‘Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.’

1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

Of all the personal struggles I’ve had, they are all rooted in attacks and distortion of my true identity, my true soul, God’s original intent of who I am. This world, although originally and wonderfully made by God, has been under our dominion, of which we have let the enemy of our souls influence since the gates to the Garden of Eden were closed. My own battles struggle with a nature that has deteriorated, no longer perfect, no longer as it should be.
However, it is in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that I am restored to the fullness of His original creation. His life of love, his death of grace, and his resurrection of mercy over me, you, and every single soul is offered for free so we can be restored. Not just a fire insurance against separation from God, but a true restoration to a full life, one that starts here, and is complete when his Kingdom is fully restored here on earth.

I can now see the fullness that He has for me, and for all, I can hear the truth above the lies, for myself and every single person I encounter. I fight the battles every day, but I can see the truth at the same time, it’s a choice, and it’s a good one that I am never blocked from, even when I choose to ignore what is good for me.

Speak to the original creation in every person, all around us. Let go of your cultural Christianity. Be radical with your love, compassion, empathy, and the truth of Jesus’ life FOR humanity, that grace, that mercy, is what sets people to turn around and run after their father, they already know who they are without Him, let’s love them for who they truly are. This is how we fight our battles.

The post Week 10 & 11 – Original creation is greater than original sin. appeared first on REACH Polska.

Jesus himself had some words to say about the idea of workers for the field:

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Matthew 9:35-38 NLT

Providing opportunity for this to happen is essential in the idea of releasing. Creating the atmosphere where it is OK to fail, and where learning is encouraged is the key to creating a movement of “release-ship”. The core of this idea is inviting and expecting everyone to share their spiritual walk, the dry times, the exciting times, and the terrible times. Through sharing our spirits are built up, ministry is welcomed, and the restoration power of God is released. This is the DNA of “release-ship”, authentic discipleship making through sharing and exercising what God has given us. Practically this looks like bible studies, outreaches, and other leadership opportunities which rotate. A culture of inviting people into leadership, mentoring, and intentional times of gathering to celebrate, and to share our mistakes.

For your journey:

• If you were disciplining people how would you release them?
• What kind of opportunities to learn, grow, and lead would you provide disciples to prepare them to be sent?
• What kind of values and foundation are important to you, the community, and the Church, to build up a person ready to go work the field?

The post Week 9 – Releasing appeared first on REACH Polska.

Understanding our own tools helps us to equip people so they understand their calling as an apostle, pastor, teacher, evangelist or prophet, above all, it is about how to grow towards complete and full maturity in Christ. Equipping people to not just do ministry, but to affect their communities and be with God in all circumstances, to go through trouble, disagreements, and heartbreak with faith, love, and hope. Do you know your own tools, gifts, and skills? Don’t be afraid to ask for help and opportunities to grow and strengthen them!

We aim for this because Paul wrote to the Ephesians the following:

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, 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. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Ephesians 4:11-16 NLT

Equipping people for ministry takes time, experience, coaching, mentoring (intentional one on one discipleship), and most of all worshiping God. We can not just study God, we must worship God, be transformed from the inside out, and connect our hearts with our heads. We encourage sharing and learning in community with others, both young and old, from different backgrounds, with families, and in our day-to-day lives. Then we celebrate what God is doing in all of us with worship and thanksgiving.

How can I equip people?

• Have intentional conversations drawing out passions and gifts in people, dreaming and creating ways to practice those gifts and make them stronger.
• Do a project with others, include them in the design and planning, and encourage them in small and big things.
• Do some devotions together on a regular basis, read and share your thoughts on interesting Bible passages.
• Above all always put the relationship first, the goal is the journey, there is no “finish” line when equipping people. There is always more to explore and new things to try. Be accountable and be transparent, this endears people, where they are known and loved deeply.

The post Week 8 – Equipping appeared first on REACH Polska.

25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.
35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

As we see from this passage intentionally living in community, for community, and affecting it, is part of Jesus’ ways. We are sent to live, support, care, and intentionally develop relationships, within our neighborhoods. Intentionally focused on the spiritual and on the practical needs of our neighbors provides the opportunities to connect people to God in worship and service. Always measuring how we are affecting the people around us, listening, correcting, and revising along the way. Above all depending on the Spirit to guide us and confirmed by listening to those around us.

What does affecting our communities look like?

Creating places and spaces for community, such as:

• Community vegetable gardens
• Connecting with parents on the playground
• Hosting things like “friendsgiving” (thanksgiving with friends) and other dinner parties
• Providing a space for the community to use (for birthday parties, meetings, events, etc)
• Volunteering to help with people’s needs, projects like graffiti removal, and more (Serve the City).

For your journey…

• Pray for one way you can affect your community, something that already fits into your schedule, and capacity for this season. For example, go to the same place at the same time each week, try to connect with the same people.
• Is there already an existing activity you do that maybe the LORD could use to open a door for ministry to people, helping them, hearing their story, knowing them and loving them deeper?
• Maybe there is something you need help with, or something about your own story that if shared could connect someone deeper. Sometimes in our own need and our own experiences God moves throug us.

The post Week 7 – Affecting appeared first on REACH Polska.

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47 NLT

Because of the overflow of grace given to everyone (forever) at the cross, and the deep connection made through the shared experience of being filled with God’s Holy Spirit, a deep sense of community is formed between disciples. A community that serves each other and beyond, a community that connected people to God in worship and service as an outflow of thankfulness as we see in the passage above.

At the center of who we are is the fact that Jesus has always been the same, and always will be (Hebrews 13:8). His life is the cornerstone and fulfillment of all the scripture and Jesus is the head of the Church. Jesus showed us this by showing us servant-leadership by honoring God and all others. Above all else, we (as a community/movement) strive for people to know, understand, and live a life that is fully accepted not because of anything they did, do, or will do, but simply because of Jesus’ sacrifice which allows all people to be right with God. In this freedom, we express the ultimate connection made because of the obedience, and single act alone, done forever by Jesus on the cross.

How do we connect people to God & others?

• By being real, authentic, transparent, vulnerable servant-leaders.
• Living in grace, this is how we hope to guide and direct people into a relationship with God that is their own. We are not Jesus, we are not perfect, and we will fail, but God does not. 
• We have compassion for the faults of this world, the depravity of humanity, we ourselves struggle with all the same issues of the world. 
• Our stories alone are a testimony to God’s grace and how we became connected to the Kingdom. 
• Connecting together with times of spirit-lead worship through music, teachings, sharing our stories, and serving others.
• Ultimately we pray for what Paul asked of the Romans in Romans 1:12 “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”

For your journey…

• Reflecting on Acts 2:42-47, how do the believers connect?
• How can you implement last week’s idea of “honoring” as the foundation for “connecting”?
• Pray for the LORD to show you his grace to supernaturally connect with people, existing relationships, and new ones, to go deeper in His ways, and invite into community based on Jesus.
• What do red poppies represent, what does a stormtrooper represent? Is there another connection in the photo?

The post 2021 Week 6 – Connecting appeared first on REACH Polska.

19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. 22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.

24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

John 5:19-24 NLT

The emphasis here is that when we highly esteem and honor Jesus, there is no limit to what He can do in people’s lives. Our prayer is that we not be people who only honor God with our lips and words, nor we not be people who worship out of human-made rules (Isaiah 29:13). Above all may we always allow the space and time for people to encounter God freely, on their own free will. The inspiration for ingraining honor into our misisonal community movement in Poland comes from a teaching by John Bevere in 2013 – read and watch it here.

How do we honor the Father, the Holy Spirit, the Son, and all others look?

• By being servant-leaders, people who lead by serving, recognizing the upside down model that Jesus made with his disciples (washing the disciples feet, calling them friends) it is a “bottom up” model not a “top down”.
• By being quick to apologize, humble in our actions and words, and communicating to the best of our abilities that we are human and we will fail people, and also that Jesus will not fail, and that Jesus deserves all glory and praise.
• We ensure that what we say and do is honoring to God’s creation and work, and to all people’s stories and experiences while at the same time recognizing God’s ultimate plan to restore all things.
• We yield to the Holy Spirit and we honor relationship over status, do our best to have opportunity for one on one mentoring and discipleship, and know the right time to release and commission people into the next season of their life with God, with honor, equipped, and loved through the process.

The first layer of the foundation to a community centered on Jesus, is to center our HONOR on Jesus, give honor to Jesus in everything we do, and in our personal lives. Support one another, not demand of one another.

For your journey…

• How does honoring Jesus first create an environment in which miracles and life can be restored? – see Mark 6:1-6
• What are some stories in the Bible that you see how the act of honoring (God or people)?
• Think about a time when you’ve been honored by others, or perhaps a time that someone else was honored and it really touched you.
• How do we always honor, but not fall into the trap of “performing” to please others? What is genuine honor?

The post 2021 Week 5 – Honoring appeared first on REACH Polska.

But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

Philippians 2:17

Decades ago, a friend told me that he was able to open deep places in his heart and revisit painful memories from his past because another person (whose life he appreciated) had loved him unconditionally. Steady and relentless love from a man he respected convinced my friend he was ‘worth’ spending time on.

Instead of being rejected, my friend was welcomed over and over by someone who held steady in love, and refused to give up on another. Eventually, the value my friend put on that man, the esteem he felt for someone he admired, began to reflect back.

Love and acceptance motivated him to open his life for needed changes.

The world’s rank-has-privileges concept of authority suggests that higher-ups have license to tell lower-downs what to do; they can order underlings around in order to benefit themselves. Higher positions come with greater advantages, freedoms and benefits.

The Kingdom isn’t arranged that way; in fact, it’s flipped opposite.

Kingdom rank simply gives us greater and greater responsibilities to promote, profit, and advantage people who have less. As was the case with my friend’s friend, he used his respected role (as a more mature Jesus-follower) to lift a struggling soul out of the quicksand of his past.

Kingdom leaders are like the Jaws-of-Life that rescuers use in horrible traffic accidents. Truly spiritual leaders deflate themselves and insert their squeezed-small selves into the crushed or collapsed spaces in others’ lives. If they function properly, their presence decompresses damaged souls.

That’s what Paul did; he poured himself into others. That was proof of his apostleship; instead of claiming that he had already worked hard enough, Paul understood that everything stored up inside him, through the years, was a reservoir from which to continue pouring out.

It’s what my friend does years and years later.

For your journey…

I hope you found Daniel’s words and story inspiring and challenging. Here’s some questions to ask yourself about how to apply this idea.

• How can you pour into others, how can you lift up others?
• Are there specific people you can pour into, regardless of any condition?
• Are there people in your life to speak life to you, for you to just be “real” and talk about doubts, problems, and mistakes?

The post 2021 Week 4 – Poured In and Out appeared first on REACH Polska.

‘Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.’

Matthew 18:3-4 NLT

‘One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.’

Matthew 19:13-15 NLT

“I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Luke 18:17 NLT

For your journey…

• How does a child see life?
• What is faith like a child?
• What does it mean to be as humble as a child?

The post 2021 Week 3 – Be as a child. appeared first on REACH Polska.

1. He gives thanks and prays for the church (1:3-11). Specifically praying a blessing that their love will overflow MORE and MORE, to understand what REALLY matters, to live a pure and blameless life until Jesus returns, being filled with the fruit of salvation, righteous character produced by Jesus in them. – character matters.
2. Joy that Christ is preached (1:12-19). Regardless of how, the circumstances, or even the motivation! Out of jealousy and rivalry, Pau rejoices that the message about Christ is preached! WOW. – the message is all that matters, we can not take offense.
3. Paul’s boldness for Christ (1:20-26). He expects and hopes that he will always be bold for Christ, not ashamed. Trusting that his life brings honor to Christ. To live is to live for Christ, and dying brings him to Christ himself! Longing for the day to be with Christ in the physical and longing to continue to preach the news of Jesus. – Life is for Christ alone.
4. Live as Citizens of Heaven (1:27-30). Conducting ourselves in a way to live the Good News of Jesus. Stand together with on spirit and one purpose – fighting for the faith of all in the Good News of Jesus. Don’t be intimidated by our enemies (those that stand against and oppose the message of Jesus).
5. Have the Attitude of Christ (2:1-11). Is there encouragement, comfort from His Love, fellowship together in the Spirit? These things should be among us. Love one another, work together in one mind and purpose. Dont’ be selfish, don’t try to impress, be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others. You must have the same attitude that Jesus had. – be humble and work together.
6. Shine brightly for Christ (2:12-18). For God works in us, giving us the desire and power to do what pleases Him. Do everything without complaining and arguing! – Be bright in other’s lives and more importantly among each other.
7. Paul praises Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19-30). Points out that Timothy genuinely cares for them, not the others (it is good and OK to note this of leaders). He points out Epaphroditus’ heart and desire to be among them, and that he risked his life for the work of Christ.
8. The priceless value of knowing Christ (3:1-11). Everything else is worthless when compared to the value of knowing Christ. To know Him is to know your identity, and be free in who you are truly created to be.
9. Pressing toward the goal (3:12-4:1). Press on to achieve the things of Christ, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. Press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize. Hold onto the progress you’ve already made. Be aware there are many whose conduct shows they are actually enemies of the Cross of Christ, their God is their appetite, bragging about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. – We are citizens of heaven.
10. Words of encouragement (4:2-9). Asking believers to settle their disagreement, and asking everyone else to help them. Be full of joy, rejoice for his work in us! Do not worry about anything, thank Him for all He has done. – THEN we will experience God’s peace beyond anything we can understand (peace in spite of any circumstances, issues, fear).
11. Paul’s final thanks and greetings (4:10-23). Thanking them for their financial gifts, providing everything, sending more when they did not need to. Commending them for their character and heart. Giving God the glory for all of it, for the sake of the Good News.

For your journey…

‘And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.’

Philippians 4:8-9

• How do you fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable?
• What things can you think about that are excellent and worthy of praise?
• How do you put into practice all that we can learn from Philippians?
• What does God’s peace look like when it is “with you”?

The post 2021 Week 2 – Fix your thoughts appeared first on REACH Polska.

Cleaning our selves

The Mosaic law as we see given and lived under in the Old Testament is what we call the “old covenant” (A covenant is different from a contract. A contract is an agreement between parties while a covenant is a pledge. A covenant is an agreement you can break while a covenant is a perpetual promise. You seal a covenant while you sign a contract. A contract is a mutually beneficial relationship while a covenant is something you fulfill.) it was the way prior to Jesus for people to live in order to live lives that pleased God. The thing is, it was nearly impossible, and for some, such as those with diseases it was impossible (in people’s eyes) to be accepted by God. 

‘The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ‘

Hebrews 10:1-4 NLT

The stories, laws, and much of the Old Testament is a living record of God’s standards, his ultimate message that to be in communion with God, we must be holy (set apart), and to be set apart we must be clean of sin. This system eventually showed everyone, with its intricate sacrificial systems, different kinds of priests, and the laws to keep you from breaking the other laws, and layers of laws upon laws… it is not possible for us to clean ourselves of our sin.

Cleansed by Jesus

The Jewish people lived under the law of Moses anywhere from 16 to 13 centuries before Jesus came to completely fulfill it and offer the new covenant. Jesus not only satisfied the law, he also fulfilled all the prophecies for the messiah, the savior of Israel. Although many at the time could not see how this man would be their king, for they thought he was coming to establish a new Kingdom for Israel, instead, he came to establish God’s heavenly kingdom on earth! Thus he saved the world through Israel. His life was the final sacrifice. He, as God’s son, was truly set apart, clean of sin in all that he did.

‘That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.’

Hebrews 10:5-10 NLT

So now that we have all be cleansed, can we continue our lives as we want? That is only something you can answer, for the more God purifies your heart with the life and work of Jesus, the more you will understand his amazing grace, and the more you will be transformed and restored. God did not have to give us Jesus, we could still be working for our salvation, trying to cleanse ourselves. However, God’s love for us made a new way. While we can’t understand all of it, we can understand that what is true today (the new covenant created by Jesus’ death and resurrection), is for us today. When we surrender to Jesus and get to know the most holy place, that place where God dwells, all because Jesus makes you and I clean and set apart, holy in God’s eyes. Although in this age we are not able to become our full glory as originally created, Jesus makes us more and more into that new creation, the new humanity (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 and Ephesians 2:14-15). Even if you sin again, you can go back to Jesus and be cleansed, again and again, his grace is all we need, his power works in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

‘And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ‘

Hebrews 10:19-24

For your journey

• In light of what you just read, pray Psalm 51 for yourself and others, personalize it from a position of confession, repentance, and humility.
• Ask God to show you his heart for humanity, how can the Good News of Jesus’ new covenant help others?
• Pray over yourself, the people around you, leaders, and your community for ways to encounter the grace of Jesus’ cross.

Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit – we are humbled by the gracious gift of your son. As we seek you, you seek after us, and our hearts are full of your love. Your act on the cross, your sacrifice, is far more than we can imagine in this age. While we are all at different places, some of us struggling, some of us at peace, others of us working hard to understand, and others on the verge of giving up, our prayer is to see ourselves, your people, to live in your grace and mercy as much for ourselves as we do for everyone around us. Open our eyes, our hearts, and our ears to see, feel, and hear your transformational life-giving words. We contend for all of the known and unknown situations for those in our midsts and those reading this devotional.

In Jesus’ name – Amen.

The post 2021 Week 1 – The law fulfilled, and new life in Jesus. appeared first on REACH Polska.