Monthly Archives: August 2012

Aug 30 2012
Uncategorized

Radiant Overcomers!

We’re coming to the end of the GG notes that come out of my notes/ thoughts on Graham Cooke’s visit for Keys to the City – probably just another couple of weeks then I think we’ll start looking at the Beatitudes, following the new EVENING teaching at Ivy. But there’s still plenty to chew on from Graham. By the way i put these nots on a few days in advance so this stuff is for NEXT week. 

1 Corinthians 12:3

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Discuss: What do you think Paul meant by this? Is it as easy as saying a phrase then? 

 

GC: It’s not enough to just know Jesus as Saviour - We have to learn him as LORD. This means we come to terms with his supremacy. Jesus is Lord means He rules in every situation. 

If you’ve heard my recent talks I’ve been saying there’s a difference between what makes us FAIL (Fixed Attention In Location) vs seeing with the eyes of FAITH (Fixed Attention In The Heavenlies). Read Hebrews 12:1-3

Discuss a situation which seems impossible right now. Then fix your attention on Jesus as LORD of that situation and ask for Him to do what only he can do…

GC:  The fruit of the Spirit is a more powerful weapon against the enemy than the gifts. You can exhaust the enemy just by being loved, full of peace, kind. We can overcome him – with goodness. We can trouble him by being self-controlled.We can intimidate him by our mercy!

Look at the List in Gal 5:22

Have you ever thought of these things as ACTIVE like Graham suggested, or do you see them as PASSIVE (i.e. is it just what grows in you). Do you agree that the fruit of the Spirit is weaponry to push back the enemy?).  

GC: When you choose to move/ think/speak/act in a negative- you empower the enemy against YOURSELF. This is a key to breakthrough- learn to REJOICE and give thanks in everything. That keeps you in the will of God. Moaning, criticising = the worship language of hell. It’s attracting something wicked to you. 

Discuss: Give yourself time to reflect back on the last few days/ week – what words and attitudes have been working AGAINST you? How can you operate differently? 

GC: God has made provision for you in the face of your enemy. No weapon that rises against you shall prosper… this is your heritage! Heritage = a value passed down from one generation to another. Teach your kids to turn situations around – to be radiant overcomers. Live in the power of who He is. Never make allowances for defeat. Last time I checked, the Father was undefeated and the Lord always leads us in triumph. 

MEMORY VERSE: 

Spend some time imaginatively thinking how to commit this verse to memory: Check yourselves a week on. 

2 Cor 2:14 - But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreadsthe fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

Aug 22 2012
Uncategorized

Favour and Vengeance

We’ve looked at Isaiah 61 a lot recently in the Ivy GG notes but it was such a crucial passage when Graham Cooke taught, start by reading it again. 

 

WE LIVE IN GOD’S FAVOUR… 

Favour is different from Grace, although it comes from the same root word. Grace is undeserved, unmerited. But the Bible is full of instruction about how we can obtain favour. We live in the Favour of the Lord through prayer, faith, obedience and perseverance. 

GC: In every situation – he’s training you about FAVOUR. Favour is BIAS. God is BIASED for you, He can turn everything around for good. You never face anything on the same level it comes to you. You can go to a higher level and face it where God wants you to come to it. God allows in his wisdom what he could easily prevent in his power. Why? So you live in expectancy of the goodness of God. 

Question: Do you live that way? Do you expect to see the goodness of God? 

He also wants us to know about His vengeance on the enemy. How does God get vengeance on his enemy? 

Everything in your past where you have ever been held back or held a captive – he doesn’t just want to set you free from it but to have a mintsry in that area. Your testimony is the beginning of your ministry. 

SHARE your story of how you came to faith and/or share testimony of how God has pulled you through in some area. 

You say, ‘What’s my ministry?’Well, what have you been set free from? Move in the opposite spirit to that – your ministry is right there! 

Discuss: What areas might your ministry be in? 

Pray for one another

Aug 16 2012
Bible, Christianity, Graham Cooke, Ivy Manchester Grow Group Notes, Jesus, Prayer

Your Inheritance for your Identity

(Ivy GG notes – see previous for context)

Read Isaiah 61:

Isaiah 61 was Jesus’ inheritance word. He was modelling how God uses scripture. It’s there for us to lay hold of and lay claim to.

Discuss: What Bible passages most grab you? The ones that keep coming up for you? 

For where he wants to take you, there are scriptures you need to live in. Any promise in there is yours. The Bible says ‘God is no respecter of persons’ That means you can become like that person and have that experience they did. Their identity can become part of you. As you learn how to move in the anointing this passage gives you. It’s your inheritance word. When he gives you that, he commits resources to see it fulfilled.

Discuss: Which Bible characters resonate most deeply with you? Why? 

It doesn’t matter how many people are against me. It’s the power of one – walking with the One. 

Pray: Name one difficult situation you’re facing right now. Pray for one another; claiming the power of the One walking with you that makes all things possible. 

When God gave you a ‘Word’ he wasn’t giving you a blessing for the moment – think about the prophetic promise, look at the passage again, those words he keeps giving are meant to be of your identity forever. Study those passages – where your future life is contained in him. You can have the courage Gideon had, the wisdom of Solomon.

Which Bible characters do you wish you could be more like? 

Your identity always has resources attached to it. You have multiple identities – but one personality. Your identities are resourced.

Grandpa, Aunt, husband, godparent, boss… it depends you’re relating with.

What ‘identities’ have you had in the last week? Have you asked God for the resources you need to be who you are called to be for others? 

This is true physically and in the spirit too. As the Bread of Life – Jesus could feed 5000. He was the King of Bread! That was part of his identity. If you don’t step into your identity, you will always be behind what the Lord has for you. Get what the Lord has said about you, read it out loud – and say, “Lord, I accept this identity, you said it – I receive the resources I need for that.” 

Do you have a prophetic word that’s just stick in your Bible? Stuck in a drawer somewhere? Get it out! Once you got it, the clock starts ticking. God starts working on it. It starts the day you receive it. You start training into it. Rather than asking the Lord, ‘What’s the word you have next for me?’ What about one he’s already spoken? Live that one out! If you will start to interact with how God sees you, everything gets geared up. This can be a life or death issue, spiritually.

DISCUSS: Do you have promises and prophecies etc written down and tucked away? Why not bring them next week and share them with others in the GG? Encourage one another. 

Whatever God orders, he pays for. If you have a prophetic word about provision, you can go to another level with your giving! 

PRACTICE: Read a Psalm…

What belongs to you?

Is it describing who you are?

Be free from being present/past in your thinking; Be present/future. Get into the flow of the Holy Spirit – believe He will make it work. Get to know how God sees you. The change will depend on how you take hold of those words and establish them in prayer and as a reality of experience. 

 

 

 

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Aug 09 2012
Father God, Graham Cooke, Heaven, Holy Spirit, Ivy Manchester Grow Group Notes, Jesus, leadership

How are you known in heaven?

Ivy MCR grow group notes; content inspired by Graham Cooke/ Keys to the City

You can grow up with a negative and positive part of your personality. You’ll act out of either –

maybe you’ll be judgemental, fearful, prone to deception, or too self conscious.

OR you can be someone who loves a challenge, a risk taker, trusting, self aware. 

Both of these personalities are in us, to a greater or lesser extent. 

Jesus wants to bring out all those positives in us.

 DISCUSS: Which of these two personalities is usually dominant in you? 

Read Mk 827  And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples,“Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him,“John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”30  And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

This is an occasion where Peter got it RIGHT!

DISCUSS: Can you recall the times he got it wrong?

GC: ‘Don’t worry about things you haven’t been able to do perfectly. You learn by failing.’ 

Why do we find it easier to recall failures than successes?

Jesus was always making I am statements. 

So was God the Father. 

Because when we have an identity we have to declare that so others know how to relate to that.

Read Exodus 33:12-end

Moses was asking to see the glory of God. God says ‘My goodness will blast you – I’d better just show you my back.” 

Then he declares his IDENTITY - God says, ‘I am compassionate. merciful, slow to anger etc…’ 

DISCUSS: What other words would you want to add to describe God? What’s his identity to you? 

Look at Luke 4:16 Jesus came to his home town, stood up to read – and read from the wrong place! Isaiah 61. ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

What was he saying? ‘This is how I am known in heaven…’

In John 16, Jesus says ‘It’s better for you if I go away.’  They’re saying, ‘No way.’

Jesus replies, ‘Yes it is – so HE can come!’ Who? The IDENTITY of the Holy Spirit is described:

Here’s how he is known in heaven: He’s going to convict the world of sin and righteousness. He’ll lead us into all truth. He’ll glorify Jesus in us and to us. He’s a comforter and helper. 

Discuss: What would you like to be known in heaven for? What are you going to do with this one short life to make a difference? 

Luke 1. The angel shows up to talk to Zechariah about how his son John is known in heaven – and he’s not even born yet!

- ‘He’ll be great in the sight of God. He’ll make a way for the Lord.’  

When you get a prophetic word, it’s God describing you. God is telling you, ‘This is who you are.’ Then for the next while, everything in your life is training you for who you are. If you get a word that you’re a warrior when you’re a wimp, you’re on a journey now! In the place between prophecy spoken and fulfilled there’s some boldness to walk in now. Every situation is designed to help you become that. AND even if you don’t accept that word, he’s going to do in you. 

He also gives us scripture. He loves to tell us who we are from his word. He wants you to have very specific passages that are talking to you about how he sees you.

DISCUSS what passages and words have been spoken to you and resonated recently? Pray that you’ll co-operate to become who you’re known in heaven to be!

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Aug 04 2012
Bible, Christianity, Graham Cooke, Ivy Manchester Grow Group Notes Aside

GG notes for Ivy MCR following Graham Cooke’s teaching (you can now download the teaching from the Ivy MCR website, it’s well worth it!)

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READ 1 Peter 1:1-9 in various translations. 

Q. What grabs you from the passage?

Peter was writing to 5 provinces under persecution. He calls them ‘elect’ which means specifically chosen. They are also living as ‘resident aliens’ wherever they end up. Pray, thanking God for choosing to love you, and being Lord of your journey. Most of what follows now is from my notes on Graham’s talks.

GC:  Jesus died to give us HOPE – a brilliant expectation! He wants to teach you to put on the identity you have so you can impact the world around you. 

DISCUSS: Are you known as a person of hope?  

Matt 1613  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[c]shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[d] in heaven.” 20  Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. 

When Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ He wasn’t having an identity crisis! When you know who you, are you know how you’re supposed to live. You’re free to have a new tomorrow. The church is there to call us up to who they really are. Jesus is teaching them about identity here…

They gave him 4 wrong answers;

  1. John the baptist (he’d just been beheaded!)
  2. Elijah
  3. Jeremiah
  4. One of the prophets.

Later some people saw him in his home town and said ‘He’s just Joseph’s boy.’ They kept getting Him wrong.

Q: What wrong ideas do people have about Jesus these days?

DISCUSS: What roles do you fulfil when others relate to you? List them. Which could be stripped away and which ones are the real you? 

What is my identity in Jesus?

Your true identity is made up of…

  1. Who we are on earth (our background and upbringing) that shapes your personality.
  2. How we are known in heaven.

Your true identity

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Aug 03 2012
Bible, leadership, Theology, Worship Video

I’d say this was great even if I wasn’t biased.

Aside from the annoying spelling mistake on the slide they put up behind her (thankfully they corrected it early on), this short talk by my daughter Hannah ticks ALL the boxes for a great presentation.

Be inspired by the stories she tells so well, and slap your chest too and say ‘this is for me!’

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Aug 02 2012
Uncategorized

Graham Dow: Deliverance from evil spirits #nwn&e12

Eph 6:12 tells us who the battle is really with – a hierarchy of powers

Jude 6 – angels left their place and became evil spirits

Mk 1:21f how Jesus dealt with evil spirits. The word translated as possessed just means ‘with.’ There are many, but one spokesman.
Asking jesus name was a power play.

Jesus says ‘be throttled! Come out!’
We would put the man out of the church, Jesus put the spirit out of the man.

The gospels clearly distinguish sickness and demons. The same symptoms have different causes. Healing and deliverance are distinct. But Jesus deals with both!

The main bible term = demonised
(literally to have a little demon)
Or vexed by a demon

Deliverance is routine ministry for the apostles
Acts 5:12-16 shows its ongoing for us

It’s a sign of the kingdom but there is a battle. Spiritual power encounter. The Spirit of the Lord on and in us. Real but invisible power. spirit= ruach.

Spirits are bad breath.
Impure spirits

Rev 20 tells us their destiny. Lake of fire.

So – how can a God of love allow these demons to exist
Same as the classic problem of evil

In our culture we are afraid of any lack of control. Even if there was another Pentecost

In every culture except the West, people know there are evil spirits and are delighted to hear it can be set right.

If evil spirits go from your worldview, angels must also be rejected.
We believe in human freedom to rebel and see its evidence. Why not believe spirits could rebel

People of the Lie: M Scott Peck- psychology ignores evil and can’t handle it.

The church is rediscovering the power of the Spirit and our authority. This includes deliverance of course-
It should be routine and undramatic. Most spirits are common but not very powerful.

Moral evil – where human will is exercised against God, it is an invitation to connect with spiritual evil. They only live in the realm of spiritual darkness
Persistent sin is putting a welcome mat down:

Fear gives access
Witchcraft
Sexual sins
Sin done to us
Inherited ( we pass on holy children, it works both ways)

Clues to discerning evil spirit activity:

When patterns of sin don’t respond to normal confession & repentance, sacraments etc.

Direct hostility to Jesus
spirits can’t say ‘Jesus is Lord’ – the person may able to. Resistance to the cross
Hatred of holy communion
Negative reaction to clergy, holy things.
Acts 16; direct opposition to the work of the gospel
Relational strife for no reason
Inability to be able believe

Ask some questions about background.
We will get opposition.
Free masonry

Tie up the work of the enemy and release the Holy Spirit.

The land is polluted by evil spirits, violence etc
There can be a negative Memory.

Occult practices = hidden. But you can spot them by people who are attracted to such practices and people. Darkness attracts darkness.

Inexplicable power to do something

Alternative remedies: Question for healing = by what power?

Occult knowledge – ouija, horoscopes- its not just for fun; might rub off!

Dead relatives presence

False religion is deceitful and idolatry
The spirit realm is how we open up to truth or untruth.
Cults.
Secret societies
New age philosophies

Sexual deviation – spirits of lust are very common in men
Any sex outside of God’s boundaries is an entry point. Any sexual practice that degrades. If you are ashamed – get free by confession to a Christian leader

Violence
Murder – pollutes the land
Abortion

Spirits of control – oppression, domination.

Case history may bring up burglary, accident, rape etc.

Community histories can leave a very negative sense. Confess the sin of the past. Revivals have come after mapping the past and praying through.

Spirits of sickness. Repeated patterns

Some depression, insomnia.

These things are widespread, especially spirits of fear

Unforgiveness, jealousy, abandonment, rejection, fear of death, believing a lie brings a curse on yourself. Don’t hold onto that wrong thought.

Schism.

People feeling bound to a dead person

Colour choices – wearing all black, jarring colours etc

Evil spirits can drive all kinds of problem, we are Better off without them!

Sometimes you can say ‘I demand any spirit to manifest itself’ and it will.

Satan has been allowed some authority on the earth. Gen 3
But in Jesus there is a new order – he is the holy one who destroys the works of the enemy. New creation!
Life ! Resurrection. Second Adam
And if we are crucified with him we are also raised with him.

This is a ministry of love, but it attracts power seekers (check your heart)

We have authority – but we have to pray for power.
Sometimes persevere through fasting
Helpful if you can discern the clues
Be aware that in Christ, you are protected in Him. I don’t have to be afraid.

Confess the Lord as victor, praise for the blood bought victory!!

Confess any sin- remove the ground they stand on.

Renounce eg any occult, jealousy

Speak forgiveness to any who have hurt you

Command any spirits to go, naming of identified

Healing hurts/ memories prayer

Filling with the Holy Spirit.

Now the person has to make right choices and think rightly so they build up their resistance because they have the ego strength to walk and think a new way. May need a lot of help.

Scripture memory.
Sign of the cross
Stick close to other Christians

Never infringe on someone’s dignity.
If the professionals are involved, work in ways that will help them. Be aware not to go outside of your competence or authority

Don’t give Satan too much or little notice.

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