Seeing The World Through A Kingdom Lens

In 2023, I published a book, titled Through A Kingdom Lens: Discovering What The Church Lost. I was acutely aware that God's purpose for "the Church" was not being fulfilled.  First of all, Jesus did not come to earth to establish a Church, or buildings, in which His followers were to sit and be led by men according to their understanding  of who He was. He came to establish and extend His Kingdom of Heaven [and its government] to earth. 

The late Dr. Myles Munroe has been a huge influence on my journey with the Lord. Before discovering his writings, sermons, and videos, I was unfamiliar with the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Bible would soon open up to me as I came into the knowledge of Dr. Munroe's definitive and authoritative definition of a kingdom: "It is the governing influence of a king over a territory, impacting it with the king's will, his purpose, and his intent; producing a citizenship of people who reflect the king's culture, nature, values, and morals."

It is a foundational tenet of our faith that we see Jesus as the King of both Heaven and earth. With that in mind, let's continue with Dr. Munroe's thesis. "Jesus came to manifest His wisdom and execute His will with His Nature (which is Glory), and to fill it with His sons. Furthermore, He created and ordained mankind as His governmental representatives on earth." [NOTE: In the Greek language, the term for this body of people is EKKLESIA]. "The people living under that rule or government are known as citizens of the kingdom. There is a ruling document, or constitution (called the Bible) and moral laws to follow; ideals and standards by which the citizens are expected to live. Jesus, as the King of God's kingdom, presently lives and rules from His home country, Heaven. But He has sent a Governor (the Holy Spirit) to transform us, teach us, train us, and change us into citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and to establish a kingdom culture on earth." 

I hope by now, it is easier for you to understand that wherever God is, it is His domain. He created it. Heaven is where He dwells and where He has all power and authority. It is where His sphere of influence is declared and exercised. It is where His Kingdom is firmly established. But, we need to understand that Jesus expanded that kingdom and sphere of influence, giving the power and authority of God's kingdom citizenship to those here on earth who choose to follow and obey Him. 

With what I believe is a clear and accurate description of God and His authority that is given to us in the Bible, I became increasingly frustrated with my discernment that the modern Western Church has lost that identity. How can we look at abortion, child and adult pornography, child and adult sex trafficking, the international drug trade, the corruption and greed in our nation's government, and the myriad of other ways we've offended God, and not conclude that "the Church" has lost its way in fulfilling their mission? As the earthly arbiter and intercessor of God's Word here on earth, can we honestly say the Church has done a good job of reflecting God's culture, nature, values, and morals? Just look at the state of our country, and the answer is clearly NO!  

But let's expand our view even more, and take a look at the world. I think the modern view of Christianity is from a succinctly Western perspective. And most American Christians are focused on their faith from their own personal viewpoint. In other words, we need to understand that Jesus came to change the world, and to return it to His Father's standards in Heaven. But Jesus talked about the world and all that would happen in it, and to it, as Satan increased his will and influence on the hearts of mankind. And we can clearly see the ways his lies have corrupted this realm and inhibited the ways, morals, and government of God's Kingdom on this planet. The world is made up of men, and men have certainly lost their focus on establishing the Kingdom of God on earth.

The peoples of the world desperately need the government of the Prince of Peace to be established, bringing order out of the disorder, and His Light into the darkness that is surrounding us. Here's the sad truth: The earth does not look like Heaven. In fact, the "gates" (ruling power) of Satan are fighting back whenever and wherever the Ekklesia makes strides to transform any territory. Do you remember in the Bible, when Paul and Silas traveled to Thessalonica, and they were causing an uproar among the citizens with their message of the Kingdom of God? This is how the citizens described Paul and Silas's influence ... "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another King, Jesus."

We need to see and understand that Paul and his companion were turning the WORLD SYSTEM upside down! We need to be doing that in our day! We need to be dethroning human kings and calling out groups of believers to stand in opposition to the worldly systems of our day, and to act as representatives of our Heavenly King! We need to see ourselves as independent from kings and politicians and we need to agree to become ruled by God's system of government through the Holy Spirit. Instead of being in opposition to the world system and the leaders it has enticed to follow its dictates, our governing body of "the Church" has enslaved itself to the world system, becoming religious organizations (identified as "businesses.") Instead of operating in opposition to the world system, churches too often look just like [or promote[ the systems of the world. 

I want to conclude by stating that I have not lost hope in either the Church or the world. I intend to continue my mission and assignment to turn my little corner of the world upside down as an ambassador of my true home, the Kingdom of God. As I watch the world spiraling ever closer to destruction and war, I know it is crucial that I persevere in carrying forth our King's message of love, service, and sacrifice. But I am also aware that I will be hated, just as Jesus said I would. I am praying that the fire that was lit with the assassination of Charlie Kirk, (and all those that have come before him, and will come after), will continue to burn in the hearts of faithful men and women. 

Finally, there's a bigger picture I hope I can paint for you ... Every single person born on this earth was a pre-existent spirit being, created before the foundations of the world. We have all been sent to earth to live in this host body, with the plan that we will reconnect with our Creator, declare our allegiance to His Kingdom, receive His Spirit, and begin to carry out our assignment to advance the Kingdom of God, thereby defeating all the works and plans of Satan; defeating his dark kingdom as we deed those territories back to the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of God. We're in the spiritual battle of the ages. Be vigilant; be intentional; walk in your Kingdom identity, power, and authority. We have been called by God, and our King goes before us!

Matthew 6:9    Our Father who is in Heaven, uphold the holiness of Your Name. Bring in Your Kingdom so that Your will is done on earth as it's done in Heaven. (Common English Bible) 

We Need More Spiritual Warriors Who Have Right Standing With God

If you are a Believer and Follower of Jesus and are expecting that our nation and the world are going to enter a season of Peace and Tranquility; a time when the natures of men would come together in pursuit of shared values and harmonious viewpoints, then I fear you will be disappointed. If anything, our common Enemy is more determined than ever to tear us apart and cause division. We are already seeing it in the halls of Congress, and I fear we will soon see this manufactured tension and hostility in the streets. I am left wondering if there is more than a remnant of Righteous Spiritual Warriors who see this truth and are convicted of their place and purpose for this time.

I am blessed to personally know part of that company of spiritual warriors; men who stand out in the midst of the dispassionate, indifferent souls who prefer to remain on the sidelines of the spiritual war for the dominion of this earth and its inhabitants. And I'm not talking about being flag-waving nationalists dressed in the coverings of politics and religion. I'm referring to men who stand proudly in the roles God gave them as ambassadors, representatives, protectors, and imitators of His dutiful Son; men with moral compasses who know right from wrong, have grown in their righteous identity, and aren't afraid to walk against the currents of evil manifesting in our culture.

Nearly ten years ago, I wrote a post that I feel is worth revisiting. It was 2010, and our nation and society had just crossed the proverbial "Rubicon" into a new political and cultural realm for which we are still paying the consequences. Marxism took a bold step forward in the minds and hearts of our young, and our government committed us to a specific course that steered us away from our Christian roots and ideals of "government of the people, by the people, and for the people". [NOTE: the phrase "crossing the Rubicon", refers to Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon River in northeastern Italy in 49 B.C., which led to a civil war and the end of the Roman Republic].

At the time, my spirit instinctively knew there was no going back, but God didn't want me to enter into a state of panic. Instead, He appointed me to become aware of [and focus on] the righteousness of my husband, a man He intended to use in support of His Kingdom here on earth. I had seen changes in his spiritual life for a few years, but God instructed me to take the time to contemplate how earnestly my husband was seeking God's Kingdom then and there. 

I have disclosed through the years that my husband's first and middle names literally mean "Peace-Loving Warrior", and he is the embodiment of that heavenly name. He is at peace knowing that the good work which God has begun in him, He will be faithful to finish ... and he is more than eager to finish strong. He is at peace, knowing that His Savior will never leave him nor forsake him. And while the storms and troubles that are going to be coming against this world are more evident to him these ten years later, he is more determined than ever that they will not deter him from taking his position on the battlefield of spiritual warfare. 

In the ensuing years he has gained a tremendous amount of knowledge through Scripture -- whoever inherits his Bible will receive a treasure trove of notes and commentary that rightly divide the Word of God. Every line, margin, and gutter of his journaling Bible is filled with revelations he has received from the Holy Spirit and his scholarly research for the correct meaning [and context] of every Biblical word and verse. His heart burns for every fellow believer to know and use their Authority in Jesus Christ and their Power in the Holy Spirit to fight the Enemies of God in our lives. "We have been defenseless for too long" is his daily motto.

I have watched him grow in His righteousness these last ten years to become a man deeply entrenched in his desire to help others know Jesus, not only as their Savior, but as the King of Heaven. In this age of luke-warm Christians, it is encouraging to see him lead people into achieving their full potential in God's purpose for their lives. He has gained a newfound discernment about who he has been called to reach, and continues to be bold in his pursuit of sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God. I have watched in amazement as God has brought people to our door to receive patient instruction and articulate answers to the ways of the Most High God -- discussing questions on everything from His grace to His judgment. As Proverbs 21:20-21 says, these occurrences have truly been "precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise", and they have not been wasted.

We have aged in these last ten years, and I see the effects on him of the battles he has fought for the souls and spirits of men and women. While the spiritual battle that wages before us today appears to be gaining steam, his focus is on his assignment to reach as many as he can for the Kingdom of God. He pursues his calling with the utmost care, pressing forward as if he is going to run out of time, and fears coming up short in his race. He's not perfect, and he will admit it. And he is not afraid of offending the religious Pharisees of our day -- it's all about highlighting the narrow path to righteousness in the Name of the Lord, for those who are seeking it.

And if there is anything that he has learned in these past ten spiritually tumultuous years it is this: he will earnestly work to help anyone receive their freedom to become who God designed them to be IF they truly want Jesus. But if they only want to become free to continue pursuing what this world offers, and fulfill their own self-gratification, then he doesn't have time. There are far too many people he wants to reach with the Truth of God's Word [and who will receive it]. Jesus only healed the ones who came to Him in faith and expectancy that He was who He said He was. Jesus never chased after them against their will. Neither does my husband. 

In summary, I hope you can discern that I am not glorifying my husband, but rather glorifying my God who is in him. And I know he's not the only Righteous man who is steadfast in sharing Jesus and His Kingdom as the solution to the world's problems. In fact, I have so much joy in the fact that as I have watched him share the Word, encourage those who are seeking God's Truth, and witnessed his active participation and victories in spiritual warfare, God has brought other Godly Righteous men to our doorstep. I am so encouraged to see these men be bold in their countenance and spirits, making the most of this life, and knowing that they will be rewarded with the Crown of Righteousness in the next life. I praise the Lord for allowing me to share in my husband's journey and to be in the company of such men who are so upright, honorable, and God-fearing. The Remnant of God is alive and well here on earth! 

Proverbs 10:21, 29     The lips of the righteous feed and guide many ... The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright