Alpha and Omega- Beginning and End

ALPHA AND OMEGA

(Rev 1:8) I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

See also Rev. 1:11,21;6,22:13.

Jesus as Alpha ( the beginning) and Omega ( the end). He is much more than that. HE IS ETERNAL.

Then just what does this mean?

Alpha-Beginning

God's purposes always begin with a man (a seed), and then consumate in and through a people or nation (the harvest).

Jesus, the singular, "firstbegotten" Alpha (Heb. 1:6), the "first" Word, has multiplied Himself into a many-membered Man by the Spirit (Gal. 4:6). Words becoming flesh.

Omega-End

The Omega is still Jesus, but it is the Lord expressing Himself through His Church by His Spirit.

"Even when we were dead (slain) by shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ -- He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him..." (Eph. 2:5, AMP)

Remember, only Christ can live like Christ. You and I cannot, but Christ can live through us (Gal. 2:20). God expresses Himself through His Word, and that same Word has now been multiplied in and through His people.

You are living epistles.

(2Co 3:2-3) You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men,

it having been made plain that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, not having been written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone, but in fleshly tablets of the heart.

The letters of your life find their richest expression as they are written by the power of your very unique relationship to the Word. You are God's love letter written to those around you in a very creative and dynamic way. It is your will that gives power to the Master's pen.

The Alpha is Jesus, the Head of His Body. The Omega is still Jesus, a Body of people, infused by His very own Spirit, in whom "...Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded)..." (Gal. 4:19, AMP).

"Till we all come in the unity of the fatih, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (teleios, akin to telos above) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13, KJV)

The Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the ending of God's design and desire in Christ, the first and the last--are Jesus and His ongoing expresssion, His Church.

Both comprise the Word incarnate, the Word made flesh!

ABUNDANT LIFE

ABUNDANT LIFE

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE ABUNDANT LIFE?

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Definition of abundant/(-ly)G4053-Hebrew-περισσός-Greek-perissos- per-is-sos'-From G4012 (in the sense of beyond); superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication excessive; adverb (with G1537) violently; neuter (as noun) preeminence: - exceeding abundantly above, more abundantly, advantage, exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, (being more than is sufficient or required; excessive, possessing or spending more than enough or necessary; extravagant), vehement [-ly](zealous; ardent; passionate, enthusiasm, strongly emotional; intense or passionate, desire, marked by great energy or exertion; strenuous.

Abundant life is a term used to refer to Christian teachings on fullness of life. The term "abundant life" comes from the Bible verse John 10:10b, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. "More abundantly" means to have a superabundance of a thing. "Abundant life" refers to life in its abounding fullness of joy and strength for mind, body, and soul. You already have abundant life in your spirit. Salvation is the working out of that.

(Php 2:12) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work oust (cultivate) your own salvation with fear and trembling.

"Abundant life" signifies a contrast to feelings of lack, emptiness, and dissatisfaction, and such feelings may motivate a person to seek for the meaning of life and a change in their life.

Abundant life for a person begins with a new relationship with God, new motivations, and a new relationship with mankind. The process of Christian maturity for that person continues with learning to live abundantly, being cleansed from sin, and learning to overcome spiritual battles.

Abundant life teaches prosperity and health for the total human being, including the body, mind, emotions, relationships, material needs, and eternal life.

Abundant life includes expectations of physical and material prosperity and good health and well-being, but may also include other forms of fullness of life, including eternal life, when persecuted or suffering. For a Christian, fullness of life is not measured in terms of "fun" and "living large," or in terms of wealth, prestige, position, and power, but in terms of fulfilled lives of responsibility and self-restraint, and the rewards and blessings that accrue over a lifetime of pleasing God. The Bible has promises of wealth, health, and well-being, but these promises are conditional promises. You increase in the abundant life as your soul prospers.

The source of abundant life is identified as the Spirit of God in Galatians 5:22-23, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering etc.

Scriptures for abundant/abundance/ abundantly:

Psalm 132:15 I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.

Luke 15:23 ‘And bring the fatted calf (calf with excess) here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;

John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Eph.3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

Titus 3:5-6 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

2 Peter 1:11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

LIVING ABUNDANTLY TODAY IN CHRIST JESUS!!

THE GREAT COMMISSION EXPLAINED

ASPECTS OF THE GREAT COMMISSION

What is the Great Commission mandated to us by Christ. What are we supposed to do?

This is an attempt to explain the mandate given to every believer.

(Matt. 16:19) And I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven to you. And whatever you may bind on earth shall occur, having been bound in Heaven, and whatever you may loose on earth shall occur, having been loosed in Heaven.

(Mar 16:15-18) Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

1. Salvation Mandate

Preach ( announce good news of the kingdom)

Goal converts, saved, healed, delivered, baptized in Holy Spirit

(Serve people)

Reproduce sheep

Power and authority

Wholeness to the person

Family

Rights

Church growth

Saves people

Shapes minds

Heals people

Restores the individual

Eternal Life

Entrance to heaven

Benefits of salvation, prosperity

Speak the Word, confession

Gifts, power

Power of the kingdom

Hands laid on

Focus on the individual (all about me)

Short term

Milk of the Word

One man Pastor/ Leader

This is Traditional Church Thinking

(Mat 28:19-20) Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you.

5 FOLD LEADERS MANDATE: (Eph 4:12-16) for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit. But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ; from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

(Mat 28:19) Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

2. Disciple Mandate

Make Disciples, trained, taught, equipped, released

Change thinking

(Serving Him)

Hear from God Themselves

Truth ,Deep Revelation

Wholeness to the Nation/Society

Citizenship in the Kingdom

Responsibility, Integrity

Saves Society

Marketplace Ministry

Heals Nation/Destiny of a Nation

Teaches how to live life

Speak the Word, decree and declare

Establishes the kingdom

Function/ Assignment in ministry

Dominion Mandate

Government and laws, precepts& principles

Long term

Team Ministry

A Global Interactive Covenant Kingdom Community of Purposes & Destinies that is changing {Influencing} the World through HIS DOMINION! A people Infused, Imbued, and Endowed in the glory of HIS Kingdom, a people saturated & synergized with global kingdom frequencies of the Spirit that is bringing Heaven to Earth

GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE FOR MANKIND!

WHAT IS GRACE?

GRACE:

* As defined in Websters-a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior; the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God.

* As defined in Hebrew-subjective (kindness, favor) or objective beauty:-favor, gracious, pleasant, precious, well-favored.

* As defined in the Greek-graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.

GRACE IS!

1. Grace is Desperately Needed!

Think about it: WITHOUT GRACE

A. We are under the weight of the whole law for any infraction of the law.

Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

B. Even if we could live perfect from this moment forward, our past sin calls for judgment.

C. The penalty of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)


2. Grace is Absolutely Necessary!

Think about it:

A. We cannot save ourselves.

B. We cannot save anyone else.

C. We cannot purchase, bargain, earn, or merit salvation.

Romans 4:4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

3. Grace is Abundantly Available!

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

Think about it:

A. Where sin abounds grace much more abounds.

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

Romans 5:17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

B. Grace saves us when we trust in Jesus and what He has done for us. (Eph.2:8-10)

Acts 15:11 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

C. Grace enables us to do good works.

Acts 20:32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

D. Grace enables us to break sin's power
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

4. Grace is Totally Free!

Think about it:

A. Grace is a gift that is given by God.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Romans 5:15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

B. Grace is a gift received by man through Christ.

John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Romans 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

C. Grace is greater than all our sin.

5. Grace is God's Power Given to live Christ's Life.

Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

There is only one fruit of the Spirit and that is love. Everything else is a product of love.

(Ga 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

(1Co 13:4-7) Love has patience, is kind; love is not envious, is not vain, is not puffed up; does not behave indecently, does not seek her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, quietly covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Joy is love rejoicing

Peace is love resting

Longsuffering is love in patience

Goodness is love with integrity

Gentleness is love being kind

Faith is love believing and hoping in all things

Meekness is love with no pride, vanity or being puffed up

Temperance/self control is love enduring

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

What would be said of a person who:

1. Has love instead of hatred

2. Was of full of joy instead of downcast.

3. Was at peace instead of at war with self or others.

4. Has longsuffering( patience, steadfastness) instead of intolerance.

5. Was gentle instead of callous.

6. Has goodness instead of no integrity.

7. Is meek instead of prideful.

8. Has temperance instead of loss of self control.