Kindling Ministries, Ron Allen's Blog

Keys to Kingdom Blessings, part five

The podcast for Ron's message can be downloaded at  www.hccfw.com.

1 Corinthians 13 is the love chapter. If we value something because of how long it lasts, love comes out on top. Any spiritual gift, exercised to it's highest level of performance, is diminished in value when that gift is exercised without love. Living a loveless life, I become less that what I was. Any gift exercised primarily for the benefit of the one who is gifted is a prostitution of that gift, and the end result of that kind of ministry is exasperation, not edification. The greatest gift exercised to the max without love reduces me to a nobody. The measure of a person is not so much the gifts we demonstrate, but the love that is expressed in the exercise of gifts. Love is patient. Love is kind. Jealousy will try to prosper at the expense of others. Love is absent. Arrogance is what happens when we have success without love.

Where there is love, there is humility. Love means we do not behave badly. Too many Christians are coddling that which needs to be crucified. Love does not have a chip on it's shoulder. Love keeps no list of wrongs. Love dwells on what is right, and does what is right. Love has enduring faith. Love never fails, spiritual gifts do fail. Love is to be our priority. Love is to be our pursuit. 

Faith and Patience, Carolyn Allen

Here is a summary of Carolyn's message at Summer Early Service last Sunday. The podcast can be downloaded at www.hccfw.com

Faith requires patience to see the promises of God come to reality in our lives. My paraphrase of Hebrews 6:12 and James 1:3-4 says this:  “Consistently expressing your faith in God and allowing patience to complete its work positions you to receive the promises of God so that you lack nothing.” Faith is a practical expression of my confidence in God – it is activated when I step out in obedience.   Faith begins with the Word of God.   “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”  If I don’t know the Word I don’t have faith.  I must know the promises God has for me that are written in the Word before faith can be activated. Faith is a gift from God.  Romans 12:3 tells us that we are to each think of ourselves according to the measure of faith God has given to us.  A ‘measure’ of faith is the required portion to accomplish the task God has assigned to us.  We all have exactly the amount of faith we need to do what He says. When Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat and walk on the water he had to activate his measure of faith by stepping out of the boat.  When he saw the effect the wind was having on the water, he faltered and began to sink.  Jesus said to him, “O ye of little faith.”  In other words, Peter you began to use only a little bit of the faith I had given you to accomplish what I asked you to do…walk on the water to me.  You started and then took your eyes off of me.  We can do what Jesus asks us to do…exercising faith and patience together. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that is grown as we obey and allow God to transform us into His character and conduct.   Patience means to be of a long temper.  Patience describes a person who has the ability to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint.  Patience is bravely enduring misfortunes and troubles.  It is the ability to bear offenses and injuries of others.  It is being slow to anger. As we step out in faith and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to grow patience in us we are positioned to see the promises of God come to pass in our lives and we lack nothing. Hear the Word, obey the Word, exercise patience and bring forth fruit that lacks nothing.

Keys to Kingdom Blessings, part three...

The following is a summary of my message this morning at Heartland Church. The podcast can be downloaded at  www.hccfw.com  

We are living in hard times. Many are afraid they will suffer lack and their needs will not be meet. Fear compromises faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. To have faith in God we must not doubt His love for us. We can trust Him. I Thess. 4:12, "...you shall lack nothing." Deut. 2:7,"God has been with you and you have lacked nothing." If God has done it before for His people, He will do it again. Jn. 6, Mk. 6, Jesus only had a little boy's sack lunch of two fish and five loaves. He took the food in his hands and blessed it, and the blessing released increase and multiplication and not only were five thousand men, plus women and children fed, but there were 12 large basketfuls left over. When God blesses our lives a dynamic of increase and multiplication is released. Phil. 4:19, "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by and through Christ Jesus." The God of Mt. Sinai has moved inside you and I. The great I AM. Just like with Moses' rod, what we have that is placed at the disposal of God can be blessed to be what we need. Do we own our stuff or does our stuff own us? Let's as stewards, place our resources into God's hands and see what miraculous provision the blessing will release. No fear here. No lack in my life. I am loved. I am supplied. I will experience God's over and above blessing. I am blessed to be a blessing.

Keys to Kingdom Blessing, part two

This is a summary of the message I shared Father's Day. The podcast can be found on the Heartland Church website  www.hccfw.com

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Fear does not come from God. Fear arises out of selfishness and our mistrust of God’s Word. Fear often expresses itself in anger. When we tolerate fear, we defile our faith. Faith becomes a causality when we entertain fear. Satan fundamentally is trying to get us to embrace doubt and unbelief. Perfect love casts out fear. What time we are tempted to be afraid we will trust in the LORD. So no fear here. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

Activating Kingdom Agents, part one

Wednesday I started teaching through the MC 510 class notes from Fuller Seminary that John Wimber taught in 1983. We had a good start. Carolyn led us in some vintage Vineyard, "I love you God," worship. I am excited about where God is taking us. Miracles, Signs and Wonders, to accompany those who believe. This is an outline of what we talked about.

The Kingdom of God...

1. Is an assertion of Divine authority and power on the earth among men.

2. Because God asserts Himself in authority and power, a crisis develops, a power encounter against the forces of darkness.

3. God victoriously exercises His authority and power against Satan's rule and dominion.

4. The Kingdom has both a present and future aspect....