Kairos Oct-Dec 2010 by Eagles' Wings

A W A K E N I N G A R E V O LU T I O N

A NEW PARADIGM FOR REACHING OUR CITIES BY BISHOP JOSEPH MATTERA

C H E S H VA N / K I S L E V / T E V E T 5 7 7 1

WHERE TIME AND DESTINY MEET

O C T - D E C . 2010

OPENING THE DOORS OF HISTORY Rediscovering the Power of One BY ROBERT STEARNS

LOVESICK FOR JESUS Our Primary Reward BY MIKE BICKLE

HEALING OUR WORLD Opening A Door of Hope BY BISHOP JIM BOLIN

CONTENTS OCT-DEC 2010 vol.13/no.2 8 LOVESICK FOR JESUS Our Primary Reward Are you feeling empty? Exhausted? More and more depleted the more you pour out? Perhaps it’s time to reconnect with your Source of life and primary reward. Be filled to overflowing with the love of God, and become a well that never runs dry! By Mike Bickle

14 OPENING THE DOORS OF HISTORY

6 DO YOU HAVE TO BE RIGHT?

Rediscovering the Power of One

In ministry, at times, relationships are more important than being right.

Of the six billion or so people on this planet, what business do any of us have thinking our individual lives matter? Robert Stearns looks at this question in the light of biblical and modern-day narratives that prove a powerful point in a day and age where the fate of humanity lies in a precarious balance.

Becoming the senior pastor of a 1200 member church at age 35 felt like I was doing everything right. Now, 25 years later Judi and I have realized that success doesn’t mean we doing things right or even have to be right to be successful! By Dr Larry Keefauver

By Robert Stearns

20 AWAKENING A REVOLUTION

13 P.U.S.H. THROUGH PART II

A New Paradigm for Reaching our Cities

Don’t become a statistic…make a plan today! By Mark T. Loeber

Have you ever thought of ‘taking’ your city for the glory of God? Discover a little-known paradigm for reaching your city, based on Jesus’ servant-leadership and other biblical and early-church models. Learn how to shine your light in the darkness.

30 BETHLEHEM THEN & NOW Robert Stearns takes a new look at an old, favorite Christmas carol. What does it mean for our lives today?

By Bishop Joseph Mattera

By Robert Stearns

26 HEALING OUR WORLD Opening a Door of Hope Bishop Jim Bolin has a message of hope in this hour of darkness and uncertainity in our world. In every circumstance, no matter how bleak, God always sets a door of hope. And once we walk through it, we have the privilege of leading others there as well. By Bishop Jim Bolin

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KAIROS. GIVE A TIMELY GIFT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON...

WHERE TIME AND DESTINY MEET

kairos – (kiros) n. A Greek word for time. Specifically, a period of time characterized by good fortune, urgency, and favorable opportunity; a kairos moment is typically one of short duration which must be seized or it will be lost.

Robert Stearns EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

PAUL S. CARROLL CREATIVE DIRECTOR

LARRY KEEFAUVER, D.MIN. EDITORIAL ADVISER

SARAH WOLF ASSISTANT EDITOR

ANDREA GAGLIANO ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

JOEL JAMES MANAGING CONSULTANT

Kairos is published quarterly by Kairos Publishing, a division of Eagles’ Wings. ADDRESS:Eagles’ Wings,P.O.Box 450, C larence,NY 14031; Phone:716.759.1058;email:office@ eagleswings.to;Website: www.eagleswings.to ADVERTISING SALES: Please direct all enquiries about advertising rates to Andrea B. Gagliano at Abel Communications, P.O. Box 146 Winter Park, FL 32790; PH(407)539.3994; FAX(407)539.2180; EMAIL : abelcomm @ aol.com MISSION STATEMENT: KAIROS is the official magazine of Eagles’ Wings and the KAIROS Ministry Partnership. KAIROS exists for the purpose of proclaiming prophetic themes and words that are timely and relevant for the Church today. KAIROS serves to cross communicate these essential themes through the various key ministries present in the KAIROS Ministry Partnership thereby ensuring that each issue's message reaches many of the different streams of influence present in the Body of Christ. REPRINT POLICY: You are welcome to copy originals from KAIROS without permission to do so. Please be sure to include the volume number, issue number, and the year of the journal. Copies are not permitted to be published or used for resale. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Individual subscriptions cost $10.00 (4 is-

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Wings.” Call for bulk order rates. ADVISORY BOARD: Steve Fry, Larry Kreider, and Jim Bolin. Advertising in KAIROS does not necessarily imply edito-

(OPENING THOUGHTS)

DO YOU HAVE TO BE RIGHT? IN MINISTRY, AT TIMES, RELATIONSHIPS are more important than being right. “I know I’m right and I don’t care what anybody else says,” the indignant preacher stormed as sheep continued to come in the front door and leave quickly through the back door of the church. Always having to be right can be an exit door for many relationships in ministry. People who have to be right often become self-righteous, judgmental and condemning. Jesus was always right but rarely condemning. In fact, He became most angry with the religious self-righteous.

“I MUST TAKE A STAND ON BIBLICAL VALUES, BUT I CAN DO SO WITHOUT CONDEMNING OR REJECTING OTHERS.” In fact, I can be right without severing relationship. I can accept others even when I disagree with their opinions and beliefs. Paul writes, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Rom. 15:17 NIV). I value my relationship with you over being right and winning the argument. There certainly are times when a friend in error continues in sinful behavior or beliefs that finally separate them from us. Even going to them with other believers and confronting them with the truth doesn’t bring repentance. Such relationships are severed not because we do not love them but because continual association will cause us to sin. We love the disobedient but not at the expense of becoming disobedient ourselves. So, I must take a stand on biblical values, but I can do so without condemning or rejecting others. The challenge God faced with us was loving us without tolerating our sin. We have that same challenge today in family, business and church. Being right and being righteous may be at odds. Being right can be rooted in me and not Him. In such an instance, I must die to myself so that Christ can live through me. When disagreement arises, I must first consider: what price am I willing to pay in order to maintain the truth? Sacrificing truth is too high a price to pay; sacrificing myself is never too great a price. Paul writes, For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more. (1 Cor. 9:19) At times, the relationship is more important that my personal “being right.” Whenever we think that's tough, we simply look at the cross of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Larry & Judi Keefauver, Editorial Advisers, KAIROS

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WRITE IT NOW! Write Your Book, Print, Publish, Market It, Sell It to a Publisher… For 20 years, Dr. Larry Keefauver has been editing, ghostwriting, developing proposals for manuscript submission, empowering authors like you to:

Submit Your Book for Publication; Self-Publish; Partnership Publish What do these authors all have in common? Josh McDowell, Gary Smalley, Bishop David Evans, Patrick Morley, Bishop Joseph Mattera,Chrystal Hansen, Robert Stearns, Ron Burgio, Rod Parsley, Dr. Reginald Cherry, Dr. Don Colbert, Bob Yandian, Winston Nunes, Benny Hinn, Benny Elon, Carman, Don Collins, Bill Wilson, Jim Hockaday, Neil Anderson, Dr. C. Peter Wagner Robert A. Schuller, Dr. Linda Mintle, Dr. Ron Cottle, Dr. Buddy Crum, John Bevere, John Maxwell, and dozens others…

Dr. Larry Keefauver

Dr. Larry Keefauver edited or ghostwrote their book, curriculum & study guides while also publishing his own 60 bestselling books and curriculum pieces.

CONTACT DR. LARRY Mail to: larry@ymcs.org Tel: 845-707-1906 www.doctorlarry.org OR www.ymcs.org

Are you feeling empty? Exhausted? More and more depleted the more you pour out? Perhaps itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to reconnect with your

LOVESICK FOR JESUS Our Primary Reward BY MIKE BICKLE Source of life and primary reward. Be filled to overflowing with the love of God, and become a well that never runs dry!

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As I look back over 35 years of ministry, one of the most important truths that I can pass on to others is the absolute necessity of taking the time and effort to cultivate a vibrant relationship with Jesus. Many leaders today confess to living spiritually dry, disillusioned, and burned out. This is the inevitable result of pursuing ministry without a vibrant relationship with Jesus. Abraham’s greatest reward was God Himself (Gen. 15:1). His primary reward was to minister to God and to encounter Him. God promised Abraham wealth, honor, and impact on the nations (Gen. 12:1-3; 17:2). However, Abraham viewed these divine blessings as his secondary rewards. When secondary blessings become our primary reward, then our spiritual life is weakened. Jesus corrected the church in Ephesus for working hard in ministry without maintaining a fresh love and devotion for Him. He exhorted them, “ You have labored for My name’s sake. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev. 2:3-4). They increased their ministry outreaches and networking while they decreased in their love for Jesus. Growth in ministry is good, but it can never replace our relationship with Jesus. The first commandment is to love God with all our heart (Mt. 22:37-38). It is the first command, not the “first option.” It is God’s first priority and He wants it to be ours. The Spirit is restoring the first commandment to first place in the Church worldwide. This will empower us to love people more deeply and with more consistency. Ministry service without the foundation of intimacy with Jesus inevitably leads to burn out and, thus, to far less ministry in the long haul. Lovers always outwork workers. Satan’s strategy is to distract from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Jesus

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(2 Cor. 11:3). He knows that if we lose this, we will be much more vulnerable to other things. We minister to God as the foundation of ministering on His behalf to others. We must intentionally cultivate a responsive heart of love to Jesus. It does not happen automatically. It is something that we must set our heart to do all the days of our life.

tion with beauty. The secular entertainment industry has exploited the longing of the human spirit for fascination. Consider the most lovesick man in the Old Testament, King David. He was struck with the beauty of God. He said in Psalm 27: “One thing I have desired of the Lord…to behold the beauty of the Lord.” Often, today, the primary spiritual reward we seek for is more anointing for ministry, increased favor with people, or economic prosperity. Yes, these are the blessing of God, but they are intended to be secondary. As the Holy Spirit reveals the bridal paradigm to us, the primary reward of the kingdom comes to the forefront. The anointing to experience and receive God’s love and then to love Him in return is the primary anointing to glorify God. Imagine how glorious life in the Church will be when the Holy Spirit restores the first commandment to first place. As this transformation occurs, our efforts to serve the Great Commission will be less bruising. Working hard for God without the tenderizing work of being a lover often bruises us, breaks us, and causes us to burn out. We were never meant to function best as workers for God; rather, God designed us in His image as lovers of God. A believer fascinated with God soon becomes a lovesick worshiper, one who is able to maintain an overflowing heart in God no matter how difficult their circumstances. When we are living with a fascinated, lovesick heart, our natural circumstances no longer dominate our thinking, even when people treat us wrongly. We find that the sacrifices we make to obey God have a new sweetness in them instead of being burdensome. It takes God to love God. This issue of holy affection brings us to the highest heights known in the created order,

THE CRY FOR JESUS

John reveals the Holy Spirit’s final emphasis in God’s kingdom: And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” (Rev. 22:17) The final paradigm of the kingdom of God as a wedding feast releases divine romance. This is the most dynamic paradigm for stirring the human heart to the strong desire of extravagant Love. At the very end of natural history, the Holy Spirit will emphasize a revelation of our Messiah as a Bridegroom God and transform our spiritual identity into one of a cherished, lovesick Bride. The emotional implications are vast. The Holy Spirit will use this revelation of Jesus to restore the first commandment to first place in the Church. Seeing Jesus as our heavenly Bridegroom changes the way we operate within our own hearts. A dynamic of the Spirit is released in our inner man. We carry God’s primary reward within our hearts—a lovesick heart fascinated with the beauty of Christ Jesus. Our primary reward in this life is the ability to understand and experience God’s love and to see God’s beauty; to be tenderized by His love for us and then to be exhilarated with love for Him in return. Alongside love, the beauty of God is a dynamic preparation and reward of the Bride. In Isaiah 4:2 we read: “The Branch of the Lord will be revealed in His beauty.” This speaks of the Holy Spirit emphasizing Jesus’ beauty at the end of the age. The human race has a fascinaKAIROS

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“LOVERS ALWAYS OUTWORK WORKERS.” where we’re exhilarated and lovesick for God. Oh, the glory of possessing holy affections! The capacity to feel deeply and love passionately is one of the great expressions of being created in God’s image. LOVERS OUTWORK WORKERS

God’s people will emerge as voluntary lovers of Jesus. This is the crowning glory of humanity as the Bride of Christ: a bride far below the transcendent God in glory, yet exalted beyond the angelic host in intimacy with Jesus. God’s people will not merely be His messengers, nor simply His servants who fulfill important tasks. When we see Jesus as a Bridegroom God, it causes us to redefine our own spiritual identity. We see ourselves as lovers of God, not just task-doers who sacrifice to obey a distant God. Lovers are far more effective than workers. Workers have limits that lovers don’t have. My brother broke his neck many years ago. I stayed with him for months at a time in various hospitals and rehabilitation centers over the years. One marvelous thing I have seen every now and then is when a nurse falls in love with her patient; she becomes a lover and not just a worker. When a worker becomes a lover, then they throw away the obligatory checklist. Why? They no longer need it. The rule of their lovesick heart is a higher and more trustworthy rule to live by. A holy lovesick heart that empowers us to do the work of the kingdom is the secret of the martyrs. They are lovesick, lost in love. They don’t care what they

do; they just want to do it with Him. They want to love and obey Him, whether it’s on the earth or as a martyr ushered into heaven. Their hearts are connected to a primary reward, which is to live overflowing in the experience of the love of God—experiencing love from Him, loving Him in return, and then overflowing with love for people. This is the secret power of unity in the Church and it will be the key to the Great Harvest. The Great Commission will be fulfilled by people whose compassion for others flows from a heart that is full of love for God. K Mike Bickle is Director of the International House of Prayer of Kansas City, a 24hr-a-day ministry of “Worship with Intercession” in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David. They have continued non-stop in intercession and worship since September 19, 1999. Mike has authored several books including Passion for Jesus and The Pleasures of Loving God .

KAIROS MOMENT #1

Sharing Jesus…at Gunpoint The Miami Herald reports an unusual and happy ending to an attempted robbery in Pompano Beach, FL. A young woman who was working alone at a cell phone store was held at gunpoint when a man entered the store demanding cash. Nayara Goncalves, age 20, calmly responded, "You can do whatever you want, but I'm just going to talk to you about Jesus, my God, before you leave." As she spoke to the man, he confessed that he believed in God, apologized, and left the store without stealing anything.

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(KINGDOM LEGACY)

P.U.S.H. THROUGH! TO FIND YOUR LEGACY (PART II) BY MARK T. LOEBER IN THE JULY ISSUE OF Kairos, I discussed the acronym for push that I had heard during a church service. The pastor broke the word down to mean plan until something happens. Planning is a process that requires an action. Nothing can be accomplished unless we take the next step. Often that next step presents itself as being both mentally and emotionally challenging. The Bible reveals numerous parables of those who had to make a plan, chart a course, and continue on until something happened. One of my favorite parables is that of Abraham and Isaac. God gave Abraham a mission that caused him incredible anguish, but his obedience to God was carried out and something happened; his son was spared and the ram was sacrificed. I believe individuals deal with stewardship planning in a similar way to how God spoke to Abraham about sacrificing Isaac. We know God commands us to be good stewards of our finances, but the struggle to create your plan seems daunting. I recognize that very few people wake up in the morning thinking about how to go about creating their plan. In fact, only 6% of all Americans even have a will or trust in place, so you are definitely not alone! I promise if you take the time and push through to create your plan, something will happen. You will have a sense of accomplishment, peace of mind, and comfort that comes with completing the

sider Pleasencgonthe cause furtherei Gospel by of th ering Eagles' rememibngs with a W cy Gift Lega our in y ning. n estate pla

process. By providing guidance, we can create a plan that deals with your family and financial concerns, as well as the Kingdom initiatives that God has placed on your heart. A good plan can maximize the amount of funds to your family and minimize the costs associated with estate settlement. So when you decide that you are ready to p.u.s.h. through to find your legacy, make the Eagles’ Wings Stewardship Department part of the educational process. We can provide you with a planning kit to help gather your thoughts on the subject, and provide you consultation over the phone, web, or in person. For more information contact Eagles’ Wings at 1-800-51-WINGS. Making a bequest through your will or trust is a way to support the work of Eagles' Wings. Please see below for the language to provide to your advisor to modify your will or trust. Please consult with your advisor for legal and tax advice. I give and bequeath ___________ (dollar amount or percentage of my residuary estate, etc.) to Eagles' Wings (federal Tax I.D. 16-1462696), located in Clarence, NY. K Mark T. Loeber is President of The Advancement Group, Inc., an outsource planned giving company specializing in the areas of Estate, Financial and Charitable Gift Planning. He authors articles in national publications as well as serving as a faculty speaker. Mark and his wife Michelle live with their two children, Brittany and Luke in Tulsa, Oklahoma.To schedule a free, no-obligation, confidential consultation with Mark, simply contact Joel James at 1-800-51-WINGS.

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M Men and women

throughout history and today have chosen to make a difference in their world - both for good and for evil. Have you ever thought about how the monumental events of history are inextricably linked with the names, faces, and life stories of commonplace, flesh-and-blood people? No one can tell their children the story of the American Revolution without mentioning the name of Paul Revere. It's impossible to remember the events of 9/11 without envisioning the passport photos of the 19 hijackers who flew the planes into the Twin Towers that Tuesday morning in New York City.

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One individual life matters. One individual's choice makes a difference. My life, your life, our lives, and the choices we make every day about how we use the gift of the life we have been given make so much more of an impact than we realize. For better or worse, history really does change because regular, everyday people- mothers, fathers, workers, teachers, grandparents- make decisions to use the resources they have been given to effect change in the world around them. The doors of history hinge on the extraordinary decisions of ordinary people. TINY SPARK, GREAT FIRE

We all think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the towering prophetic leader of the civil rights movement. A powerful, well-educated orator, he had the charisma to lead perhaps the most massive social justice movement in our nation's history. But don't forget that it is Rosa Parks who is nationally recognized as the mother of the modern-day civil rights movement in the U.S. Born the daughter of a carpenter and a teacher, Rosa grew up to also become a teacher and married Raymond Parks, a barber. Together, they worked behind the scenes through organizations to improve the conditions of their people. Rosa Parks' refusal to surrender her seat to a white male passenger on a Montgomery bus in 1955 triggered a wave of protests that reverberated throughout the country. The simple, courageous act of a commonplace schoolteacher changed America, its view of African Americans, and redirected the course of world events. When she made that decision, did she know the implications of her action?

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“The doors of history hinge on the extraordinary decisions

of ordinary people.” Obviously not. Could she even have imagined the events that were to follow? Probably not. She probably expected some sort of legal action -or worse- to be perpetrated against her. Yet something within this humble little "nobody" concluded that this was something she couldn't not do. The rest is history. ONE LIFE

We tend to think of the lives of those we read about in Scripture as being static; forgetting that they were as real and troubled and complex and flawed as you and I are today. The biblical Esther is one such character whose life has captured my attention in recent years. We're apt to focus on the fairy-tale aspects of Esther's story, neglecting to notice the glaring pain and turmoil that marked this young girl's life. Esther had three 'strikes' against her, which had the potential to make her life difficult, at best, and quite painful, at worst. Firstly, Esther was an orphan. Secondly, she was a woman in a man's world, and last but certainly not least, she was a Jew - three strikes against her in the Persian world of 500 B.C. Yet somehow, in a twist of fate that could only be attributed to God, this disadvantaged youth rose to the highest eschelons of world power, poised to save her people from complete annhiliation at the hands of their enemies. Esther, like us, was on a journey.

When she first learned of what was facing her people, she responded in a selfish and cowardly way. It was her Uncle Mordecai who laid the situation out plainly before her. He lets her know, in no uncertain terms, that while God can- somehow even in the midst of this impending disaster - save a remnant of Jews through whom He can continue His coventantal purposes; unless she acts immediately, entirely, and courageously, all hope for her, for him, for their people wil be lost. He tells Esther that this time, there is no angel coming to save them. There is no plague that is going to ambush their opponents. There is no fire that is going to fall from Heaven and smite their enemies. These things had happened in the past and they may happen in the future, but Mordecai's unequivocal message to his niece is: This time, Esther, it come down to you… - Lonely, insecure, apprehensive, justwanting-to-be-loved-and-at-peace you. - You with all your shortcomings and weaknesses and excuses as to why you can't be involved. - You with all your dreams for a calm, easy, comfortable, life. - You with the divine favor and blessing that has gotten you this far. You, Esther, must act; and you must act now. You have been loved, cared for, and blessed for a reason. None of this was about you; it was about what God OCT-DEC ’10

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“This time, there is no angel

coming to save them.” wanted to do through you. And the time for action is not some far-off day in the future. The time is now. Right now. In fact it's now, or never. Something clicked into gear for Esther, and she recognized that she was part of a much greater plan, a much greater story. Suddenly her personal comfort and security were no longer the determinants in how she would live her life. It was what she could give to this world, not take from it, that would from this point forward, establish her as the heroine of faith she came to be. This time she would be the angel. She would be the miracle. She would be the voice that changed darkness into light. She gave up her excuses and determined that, even though she was a nobody, she was a nobody who was going to do something.

God, today, is looking for one life to make a difference in a world ever deteriorating into a state of havoc and despair. He is looking for one life that He can work through to chart the course for His eternal plan, and through which He can show that He is still on the throne. Esther's (the orphan queen) was one such life. Why not yours? K Robert Stearns’ ministry flows out of a deep passion for Jesus that is characterized by a distinct prophetic edge. As founder of Eagles’ Wings, he, along with the Eagles’ Wings team, is dedicated to bringing unity and awakening to the Body of Christ. They have ministered in 25 nations around the world and maintain a significant burden for the Eastern United States and for Israel.

KAIROS MOMENT #2

Islam encounters the Light More than 3,000 Saudi Arabians travelled to the University cities of Oxford and Cambridge this summer to develop English language skills, opening an enormous opportunity for Believers to impart the light of Christ. Dozens of Christians intentionally interacted every day with these students, sharing the good news of a God of love. One Muslim woman, who entered a church for the first time in her life, in Cambridge, England, broke down in tears when the image of a glorified Christ from a stained glass window was explained to her. Deeply moved, she shared, “I never knew who Jesus [really] was…”

YOUR LIFE

So, what are your excuses? Are you too old? Too young? Too poor? Too rich? Or, perhaps you feel your disqualification lies in the fact that you are altogether too ordinary - too average to do anything that could make a difference in this world. Whether or not we are making what we feel is a huge difference in the world around us, we are contributing to the state of the whole either by what we choose to do or choose not to do. We are either part of the audience or part of the cast; part of the crowd or part of the force. We are either awake or asleep.

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AWAKENING A REVOLUTION A New Paradigm for Reaching our Cities

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Prior to the 1776 American Revolution, the thirteen original colonies experienced the “First Great Awakening” led by the preaching of George Whitfield, John Wesley, Jonathan Edwards and other Evangelical preachers.[1] . Whitfield’s extensive traveling throughout this burgeoning new nation was especially effective in uniting the colonies under God, which paved the way for their stand against the tyranny of King George of England. Consequently, this Christcentered awakening led to the

Not Taking Cities—Reaching Them!

t concerns me when I hear Christians talk about “taking their cities.” We are not called to “take” or “buy” our cities but to “reach” our cities by serving in every realm of society with a spirit of excellence. In a post–Christian, postmodern, humanistic society our model for cultural transformation must be the prophet Daniel who gained prominence and became the second in command under the King of Babylon by serving his city with excellence and wisdom. Even though he was trained in all the wisdom, literature and magic arts of Babylon, we have no record of him denouncing the King or

“AWAKENING PRECEDES REVOLUTION.” colonies approving the Declaration of Independence in which they officially cut their ties to the King so they could have religious, economic and political freedom. The influence of these Evangelical preachers and numerous other colonial pastors led many to call George Whitfield the father of the American revolution and the British to call this uprising “The Parson’s Rebellion.” Thus, even in American history, we see that awakening precedes revolution.

the pagan culture he lived in – he simply immersed himself in his city and waited on God to give him a divine opportunity to minister. His platform to minister was not his gift of interpreting dreams or prophesy, but his internal integrity, fidelity to God and love for fellow humans. He remained faithful to God by doing his job better than anybody else until God set him up with a divine opportunity to minister to the king during his personal crisis.[2] Unfortunately, many leaders use Elijah rebuking King Ahab as their model for cultural and political engagement.[3] But like other biblical Old Testament prophets serving before the Jewish exile to Babylon, Elijah was serving as God’s covenant prosecutor in calling Ahab back from his backslidden state. Elijah was called to minister in that manner because Israel was supposed to function under God’s Law as a theocracy. Attempting to employ that mode of ministry in a post modern, humanistic context (like most of the North America

In my new book, Kingdom Awakening, I deal with the kingdom awakening that precedes the revolution and comes when believers join hands birthing Spirit-inspired synergistic strategies sufficient to transform their communities. What we are speaking about is a revolution of love prompted by a Holy Spirit awakening to serve. Jesus demonstrated that the way to lead and have influence with people is to serve them. KAIROS

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and Europe), will only marginalize and relegate you to just preaching to the choir!

care of the poor and the widows. When they gained political influence after Emperor Constantine’s conversion in 313 A.D., they used it to disciple whole people groups.[4] When the Kingdom Awakening begins to permeate an area, it will lead believers to go from individual gospel centric to Kingdom centric; from merely preaching individual salvation to working to redeem whole communities and cities in accordance with Isaiah 61:1-4. Awakening the Church in a city like New York through infiltration and influence is not something a pastor or spiritual leader can attempt to do in their own strength. “Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”[5]

Embracing the Culture with Love

he present evangelical (Roman) method makes an initial contact with the surrounding community by presenting the gospel and attempting to get folks to make a decision for Christ before they welcome them into their community. Instead, we need to mimic the Celtic saints of old who evangelized people groups by first having their community of faith embrace the pagan community around them. This effectively led to opportunities to present the gospel and lead folks to make decisions for Christ. In other words, we need to send believers into the community before the community will want to come into our churches! We have to move from church-centric to community-centric. We have to train people for life in the marketplace –not just church life! Pastors should be the chaplains of their community –not just the spiritual leader of those who attend their church on Sundays! We need to have favor with men before we can point them to God. Even Jesus healed the sick and fed the multitudes as part of His ministry. He served the people by meeting their physical needs before He attempted to connect them to the Father spiritually. We have to use the same strategy as the early church. They influenced the whole Roman Empire by loving and serving one another and the heathen people around them. The church gained the ascendancy in the Roman Empire by giving human corpses left in garbage dumps a proper burial, utilizing bands of Christian mothers to nurse infants left to die in the streets, and by taking

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The Power of Intense Prayer

rom January 2, 1998 to the end of 2000, I resolved to pray and intercede daily for my city and its inhabitants. I began to experience such times of intense burden that I would need to alter my schedule and get alone with God until I had prayed the burden through. If I tried to speak with anyone other than God during these times, I found I was distracted and unable to focus because of the intense yearning on my heart to intercede and travail for my city. In the same way Nehemiah and Jesus wept over Jerusalem, we are called to pour our souls out unto God for our specific region. It is only after we do this that God will grant us authority over that region and equip us to effectively advance His Kingdom in our sphere of influence. One of the direct results of this intense travail was the birth of the City Covenant Coalition, a large network of inter-denominational ministers in the New York City region who began to work together for the common good of

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WE HAVE TO MOVE FROM CHURCH-CENTRIC

TO COMMUNITY-CENTRIC. the city. The City Action Coalition was birthed from there which is a multi-cultural clergy-led organization that is standing against unbiblical principles trying to permeate our society like same-sex marriage. We experienced great victories in defeating same–sex marriage in New York State and New Jersey in December 2009. God has given us a common goal to educate the Body of Christ so that together we can apply biblical principles to public policy and infiltrate all areas of society for God’s Kingdom. My prayer is that you will gain insights as to what God would have you do to bring His kingdom influence to your city. I Corinthians 12 explains how God intends for the Body of Christ to function. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts,”[6] and all parts are of equal importance so there is to be no division or jealousy among us. We must learn to partner together for the good of the whole, “preparing God’s people for works of service so that the Body of Christ may be built up until we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and becoming mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”[7] K FOOTNOTES:

, The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George Hunter III, “The Urban Christian” by Ray Baake [5] Zechariah 4:6 NIV [6] 1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV [7] Ephesians 4:13 NIV Bishop Joseph Mattera pastors Resurrection Fellowship in New York City and provides apostolic leadership for the Christ Covenant Coalition. This is excerpted from his upcoming book to be released by Destiny Image in 2012, Kingdom Awakening. For information on this and his current title, Kingdom Revolution, visit www.josephmattera.org.

KAIROS MOMENT #3

Yeshua Superstar!!! Secular Israeli News Source proclaims “Yeshua Superstar!” For many years, the Messianic community in Israel has been marginalized and persecuted because they hold to belief both in Jesus as Messiah and their own identity as Jews. A major stride in their battle for acceptance was made recently when a major Israeli news source did a fair and astonishingly positive article highlighting the misunderstood but growing Israeli Messianic community. (Read article on ynetnews.com)

[1] from 1739-1744 [2] read Daniel chapters 2 and 4 [3] I Kings 17 [4] For more reference material on all this Read How the Irish Saved Civilization” by Cahill, , “Why You Think The Way You Do” by Glen S. Sunshine OCT-DEC ’10

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Healing our World Opening a Door of Hope By Jim Bolin Bishop Jim Bolin has a message of hope in this hour of darkness and uncertainity in our world. In every circumstance, no matter how bleak, God always sets a door of hope. And once we walk through it, we have the privilege of leading others there as well.

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In order for the Church to be God’s hope for the desperate people of America and the world, we must know who we are and have a vision of what our future holds. God spoke through the prophet Hosea in Hosea 2:1423, addressing the nation of Israel with His promise of hope for her future.

So many times we Christians have this same mindset. We try to spiritualize and rationalize it, but we are simply saying that we don’t trust God. We hold on to things because we don’t think God can really take care of us. So, without Joshua or the people of Israel knowing it, Achan took and hid some of the spoils from Jericho’s victory under his tent. The nation of Israel then went on to battle the next community, called Ai, were defeated, and lost 36 men in battle (Joshua 7:5). When word of the defeat and loss of life came to Joshua (Joshua 7:6-9), he tore his clothes and wept. There was one thing Joshua did not do between Jericho and Ai. That was to pray. Joshua would never forget to do that again because he learned a very important principle: one victory over here does not mean another victory over there, unless you talk to God in between. So, the city of Ai defeated Israel and Joshua sought God. It was then that God revealed to Joshua that there was sin in Israel’s camp. The sin of Achan and his entire family was exposed, and they were taken to the Valley of Achor and put to death. It was at this place that God encouraged the children of Israel in Hosea 2:15 when He said, “And the Valley of Achor, I will give as a door of hope” (emphasis added). He told them that at this place of their trouble, their greatest mistake, their worst catastrophe, sin, failure, defeat, despair, and hopelessness, He set a door. He put a door of hope right in the midst of trouble. If Israel had stayed where she was, without recognizing her need to hope in God’s promises, she would have never received her destiny. Likewise, if we Christians stay where we are, living without hope, we will never achieve our destiny, our promise, our purpose in God. That is why it is important that we understand where we are and recognize what is in front of us.

WHAT IS HOPE? What is hope? Hope is the confident expectation that what God says He will do, God will do. In Hosea 2:15, God said, “And the Valley of Achor, I will give as a door of hope.” What is the Valley of Achor? Back in the book of Joshua chapter seven, Israel had just defeated Jericho. God told all the people of Israel to take all of the spoils of Jericho and give them to Him. Jericho was the first city that would be given over into Israel’s hand, and it was there that God reestablished the principle of the first fruit. He commanded the people of Israel to give Him the spoils from the first city of conquest. Then, He would give them the spoils from the later conquests. So Jericho belonged to God, but there was a guy among the people of Israel named Achan, who just could not understand why God would want all that. God does not need all that! My gracious! God has everything anyway. So really, Achan’s attitude was one of greed and distrust of God. KAIROS

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“GOD IS BRINGING THEM A DOOR

BY SENDING US.” God has put a door right where we are. Will we stay on this side and die at the threshold of the fulfillment of all that God has promised? Or will we reach up and take hold of the handle and step through? That door we are about to walk through is going to lead us into a hopeful situation. HEIRS OF THE PROMISE Hebrews 6:17-18 says, Thus God determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise [we are the heirs of promise] the immutability of His counsel confirmed by an oath. That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of our soul. Both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil. Get ready! Get ready! Get ready! We, the heirs of promise, are going to walk into the hope which God has promised for us! Prophetically and spiritually speaking, we have come through the dark night, the wilderness. We have been out there with our back against the wall, everything falling apart, everyone walking out on us, death and destruction everywhere, but something is happening on the inside of us. We hear the voice of God beckoning us to come near to Him. He has a hope that is secure and steadfast. He has answers! We have every reason in the world to move forward. We have every reason in the world to get up and try again. I believe America and this world are so pressured right now, and just one

event could pierce the bubble that is ready to burst. Our nation, as well as the world, is in great need of hope. They may not know what they are looking for, but we Christians do, because we know who we are. We are the heirs of promise and we know what we are supposed to be giving, hope. I believe God is saying to us Christians that this is the time for us to become a door of hope for America and this world. It is time for us to walk into someone’s broken and devastated life and become the hope they need. God is bringing them a door by sending us, the believers with hope. Just like the nation of Israel in the book of Hosea, we Christians and the nation of America have encountered a valley of trouble. In the place of our sin, despair, isolation, catastrophe, and war we have the awesome opportunity to hear God’s Word, repent of our sins, receive His forgiveness, and experience His door of hope for our future. As the heirs of promise, we can stand together in humility and prayer, seeking the face of Almighty God. He has promised to hear us and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). America and the world have this door of hope. We, the heirs of promise, are their door of hope! K Bishop Jim Bolin is an internationally-respected leader, and has pastored Trinity Chapel in Powder Springs, GA for the past 25 years, touching over 10,000 lives each week. He writes out of a place of deep conviction born of the trials he and his family have experienced. Bishop Bolin's life is a testimony that “hope does not disappoint” (Ro 5:5).

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(THE PUBLISHER’S LETTER)

BETHLEHEM THEN AND NOW DEAR FRIENDS, It's the most wonderful time of the year. …Or so the song goes. Christmas songs and carols play such an important role in the celebration of the birth of our Lord. And I love the holiness and beauty that feel so much closer during this season. But there is one song that always seems to make an unintended impression on me. 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' does make me think of Bethlehem, but not of an idyllic pastoral scene from milennia past. I think of the war-torn city in which many of my friends now live, which is anything but peaceful this holiday season. I'm reminded of a question my Israeli friends have approached me with. “Robert,” they say, “Bethlehem, the birthplace of the one you call Savior, was for 2,000 years a Christian city. We had safety and peace and cooperation with the Christians living in Bethlehem. Now, in just ten years’ time, Bethlehem has shifted from being 90% Christian, to less than 10% Christian. The city you call the birthplace of your faith has been given to Muslim extremists who have driven out the Christians through horrific violence.” “How is it possible,” they ask, “that you Christians, after 2,000 years of celebrating Jesus' life in that city, care so little for His birthplace that you're willing to hand it over to jihadists without so much as a second thought?” And I don't have an answer for them. I don't know how it's possible. How is it that we have so completely divorced the spiritual from the natural? When will we realize that the "little town of Bethlehem" is not a Christmas carol, but a city besieged? Suffice it to say that those living in Israel do not have the luxury of divorcing spirituality from everyday life. They do not have the luxury of reducing their spirituality into a metaphor. Friends, if we are anesthetizing ourselves from the reality that is tied up with our faith - that is to say, the reality of Israel - what do we expect to gain from our Savior... metaphorical salvation? I wish you every joy as we share in this blessed holiday season. And I want to challenge you, as you're gathered with friends and family around the tree, around the fire, celebrating what God did in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, remember Bethlehem today, and pray for the peace of that city. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; that God's work of life and redemption would be birthed in Israel again. Shalom,

Robert Stearns, Executive Publisher, KAIROS

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DESTINATIONS: ON THE ROAD WITH EAGLES’ WINGS OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

4-6

BOSTON, MA

BUFFALO, NY

Boston Night of Worship Robert Stearns worshipping along with top Christian artists Agganis Arena Host: Zenzo Matoga www.bnow2010.com

The River Conference Robert Stearns ministering with other special guests Love Joy Gospel Church Hosts: Pastor Ron & Judy Burgio 1-800-51-WINGS www.lovejoy.org

ROBERT STEARNS

SAM HINN

RODERICK HENNINGS

LARRY KEEFAUVER

AL & DEB WARNER

TREYCI WATERS

SUZETTE HATTINGH

KEN HANSEN

NOVEMBER

11-13

BUFFALO, NY

BOLINGBROOK, IL

Night to Honor Israel Robert Stearns ministering with other Christian and Jewish Leaders The Full Gospel Tabernacle Hosts: Tommy and Wanda Reid 1-800-51-WINGS www.thetab.org

The River Conference Robert Stearns ministering along with many other special guests Living Water Community Church Hosts: Pastors Ken and Chrystal Hansen 1-800-51-WINGS www.eagleswings.to

ROBERT STEARNS

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

28-DEC 1

DALLAS, TX

FORT MYERS, FL

Unlimited Anointing Conference Robert Stearns ministering with Keith & Janet Miller, Chuck Pierce, Bill Johnson, and many others Hosts: Keith and Janet Miller 817-545-8777 www.sfwm.org

Word of Life Church Robert Stearns ministering Host: Pastor Gaspar Anastasi 239-274-8881 www.wolm.net

Night To Honor Israel Robert Stearns ministering along with other Christian and Jewish Leaders Word of Life Church Host: Pastor Gaspar Anastasi 239-274-8881 www.wolm.net

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

2-8

7-9

FAIRLESS HILL, PA

ORLANDO, FL

PENNSYLVANIA

New Year’s Eve Service Robert Stearns ministering Calvary Full Gospel Church Host: Pastor David Farina 215-736-2366 www.calvaryfullgospel.org

40th Annual Homecoming World Conference Robert Stearns ministering with Dr. Morris Cerullo and many others Hilton Orlando Host: Dr. Morris Cerullo 858-277-2200

Kairos Leadership Summit Robert Stearns ministering with special speaker Pastor Robert Morris from Gateway Church in San Antonio TX “By-Invitation Only” gathering for Senior Leaders 1-800-51WINGS

JULIE MEYER

TREYCI WATERS

GOT KAIROS? DON'T LET THIS YEAR END WITHOUT SECURING A SUBSCRIPTION FOR YOU AND THOSE YOU LOVE. CALL 1-800-519-4647 OCT-DEC ’10

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July 14 - August 8, 2011

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