BLOG - Ralph Howe Ministries

Laying Apostolic Foundations
in the 21st Century

Loving God, Equipping People, Mentoring Leaders, Reaching Nations

Resurrection Life

April 16, 2019/in Random Thoughts /by ralph

As we approach Easter Sunday we tend to think a little more about the resurrection of Jesus on that first Easter Sunday many years ago. This season is often one of the few times that we really seriously consider the fact that Jesus rose physically from the dead and is alive. That He was seen by many different people at a variety of times over a period of 40 days before ascending into Heaven and send the Holy Spirit as the other Comforter.

As I was reading through a new version of the New Testament called The Passion Translation (TPT) I ran across an exciting verse in 2 Timothy 1:9 which reads: “He gave us resurrection life and drew us to himself by his holy calling on our lives. And it wasn’t because of any good we have done, but by his divine pleasure and marvellous grace that confirmed our union with the anointed Jesus, even before time began!”

Literally it reads: “He is our life-giver”

And the “life” that He gives to us is His resurrection life!

Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit – raised to new life, resurrection life. He was different. So different that in one of His initial appearances to Mary in Garden she did not recognize Him. The same was true for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. He was raised victorious and glorious as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15 – a wonderful chapter on the resurrection – Jesus’ and ours!

Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

And He is now living in the power of that resurrection. And promises that we too can experience this resurrection life … now and forever.

Paul prays…

Philippians 3:10 (TPT) “And I continually long to know the wonders of Jesus more fully and to experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in me…”

The power that raised Jesus to resurrection life is in us as born again believers. And for those who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit this same power is “upon us” empowering and enabling us to live resurrection life and to move supernaturally and touch lives for Jesus and the Kingdom. We have resurrection life welling up within us. We live in a new dimension because of this resurrection life. We have new values and a new perspective, a Kingdom perspective. We have been raised from the death of sin into ‘a living hope’ based on this resurrection life that we have received.

1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”

As we approach Easter Sunday it is a good time to think about what His resurrection means for us as believers today. And, to pray about what His resurrection life in us should look like in our every day living as we relate to many who do not know the love of God or this gift that Jesus freely gives to those who believe in and follow Him.

Let’s end this thought with the verse in 1 Peter above in context…

1 Peter 1:3-5 TPT “Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us his extravagant mercy. For his fountain of mercy has given us a new life—we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We are reborn into a perfect inheritance that can never perish, never be defiled, and never diminish. It is promised and preserved forever in the heavenly realm for you!”

Growing a Heart of Love

April 15, 2019/in Evangelism and Soul-winning /by ralph

When we were born again the Holy Spirit poured God’s love into our hearts. (Romans 5:5) As we follow Jesus because of His love for us we see how His love can touch and change the lives of other people we know and meet as we share His love with them in so many ways.

I have discovered that the longer I walk with Jesus and follow Him the less I focus on this love and simply take it for granted. I have also discovered that spreading that love to others who do not know Him becomes less and less of a priority as I begin to take His love for granted and life continues on as before. So then I find myself needing to “grow a heart of love” towards the lost once again. In other words, going back to the basics of the faith – loving people enough to tell them the Good News of salvation through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

To being regrowing a heart of love for those who are lost, broken, and wandering far from God, we can pray that God will give us a heart like Jesus’ heart towards those who are still living on the borderlands of faith. Pray for God’s love to fill our hearts to overflowing.

But be warned: this prayer is dangerous.

It’s risky to pray this because when we ask God to give us His heart, we know that this is one prayer He is always willing to answer. His love will help us feel on a new and deeper level. Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). God loves people with absolute desperation. If we have even a small fraction of God’s heart for people, tears will flow, compassion will grow, and hearts will break. We will never be the same.

Another way we can grow our heart for those who are spiritually disconnected is to study the life of Jesus. As we discover how the Saviour related to those who were deep in sin and spiritually lost, we can gain a vision for connecting with others that will shape our hearts and our lifestyle choices. Jesus talked with and let His heart be touched by an adulterous woman (John 8:1-11), a dishonest businessman (Luke 19:1-9), “sinners” (Matthew 9:9-12), and a broken woman (Luke 7:36-50). Jesus’ example and his love for people, even the ‘tough people,’ can inform our priorities and help reshape our hearts into ones that look a lot like His.

One additional way we can grow a heart for people on the borderlands of faith is to notice and connect with people who are far from God. Jesus had a way of seeing the sick, stopping for the broken, making space for children, touching those who had leprosy, and connecting in an authentic way with people many others in the religious community avoided.

We can develop a discipline of noticing and making space for those who are spiritually disconnected and often marginalized even by Christians. As you spend time with these people, God will grow new love within you.

As we prepare the soil of our hearts for the work of outreach, it is critical that love rules the day. Love brought God from Heaven. Love put Jesus on the cross. Love offered salvation to you and me. And love will drive us to our knees in prayer and then into the world searching for those who are still lost. When we love God and our hearts are captured by His love, we are compelled to reach out to those who are still far from Jesus.

Transformation Not Information

April 12, 2019/in Just a Thought /by ralph

So many believers come to Church every week and take notes as the leader or pastor teaches God’s Word. The preacher starts to share and people take out their pens and their journals and take notes. This warms the heart of the preacher because it is easier to teach when people are hungry and receptive.

However, we need to consider the reason for listening to someone teach the Word of God. It seems to me that many people are simply collecting information and becoming well informed regarding what the Bible says. They know the Bible stories, they understand the teachings of Jesus, they are aware of the basic tenets of the Paul’s letters to the early churches that he planted. But, is that really enough?

I believe that the Bible is meant to help change us from the inside outward. I believe that the Bible and God’s Words contained in it are meant for more than information, they are meant to bring about transformation. But, for change to happen people need to take action. Believers need to apply the Word they are hearing to their daily lives – their actions, their attitude, their words. Taking notes is good but it is really just the start. True and lasting changes in one’s life begin on the inside as we hear and heed God’s Word and begin to apply it to our lives every day.

For real change to happen, we must go from knowing to doing. It is at this point that transformation begins. Transformation is always difficult, yet the results are so beautiful. Difficult because we don’t like to change. And, because it takes courage, consistency, and determination. But, when we apply God’s Word and begin to change then we are not only faithful we become fruitful.

It is difficult because saying is always easier than doing. As the old saying goes, “talk is cheap.” Action and change costs. Action brings transformation and thus, although difficult at times, it is really necessary and in the end very beautiful.

Everything worthwhile in life is uphill – all the way. Transformation requires us to walk uphill. Every day. All the way. Most people are unwilling to commit to that. Instead of climbing, they would rather be…

Talking – “Let’s discuss uphill climbing”
Thinking – “Let’s contemplate uphill climbing”
Planning – “Let’s strategize about uphill climbing”
Surveying – “Let’s ask others what they think about uphill climbing”
Studying – “Let’s examine what uphill climbing looks like”
Resting – “Let’s conserve energy before we start climbing”

Transformation is a result of serious application, not information and more education. That’s why Gandhi said, “An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”

Christians are called to live transformational lives. That takes courage. The courage to let go of the familiar and set off on a better way. The courage and determination to start. Today would be a good day to do just that.

Laying Apostolic Foundations in the 21st Century

Laying Apostolic Foundations
in the 21st Century