Family Business Series 1, Our DNA

Family Business Series 1, Our DNA
By: D. Karl Thomas

DNA … Where you came from, Who you are, Where you are going

DNA is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms. Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA. It is the blueprint of an organism.

Human DNA consists of about 3 billion bases, and more than 99 percent of those bases are the same in all people. The order of these bases determines the information available for building and maintaining an organism, similar to the way in which letters appear in a certain order … words … sentences.

Where did it all begin … Macro to Micro … Big picture to the finest details.

The corporate purpose of God and your specific role in its realization.

Proverbs 29:18
“Where there is no vision, the people perish:” (KJV)
“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;” (NKJV)
“When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.” (NLT)
Another translation There is “no harness!”

Twenty horses in a field … no way to harness the power you won’t get anything done.
You have all kinds of Horsepower but it is disconnected.

There is a heavenly vision. It is proclaimed around the throne of God constantly.

Isaiah 6:3“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

Sin is defined as falling short of His glory. Not realizing His eternal purpose in the earth is to fall short of His mandate for mankind.

Romans 3:23“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory”

The eternal purpose of God is to fill the earth with His glory.

Numbers 14:21 “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.”

Isaiah 40:5 “And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”

Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

John 14:1“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Acts 3:19-21
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”

RESTORATION:— (apokatastasis) the restoration not only of the true theocracy but also of that more perfect stateof (even physical) things which existed before the fall,

Jesus will not return until all these prophetic words are fulfilled. The King of glory will return when the earth has been fully exposed to a knowledgeable expression of His glory.

The vehicle that He has established from the foundation of the world to realize His eternal purpose is the CHURCH!

Matthew 16:18 “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus is engaged right now in establishing His government in the earth.

Ephesians 1:22“He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],”

Ephesians 4:15 “…we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”

Colossians 1:15-23
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Cosmological Eph 1:9-10 All under His Head
“He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view toan administration (oikonomia:– household management) suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him.”

Ecclesiological Eph 3:9-10 Administration Plan Fellowship
“…and to bring to light what is the administration of the mysterywhich for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 3:21“to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Colossians 1:27 “what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Greek “Humin” you:– plural of you, ye, yourselves

Psalm 110:1-3 “The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion(CHURCH). Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.

The church is the wineskin that god is using too manifest His purpose and power in the earth.

Matthew 9:17 “Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Hebrews 10:5 “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body(CHURCH)You have prepared for Me.” Too manifest on earth every spirit must have a body.

Acts 10:38“…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
A man was smeared with the power of God. A body was used

1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

What is Jesus doing right now?

Jesus is at work in His Church:
Romans 11:33 “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Reconciling– Acts 3:21“whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken (Promised) by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Aligning– Eph 3:10-11 “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Exalting– Eph 1:9-10“…having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one (SUM UP) all things in Christ, both] which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

Ephesians 3:21“…to Him be glory in the churchby Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

His Intercession Made Provision For The Church

John 17 Jesus Prays for the Church

2 Fold Purpose of His Prayer
1. I have finished My work 2. Now Finish My Mission Through The Church
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. —

7 Ways Jesus Has Provided For Our Success!!!
1. His Unity Of the Spirit
vs. 21 “…that they may be one as we are one…”
Ephesians 4:3“…make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…”
1 John 1:2-3“… that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

2. His Word Of Truth
vs. 14, 17 “I have given them your word … Sanctify them by the truth your word is truth.”
Jeremiah 1:12“ I watch over my word to perform it…”
John 15:7“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
The word was written that it might be spoken
Reinhardt Bonnke “God’s word on your mouth is the same as His word on His mouth”

3. His Revelation Of Love
vs. 26 “…that the Love you have for me may be in them…”
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
His love manifest in the Church is the greatest sign of His life and power!

4. His Mission To Fulfill
vs. 18 “As you have sent me into the world I have sent them into the world.”
Mark 8:27“And the men were stunned with bewildered wonder and marveled, saying, What kind of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
We should be like he is … what He did we are called to do … you are like Him

5. His Name To Use
vs. 11 “…Holy Father protect them by the Power of your name – the name you gave me…”
Early church was told stop using the name
Acts 4:18“So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

6. His Joy To Strengthen
vs. 13 “…that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
Nehemiah 8:10 “…for the joy of the the Lord is your strength.”
Church should be the happiest place in town

7. His Glory To Reveal
vs. 22 “I have given them the Glory that you gave me…”
Glory … One with one another and with Him
John 2:11 “Jesus first miraculous sign … thus he revealed His glory.”
Manifesting the Glory is manifesting His Kingdom … Miracles!!!!!

The earth with be filled with His glory!!!
We are called to be His people in the earth … the Church … Manifesting His Glory!!!
Bringing in His reign and rule … His Kingdom!!!
We must be a church that is operating out of a living powerful encounter with GOD!!!

Organism and Organization
“Every type of manifestation of life reveals its nature and characteristics by its organization or lack of it.” … “The Church of Jesus Christ is His body and therefore requires a Divine organization which is appropriate to its need,…”
“Organization is the instinctive or conscious action and intelligent systematic method by which an organism can apply its skill and energy in the most effectual way at the point and for the pupose required.” W. Rowe – (One Lord One Faith)

Isn’t life more important than structure?
What comes first, life or structure? STRUCTURE IS FIRST!

Genesis 2:7 “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 being.”

Acts 2:1-4“…they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, … And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit…”
A people were already prepared and leadership was already established.

Fire fell on the tabernacle.
Fire fell on the temple.
Fire fell on the church.
The fire prepares and identifies God’s dwelling place on earth.

John the Baptist summarized the whole purpose of Jesus ministry as.

Matthew 3:11“He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

“The government of the New Testament church was the most innovative and flexible system of authority ever devised. Those who have been able to resist adding or taking away from it have a perfect framework which the Spirit of God can use.” Rick Joyner

“The church is not the pattern for the church; Jesus is the pattern for the church.”
“Jesus must always be the focus of our ministry if we are ever to be truly apostolic.”
Rick Joyner – (The Apostolic Ministry)

Types Of Church Government:
Congregational –     The people
Presbytery –             The elders
Episcopacy –            The bishopric
Autocracy –               Self appointed
Theocracy –              Divine headship
“They have not rejected you, they have rejected me.” 1Sam. 8:6-7

Divine Headship — The Apostolic Church — Divine Government
Ephesians 4:11-16 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Ephesians 4 Dominion Blueprint:
1. God’s Part – Impartation — GRACE deposit in you.
2. 5-Fold Part – Releasing — Bringing out God’s shape. Person is anointed not position.
3. Our Part – Willing — Your are choosing your result.

The church quickly degenerated after the first century and fell into a hierarchal style of mans government. Professional Clergy over Lay People. Jesus is building His church and He will complete the work.

Tenet:– doctrine, or principle held as being true by a person or especially by an organization.
Christ’s leadership of the Church through Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers and Elders for the unity, maturity and growth of the Church.

Church began with just Apostles … the next office established was Deacons. Acts 6

Defined Government In The Local Church:
Set Person – Ascension Gift
“ I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the eldersand deacons.”Phil 1:1
Elders– (Episkopos) Overseers Deacons– (Diakonos) Attendant

“Should we not look to local Church government as being “invisible” government, where function is not a doorway to position or a licence to dominate, but an anointing to recognise others, to equip and release them into their call and giftings for the common good of the Church?” David Newby

The Message Of The Church
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14
Man is God’s legal agency and access to earth and the church is his corporate vehicle of GLORY.

“We should stop trying so hard to live like Christians and all the false assumptions associated with that term, and instead work harder at living like sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Christ, and citezens of the Kingdom of heaven.” “Too many people are simply religious people, but citizens of the Kingdom are legal people.” Myles Munroe Adam didn’t lose a religion or a denomination he lost his place as ruler.

Genesis 1:26 “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion…”

Psalm 115:16 “…the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.”

“Without God we cannot, without us God will not.” Augustine

Religion has kept people on the tread mill of performance. The letter kills but the Spirit gives life.

Mathew 23:13-15 “You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Luke 4:43 “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Luke 12:32“Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!” A gift of His rule, ability, glory, influence – SPIRIT!

Luke 22:29“And as My Father has appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you[the privilege and decree],…”
Confer :– to bestow upon as a gift, favor, honor, to depose by will or make a covenant.

Colossians 1:12-13 “…giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

1 Corinthians 4:20 “… kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”
A kingdom must have 3 things: Ruler – Realm – Rules
The Kingdom of God is expressd where people {realm} have yielded to His authority {ruler} and manifest His rule. {rules}

The Kingdom environment is Glory.
A believer out of the Glory is like a fish out of water … they will not function right.

John 20:21-22 “…as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

There is a place called in the Spirit. In HIM. You dwell, abide, and stay intoxicated in the HOLY GHOST!!!

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.” He is the King of kings.

Revelation 5:10 “ And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 1:6“ And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Seek The Kingdom                          Mt. 6:33 seek ye first … and all
Enter The Kingdom                         Mt. 11:12 Kingdom suffers violence … take it by force
Pray The Kingdom                           Mt. 6:10 Pray thy kingdom come …
Preach The Kingdom                      Mt 10:7 Go preach the kingdom
Manifest The Kingdom Mt. 10:8   heal the sick cast out devils

Open heavens is establishing around ourselves the dominion of the King.
When the heavens are open we have free access to everything in heavenly realms, a free flow of Gods abundant graces and ministry power.

The Birth Of The Church:

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 2:1-4“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Devil couldn’t handle that man Jesus of Nazareth. Now what is he going to do with 120 moving as one man. According to the Pew Research Center, Pentecostals and Charismatic Christians numbered over 584 million or a quarter of the world’s 2 billion Christians in 2011.

A Church Baptized In Fire:
1. Manifests Unity he Can’t Divide
1 John 1:3 “… and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 “ name of our Lord Jesus Christ, … be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, … no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, … be perfectly united …in your opinions and judgments.”

2. Manifest A Tongue he Can’t Understand
Jude 20“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”
A spirit filled church is a tongue talking church.
1 Corinthians 14:2 “For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God,”

3. Manifests A Power he Can’t Handle
Luke 24:49“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued withpower from on high.”
Acts 1:8 dunamis:– force; – specifically miraculous. Power; -ability, abundance, meaning, might strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

4. Manifests A Revival he Can’t Stop
Acts 2:41 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”
3000 added to the Kingdom. More added each day. Today it is well over 40,000

5. Manifests Evidence he Can’t Deny
Acts 5:12-15“And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people … And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,”

The Churches Devotion:

Acts 2:41-47 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
vs 43“A deep sense of awecame over them all,…” (NLT)

“continued steadfastly”(NKJV)“devoted”(NLT) GREEK “Proskartereo” :– to be devoted or constant to one, to give unremitting care to a thing, to persevere and not to faint, to show one’s self courageous for.

Manifesting the Glory!!! Manifesting the churches devotion.
7 Devotions Of The Church

I. Devoted to the Word
Doctrine (Didache):– teaching,
concerning something the act of teaching, instruction

II. Devoted to Fellowship
Koinonia :– community, communion, joint participation, intercourse, the share which one has in anything, participation, intimacy

III.Devoted to Communion
Not a call to commiserate his suffering or our sin, but a call to commemorate His announcement of triumph. “It is finished!”

IV. Devoted to Prayers
Luke 11:1“Lord, teach us to pray.”
Prayer is a learned behavior. You can be come more effective at it.

V. Devoted to Manifest
“…many signs and wonders…” “But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit”
1 Corinthians 12:7

VI. Devoted to Giving
“…shared the proceeds with those in need.”
Voluntary – freely sharing and willingly giving to benefit others.

VII. Devoted to Rejoicing
“Gladness” (Agalliasis) :– exultation, extreme joy, gladness
Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were continually filled [throughout their souls] with joy and the Holy Spirit.”

If these disciplines were fundamental to the success of the early church then they are certainly essential to our success today.

The Advancing Church:
The church began gloriously but only by persecution did it advance.
“Now those who were scattered after the persecution …spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus …a great number believed” Acts 11:19-21
The church was born in Jerusalem but it matured in Antioch.
Acts 13:1-14:28
The Anatomy Of An Invasion. Here we see the framework of an apostolic assignment.
Here is what happens when you are sent from an Antioch church with apostolic authority.

1. The Preparation In the Church
“NOW IN the church…” vs.1 Paul was 17 years before he was released into his vision.

2. The Commissioning By The Church
“…they put their hands on them and sent them away.” vs.3
There is an impartation.
“communicated to them that gospel which I preach …lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.” Galatians 2:2

3. The Leading Of The Holy Spirit
“…being sent out by the Holy Spirit…”vs.4 Always follow the Holy Spirit

4. The Word Is Proclaimed
“…they preached the Word of God…” vs.5
The Gospel is the power of God.
“… Gentiles heard … were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” vs. 48

5. They Minister As A Team
“And they had John [Mark] as an attendant to assist them.” vs.5
Timothy was a good son before he became an apostle.

6. They Confront Demonic Guards.
“…they came upon a certain Jewish wizard or sorcerer…”vs.6 Possess a bold warring spirit.
“Apostolic ministry is a ministry of warfare. The apostolic invades new territories and breaks through. It is the first to encounter the spiritual resistance of the powers of darkness and the first to penetrate the barriers they erect.” Hector Torres

7. They Operate In The Miraculous
“Instantly there fell upon him a mist and a darkness,…” vs.11
We must advertise!
“…the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word …granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” 14:3

8. They Take New Territory
“Then the proconsul believed.” vs.12 “almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.” vs. 44 The kingdom never fails to advance.

9. They Are Persecuted
“…they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.” Acts 14:19-20
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”2 Tim 3:12

10. They Return And Testify
“…they gathered the church together and declared all that God had accomplished with them.” Acts 14:27

Antioch Was A Sending Church.
Antioch was an apostolic governing church.
Specific assignments and equipping come in an Antioch church.
Apostolic anointing puts a demand on you!

OUR HERITAGE: … it is written in our DNA to be a people who cause societal and cultural transformation.

Welsh Revival:
WHITAKER in his book Great Revivals says, ‘The presence of God was felt everywhere. The atmosphere was divinely charged. People seemed to be convicted of sin and become aware of the need of salvation, even without the presence of a preacher or evangelist’.

No revival like the welsh revival … it dissipated because of introspection

THIS CHURCH: … Global Glory

YOU: God has seteach one