“Fathers Kingdom”
Pastor Andrey Shapovalov
Let's really think about who Heavenly Father can really trust with His Kingdom?
Jesus Christ mentioned death very often and today this is exactly what we will talk about.
Many years ago, I understood one fundamental truth, which sounded like this: “I cannot achieve anything great or real, if the Heavenly Father does not trust me.”
We are as Sons of God, must move from death.
(John 15:16) 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit (ESV)
Question? What can bear fruit? (ONLY DEAD CAN BEAR FRUIT)
And from that moment my long journey of learning what God’s trust is, began; over time, I realized that the Father trusts everything, only to his Family. That is why He called Father, not boss or owner.
I asked Heavenly Father to accept me into the family.
Don't get me wrong, I was saved and born again, but Heaven couldn't trust me, the Kingdom couldn't use me, because there was too much of me and what I wanted to achieve.
When I asked God to take me through the process, I had no idea at the time, that it would cost me everything.
Father told me, that all people, are looking for Him, not me or not my talents or church entertainment and I the church must be full of His Glory.
I realized that for God, the only thing that has real value, is the eternal souls of people, and He does not trust them to just anyone.
Lesson 1 (Belonging)
This lesson was not only for God to be confident that I belonged to Him, but for me to be completely confident that I belonged completely to Him.
Here I went through stressful situations of pressure, disappointment, loss of “ministry”. Here the Father took off everything that I put on myself, thinking these things are my identity. He took away everything that was not His.
Lesson 2 (Trust)
This lesson was to learn to trust Him completely in everything.
It was one of the most brutal periods of my life.
I learned to trust Him in poverty, illness, betrayal, failure, etc.
He just walked me through everything, and watched to see, if I fully trusted Him and His plan for my life. Or I’ll create a plan “B” and find a way out.
Lesson 3 (Sacrifice)
This lesson was to learn sacrifice, this included everything and it was after I passed this test that the Father entrusted me with the most valuable thing, the souls of His children and real influence.
He told me, “Now son, watch what I will do and achieve through you!” To this day I am amazed at what God does through this ministry.
Don't believe a word from those who say that there is no price, this is an absolute lie.
My ministry costs me absolutely everything!
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There are two types of ministers and two types of ministries, the first work and move out of life, they have abandoned the process of death. (These are those who chose the easy path)
Others work and move out of death, they allowed the Father to take them through a process that completely deprived them of the ability to live for themselves.
(This is long and painful process) but it is so worth it.
The first type of people, are those who are saved, but have not gone through the process of maturity; they see what others are doing and really want to repeat it.
They start a lot of things and if it doesn't work, they move on to something else.
The whole life of these people is from their own desire and out of their life.
Those who do not want to go through the process look at those who have gone through the process, and they really want to see the same results and the same success.
But the moment they realize that this cannot be achieved without serious cost and the death of their “ego”, they move on to compromise, manipulation and imitation.
The Bible often compares person's life to a seed.
Understand that, no seed begins with death, but on the contrary, every seed is born alive, but then in order for the seed to enter into its identity, the seed must die.
If you think about it, the real life of the seed that we sow into the soil begins with the death of that seed. No seed can truly live unless it gives itself completely as a sacrifice.
(John 12:24-26) 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life, loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world, will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)
Notice that the dead seed no longer desires anything; life now flows automatically from the seed that has given itself to spiritually reproduce.
Understand that only the dead are allowed to reproduce. (To Build the Fathers Kingdom)
Remember Abraham, it was after the death of his “ego” and the sacrifice of his son. that he was allowed to live and spiritually reproduce.
(John 15:16) 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit (ONLY DEAD CAN BEAR FRUIT) and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. (ESV)
Many people want to do something for God, but this is not the point, but the whole point is to build the Fathers Kingdom.
Personally, I only want something that will last and will live on long after I'm no longer here.
May our Heavenly Father Bless you!
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