Transferring our Legacy

The Player's Changing Room: 13^th March 2011

Spoken by Pastor Anthony Higginson

As we begin looking around we can clearly see within The Dream Centre that there is a distinct move of God working in people's lives. People are not falling down under the power of the Holy Spirit like in some moves, but still there is a definite and definitive move taking place within our midst.  We are not looking for charismatic traditional signs to convince us that God is moving, rather we know internally by the word that God is working and moving amongst us. Those who were once on the fringes of God have moved closer into His presence,and those who seemed to be disillusioned are now being thrust into purpose and are being reassigned by the King for kingdom advancement.

 

Where there was once a smell of frustration there is a new fragrance filling our midst. Outwardly there has been such a move of the Spirit that healings and miracles have been taking place. Only this morning in our service we heard a testimony of how through a word of knowledge being spoken in a previous meeting, an eye was supernaturally healed - an eye that only one week ago an optician said was in degenerate decline. Couples who were trying to start a family and could not get pregnant have supernaturally in this move began falling pregnant. Yet we are not carried away by outward signs, we do not follow the move but we are however followers of the Christ of the move. It is this move of Christ that must thrust us toward transferring into our legacy, as legacy must be installed and instilled into those entering in, so that the Christ nature is built.

 

• We must be very careful who we raise up and who we allow to take the baton out of our hands

We cannot be quick to pass the baton on, but more so we must labour accurately so that accurate key patterns and principles are accurately installed. It is these patterns installed into the house that I believe will greatly empower us in greater continuity. The pressure to release it too early before maturity comes, will create for us a future of confusion if careful attention is not given. Some build for the 'here and now', whereas others function for the excitement of the 'here and now'. Others perceive themselves to be trusted because they possess knowledge, and it is this little piece of knowledge that builds in them a desire to press on, going further to a place called 'notoriety and exposure'. If we allow ourselves to become deceived by this we will be overwhelmed by internal pressures, and as a result we will release them to their own delusions and destruction. The challenge is for a wise and calm captain who can accurately keep the ship on course so as not to run it aground.   

 

• Watch the language you use as your legacy is at stake

'So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?  Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless.  So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labour under the sun.For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.  What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labours under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.' (Ecclesiastes 2:17-23)

 

A language of uncertainty is not helpful. Solomon's language (above) was filled with uncertainties, 'maybes' and anxiety.

 

• Solomon had laboured and now the time had come for his labour to be passed on to someone (We should not be looking for 'someone' we must know who our sons and daughters are. Our sons and daughters must know how to conduct themselves and the affairs of God's household with purpose, integrity and in kingdom assignment.
• The DNA found in our sons and daughters must find our nature, our concerns and our heart and values. If they don't possess them, no matter how likeable and skilful they are, there can be no transference or continuity.
• Solomon was filled with anxiety and sleepless nights - this is not our portion for if we build with sons and daughters who carry our concerns, then our nights will be stress-free and our sleep sweet.
• The issue of whether you raise wise or unwise sons and daughters is the challenge set before us, for the transference of legacy will highlight you the leader either as a person of discernment or stupidity.
• The issue is to know and develop an internal capacity. If our sons and daughters possess little internal capacity then we must look closely either at ourselves and how we transfer what we carry, or look at their personal lives.

'During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King's Valley as a monument to himself, for he thought, "I have no son to carry on the memory of my name." He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom's Monument to this day.' (2Samuel 18:18)

 

• The dangers of early transference

Read the 'Parable of the Lost Son'  (Also please consult 'Living legacy' written by Pastor Anthony Higginson for further insight on this issue).

 

'Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.'  So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need' (Luke 15:11)

 

Reasons why sons and daughters never come into their legacy:

 

• We transfer the legacy too early. If we transfer too early they will take the inheritance outside of the house without understanding the DNA of what we carry. Always remember that they are freely receiving that which we have laboured and paid the price for.
• Because of internal pressure the father divided the treasure of the house unwisely and too early.
• If we transfer too early we allow them to think that God will bless the path or road they are on like he blessed us, ignoring the fact that our path is blessed because we stayed true to our convictions and assignment.
• An early transfer will lead to our sons and daughters entering the place called 'famine'.
• Many will take the inheritance outside of the house to the place called 'prominence and selfish soulish living'.

Although we as leaders transfer patterns and beliefs there is a part of us that can never be transferred across, as this is our uniqueness. Skills, wisdom and knowledge along with grace and gift can all be imparted and transferred, but uniqueness is found within each individual, for in essence it is what makes you, you.   

 

• Accurate succession

"May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."So the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim  before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in."Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly.  Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.' (Numbers 27:16-23)

 

When Moses laid his hands upon Joshua he transferred accurately for the right purpose. The purpose of the transfer was so both Joshua and Israel would be better equipped in bringing governance throughout Israel.

 

Paul transfer in to Timothy for succession:

 

'For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.' (2 Timothy 1:6)

 

The impartation that Paul imparted into Timothy caused him to rise above his earthly limitations, helped in prevail in every situation, renewed his thinking, and reprogrammed his mind giving him a better perspective.

 

• This transference is not dependent upon your background, skills or knowledge - it qualifies you today in the 'here and now'.

 

'Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance?' (1Samuel 10:1)

 

• This transference can develop you to your full measure, whether that be as a prophet, priest or king.
• This transference was so it could be taken from one man to an entire company of people, so they could function in the same operations as their leader and spiritual father.

 

• This transfer is for governmental stature similar to apostolic stature

'So he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men and they also prophesied. 21 Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied.  Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Secu. And he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" "Over in Naioth at Ramah," they said. So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even upon him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth.  He stripped off his robes and also prophesied in Samuel's presence. He lay that way all that day and night. This is why people say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (1 Samuel 19:20-24)

 

'And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning  to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit  yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you. (1Samuel 7:3-5)

 

This transference has the power to bring order, governance, and positioning to people's lives so that God can bless and move through a city town or region.

 

We need more than just faithfulness in a person, we need people with internal character, capacity and stature in God.

 

• How old is the wine and what condition is the vessel in?

 

'Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved' (Matthew 9:17)

 

'On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus'mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.' (John 2:1-11)

 

Breakdown:

 

• 1. V3: They had run out of wine - they once possessed wine but now they become dry and empty just like many of us have become.
• 2. V10: What they had was alright but it wasn't the best - they needed the God of more
• 3. V7: God took empty jars which had a purpose, changing their purpose from being water carriers to carriers of wine
• 4. V9: He is calling you, the bride, aside
• 5. V10: 'You have saved the best till now - 'Now is the time'.
• 6. V11: He is revealing His glory.
• 7. V11: The disciples put their trust in Him.
• 8. God repurposed the vessel from being just ceremonial jars useful for cleansing, toward becoming carriers of a better wine
• 9. Notice the process: vessel - empty vessel - a water filled vessel useful for cleansing only - carrier of a new wine - new wine means a vessel of new covenant.