From the desk of Steve Shultz:
This is a well-written and thought out NOW word for the Body. Robert Ricciardelli hits the nail on the head with what he is sharing here. I had to stop and say, "Amen" out loud a few times while reading it.
Many are feeling a great shift and change in the Church and it's not "business as usual" anymore. God is calling us to unity and covenant so that we may "BE ONE" as the Father and Jesus are one.
Here are a couple of awesome resources that will help you transform the world around you:
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Robert Ricciardelli:
The Disruptive Kingdom and Seven Key Transitional Changes
The Kingdom of God continues to expand God's mandate upon the earth. The Kingdom of God is also within each of us. All things that can be shaken continue to be shaken toward God's intentions and purposes. The Kingdom of God disrupts the systems of man and greatly interrupts the plans of men. As the Kingdom displaces earthly foundations, many transformational and transitional shifts begin to occur in His people. Certain things that were once perceived as God's initiatives, are now being seen as non-essentials to His plans after all. People are beginning to see with clarity the Kingdom of God unfold on earth and in their lives.
There are changes that we are seeing and will continue to see in the days ahead. These changes will be:
Inflammatory: These changes will greatly disrupt dogmatism, idealism and materialism. Many who have been skeptics of existing systems can become the forerunners of the future, yet with the heart of agape and inclusivity. Many will be labeled heretics to existing systems for the cause of His Kingdom.
Reformational: Father is being intentional in reforming the Church on earth. The modern Church as we know it is being reformatted before our very eyes.
Transitional: There will be organizational changes that will be unmanageable, disorderly and unpreventable as the uninvited Kingdom of God engages with all organized religion and church activities.
7 Key Kingdom Transitional Changes:
1. Change from Living Under His Sovereignty to Knowing Him as Father in a Providential Manner.
The sovereignty of God encompasses all creation, while the providence of God imposes His favor and will upon those who would receive Him and His provision. The providence of God in each individual will severely disrupt self-validation. Servant leaders will arrive on the scene with no agenda other than to love and serve others.
2. Change from Titles and Office to Sonship.
Spurgeon once said, "I looked at Him, He looked at me and we were one forever." It is time for the manifestation of true sons of God to arise and walk as one with the Father. Lovers of God and lovers of His ways will influence and lead societal change. Jesus said, "The Father and I are one," and He desires that we become one with Him and the carriers of His eternal seed to the world.
It is not about titles, degrees or pedigrees, nor has it ever been. There is one Lord, one Master, one Gospel and one Body of Believers with many functions and talents. When we see each other and love each other as one in Him, the power of God can move mightily through each one, for each one has His Spirit and His anointing. The world will know of Him by our love for one another.
The nameless and faceless servants of the Most High God will be used in greater ways for the greater days ahead.
3. Change from Legal/Religious Use of Scriptures to Pleasing the Father.
We have killed hearts using Scripture in the wrong way; we have manipulated the written Word of God for selfish gain and control. Those days are over. Many of us have lost relationships over non-essential arguments over doctrines, and some of the doctrines we divided over we no longer believe.
Sons and daughters will not respond in such ways to those we are called to love and serve, but will respond as the Father would respond. We are called to be righteous and not having to always be right in ways that hurt relationships. We do not need to compromise, but yet operate more fully in His love for one another. The Father's pleasure is fully demonstrated in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
John 8:3-11 (NIV) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do You say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Further on in this passage, Jesus talks about the will of the Father that clearly went beyond law and toward grace and restoration. We must be bridge-builders and reconcile others toward the Father and His Kingdom. We must not get stuck on the letter of the law, but live by the Spirit of the Word and power of His love.
4. Transformation of our Motives for Ministry.
Systems want to possess, acquire and control, while Father wants us to love, serve, heal and set people free in Him.
Galatians 5:1-3 (MSG) The Life of Freedom ? Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law.
The Church is being transformed from being takers to being givers. The world sees us as takers and we have in fact done much to validate this perception. We have often hurt Father's reputation on earth and Father is desiring for us to have His heart for the world around us. It is time to change the perception the world has of Christ followers, and this will come from extreme and power-filled love. We must not have any hidden agendas or hooks in why we are building relationships and loving on others.
5. Change in Objective.
The emphasis of the Church has been on saving souls and that will radically change to an emphasis of becoming sons and daughters. Being born from above in the new birth in Christ is only a beginning point. Being born from above engages discipleship toward becoming kingly and priestly ambassadors, and ultimately becoming the children of God who move in His ways upon the earth. Many are still waiting for Heaven while Heaven is waiting on us to engage in Father's plan for planet earth.
We must have a paradigm shift that goes from "Getting to Heaven" to moving toward a Kingdom Purpose.
Romans 8:19-21 (AMP) For (even the whole) creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship). For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it ? (yet) with the hope that nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption (and gain an entrance) into the glorious freedom of God's children.
6. Measurable Disruption in Doctrine.
The Kingdom expects inclusivity, and not doctrinal exclusivity that divides God's people. We can know Scripture and still miss God by a mile.
John 5:39-40 (MSG) "You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about Me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from Me the life you say you want.
John 5:39-40 (AMP) You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these (very Scriptures) testify about Me! And still you are not willing (but refuse) to come to Me, so that you might have life.
It is not enough to know Scripture. We must live it in relevant ways that promote freedom in Christ and unity through His love.
7. Change in Unfolding Eschatology.
There are many that are paralyzed by doomsday end-time perceptions and waiting for another rescue from Christ from an evil earth. They are not realizing that they are already overcomers because Christ has already become their victor over evil in this age, and in the age to come.
There have been several transitional persons in history: Adam, Abraham, Moses, Christ, and the final transitional person, "One New Man," "Christ in you (plural) the hope of Glory." Christ in us is the Hope of glory on earth. We have an amazing opportunity to partner with God in changing lives for eternity. We are becoming children of God's nature through His agape love, and we are becoming human as God intended.
Human as God intends are His people living in nature and DNA. One Scripture that bests describes Himself is Exodus 34:6: "And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.'"
From the above Scripture, we can glean seven attributes to His Nature:
? Forgiving
? Slow to Anger
? Faithful
? Compassionate
? Gracious
? Merciful
? Truth
As the Lord arises in His people, all enemies of the Kingdom will scatter. His Kingdom will come, and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We pray for "Father Pleasers" to arise and reestablish Father's reputation all over the world in power and for His glory alone.
Robert Ricciardelli
Converging Zone Network & Visionary Advancement Strategies
Email: Agaperoad@gmail.com
Robert Ricciardelli, along with his wife Joyce, are the founders of the Converging Zone Network and Visionary Advancement Strategies. Through their connecting ministry, newsletters and social networking platforms, they bring collaboration to over 100,000 each week in various spheres of society. Robert's 25 years in Corporate America have given him a broad world-view of the Kingdom of God in everyday life. Robert speaks at churches and conferences regarding the Kingdom of God, and practical ways to advance His Kingdom into every sphere and mountain of society. Robert is also a Kingdom business consultant, and a transformational life coach, assisting in the discovery of solutions that advance the destinies of individuals, faith communities and businesses.
