christ's love that we all live beyond the crippling bounds of obligation, fear of man, and living for the plaudits of man, so that we become a church of dangerous, adventurous, courageous 'laid down lovers' where there is no one too difficult to love, no outsider too wicked to embrace, no nation too far to reach, no obstacle too fierce to overcome, no sickness and disease too advanced to see healed ... This is my passion, such an army of love raised up and released on a waiting world!!! As I write this, this army is already rising within KingsGate ... the dream is becoming a reality, fast.
Keep going for it people - keep living passionately and intentionally for Jesus ... He alone is worth everything we have to give!
Hugest love and blessings, and be sure to read my next update on our remarkable time in India ...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
A Fist Full of Dynamite
Dear Friends and Fellow World Changers,
Here is an exerpt from the brilliant 'Run with the Horses' by Eugene H. Peterson. This is a fist full of dynamite that'll jettison unwanted debris and unblock the riches within ... Are you ready for this?
"Nearly everyone believes in God and throws casual offhand remarks in his general direction from time to time. But prayer is something quite different. Suppose yourself at dinner with a person you very much want to be with - a friend, a lover, a person important to you The dinner is in a fine restaurant where everything is arranged to give you a sense of privacy. There is adequate illumination at your table with everything else in shadow. You are aware of other persons and other activity in the room, but they do not intrude on your intimacy. There is talking and listening. There are moments of silence, full of meaning. From time to time a waiter comes to your table. You ask questions of him; you ask to have your glass refilled; you send the broccoli back because it arrived cold; you thank him for his attentive service and leave a tip. You depart, still in companionship with the person with who you dined, but on the street conversation is less personal, more casual.
This is a picture of prayer. The person with whom we set aside time for intimacy, for this deepest and most personal conversation, is God. At such times the world is not banished, but it is in the shadows, on the periphery. Prayer is never complete and unrelieved solitude; it is, though, carefully protected and skillfully supported intimacy. Prayer is the desire to listen to God firsthand, to speak to God firsthand, and then setting time aside and making arrangements to do it. It issues from the conviction that the living God is immensely important to me and that what goes on between us demands my exclusive attention.
But there is a parody of prayer that we engage in all too often. The details are the same but with two differences: the person across the table is Self and the waiter is God. The waiter - God - is essential but peripheral. You can't have the dinner without Him, but He is not an intimate participant in it. He is someone to whom you give orders, make complaints, and maybe, at the end, give thanks. The person you are absorbed in is Self - your moods, your ideas, your interests, your satisfactions or lack of them. When you leave the restaurant you forget the waiter until the next time. If it is a place to which you go regularly, you might even remember His name."
As we move into a glorious future together as KingsGate it is more than crucial that we allow the Love, Grace and Glory of our Father to woo us away from an over-attention to and obsession with ourselves to Him alone. It is that place alone that will truly and deeply satisfy who we are while igniting us to live ultimately for His Glory.
Let's go for it!
Hugest love,
R
Here is an exerpt from the brilliant 'Run with the Horses' by Eugene H. Peterson. This is a fist full of dynamite that'll jettison unwanted debris and unblock the riches within ... Are you ready for this?
"Nearly everyone believes in God and throws casual offhand remarks in his general direction from time to time. But prayer is something quite different. Suppose yourself at dinner with a person you very much want to be with - a friend, a lover, a person important to you The dinner is in a fine restaurant where everything is arranged to give you a sense of privacy. There is adequate illumination at your table with everything else in shadow. You are aware of other persons and other activity in the room, but they do not intrude on your intimacy. There is talking and listening. There are moments of silence, full of meaning. From time to time a waiter comes to your table. You ask questions of him; you ask to have your glass refilled; you send the broccoli back because it arrived cold; you thank him for his attentive service and leave a tip. You depart, still in companionship with the person with who you dined, but on the street conversation is less personal, more casual.
This is a picture of prayer. The person with whom we set aside time for intimacy, for this deepest and most personal conversation, is God. At such times the world is not banished, but it is in the shadows, on the periphery. Prayer is never complete and unrelieved solitude; it is, though, carefully protected and skillfully supported intimacy. Prayer is the desire to listen to God firsthand, to speak to God firsthand, and then setting time aside and making arrangements to do it. It issues from the conviction that the living God is immensely important to me and that what goes on between us demands my exclusive attention.
But there is a parody of prayer that we engage in all too often. The details are the same but with two differences: the person across the table is Self and the waiter is God. The waiter - God - is essential but peripheral. You can't have the dinner without Him, but He is not an intimate participant in it. He is someone to whom you give orders, make complaints, and maybe, at the end, give thanks. The person you are absorbed in is Self - your moods, your ideas, your interests, your satisfactions or lack of them. When you leave the restaurant you forget the waiter until the next time. If it is a place to which you go regularly, you might even remember His name."
As we move into a glorious future together as KingsGate it is more than crucial that we allow the Love, Grace and Glory of our Father to woo us away from an over-attention to and obsession with ourselves to Him alone. It is that place alone that will truly and deeply satisfy who we are while igniting us to live ultimately for His Glory.
Let's go for it!
Hugest love,
R
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Why 'REVIVE, REFORM, RELATE'?
Greetings,
In my last post I took time to explain the practical and prophetic precipitating factors behind us changing the name of the church from London Church International to KingsGate. I do trust that was helpful in clarifying any clouds of confusion relating to this, as well as answering any questions that you may have had regarding the name change. It is important to us that critical issues like this are fully explained so as to eradicate any confusion that the enemy may take advantage of, and that we create increasing measures of ownership through education and understanding.
So, with that, I would like to take some time to unpack the thinking behind the 3 key words that undergird both our vision and mission as KingsGate Church - Revive Reform Relate!
Firstly, we like the fact that in 3 simple words any person in the life of the church would be able to explain to a curious questioner what it is that we are passionate about, what we are in pursuit of and what our purpose under God is. These 3 words say volumes in themselves, but they are actually 'coat hangers' upon which all our belief systems, statements of faith and values are 'hung'. However, a new person would not need to plumb the depths of a list of 50 values etc to get who we are and what we are on about; a brief, explanation of 3 words would give them enough info.
Secondly, this may sound like a religious cop-out but the Holy Spirit popped these 3 words into my head toward the end of '09. I will shortly explain how these words perfectly work and how they perfectly sum things up succinctly, but we love that it was and is God's initiation as a leader team. There is much talk world wide of being 'intentional' and I love that. I am discovering more and more that our Heavenly Father is highly intentional and we are simply called to tune in to His frequency and respond. As a team we do not buy in to 'super spirituality', on the one hand, where we have our heads so in the clouds and have no idea how to incarnate on earth; and we equally do not advocate pragmatic Christianity, on the other hand, where we expect God to bless what we initiate! God is Intentionally Inspirational - He is Author, Originator and the most Creative Artist and Architect beyond the Universe; we are Intentionally Responsive - we get to passionately and practically incarnate His Eternal and Specific genius on this planet. So, He inspired the words and we have figured out how perfect they are and how it fits!
Thirdly, without us knowing it, God had been shaping our thinking through a series we did in the church for around 10 months last year. We spent the best part of this time plumbing the depths of Ephesians 1 through 3 where there is an overarching emphasis of Positional Christianity as a vital and significant part of the Gospel that under girds the church. The Gospel unpacked here in these chapters are as follows : Ch1vs3-14 ... we are 'In Christ' saved, sealed and satisfied as Sons, Ch1vs15-Ch2vs10 ... we are seated 'With Christ' as Sons to serve with Throne-room power here on the earth, and Ch2vs15-Ch3vs21 ... Christ has broken down every dividing wall in the Gospel that He would 'Dwell in Us' by His Spirit! I say all this to explain that Revive - Reform - Relate has its roots deeply set in this Gospel truth. This is not a clever catch phrase, but rather a deeply Gospel-saturated, Christ-centred, Kingdom-focussed statement. This we are excited about and it was only in the last few months that we realised that the Spirit had inspired us from the series of preaching from Ephesians.
So, what is the meaning behind the 3R's?
Revive - At first mention this word conjures thoughts of mass crusades, revival meetings, prayer cloths, old revival hymns, altar calls and so on. While these are all good and true, this is not what 'revival' is in essence. It is our firm conviction that before the lost are reached on mass with the mercy and grace of God, He is reviving His people to the greatest Prize, Passion and Pursuit ... and that is Himself! It is a revived church that will revive the hearts of the lost, and while we believe that a harvest of salvations is most definitely part of 'Revive', it begins with a church revived! So, here, our vision and mission is to first facilitate a family of faith where Sons (and daughters of course) prize the Person and Presence of God, revealed in Christ Jesus, above all else in all areas of life. Whether through preaching, teaching, worship or any other form of in-house ministry, this is our first pursuit - the Person and Presence of God in us and with us! This clearly facilitates 'church-ward' type ministries where our endeavour is to set each believer on fire with passion for their 'First Love'. We believe that this is only done through the perfect and complete work of God the Son on the Cross on our behalf in irrevocably opening the way to God the Father, being made alive eternally through God the Spirit. This emphasis opens the way to live a life of personal and overflowing revival where we long for all to know 'First Love' as we do, through personal lifestyle evangelism, or organised regular events together as a community. This one word opens the door to dozens of related beliefs, related values, and our kingdom practices. We will 'hang' these on the coat hanger at a later stage.
Reform - While 'revive' expresses the establishing and flourishing of Sons saved, sealed and secured in Christ with Him as the first passion and pursuit, 'reform' expresses the natural and intended consequence of this. And that is that saved and satisfied Sons are seated 'with Christ' presently in order to serve in this world with the life, love and Power of God! In as much as the first is generally 'church-ward', this is expressly 'world-ward' where we are the salt of God in all places and spaces of society to effect kingdom change. We are not only here to evidence that we are obviously different as Sons of Light, we are here to be Salt and bring impact and change. We believe this includes the reaching of the lost with the Gospel (and herein there is an overlap with the former) and transforming society from the inside out, life by life; but we also are convinced that we are called to positively engage society to positively influence society with Kingdom ways, life and power. So from people to policies, from hearts to the family, from sports fields to the halls of government, we are called to be light and SALT so as to bring about transformation and ultimately a reformation of thinking and living in this day. In as much as we want to raise up Wigglesworths in this day, we long to ignite new Wilberforces for the sake of the Gospel. The latter, along with the William and Catherine Booth and many others, is an example of a revived man who could not help but bring reformation in the place and the space he found himself in, politics. Our vision and mission is to engineer and mobilise Sons who heal the sick on the streets and other who have creative insights and wisdom in business to positively impact society for the flourishing of the Gospel! Again, many belief systems and related values will be hung here!
Relate - With all the energy and passion of the above, together with its subsequent ministries and endeavours, this will all fall apart if it is not held together with the glue of love and 'one anothering'! After all, before Jesus declares the Great Commission, He establishes the Great Command, which is to love one another extravagantly. It is this that sustains the revival and reformational move of God - the Spirit of Unity - where God commands His blessing. Faith will result in a Visitation but faith expressing itself in love will result in God's habitation and it is that which He is on about. So, we want to facilitate passion for God and the People of God as we win the world. From how we minister, meet and greet, live together, fit out our facility ... people are very important, not as members and congregants, but people with names who are significant and treasured. Of all things this is truly the most difficult to ongoingly sustain, but we will continue to hinge many key values and belief systems thereon! Also, in endeavouring to be family, which most importantly means that we celebrate each and every son and daughter in the house uniquely, we do not seek to conform people to a particular style or preference, but rather create space for them to be who they are under God. Our longing is that the 'conservative' and 'crazy', while not necessarily 'getting each other', will love each other and celebrate each others uniqueness. So, family is not about slinking and moping around at home, it is about celebrating and honouring one another under God! Biological families are diverse in some many ways as they flourish under a Dad and Mum, and we believe God has called us to that. Inasmuch as we will not put up with the erosion of the family unity in society, we will not put up with critical and conformist church!
This is a brief run through of our vision and mission expressed in the 3R's. There is so much to add on each but this will follow in due course and we will have it on our new website in September. More than values and vision statements, it is something we want to live as best we can by the Spirit where our lives are the letter. Moment upon moment, grace upon grace we will do so, raising a generation of Sons who Revive - Reform - Relate. And by God's grace we will have the privilege of replicating this as we plant churches, mutli-site venues, homegroups and ministries at home and abroad.
Hugest love,
Ryan with the team
In my last post I took time to explain the practical and prophetic precipitating factors behind us changing the name of the church from London Church International to KingsGate. I do trust that was helpful in clarifying any clouds of confusion relating to this, as well as answering any questions that you may have had regarding the name change. It is important to us that critical issues like this are fully explained so as to eradicate any confusion that the enemy may take advantage of, and that we create increasing measures of ownership through education and understanding.
So, with that, I would like to take some time to unpack the thinking behind the 3 key words that undergird both our vision and mission as KingsGate Church - Revive Reform Relate!
Firstly, we like the fact that in 3 simple words any person in the life of the church would be able to explain to a curious questioner what it is that we are passionate about, what we are in pursuit of and what our purpose under God is. These 3 words say volumes in themselves, but they are actually 'coat hangers' upon which all our belief systems, statements of faith and values are 'hung'. However, a new person would not need to plumb the depths of a list of 50 values etc to get who we are and what we are on about; a brief, explanation of 3 words would give them enough info.
Secondly, this may sound like a religious cop-out but the Holy Spirit popped these 3 words into my head toward the end of '09. I will shortly explain how these words perfectly work and how they perfectly sum things up succinctly, but we love that it was and is God's initiation as a leader team. There is much talk world wide of being 'intentional' and I love that. I am discovering more and more that our Heavenly Father is highly intentional and we are simply called to tune in to His frequency and respond. As a team we do not buy in to 'super spirituality', on the one hand, where we have our heads so in the clouds and have no idea how to incarnate on earth; and we equally do not advocate pragmatic Christianity, on the other hand, where we expect God to bless what we initiate! God is Intentionally Inspirational - He is Author, Originator and the most Creative Artist and Architect beyond the Universe; we are Intentionally Responsive - we get to passionately and practically incarnate His Eternal and Specific genius on this planet. So, He inspired the words and we have figured out how perfect they are and how it fits!
Thirdly, without us knowing it, God had been shaping our thinking through a series we did in the church for around 10 months last year. We spent the best part of this time plumbing the depths of Ephesians 1 through 3 where there is an overarching emphasis of Positional Christianity as a vital and significant part of the Gospel that under girds the church. The Gospel unpacked here in these chapters are as follows : Ch1vs3-14 ... we are 'In Christ' saved, sealed and satisfied as Sons, Ch1vs15-Ch2vs10 ... we are seated 'With Christ' as Sons to serve with Throne-room power here on the earth, and Ch2vs15-Ch3vs21 ... Christ has broken down every dividing wall in the Gospel that He would 'Dwell in Us' by His Spirit! I say all this to explain that Revive - Reform - Relate has its roots deeply set in this Gospel truth. This is not a clever catch phrase, but rather a deeply Gospel-saturated, Christ-centred, Kingdom-focussed statement. This we are excited about and it was only in the last few months that we realised that the Spirit had inspired us from the series of preaching from Ephesians.
So, what is the meaning behind the 3R's?
Revive - At first mention this word conjures thoughts of mass crusades, revival meetings, prayer cloths, old revival hymns, altar calls and so on. While these are all good and true, this is not what 'revival' is in essence. It is our firm conviction that before the lost are reached on mass with the mercy and grace of God, He is reviving His people to the greatest Prize, Passion and Pursuit ... and that is Himself! It is a revived church that will revive the hearts of the lost, and while we believe that a harvest of salvations is most definitely part of 'Revive', it begins with a church revived! So, here, our vision and mission is to first facilitate a family of faith where Sons (and daughters of course) prize the Person and Presence of God, revealed in Christ Jesus, above all else in all areas of life. Whether through preaching, teaching, worship or any other form of in-house ministry, this is our first pursuit - the Person and Presence of God in us and with us! This clearly facilitates 'church-ward' type ministries where our endeavour is to set each believer on fire with passion for their 'First Love'. We believe that this is only done through the perfect and complete work of God the Son on the Cross on our behalf in irrevocably opening the way to God the Father, being made alive eternally through God the Spirit. This emphasis opens the way to live a life of personal and overflowing revival where we long for all to know 'First Love' as we do, through personal lifestyle evangelism, or organised regular events together as a community. This one word opens the door to dozens of related beliefs, related values, and our kingdom practices. We will 'hang' these on the coat hanger at a later stage.
Reform - While 'revive' expresses the establishing and flourishing of Sons saved, sealed and secured in Christ with Him as the first passion and pursuit, 'reform' expresses the natural and intended consequence of this. And that is that saved and satisfied Sons are seated 'with Christ' presently in order to serve in this world with the life, love and Power of God! In as much as the first is generally 'church-ward', this is expressly 'world-ward' where we are the salt of God in all places and spaces of society to effect kingdom change. We are not only here to evidence that we are obviously different as Sons of Light, we are here to be Salt and bring impact and change. We believe this includes the reaching of the lost with the Gospel (and herein there is an overlap with the former) and transforming society from the inside out, life by life; but we also are convinced that we are called to positively engage society to positively influence society with Kingdom ways, life and power. So from people to policies, from hearts to the family, from sports fields to the halls of government, we are called to be light and SALT so as to bring about transformation and ultimately a reformation of thinking and living in this day. In as much as we want to raise up Wigglesworths in this day, we long to ignite new Wilberforces for the sake of the Gospel. The latter, along with the William and Catherine Booth and many others, is an example of a revived man who could not help but bring reformation in the place and the space he found himself in, politics. Our vision and mission is to engineer and mobilise Sons who heal the sick on the streets and other who have creative insights and wisdom in business to positively impact society for the flourishing of the Gospel! Again, many belief systems and related values will be hung here!
Relate - With all the energy and passion of the above, together with its subsequent ministries and endeavours, this will all fall apart if it is not held together with the glue of love and 'one anothering'! After all, before Jesus declares the Great Commission, He establishes the Great Command, which is to love one another extravagantly. It is this that sustains the revival and reformational move of God - the Spirit of Unity - where God commands His blessing. Faith will result in a Visitation but faith expressing itself in love will result in God's habitation and it is that which He is on about. So, we want to facilitate passion for God and the People of God as we win the world. From how we minister, meet and greet, live together, fit out our facility ... people are very important, not as members and congregants, but people with names who are significant and treasured. Of all things this is truly the most difficult to ongoingly sustain, but we will continue to hinge many key values and belief systems thereon! Also, in endeavouring to be family, which most importantly means that we celebrate each and every son and daughter in the house uniquely, we do not seek to conform people to a particular style or preference, but rather create space for them to be who they are under God. Our longing is that the 'conservative' and 'crazy', while not necessarily 'getting each other', will love each other and celebrate each others uniqueness. So, family is not about slinking and moping around at home, it is about celebrating and honouring one another under God! Biological families are diverse in some many ways as they flourish under a Dad and Mum, and we believe God has called us to that. Inasmuch as we will not put up with the erosion of the family unity in society, we will not put up with critical and conformist church!
This is a brief run through of our vision and mission expressed in the 3R's. There is so much to add on each but this will follow in due course and we will have it on our new website in September. More than values and vision statements, it is something we want to live as best we can by the Spirit where our lives are the letter. Moment upon moment, grace upon grace we will do so, raising a generation of Sons who Revive - Reform - Relate. And by God's grace we will have the privilege of replicating this as we plant churches, mutli-site venues, homegroups and ministries at home and abroad.
Hugest love,
Ryan with the team
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Why the name King's Gate?
As we landed at Heathrow that significant day of the 8th of May 2008, all we knew was that Father had done a swift work in relocating us from Durban, South Africa, to be part of a church with an incredible heritage and an exciting future. Our intent in coming here was never to stamp our 'mark' on the people, with our preferences and styles, but rather to continue to make room for the Father to keep pressing His signate ring of authority, ownership and destiny upon an already remarkable church. Many come in from 'the outside' to take on the leadership of a church and make wholesale changes of name, personel etc to the detriment of the DNA of the house; we knew in God that we were to honour what God was doing, and had done through Nigel and Melita, and that He would unfold His plan in his time, perfectly. Afterall, this is His Church and we are called to the privilege of shepherding a community under the Great Shepherd!
The journey of the name of the church and its potential change began shortly after we officially took on the mantle of leadership on the 1st of June 2008. This was the first of two precipitating factors that caused me to go before God and the pastor team. It began with a 'random' conversation I had with some of the fellow leaders, during a trip, where it was mentioned that the tag 'International' was a potential stumbling block to us reaching the local British people. It was revealed that friends of the leaders were looking for a new church and knew of us but hesitated to join because the word was that we were a church for 'internationals' due to our name. Now, we knew why the tag was in place as prophetic declaration that it was our heart to reach all nations with the Gospel as per Jesus command in Acts 1 etc. However, it became increasingly evident that, though the name was a statement of intent, it was becoming a hinderance to us in reaching the people we were here to reach! And so the journey began.
The second nudge along the road of a name change came with some comments from significant friends who are apostolic gifts to this house. Fathers who have our best at heart and our inheritance in mind. Three such men all commented seperately that it was time to change the name of the church in this new season. Now, when apostolic men make such comments you listen and ask a few questions. But, it is important to say that one does not change a name, especially the name of an established church, simply because of a few comments and misunderstandings alone. God's voice is ultimate and most essential!
With these two contributing factors now synergising in my mind, we had a few discussions as a team with varying responses and no outright agreement. The reality was that there were far more important issues at stake, and a name change was not one of them. However, we knew the moment would come into the future.
While this name journey was unfolding, God had us on a far more critical adventure of finding and securing 'a home of our own' as a church. 5 years previous, Nigel had launched the venue initiative with a building slipping through the fingers at the last minute. So, the church was left to remain in the existing premises at Shene School. Shortly after our arrival a few doors and opportunities began to open, specifically with a large 28 000 sqft facility off the A316 in Richmond. No matter how hard we pressed practically and spiritually, the door never budged open. However, through this process, God had unlocked a greater capacity to dream big - up till now, the options considered were much smaller facilities that could never really 'support' the call upon this house. I also recalled Chris Wienand stating that God often uses Triggers to get us moving in a particular direction that are not ultimately God's intended Target. We knew He was preparing us for more although we were disappointed and keen to provide space for the church to grow - our meeting hall was far too small and obstructive.
It was also shortly after this process that God began to speak throughout the world about how there was an increasing migration of population to cities again, and how God was wanting His church to engage urban locales enabling them to reach many nations in one location. It was roughly around this time that Rigby Wallace was with us and shared his journey of how the church he was part of began to gear towards reaching the city and what a great impact it was having both on them and the city itself. We began to realise that we were camouflaged in leafy East Sheen with little interface with the masses reflected in greater London and our hearts began to be stirred for a position that was more 'incarnational' within society.
The hand of God is amazing beacause during this time I received an email from one of the leaders identifying a fantastic building that was up for sale in Kingston upon Thames. The email stated : 'Is LCi moving to Kingston?' The timing was amazing regarding all that God had been stirring in us. Although Kingston had not been on our radar we realised it was perfectly situated for the area we were reaching when compared to Richmond/Sheen, as well as being a major 'urban' hub for the SW London area. It is always abuzz with all sorts of people of differing age, culture and status. A 'city' within greater London. Well, cutting a long adventure short, we became the privileged 'virtual freehold' lease owners of 14000 sqft of phenominal space right in the heart of Kingston. And it was during this process of gearing to move the church and of discovering the history of Kingston (7 Saxon kings have been crowned there) that God began to speak afresh about the existing name of the church. It was clear the time had come - there was a prophetic poignancy over and above the previous precipitating factors.
Biblically, there is much evidence for the renaming of people and places, and my search of Scripture began to cement the importance of a name change. The giving and re-giving of names in Scripture has a number of facets to it but here are 2 key aspects that were and are pertinent to us :
A name is often given as a description of how God has revealed Himself in a geographical place, or what He has done in a particular location. Eg. Genesis 28:10-22 esp vs19
A name is re-given/changed for the purpose of declaring God's prophetic purpose over them for the next season. Eg. Abram - Abraham, Genesis 17:1-8 and Simon - Peter, Matthew 16:16-18
A name is never given randomly and is prophetically weighted for God's puposes over and person and a people. Also, father's bestow names under God ... eg. Jacob changing Ben Oni's name to Benjamin in Genesis 35. As per the points above, God was revealing that He wanted to restore His royal rule in and from Kingston as well as us being a gateway for such rule!
Finally, all precipitating factors and the prophetic poignancy led to a moment when God clarified His name for us, among many good options, in light of the above and in this next season, namely KingsGate. This is a name that reflects the Cross and the Throne in that Christ is our acces alone to the throne of grace through the Cross, and Christ in us is the gateway of the glories of the kingdom through us to a broken world. (John 10:9 and Hebrews 3:1 ... Jesus is the High Priest who takes us in and the Apostle who sends out with power to transform and reform.) It is a name that reflects what we believe to be true in the Gospel - in the Cross, Christ restores us to the Father and satisfies us completely as Sons and raises us up with Him to be seated as Sons in heavenly places to serve in this world from the place of His Throne ( Ephesians 1: 3 - 2:10).
We are excited for this new day as a house of faith. Not only do we have a wholehearted yes from Nigel and Melita regarding the name change (which is super important), as well as from apostolic fathers, but we have a unanimous yes as leaders and saints under God! It is a new day of ushering in greater measures of the kingdom through one of the gates of the King, as we along with many others restore the Lion to the land of the Lion, the United Kingdom. It is the day of Kingsgate!
I trust this helps and clarifies any questions regarding our new name as well as inspire you in this new day. More information will follow regarding our three-fold mission : Revive, Reform, Relate.
Huge love,
Ryan with the team
The journey of the name of the church and its potential change began shortly after we officially took on the mantle of leadership on the 1st of June 2008. This was the first of two precipitating factors that caused me to go before God and the pastor team. It began with a 'random' conversation I had with some of the fellow leaders, during a trip, where it was mentioned that the tag 'International' was a potential stumbling block to us reaching the local British people. It was revealed that friends of the leaders were looking for a new church and knew of us but hesitated to join because the word was that we were a church for 'internationals' due to our name. Now, we knew why the tag was in place as prophetic declaration that it was our heart to reach all nations with the Gospel as per Jesus command in Acts 1 etc. However, it became increasingly evident that, though the name was a statement of intent, it was becoming a hinderance to us in reaching the people we were here to reach! And so the journey began.
The second nudge along the road of a name change came with some comments from significant friends who are apostolic gifts to this house. Fathers who have our best at heart and our inheritance in mind. Three such men all commented seperately that it was time to change the name of the church in this new season. Now, when apostolic men make such comments you listen and ask a few questions. But, it is important to say that one does not change a name, especially the name of an established church, simply because of a few comments and misunderstandings alone. God's voice is ultimate and most essential!
With these two contributing factors now synergising in my mind, we had a few discussions as a team with varying responses and no outright agreement. The reality was that there were far more important issues at stake, and a name change was not one of them. However, we knew the moment would come into the future.
While this name journey was unfolding, God had us on a far more critical adventure of finding and securing 'a home of our own' as a church. 5 years previous, Nigel had launched the venue initiative with a building slipping through the fingers at the last minute. So, the church was left to remain in the existing premises at Shene School. Shortly after our arrival a few doors and opportunities began to open, specifically with a large 28 000 sqft facility off the A316 in Richmond. No matter how hard we pressed practically and spiritually, the door never budged open. However, through this process, God had unlocked a greater capacity to dream big - up till now, the options considered were much smaller facilities that could never really 'support' the call upon this house. I also recalled Chris Wienand stating that God often uses Triggers to get us moving in a particular direction that are not ultimately God's intended Target. We knew He was preparing us for more although we were disappointed and keen to provide space for the church to grow - our meeting hall was far too small and obstructive.
It was also shortly after this process that God began to speak throughout the world about how there was an increasing migration of population to cities again, and how God was wanting His church to engage urban locales enabling them to reach many nations in one location. It was roughly around this time that Rigby Wallace was with us and shared his journey of how the church he was part of began to gear towards reaching the city and what a great impact it was having both on them and the city itself. We began to realise that we were camouflaged in leafy East Sheen with little interface with the masses reflected in greater London and our hearts began to be stirred for a position that was more 'incarnational' within society.
The hand of God is amazing beacause during this time I received an email from one of the leaders identifying a fantastic building that was up for sale in Kingston upon Thames. The email stated : 'Is LCi moving to Kingston?' The timing was amazing regarding all that God had been stirring in us. Although Kingston had not been on our radar we realised it was perfectly situated for the area we were reaching when compared to Richmond/Sheen, as well as being a major 'urban' hub for the SW London area. It is always abuzz with all sorts of people of differing age, culture and status. A 'city' within greater London. Well, cutting a long adventure short, we became the privileged 'virtual freehold' lease owners of 14000 sqft of phenominal space right in the heart of Kingston. And it was during this process of gearing to move the church and of discovering the history of Kingston (7 Saxon kings have been crowned there) that God began to speak afresh about the existing name of the church. It was clear the time had come - there was a prophetic poignancy over and above the previous precipitating factors.
Biblically, there is much evidence for the renaming of people and places, and my search of Scripture began to cement the importance of a name change. The giving and re-giving of names in Scripture has a number of facets to it but here are 2 key aspects that were and are pertinent to us :
A name is often given as a description of how God has revealed Himself in a geographical place, or what He has done in a particular location. Eg. Genesis 28:10-22 esp vs19
A name is re-given/changed for the purpose of declaring God's prophetic purpose over them for the next season. Eg. Abram - Abraham, Genesis 17:1-8 and Simon - Peter, Matthew 16:16-18
A name is never given randomly and is prophetically weighted for God's puposes over and person and a people. Also, father's bestow names under God ... eg. Jacob changing Ben Oni's name to Benjamin in Genesis 35. As per the points above, God was revealing that He wanted to restore His royal rule in and from Kingston as well as us being a gateway for such rule!
Finally, all precipitating factors and the prophetic poignancy led to a moment when God clarified His name for us, among many good options, in light of the above and in this next season, namely KingsGate. This is a name that reflects the Cross and the Throne in that Christ is our acces alone to the throne of grace through the Cross, and Christ in us is the gateway of the glories of the kingdom through us to a broken world. (John 10:9 and Hebrews 3:1 ... Jesus is the High Priest who takes us in and the Apostle who sends out with power to transform and reform.) It is a name that reflects what we believe to be true in the Gospel - in the Cross, Christ restores us to the Father and satisfies us completely as Sons and raises us up with Him to be seated as Sons in heavenly places to serve in this world from the place of His Throne ( Ephesians 1: 3 - 2:10).
We are excited for this new day as a house of faith. Not only do we have a wholehearted yes from Nigel and Melita regarding the name change (which is super important), as well as from apostolic fathers, but we have a unanimous yes as leaders and saints under God! It is a new day of ushering in greater measures of the kingdom through one of the gates of the King, as we along with many others restore the Lion to the land of the Lion, the United Kingdom. It is the day of Kingsgate!
I trust this helps and clarifies any questions regarding our new name as well as inspire you in this new day. More information will follow regarding our three-fold mission : Revive, Reform, Relate.
Huge love,
Ryan with the team
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Isn't this beautifully true
C H Spurgeon said the following:
God's promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; He
intended that they should be used.... Nothing pleases our Lord better than
to see His promises put in circulation; He loves to see His children bring
them up to Him, and say, "Lord, do as thou hast said." We glorify God when
we plead His promises. Do you think that God will be any the poorer for
giving you the riches He has promised? Do you dream that He will be any the
less holy for giving holiness to you? Do you imagine He will be any the less
pure for washing you from your sins? He has said, "Come now, let us reason
together, saith the Lord, though your sins...be red like crimson, they shall
be as wool." Faith lays hold upon the promise of pardon, and it does not
delay, saying, "This is a precious promise, I wonder if it be true?" but it
goes straight to the throne with it, and pleads, "Lord, here is the promise,
do as thou has said." Our Lord replies, "Be it unto thee even as thou wilt."
When a Christian grasps a promise, if he does not take it to God, he
dishonours Him; but when he hastens to the throne of grace, and cries,
"Lord, I have nothing to recommend me but this, Thou hast said it;" then his
desire shall be granted. Our heavenly Banker delights to cash His own notes.
Never let the promise rust. Draw the word of promise out of its scabbard,
and use it with holy violence. Think not that God will be troubled by your
importunately reminding Him of His promises. He loves to hear the loud
outcries of needy souls. It is His delight to bestow favours. He is more
ready to hear than you are to ask....It is God's nature to keep His
promises; therefore go at once to the throne with, "Do as thou hast said."
God's promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; He
intended that they should be used.... Nothing pleases our Lord better than
to see His promises put in circulation; He loves to see His children bring
them up to Him, and say, "Lord, do as thou hast said." We glorify God when
we plead His promises. Do you think that God will be any the poorer for
giving you the riches He has promised? Do you dream that He will be any the
less holy for giving holiness to you? Do you imagine He will be any the less
pure for washing you from your sins? He has said, "Come now, let us reason
together, saith the Lord, though your sins...be red like crimson, they shall
be as wool." Faith lays hold upon the promise of pardon, and it does not
delay, saying, "This is a precious promise, I wonder if it be true?" but it
goes straight to the throne with it, and pleads, "Lord, here is the promise,
do as thou has said." Our Lord replies, "Be it unto thee even as thou wilt."
When a Christian grasps a promise, if he does not take it to God, he
dishonours Him; but when he hastens to the throne of grace, and cries,
"Lord, I have nothing to recommend me but this, Thou hast said it;" then his
desire shall be granted. Our heavenly Banker delights to cash His own notes.
Never let the promise rust. Draw the word of promise out of its scabbard,
and use it with holy violence. Think not that God will be troubled by your
importunately reminding Him of His promises. He loves to hear the loud
outcries of needy souls. It is His delight to bestow favours. He is more
ready to hear than you are to ask....It is God's nature to keep His
promises; therefore go at once to the throne with, "Do as thou hast said."
Friday, January 29, 2010
Possessing the Land
Happy New Year all! We have just returned from a great holiday in SA with family. What a time of rest and celebration - it was our first time back together in 20 months. There were a few tears on departure as we said our ''till we see you again's'', and there have been a few tender moments since returning; but, we are super excited at what Father has for us as a family of faith in 2010.
Toward the end of last year God clearly spoke to me about what He has and is going to do. He clearly stated that '09 was a year of Position (and how we feasted on our Position in Christ much of that year) and that '10 would be a year of Possession! Being positioned securely and surely in His love, grace, person, and presence will always be our past and present foundation that we revel in, but this positioning has set us up to take our God-given inheritance without losing sight of who our Amazing Father is. There is no point in gaining much without His presence after all. Anyway, He is our first and matchless inheritance!
However, in moving into our inheritance, the Spirit sparked a question in me : what does a church look like that gains her inheritance? Many answers come to mind, but the Lord led me to the account of Joshua and I would like to leave one thought with you as you ponder the manifold dimensions of that question ...
Joshua 4:19 - 5:12 This is remarkable - after first crossing a river in full flood by the miraculous hand of the Lord (and what a great welcome mat to an inheritance that was!!) the many enemies of the people of God were crippled with great fear at their arrival (5:1). It says that at that time the Lord crippled His people, in fact all the mighty warriors, through circumcision (5:2)! What? They were incapacitated until all the fighting men were healed, and how long would something of that nature take to heal? They were open game for their enemies, and yet that is what God was wanting to show them - trust not in your own abilities to conquer, lean heavily on Mine!
If we are to be a possessing people we need to be a surrendered people - fully reliant on Him alone. Only great faith ventures require great relinquishings of self effort and reliance, and I believe that this is one of the trumpet calls for us, and indeed the churches, throughout the earth! Ps 44:1-8 is key especially vs3 'it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You love them.' His love revealed in the glory of His Presence and the wonder of His Power will move mightily as we become crippled regarding our own feat of arms by humbling ourselves before Him. Humility and being 'poor of spirit' (Mt5) will allow us to inherit God's specific promises over us. It's time - time for the substance of the promises, and time we become adequate receipients of His good gifts.
Let's fall on our knees church and revel in the might and magnitude of our Good Father as He leads us into His promises for us.
Love,
Ryan
Toward the end of last year God clearly spoke to me about what He has and is going to do. He clearly stated that '09 was a year of Position (and how we feasted on our Position in Christ much of that year) and that '10 would be a year of Possession! Being positioned securely and surely in His love, grace, person, and presence will always be our past and present foundation that we revel in, but this positioning has set us up to take our God-given inheritance without losing sight of who our Amazing Father is. There is no point in gaining much without His presence after all. Anyway, He is our first and matchless inheritance!
However, in moving into our inheritance, the Spirit sparked a question in me : what does a church look like that gains her inheritance? Many answers come to mind, but the Lord led me to the account of Joshua and I would like to leave one thought with you as you ponder the manifold dimensions of that question ...
Joshua 4:19 - 5:12 This is remarkable - after first crossing a river in full flood by the miraculous hand of the Lord (and what a great welcome mat to an inheritance that was!!) the many enemies of the people of God were crippled with great fear at their arrival (5:1). It says that at that time the Lord crippled His people, in fact all the mighty warriors, through circumcision (5:2)! What? They were incapacitated until all the fighting men were healed, and how long would something of that nature take to heal? They were open game for their enemies, and yet that is what God was wanting to show them - trust not in your own abilities to conquer, lean heavily on Mine!
If we are to be a possessing people we need to be a surrendered people - fully reliant on Him alone. Only great faith ventures require great relinquishings of self effort and reliance, and I believe that this is one of the trumpet calls for us, and indeed the churches, throughout the earth! Ps 44:1-8 is key especially vs3 'it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You love them.' His love revealed in the glory of His Presence and the wonder of His Power will move mightily as we become crippled regarding our own feat of arms by humbling ourselves before Him. Humility and being 'poor of spirit' (Mt5) will allow us to inherit God's specific promises over us. It's time - time for the substance of the promises, and time we become adequate receipients of His good gifts.
Let's fall on our knees church and revel in the might and magnitude of our Good Father as He leads us into His promises for us.
Love,
Ryan
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