Above temptation

Man are tempted in every manner at all times.

As a breakthrough believer, what we need to do?

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. but when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corin 10:13 NIV

1. The temptation we face is common to man.
Believer or none believer face the same temptation but our ending is different!!!
Yes! we can tempted.
I know you may say, what about "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."
Mat 6:13.

I'm amazed at how Dr. TB is able to just expound the scriptures.
Let me quote what he said on Mat 6:13,
"lead us not into temptation but just in case we are tempted, deliver us from evil.."

Make sense *_*

2.God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.
Meaning in us we already have the capacity to bear.
We need to know that we have the capacity to bear/endure, despite bearing heavy weight
that's on us we can still stand and move on forward.
Just like those who lift weights, they are bearing the weights but they are still standing despite
being under it.

Explanation:
When we face temptation, we pray as though we are so weak and helpless. It's as though we have nothing in us that we need to beg Him for help. When He does not answer, we begin to doubt if His there....
We need to realise who we are and that we created in His image.....
Look at the posting under Joseph(Identity-who we are) for details

When we know who we are in Him, the way we pray, talk and think is very different.
We won't have to beg/be helpless anymore but we know in us we have the capacity to rise and prevail against all things because God is with us.

3. God is not removing temptation when he say, "provide a way of escape"
Look at the verse carefully, it says,
"he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Meaning he's not removing it. The temptation(weight) is still there but with we can still stand.

Explanation:
When we are tempted, we pray for God to remove it or save us. His way of escape is when we can pray in the spirit. He provide a way of escape by having us to tap into the spirit in us to see the spirit world how He has delivered us.

That's why even though in the natural we are still bearing the weight of temptation but yet we know we can stand under it.

It's in the spirit we see we have prevailed and that's why we know in the natural we can prevail against temptation!!!

Temptation? We are ABOVE it already!!!!!

Addition notes:
Paul asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh and God said "my grace is sufficient for you and in "u". God has done all He could and now is the time for us to stand and having done all to stand we must stand therefore.

Identity- who we are?

Continuation........

3.We are the carriers of His life and are created in His image, nature and likeness. Gen 1:26 – 27, 2:7
God created us in his image, nature and likeness which are why we have His nature and likeness in us.
We don’t live our own nature because we are born of God and He created us exactly in His image.
We no longer do just as we like or want because His seed is in us. His seed abides in us.
1 John 3:9

Can we overcome sin? Yes!!
Why? When we are born of Him, His seed abides in us already.

Joseph could rise and overcome all testing that were thrown at him and still remain pure, uncontaminated because he had the seed of God in him.
He was not merely using his own human will but he draws from what was in him.

He knew who he was in God.
He did not have to call nor pray for God to save him but He knew God has put all that he needs to overcome and rise in him already!!!!
He knew all the answers were inside him and he could go through and pass every test.
Eg: You go to school to be trained. All training given to you is inside of you. Exams are there to test how much in you have understood and comprehend. When you sit for exams, does your teacher give you the answers? No!! The same way, all you need is in you already, when every testing/trials, why do you expect God to give answers then!!

God blessed them and said to them,
“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Gen 1:28

God command “Be fruitful” meaning we already have the seed to be fruitful.
E.g: You want to plant an apple tree and it grows to be big and bear many fruits. You can’t just stand at any ground and say you be fruitful and grow and bear many apple for me. You must first put in the seed in the ground.

Its starts from there and you do what is required of you and it will be fruitful.
You must see that in you God has put in His seed in you when he formed us that’s why we have the capacity to be fruitful/flourishing. It’s not the ground(environment) but the seed itself have the capacity to be fruitful/flourish. It’s in us NOW!!!

That’s why wherever we park ourselves at which ever ground we can flourish/fruitful!!!
It’s the seed of Jesus Christ!!! We no longer say it’s the people or environment that causes me to sin/fall but we can RISE above every limitations and boundaries!!!

"Increase in number" meaning reproduce.
As we flourish/fruitful, we have the capacities to reproduce just like our Father God.
We can reproduce people carrying the same DNA, image and pattern of God.

That’s why, Paul can say imitate me as I imitate Christ.
Paul was reflecting the very image, nature and likeness of Christ and he could reproduce others of the same kind just by living the life of Christ.

THIS VERY SEED CARRIES THE INDESTRUCTIBLE LIFE AND IT’S IN US NOW!!!
His seed is in us right now!!! We can reflect his image, nature and likeness!!!

We CAN BE THE BREAKTHROUGH BELIEVERS THAT HE WANTS US TO BE!!
We can rise and flourish!!!

In conclusion:
Repeat the following:
I am born of God into the kingdom of God. I am carrying His indestructible life; I can rise and flourish in every situation and circumstances because His seed abides in us. I hold the citizenship to the kingdom of God therefore I belong to the kingdom of God that cannot be destroyed but remains forever and ever!!!! Amen!!!

Identity - who we are?

The life of Joseph- His Identity

Who are we?

1.We are born of God. John 1:12-13
We are born physically in this part of the world but yet we need to know that we are not of this world because the scripture says we are born of God.

Eg: Your mother may give birth to you in a hospital. You are born in the hospital but it does not mean you are part/belong of the membership of the hospital. You belong to your parents.

The day we received Him we are the children of God that’s not born of blood/flesh but of God. John 1:12-13
That’s why it does not matter what our background/status or our past is because we are born of God.
To Joseph it no longer matter if he had a bad past or if he was an immigrant in Egypt because he knew who he was!!!
He is a citizen of the kingdom of God (heaven)!!!
That’s why it not about we holding the citizenship of this earth but we are holding the citizenship of the kingdom of God!!!

Those born of God in His kingdom are His citizen.
We hold the citizenship of the kingdom of God!!!
No matter how our past may be. It could be people look down on us, lack of opportunities, felt out of place like an immigrant and etc.
All these no longer matter nor can hold us back from moving forward because we are born of God!!!!!

2.We are the children of God
He gave us the right to become the children of God. John 1:12.
We have received a spirit of adoption by which we can cry, “Abba Father!” Rom 8:14-16

Joseph knew who his God was. This same God is the God of his father (Jacob) and his grandfather (Abraham)

We need to know who our Father is!!! God himself is our Father because we are born of Him!!! He is the King of all Kings and that’s why we are His prince!!!

To be continued..........

Distinctive features of Joseph

Joseph had the characteristics of a breakthrough believer.
He was fashioned by God to fulfill destiny.

He had these features which we can identify:-

1. Stature to represent God.

What is stature?
Stature is the position of favor obtained in God.

Can stature be measured? Yes! We can grow and progress in our stature. Luke 2:52 & Eph 4:13

How to obtained stature?
We need to yield to the dealings of God in our lives until He finds us a trustworthy steward who will represent Him fully, and be bestowed with the necessary grace, provision and wisdom to finish Kingdom purposes here on the earth.

Joseph went through the many dealings(testings/trials) of God in his lives.

1. He was rebuked by his father of his dreams yet he did not answer back or retaliate. Gen 37:10

This can be seen as a circumcision whereby God has placed people i.e. spiritual father around us to deal with things in our hearts and lives.
God wants to circumcise our hearts. He will use anything sharp to cut off unwanted flesh in our lives . It is the father who can circumcise his son according to the practice of the patriarchs in the Old Testament.

God as our Father wants to circumcise us but He will use our spiritual fathers to do it. Joseph's father rebuking him could be seen as a form of cutting off unwanted flesh. *This has sparked within me another topic :"circumcision" :D

How true! because when we are young and have not arrived to the fullness of maturity in God, our hearts are filled with pride. It's about what we can accomplish through our own achievement.
All Joseph had was just dreams, he had not arrived there and his head was big already! haha! That's why God placed his dad there to keep him level headed and so that he could find the true purpose of the very dream that God gave him.

Which is why we should be thankful that we have spiritual fathers i.e pastors who have walked before us to lead and correct us so that we won't walk in the wrong path thinking that we did it on our own achievement. They are placed over our lives to lead us to the very purpose of God and in extending His kingdom. God always uses the right kind of people to fashion us and make us better so that we could be the very person God wants us to be. We need to know that this life that we live is not about us but about Him and the many lives out there.

2. He was obedient and ready to his father instructions to look for his brothers in the field.
Gen 37: 13

3. He was thrown into the pit. Gen 37: 24

4. He was sold off. Gen 37:28,36

5. He served as a slave in Potiphar's house. Gen 39:2
In all these he did not murmur of his fate and resign to fate, but he set his heart to give and do the best in difficult/restricted circumstances. (A prevailing mentality)

6. He was made as an overseer in Pothiphar. Gen 39:4
(See under label "Joseph - "serving qualities")
I liken Joseph to a professional butler as he was made an overseer of his master's house.
He must be very good at serving as in his master's house there are plenty of servants and some of them are there longer with many years of experienced too. He clearly had the most coveted job in household as he gets to serve his master.

Joseph learned to "served" his master well.
The meaning of "serve"in its root word is "attend" or "wait on".
He learned to "serve" i.e. "wait on/attend to" the people he was placed in close range with.

7. He make himself useful(hardworking) in the house and in his assign field in the market place. He was useful in and out of Pothiphar house because Pothiphar made him overseer in his house and over all he had.
It shows that he had been tried and tested and knows how to do the job, for God blessed all that Pothiphar had in the house and in the field (outside) Gen 39:5

8. He was tempted and pressured to compromise.

9. He was falsely accused and jailed yet he was not bitter/vengeful and had prejudice over Egyptians.

10. He was not bound by past hurts/bitterness/unforgiveness.

He did not curse God by justifying his righteousness to God or sinned through his mouth and etc. He kept himself pure and clean in the physical, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. In every one of the dealings he proven himself a trustworthy steward of God.

That's why at every juncture of his lives, we can see he grew in stature to represent God because people around him could see he was bestowed with the necessary grace, provision and wisdom. All these was so that he could finish Kingdom purposes here on the earth.

That's why he knew God sent him ahead. Gen 45:7

To be continued....................

Note:
Addition of notes is from Ps. Mike Maimele. Thanks alot! :D

Our father's grace and spiritual dimensions

Joseph had two dreams but how did he get it?

He picked this gift on his own by training himself? No!!!

His father, Jacob had this gift.

His father had a dream when he was at Bethel.

Genesis 28:10-22, 31:10-13.

Joseph capture this dimension from his father because he was connected to the father's heart.

Whatever spiritual dimensions that our spiritual father have, we also have it too!!

Our hearts need to be connected accurately.

Joseph had the grace that whatever he laid his hands on God caused it to prosper.

He was able to reproduce in the marketplace.

He had breakthrough's in the market place.

All this was made possible because of his heart connection.

He did not learn this grace but received it from his father, Jacob.

Jacob had the same grace in his life.

He was able to reproduce and have breakthrough's in the market place. Genesis 30:30.

The people in the market place recognised they are man of value because God is with them.

Laban noticed this in Jacob's life. Genesis 30:27

Pothiphar, the chief jailer and Pharaoh noticed this in Joseph's life.

Genesis 39:3, 22-23,41:38-42.

When hearts are connected accurately, whatever that our spiritual father is carrying it's also in us for we share the same DNA.

Dreams and its meanings

Joseph had two dreams:-
1. Genesis 37: 5-7
2. Genesis 37: 9

The first dream:-
I've find it interesting that of all things You used sheaf.
Sheaf means bunch of grain plants tied together.
Grain(corn) is their main staple(food source) for life.

All other sheaves bow to his.
At the end, Joseph became the very man that has the food of life.
All went to him because he had the food to give.
All that went to him were hungry and were fed.
The people had life or still living in the midst of famine is because of Joseph.

Isn't he just like Jesus!
Jesus say "I am the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35

The second dream:-
Now You used the sun, moon and stars.
My cell group member say, "the sun is the father, the moon is the mother and the eleven stars the brothers..."
My cell group are very creative and imaginative, aren't they?...haha

The sun gives light!
The moon also gives light!
The stars gives light!
All these gives us direction. In darkness we need to the light to show us the way.
The light will give clear direction of where to go.

The three wise men depended n the stars to lead them to the manger where Jesus was born.
Joseph the Prime Minister of Egypt, gave the way/directions to the people that help save the people from famine.
Joseph showed the way to life in the midst of famine.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life....." John 14:6

Joseph gave life and direction to the people around him(not just Egypt but Israelites) = global
I am a global leader that will give life and direction to the people around me because I have the true source of life and direction.

Joseph saw what was in the spirit and he brought it out into the natural.
He lived a supernatural life!!
Jesus speaks of the spiritual.

It's not about me wanting the spiritual or the natural.
Only spiritual and no natural = religious
Only natural and no spiritual = worldly
Spiritual + natural = supernatural life= destiny=finishing generation
It's what I see in the spiritual that should be brought out into my natural world.
Then it's called life! The abundant and supernatural life!

Just like how Joseph shaped the entire nation of Egypt and the lives of the Israelites accordingly to what he saw in his spirit.
I must begin to shape the world/recreate it according to what I see in my spirit.

A Generation of leaders TODAY!!!

The very vision and words that You spoke in the year 2006, it just grew bigger and bigger.
Most of all, my understanding of it has deepen.
It's not about the ministry or me but about Your house and the generations of people.

Now, I understand why You said, "They are leaders of today and the cutting edge ones that will serve their generation according to your purpose."
They are just like Joseph. Genesis 45:7
"And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." KJV

I like the NLT version, "God has sent me here to keep you and your families alive so that you will become a great nation."

Just like Joseph that give them(the nation) life(physical sustainence:-food) and direction(what to do and where to go)

Triumphant Kids are the breakthrough believers who are global leaders that are pioneers (sent ahead) for preserving lives. They rise above every intense pressure, limitations and boundaries to set a clear pattern for people to follow. They are able to finish the very purpose of Yours despite restrictions.

Triumphant Kids song:-
Triumphant kids that's who we are!!
We're a chosen generation of the Lord!
We're here to make a difference
Serve our generation
By Your spirit and Your truth!!

Triumphant Kids = The Finishing Generation!!

A Generation of cutting edge leaders today

The world say, "Children are the leaders of tommorow"

You say, "Change this statement!"

You say on 18th July 2006, "Children are leaders of today, better leaders tommorow. They'll be the ones with a cutting edge to lead and serve their generation according to Your purpose just like David." Acts 13:36

I say, "Excuse me, what did You just say!"
I say, " How can this world statement be changed to Your statement!"

You say, "You change it"
I say, "Huh ????"

At the end of our conversation, I say, "Yes! I will change it!"

Your image and Your life

So God created man in His own image....Genesis 1:27
You made me in your exact image, nature and likeness.
Just like the mirror that reflects the very image what is put before it.
What You have is what i have!!
What You are carrying is what I'm carrying!!
What You like is what I like too...
What You love is what i love .....
Your nature is my nature!
That which is in your heart is also in me.
So how can i be living my own life and doing my own things when You made me in your image.
No separation!!
I don't have my own nature, I only have Your nature.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. Gen 2:7
I am alive is because is because You give me life.
You breathe Your very breath in me.
I am the carrier of Your life!!!
It's not about me living my own life but about You!
I am made to live is just for You!!!

What an honour and privilege You have given to me!!!

You are AMAZING!!

You are AWESOME!!

Obedience is better than sacrifice

Why?
1. It coz us to give up on things which we hold on tightly to such as taking the easy way out, doing what seems so right in our own eyes, following the crowd, trying to please people, fear of what people may say of us.........
2. It gives You all the room to work in our lives.
3. To trust You that You surely will come through for us!!

This reminds me of the incidents between Saul and Samuel.
1 Sam 13
Saul came under pressure and took the easy way out and acted on what seems right in his own eyes and for situation. (Scenario: "i had too.. there's no other choice...you're not here so I had to do it.....after all it's to God so no big deal about....)

The Samuel come crashing down on him......gave a strong rebuke.
Saul lost his kingdom!!!! Why come down so strong?

Compare Saul and Samuel there's nothing that Saul would lack..he has the personality, physical,he knows how to do the job of Samuel, he's the king!!..... It the emphasis on the person?

No!!! There's no prejudice here. The difference is Samuel was to function as a priest, prophet and judge whereas Saul was anointed as a commander over the people of Israel. Saul took the matter into his own hands.

In short he self "appointed himself" But at that situation, it seem the very right thing to do....after all he knew how to burn the offerings and it's to God anyway....................

You show me that:-
1. Self- appointment means I'm acting on my own..no protection!!!
2. Even though I can function in many roles it does not mean i can simply cut and cross- boundaries that are set. (Saul should have stay put)
3. Never be pressured by people or situation to take matters into my own hands. 4. Be accountable to my pastor and leaders.
5. Trust You and the people that You has set above me- whatever is their decisions and instructions.

Another incident. 1 Sam 15 Command give in v.2-3 but Saul disobeyed v.9
Enters Samuel...and here's Saul's explanation in lay man terms.....
1. The people saw(own eyes *-*) that this was a good thing to do..no harm done.
2. The people's suggestion and reasoning is logical and right.....
3.The people needed it so that they can give it to God.
4. I did obey but the people want it...with all their logical reasoning what else was i to say.....

His explanation seems logical but it still WRONG!!!

You have taught me that:-
1. Never bow to people pressure no matter how logical their reasoning may be.
2. Obeying what You say is more important that following what the crowd is doing.
(Just because everybody (crowd) is doing it does not mean it's right)