Ascension Gifts

Written by Pastor John Garcia Thursday, 12 May 2011 15:07

Ascension Gifts

There are many gifts, which have been bestowed upon the Church. There are three-sets of New Testament gifts. We have the gifts in Romans 6 as those given by the Father, the Gifts of the Spirit as they are commonly known in Corinthians, and the Ascension Gifts as the ones Jesus gave his Church. The Ascension Gifts have been given by Christ to facilitate bringing the Church into maturity. In Ephesians it states these gifts were distributed as an inheritance at Christ’s ascension. This is probably one of the most elementary, yet paramount truths regarding these unique gifts. The truth I’m referring to is simply this, as promotion came to Christ, he in turn blessed the lesser, us. This should unveil a cornerstone for apostolic ministry.As promotion comes to us we must be releasing a wake of gifts that causes those in our sphere of influence to be empowered and released. In other words, bringing them into realms of dominion far outside their ability to produce.

These Ascension Gifts were not meant to be a pretext for ego-centered, narcissistic vessels; leaders who simply seek to obtain offerings and honor. Although honor and offerings may be well deserved, these gifts were given with intentionality; that they would serve the Body as “giver-functions”. Bringing the Body of Christ into maturity and oneness. Although we’ve seen many immature representations of this magnificent of 5-ascension gifts, Christ has the master blueprint and he is acutely aware of the resources needed to bring all of us into our full measure. Our early Church predecessors turned the world upside down without the use of mass transportation, worldwide web or smart phones. Indulge me for the next few minutes and dream with me for a bit as we get glimpses of what we are about to be entrusted with in the 21-Century.

Mad Crazy Sex

Written by Pastor John Garcia Wednesday, 16 February 2011 11:19

If we can tolerate all the risqué ads on TV & billboards etc, then we can deal with some healthy truth. Israel would send its 'Head' into the secret place. If a priest would go behind the veil of flesh unclean and in broken covenant with God, this priest would produce his personal death. The glory could not come into contact with defilement. A priest could not casually come on in. He had to be in relationship and in covenant. He even needed to be circumcised as a sign of covenant and cleanliness as well as a public declaration of the condition of his heart. This in no way means we need to be circumcised in order to have sex with our spouse.

When a man enters into a woman's secret place and he is unclean in heart, out of relationship and not living in covenant with that woman, they will only produce death. Casual sex is a terrible injustice to the parties involved. Sex outside of covenant is wrong because intimacy without covenant is damaging to the spiritual cycle of life. We introduce into this natural realm the fruit of reckless abandonment, rather than mutual submission in covenant and in relationship.

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We are CO-Laborers, CO-Heirs and CO-mmisioned

Written by Pastor John Garcia Tuesday, 11 January 2011 19:26

We are CO-Laborers, CO-Heirs and CO-mmisioned
Matthew 28:18-20 (New International Version)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We have been called to Co-labor with the intention and agenda of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus’ model prayer invites us to invoke heaven’s assistance in bringing his bread and forgiveness to a broken world. Jesus said, “let your kingdom come, let your will be done.” The Kingdom always precedes his will. The three-letter word, “let” is not a suggestion or a plea. It is a command! Just like, “let there be light” or “let the high praises of God be on my lips.”

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Broken, No More

Written by Pastor John Garcia Wednesday, 08 December 2010 12:34

To be effective fathers, we must be touchable! Priests could not have boils; small, unhealed wounds that become infected and painful to the touch. Why? Simply because, true spiritual authority doesn't start with organization; it's with family. When a church ceases to be a family, she loses her authority. Fathers start families. Fathers are more than “donors”; they are instructors, providers, guardians and disciplinarians. They raise sons in the way they should go and not the way the Father determines to be fit. Fathers, honor the future God desires for the sons and sons honor their fathers. This is just as true in a home as it is in an ecclesiastical setting. In the absence of honor, victimization and entitlement give rise. Instead of honoring one another our relationships will continually corrode! This is why God chose fathers to establish Israel and fathers to birth the Church and these fathers are all honored in the New Jerusalem with thrones.

Every weekend, many gather for a great production, but often times there’s no productivity. Why, you may ask? Because we've surrendered our birthright for what some one else prepared; an old wineskin and model that has perpetuated pain, immaturity and deep disappointment. This has created a realm of spiritual poverty called, “an orphan spirit”. It's truly a pity to live so spiritually impoverished when in fact; we are a multi-mantled generation with vast potential. However, feeble-minded, pseudo-ecclesiastical, absentee spiritual fathers/mothers have kept us from walking as heirs of Jesus' finished work. In order to reveal the finished work, release the generational blessing and break the curse of generational infancy, Fathers must turn their hearts to this generation of bastard sons & daughters born in CEO-Modeled churches and celebrity evangelist crusades!

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