From a letter to Diognetus Christians in the world

Heritage and Harvest:
Our Identity in Christ


From a letter to Diognetus Christians in the world


There is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law. Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred. The world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.

“You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine that men see your good works and glorify God.” “All who live godly lives shall suffer persecution.” Love not the things of the world.”

I Believe in the Holy Ghost, I worship in Spirit and in Truth

I Believe in the Holy Ghost,
I worship in Spirit and in Truth

By Dwight Cunkle

God anointed Jesus with power to proclaim the new kingdom, heal and do good (Acts 10:37-38) and through his glorious ascension his Spirit is poured into our hearts, sealing us and guaranteeing our future (2 Cor 1:21-22). As one of God's elect, I am a stranger in this world, chosen and sanctified by the Holy Spirit (I belong to God as his elect-1Peter 1:1-3).
     I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, who since He came, convicts the world (and me) of guilt, sin, righteousness and judgment (John 6:18-11). I believe in the Holy Spirit who dwells in me as a temple (1Cor 3:16) and who lives in me and is jealous over me (James 4:5). I believe in the Comforter, Counselor, Spirit of Truth, who guides us into all truth, who brings glory to Jesus by taking what is His and making it known to us. (John 16:15) He brings all things to remembrance that Jesus said, and gives me what to say when I testify (Matt 10:19-20).
     I believe in the Holy Spirit who is the Anointing and abides in us and teaches us (1 John 2:20, 26), in whom we are baptized into Christ (1 Cor 12:13) and are all made to drink of one Spirit (Eph 4:4). He gives me life and leads me; because I have my mind set on the things of the Spirit I have life and peace (Rom 8:6-7) and am renewed in my mind (Eph 4:24). I am filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:19) and power (Acts 1:8). He quenches my thirst (Jn 7:37-39), prays in me for the saints according to the will of God (Rom 8:27-28), prophecies through me (1 Cor 14:1-3), gives me strength as I wait on the Lord, quickens my body, enlightens the eyes of my heart (Eph 1:17), gives me revelation from the Father, uses the Word of God as a Sword in my mouth (Eph 6:17) and gives me a NOW word that has proceeding application and power (Mt 4:4).

     I believe in Holy Spirit and am born according to the Spirit (Gal 4:28), born from above (Jn 3:7); have received the Spirit by faith not by works (Gal 3:2).
     I believe in the Holy Spirit whom I have received the Holy Spirit from Him who supplies the Spirit (Gal 3:5) and since I began in the Spirit (Gal 3:3) I can continue to live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:25) for God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts; so, I’m no longer a slave but a Son (Gal 4:6-7) and His Spirit bears witness with my spirit-I am a child of God. (Rom 8:15-17).
      I believe in the Holy Spirit who bears in me spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control  (Gal 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit helps me walk in the spirit so I will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Gal 5:16) but I will be led by the Spirit (Gal 5:18).
     I believe in the Holy Spirit who gives manifestations of grace through me as He wills, and I earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that I may prophesy to the building up of the body in love (1 Cor 14) and  so I may speak in tongues in an ongoing prayer language which I do not understand but is according to the will of God for the saints and builds myself up in faith (Jude 20). I also ask Him and He gives through me, by the same Spirit, words of wisdom and knowledge, supernatural faith, healing and working of miracles, discerning of spirits, tongues and the interpretation of tongues as a sign to unbelievers(1 Cor 12 and 14).

I believe in the Holy Ghost

and worship in Spirit and Truth

Christ’s Ascension

Christ’s Ascension

By Dwight Cunkle

Christ ascended—What effect has this today?

Truth creates the new order and kingdom: On the third day Christ arose; He appeared to many over 40 days, speaking to them of the kingdom of God; He commanded them to wait for the promised Holy Spirit and was seen by many as he ascended to heaven ten days before Pentecost. 

Mark 16; Acts 1:1-11; 1 Cor 15:1-3

Luke 24:50-53

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising God.

WHO? What would it have been like to see the resurrected Jesus? To watch Him ascend to heaven? To praise God and wait together. for the promise to be fulfilled? What would it have been like to be filled? 

__________________________________________________ 

WHAT did the apostles immediately and continually do immediately following the ascension according to Luke 24:53? __________________________________________________ 

WHY? According to Acts 1:8 and Acts 2 what was the purpose of Holy Spirit in filling the believers? 

__________________________________________________ 

HOW? What did God do in response to their "doing" recorded by Mark 16:20 and in the book of Acts.

__________________________________________________ 

WE know what it CAN BE LIKE to be filled with joy like new wine and to share Jesus stories with others and see God confirm the word with signs following us. Is this our purpose?  Do we wait with praise and prayer? Do we share Jesus with others? What effect?

What effect does all this have?

Are we waiting on God? Praise and prayer.  

BE AWARE, UNDERSTAND, TAKE ACTION (part four)

BE AWARE, UNDERSTAND, TAKE ACTION (part four)

By Dwight Cunkle



Review, Reflect, Renew and go further on with Jesus...

In his book, Examen Prayer  Timothy Gallagher instructs us to pause and prepare heart and mind for prayer by asking God the grace to become aware of his love for us and His presence in and around us. Begin with awareness then move to thanksgiving, and we will receive wisdom and revelation from his word how to pray and how to act.

David said, “Enter God’s presence with thanksgiving-(Psalms 95 and 100). Jesus showed us how to begin prayer, “Our Father-hallowed be your name.” Paul wrote, “Let requests be made with thanksgiving,” and,  “In everything give thanks.” How important is thanks? Gallagher writes :
“... ingratitude is one of the things most worthy of detestation before our Creator and Lord, and before all creatures capable of his divine and everlasting glory, out of all the evils and sins which can be imagined. For it is a failure to recognize the good things, the graces, and the gifts received. As such, it is the cause, beginning, and origin of all evils and sins (see Romans 1). On the contrary, recognition and gratitude for the good things and gifts received is greatly loved and esteemed both in heaven and on earth.”

1. After becoming aware God looks on me with love, and
2. After giving thanks for his graces my life and world, 
3. Then I am ready to discern good and evil spirits
4. Resisting and rejecting the bad, but aided by the good 5. Move toward God in faith, hope and love. I will be able to set aside the trap of negative self-talk, self-centered introspection, and all the “bait of Satan” to trap me in offence or fear. When I am at rest and united in God’s love, 6. I am ready to hear (really “to sense the effect of” rather than just “get a word”) what God is saying in his word, in listening prayer, and through spiritual direction,
7. And to make good decisions in a pure heart of wisdom and love.