What Does It Mean To "Have Your Mind Renewed"?

This is an excerpt of my book-in-progress on the Kingdom of God. Since I will be out of pocket for a few days at a retreat doing Inner Healing Ministry, I thought I would share just a portion of what the Lord has revealed to Mark and I about how the Kingdom is meant to infiltrate our lives and our Christian walk. Enjoy!

     

     As professed Christians, and having reached the state of Salvation, it is important to understand that we now have the opportunity to enter into the Kingdom of God, where we can have dual citizenship. Our flesh and soul reside in the physical world, but our spirit has the rights and privileges of a citizen of Heaven, seated [as we are] with Christ in the heavenly realms.
     Building on that truth, I now want to introduce you to a concept that I discovered during a class on the human spirit, taught by Dan Duval, Executive Director of Bride Ministries, and Pastor of Fire Place Church. Just as we recognize a Triune God – God, the Father; Jesus, the Son of God; and Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God – we are created as a triune man. We are created with a body, soul, and spirit.
     NOTE: This may be a new concept for you because I am aware that some denominational doctrines teach that the soul and spirit are the same thing. Hebrews 4:12 makes it clear that they are separate parts of us: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit…
      We know that our body is made up of flesh; it is our physical body. Our soul is our mind, our [free] will, and our emotions. Our spirit is the part of us that is made in the image of God and is actually trans-dimensional. The Apostle Paul makes this very clear in Ephesians 2:1-3 when he says while we were dead in our sins [as citizens of the earth] we were influenced by “the dark ruler of the earthly realm [Satan] who fills the atmosphere with his authority”. But now, as saved Believers, we no longer belong to Satan, but have been “rescued completely from the tyrannical rule of darkness and been translated into the kingdom realm of God’s beloved Son. That word “translated” means we have been moved [in the spirit] from earth to heaven, and citizenship in Heaven has now been conveyed to us. In fact, that’s where the dual citizenship comes in; we have free access to Heaven while still here on earth.
      So, as citizens of Heaven, we are to no longer act or think as we did as citizens of this world. We are to become transformed, and the most powerful tool we have to make that transformation is our mind. That is the essence of Romans 12:2. But since we still live here on the earth, it should be obvious that there is a tremendous battle for our minds. In order to begin to act like a citizen of the new and different realm of Heaven, we must begin to think differently. We must begin to think like God and Jesus think, and develop the mind of Christ.

      But here is where our mind [as part of our soul] and our human spirit often come into conflict. Along with our body, our soul is the part of us that begins to exist at conception – our brain is formed and with it our mind; out of which comes our ability to think, and feel (our emotions), and to make decisions (our free will). Our spirit is the part of us that has pre-existed with God since the foundations of the world. And Jeremiah 1:5 tells us Jesus knew us before He formed us in the womb [as a spirit being, made in His image]. It is important that we understand that the soul and spirit are different and serve different functions. And because our mind is part of our soul and is intertwined with our physical body, it presents itself as the consciousness with which we engage the world. This is important to understand because our soul is designed to be submitted to our spirit; thinking and hearing and seeing ‘in the spirit’ so that, just like Jesus [who never did anything on His own, but only what He heard or saw from the Father], our mind can be in sync with our spirit and we can grow into the image of Christ. But until we have a conversion experience, our mind and soul may never be aware of our spirit, and never see or hear or interact with our spirit. 

     As Dan Duval teaches, we must remember that when we are saved, our spirit is one with the Holy Spirit (we are stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit). So, we can now understand that much of what the Holy Spirit is doing is happening in and through our spirit. The stronger our spirit is, the more powerfully the Holy Spirit is able to work in and through us. But our carnal mind [in the soul which is in the flesh] must submit to our spirit, which is now seated in the heavenly realm. IF our soul overwhelms our spirit and refuses to submit, then [although Saved] we will not be effective [or bear fruit] for the Kingdom because our mind will be focused on things of this world. 

     Being carnally minded, you can imagine that Satan is going to be only too happy to try to get you to revisit old memories and habits from your days in his dark kingdom. But we must become deliberate in our understanding of how God’s kingdom operates. We must consciously and consistently be in submission to God’s plan to restore the earth to His original design … man ruling earth according to the government of God’s Kingdom in Heaven.
      That means we must mature in our faith in order to renew our minds and let go of this carnal world and experience the spiritual realm. Paul explained this dilemma in Romans 8:5-9, For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit... You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. If you are truly Saved and Redeemed by the Blood of Jesus, then you now represent a different world: His Father’s Kingdom in Heaven, and you must be intentional about renewing your mind – changing the way you think and subsequently, act – all from God’s Heavenly perspective.
      That is why Jesus asked us to pray, Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed [holy] be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. As Bill Johnson writes, in his excellent book, When Heaven Invades Earth, “When we pray for His kingdom to come, we are asking Him to impose the rules, order, and benefits of His world over this one until this world looks like His … [God’s] world collides with [Satan’s] world of darkness and God’s world always wins. Our battle is always going to be a battle of dominion – a conflict of kingdoms”.
      And there will not only be a battle between the two kingdoms for dominion over our minds, but there will be a battle for dominion over the territories of marriage, the sanctity of life, sexual identity, our children, etc. Because our minds are powerful tools in the hands of God, we have to be able to discern if what enters our minds is coming from this world, hell, or from heaven. And if we know it is from heaven, then we must agree with it and act upon it. That will lead to a transformed life and kingdom living! Your mind must be sanctified unto the Lord and surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
      When we begin to think like God and act like Jesus and hear/see with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can collaborate with Them and bring heaven and earth into agreement through our thoughts and actions. All of Heaven’s resources are available to us through our spirit, which in proper alignment with our soul, prompts our minds to think and act righteously. Our human spirit will get a download from God [through the Holy Spirit] and then impart the divine thought or concept to our soul [which includes our mind]. The soul has to come together with the spirit in order to be implanted with the seeds of revelation, breakthrough, and those things that have been written upon our scroll in heaven. If our mind has been renewed to think from heaven’s perspective, rather than this world’s, then we will be able to receive the heavenly concept, plan according to God’s ruling principles, act on what has been revealed, and produce fruit for the Kingdom. Our mind/soul and the spirit must work together to give birth to the designs of God in the earth

 

 Romans 12:2     Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

 

Hungry, Humbled, and Healed

    

     Mark and I are preparing ourselves spiritually for a new opportunity in the Kingdom of God. Next week, we are going to be part of a team ministering to female military veterans at a 4-day retreat. The Lord answered our prayers for expansion of His Kingdom into new territories, and we are praying that these women will find their freedom in Christ and be set free from whatever bondage their spiritual enemies have inflicted upon them.
     As I have prayed for the Lord's guidance, direction, and protection, I clearly heard the desire of my spirit -- that they would come hungry, be humbled, and leave healed. Yes, Lord! That's my prayer for each attendee! But I soon realized that this is my hope for each person that we come into contact with for the Kingdom. Whenever we meet with anyone whom we've invited to the Lord's table for healing, it is important that they be hungry for an encounter with Jesus; that they arrive with the awareness that they are longing for something [or Someone] that they have been separated from. It is that hunger for more that drives them to the table -- a thirst for more from life; more in their relationships with loved ones; more of knowing who they are and what their purpose on this earth is; more answers to their torment; and more of a spiritual experience with their Savior.
     I'm going to get personal here -- if this describes you, I bet you have tried to fill that hungry void with everything but a personal encounter with Jesus. More money, more drugs, more sex, fancy cars, big houses, trips to Europe, titles at your job or in your Church -- none of it will still the voice that whispers you are unloved, rejected, unworthy, or unimportant. Yet you are hungry and thirsty for more! 
     That's why Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied". Here, righteousness, is "whatever is right or just in itself that conforms to the revealed will of God; whatever has been appointed by God to be acknowledged and obeyed by man" (Strong's Concordance). Please -- don't just read over that definition as we've all done so many times in our attempts to study the Bible. When you are at the point that you are hungering and thirsting for God to reveal Himself and His will for your life, that's usually the point you are most desperate. All those others things I mentioned in the last paragraph haven't satiated your hunger or quenched your thirst.
     But Jesus is telling us that when we hunger and thirst to have the Father actually show up and reveal His will for our life and what He has appointed to us from the foundations of the world -- and we are ready to acknowledge and receive what is revealed and appointed, then we achieve the satisfaction that we've longed for! And that takes us to the next step ... to be humbled.
     Once we're desperate to have our hunger and thirst satisfied by God, we have to come to the end of ourselves. It's here that we have to admit that all we've done to fill that bottomless pit has failed. In fact, it is our own actions that have often dug that pit deeper; our pride and refusal to surrender to the One who created us and knows us best, has only pushed us further away from Him.
     When we are able to look at ourselves -- in all our filthy rags -- we see that our selfishness and pride have been the driving force that has led to our insatiable hunger and the thirsty condition of our heart. And because God has given us all free will, He will not step in and remedy your situation. From the depths of your hungry soul and spirit, you must be willing to reject and defeat your pride and confess your need for Jesus. It is from that position that you can become obedient, receive God's grace, and begin to be healed.
     You see, our Father in Heaven longs to heal us all. He paid an indescribable price to deliver us from Death and the devil's torment. But to be restored to full health and healing, we must be hungry for the Healer and humble ourselves before His throne. It is only then that we are teachable and can learn His ways. And that's when the Father will stretch out His hand to restore honor and goodness and character to your life, along with health to your body, soul, and spirit. 
     I can only imagine what wounds we will see at this upcoming retreat. But I also know that they will be no different than the ones who find their way to our door and Jesus's table every week in our home. The devil's tactics never really change -- he seeks who to devour because of willful sin, which leads to open doors of torment. They all come looking for the same thing; a way to quiet the voices of condemnation. So it is my prayer that God will create a hunger in them for the Kingdom of God in their lives and the freedom that it brings. Bring them hungry, Lord! And I promise we will help them to humble themselves; we will speak of Your Mighty hand that seeks to exalt those who tremble before You. And, right now, I praise You for the healing that is even now being prepared for those who will submit to You with contrite hearts. Their healing and their victory is on the way! And I truly thank you, Father, for all those You entrust to us. Bring us more! Bring us those willing to come hungry, to be humbled and to be healed by the Blood of Jesus. What an honor it is to serve You!

Proverbs 4:20-22    Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you, and pay attention to all that I have to say. Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then, as you unwrap my words, they will impart true life and radiant health into the very core of your being.

"Simplify In Order To Multiply"

     This is the prophetic word that teacher and minister Lana Vawser received from the Lord recently. I think all of us who are aligned with the Lord's heart are sensing that He is accelerating His plan for the redemption and reconciliation of the world. We are seeing a new game plan that relies on the cooperation of obedient followers of Christ to walk in their Power and Authority to defeat the Kingdom of darkness and establish the righteous government of Heaven on the earth. The old strategy of simply saving souls, while ignoring the spiritual enemy that comes prowling like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour, has not slowed the steady advancement of Satan's kingdom. Just look at our culture if you doubt me.
     With the knowledge of new and dynamic strategies, I have seen many changes coming upon the Body of Christ -- all in search of the most effective messages and methods to see "God's will done on earth, as it is in Heaven". And because we are still in this world, I have seen competition and rivalry for the ear and the dollar of those who would "do the things Jesus did, and even greater".
     Don't get me wrong! I am greatly encouraged that the Body is awakening to the seriousness of the hour and is willing to step into new realms of authority in Christ. We must take back territory from the devil that our negligence and lack of knowledge has surrendered to him. My spirit takes heart as I see Christians recognizing their power to heal the sick, cast out demons, commune in the heavenly realms with Christ, appear in the Courts of Heaven, and understanding that the Gospel of the Kingdom was Jesus's primary message.

     But in this new "Christian dynamic", I am also seeing that, in our exuberance to "throw off the old and embrace the new", we can sometimes get out ahead of the Lord in our efforts to establish our ministry, or walk in our giftings, or whatever else we think we hear the Lord calling us to. I'm not saying that any of that is wrong or not from God, but I am cautioning us all to make sure that we're not getting caught up in a whirlwind of activity, trying to be "king of the mountain" in this new movement of God.
     Yes, I know the Holy Spirit is activating gifts in this season, but we need to remember that He is the One who empowers these gifts, not us. We are not in charge of our gifts, as if once given, we can employ them at our will. In fact, Jesus never talks about the gifts of the Spirit; only saying that the Father will send the Holy Spirit [in His Name] to teach us all we need to know to continue His work. I just keep hearing in my spirit that it's simpler than we make it, and it's not all about us. Has the Enemy somehow convinced us that seeking after the gifts of wisdom, or knowledge, or healing, or miracles; or seeking the offices of apostle, prophet, or teacher is the height of our identity in Christ? That the more we do and seek after, it means the greater we are esteemed in the Kingdom of God?
     I will tell you that Mark and I have taken serious stock of the call upon our lives and how we are walking out our obedience. When we first began this Inner Healing Ministry, the Lord gave us a simple process to work with Him and Holy Spirit in helping people get free from the demonic bondage in their lives. And it is only natural to want to increase in knowledge and make every effort to seek new revelation from the Father. It is exciting and empowering to discover that we have access to the throne room of Heaven, and the Heavenly Courts; and that we can understand the tactics of the Enemy to program, develop realms of captivity, manipulate DNA, and establish iniquity in our bloodlines -- and much more! To be honest, it can be overwhelming to think that we have to know and be proficient in all manner of spiritual warfare to defeat these strategies.
     But I thank the Lord that He has shown Mark and I that it is He who does the work; He just needs us to be obedient and willing to show up. He doesn't require intense, complicated methods in order to prove His Lordship over darkness. He reminds us to trust in His authority as the Centurion did; to have childlike faith as we enter each Inner Healing session, knowing that our obedient service to the Kingdom of God is based on our dependence on Him, not our own selfish ambition.
     Therefore, I felt such conviction when I read Lana Vaswer's article on simplifying. My spirit was in agreement with her as she wrote, "this new era of acceleration does not mean you do more; it means HE will do more and bring things together in a momentum we have never seen". And we are seeing that in our own experiences. We have simplified our approach to our healing sessions, relying on Him to multiply the results. And with that strategy, we have found that more people are receiving freedom than ever before! And because the focus is on Jesus, and not us, the people coming for ministry are able to grasp that they, too, can serve the Kingdom of God and take back the devil's territory in the lives of others. 
     Doesn't that correspond to the last thing Jesus told His Disciples before He ascended into Heaven" .. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth". We are called to make Disciples and witness to them of the power of the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom of God on earth. And we are seeing an acceleration of Jesus's simple model in this new season. But it doesn't have to mean that we seek after recognition for gifts or after ministry titles. 
     So, I will let Lana Vawser's wisdom be the last word: "Do not be tempted in this new era of significant acceleration to BUILD in order to grow your platform. Do not be tempted in this new era to move with the “status quo” because that is what is “expected” or “how you grow your ministry” and “gain influence”. All of those “man made ways” are being thrown into the fire and on the threshing floor ... These new strategies He is releasing may look in some ways like “less” but it’s actually the place of your greatest multiplication because you are building in obedience to HIM and His voice ... Strategies God is releasing right now contain ‘Going back to basics’, ‘Returning to foundations and grass roots’, “back to the beginning”, ‘removing the clutter’, things you may have always known but you have moved away from, He is bringing you back to them ‘full circle’. These SIMPLE STRATEGIES will be CLEAR and NOT COMPLICATED and they will be the strategies for LONGEVITY and FRUITFULNESS". 
     I'll finish by saying this is exactly what Mark and I have heard in our spirit and the strategy we are following. We aren't looking to be "the latest and greatest" in Deliverance Ministry, but only want to be known by our fruit. And we are trusting Jesus to bring His restoration to all the lives we touch. Amen!

Proverbs 19:21    "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand".   

 

 

What's Keeping God From Using You In His Kingdom?

     I was intrigued by an article I saw on the Charisma Magazine website, entitled "There Are Some Types of Christians God Can't Use", written by J. Lee Grady. Since I know that God loves the Body of Christ, I wanted to see what qualities these Christians are exhibiting; and to make sure that I correct any characteristics I might share with them. Here is the insight I received from this thoughtful article...
     One of the most powerful verses in Scripture [for me] is Matthew 7:21, which quotes Jesus: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. And Jesus was the perfect example of what that looks like. We must be intentional in interacting with God -- hearing His voice above our own; always seeking His purpose and desire in any situation; and then taking action to accomplish His will.
     We know, from John 3:1-5, that to enter the Kingdom of God [or Heaven] we must be Saved [born again]. But, it sounds to me [according to Matthew 7:21] like Salvation alone is not enough to be used by the Father. And we all want to be used by God, don't we? Don't you want to hear Him say, "You have done well, and proven yourself to be my loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you have been a faithful steward to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, 'Come celebrate with me!' "? So, let's consider what might keep us from being useful to God.
     The first thing the author mentioned was Driver's seat Christians. These are Believers who, without question, are Saved, but find it difficult to yield control of their lives to Christ. We call Jesus our Lord, yet do we understand what that word means? He is our Master, our Ruler, and He has full authority over all things on the earth. Yet, there may be times when we find ourselves unable to surrender to His leadership and mastery of our lives. We want what we want, and often find ourselves justifying our actions according to our own desires, rather than the will of the Father -- which is expressly un-Biblical! If you are someone who finds it difficult to submit to the Lord's authority, then He will be unable to trust you in administering His kingdom here on earth. 
     Then there are the Christians we call Armchair Critics.  I find it interesting as I seek God's kingdom before anything else, that those who can't see it, or refuse to see it, are the ones speaking the loudest against my pursuit of it.  Because I know what it feels like to be unjustly criticized, I fervently try to judge another's walk with Christ by the fruit they bear. Their walk may not look or sound like mine, but if there is observable fruit for the Kingdom, then I know it is honoring God. The Holy Spirit does not counsel me to judge or accuse out of anger or pride or a religious spirit. If I want Him to use me, then I will concentrate on His assignment for me, knowing that He is perfectly capable of giving differing assignments to other Christians.
     We all know Christians who are Glass half-empty pessimists, right? They are always engrossed in the headlines, focused on what the news is forecasting, and aligning it all with End Times prophecies. Or when the blessings of the Lord come, they are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. But, I have to ask ... who is God more likely to use in service to His kingdom here on earth? The one who doesn't quite trust Him to secure their good fortune, or the Believer who knows the consequences of following the Lord and is willing to go forth anyway? Who will bear the most fruit for the Kingdom? The Bible tells us that the presence of fruit in your life is evidence that you are a disciple of Christ. He will recognize us by our fruit ... and those whose focus is on a half empty glass will be unable to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and bear a fruitful harvest.
     Perhaps the thing that grieves me the most in the Body of Christ is the Carnally minded Christian. These are the folks who have chosen to compromise with the world and lower [or alter] their standards of moral character and lifestyle. They intentionally blur the lines between what the Bible calls sin and what the world calls acceptable behavior. But God's Word does not change! And His charge to live sanctified lives has not been abolished. The Biblical meaning of Sanctification is still His standard -- to be declared holy and set apart; to be purified and seen as morally acceptable in His eyes. God cannot and will not use us in service to His kingdom if we are approving of the world's sins. We may receive rewards from the world for our compromise, but our works will be unfruitful for the Kingdom.
     There was one description in the article of Christian's that God won't use that I wish to comment on and clarify. The author singled out Church dropouts, and stated that "God does not use people who have turned away from the church." I believe it is important to qualify that statement. I agree with the subsequent statement that it is popular among some to bash the Church out of a bitterness and out of woundedness by the Church. I stand in agreement that God will not be able to use anyone who hangs on to unforgiveness. But there are those of us who have decided to be the Ekklesia, rather than the Church, and we love the Body of Christ. We do not bash "the Church", but rather find that [in its present state] it no longer feeds our spirits and desires to be obedient Kingdom citizens. So we have returned to the spiritual roots of the Early Church and walk together [as an Ekklesia] in a Kingdom model and a Kingdom mindset of service and worship of our Lord. And believe me, I see much fruit in this Godly community!
     Then there are the Christians the author calls Timid Cowards.  God will not be able to use Believers who suffer from a fear to be bold. As the author states, "All those who surrender to the call of God must bravely open their mouths, defend the faith, risk their reputation and suffer rejection—and possible persecution". That can be a huge barrier for a Christian who is afraid of the consequences of such bold action. But Christ calls us to boldness, without fear of the ramifications. Each of the Disciples were willing to suffer martyrdom to expand God's kingdom on earth. We are called by our Lord, Himself, to do nothing less. Just consider the fruit of those obedient lives!
     The last classification is called Lazy Spectators. It's easy in this fast-paced world to get distracted by technology, the demands on our lives, and our busy calendars. Sometimes it seems that we can only give a half-hearted response to the call on our life. But a life that can be used by God makes Him and His righteous Kingdom their priority. It's not easy to be all-in for the Lord. There is much that we give up when we make that commitment. But the rewards are so worth it! When you see that the fruit of your efforts lead to a transformed life in your neighbor, then it makes the sacrifices worthwhile.
     Take it from me. There will be sacrifices made when you answer God's call. God cannot use you if the desire of your heart is for the wealth of this world. So you need to be satisfied and content with just what you need, and what the Lord provides. As you become more obedient in your calling, your time will not be your own. You will find that bearing fruit results in more opportunities to bear fruit -- if that makes sense. But you can't say No to God! You will come to realize that you have a very short time to make a difference in the earth and people's lives. You will want to rest, but find that there is little time to rest. There is always more to do for the Kingdom. You will find that the care of your home suffers, and all the outward appearances of your life no longer matter. You have said, "Yes, Lord! Use me!" and He will take you at your word.
     But I can also tell you this ... once you have surrendered your will to the will of the God of the Universe, and answered His call on your life, there is no way you're going to want to turn back. You will find that the wealth of this world does not compare to the riches in your work for the Kingdom. You will enter into a new Remnant Community of people; people whose commitment and dedication to expanding the Kingdom on earth will unite your spirits and your purposes in this life. You will not get caught up in the distractions of politics, religion, or popular culture -- your mind has been renewed to a higher purpose and you are focused on what God is showing you. 
     But let me also make it clear that there is so much joy in doing the Lord's work. Yes, you will be tired from your efforts, but you will also experience a lightness and elation that transcends your physical senses. You will rejoice in the victories won for the Kingdom; and you will find immeasurable joy in expressing your gratitude for being used by God. There's nothing like experiencing the power of the Lord in His grace on your life. Just say, "YES!"

Matthew 7:16    You can spot them by their actions, for the fruits of their character will be obvious. You won’t find sweet grapes hanging on a thorn bush, and you’ll never pick good fruit from a tumbleweed.
    
      

Fulfillment of the Law, Inner Healing, and The Kingdom of God

     We are all familiar with the Beatitudes of Matthew, Chapter Five. We have heard countless sermons quote these familiar verses. But I will tell you that I never heard a message that linked them to the Kingdom of God, even though Jesus begins by associating them with the Kingdom.
     He says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of God". When my spirit first recognized this connection, all of the Beatitudes took on new meaning! And while it is not the purpose of this post to examine Matthew 5:1-12, I invite you to read the post I wrote, I Finally Understand the Beatitudes!  Suffice it to say that this amazing Scripture illuminates the blessings of belonging to the Kingdom of God and the spiritual implications of Jesus's rule in our lives. These twelve verses highlight what our spiritual attitudes, goals, and character traits should be as Christians.
     And interestingly, each of the twelve verses simulate the progression of what it looks like when we take this journey with Jesus towards our complete and whole sanctification. First, we are poor in spirit, without a relationship with our Creator; then we mourn for our fallen state; we become meek and teachable; then hunger and thirst after righteousness; becoming merciful and pure in heart; seeking the peace of Heaven; which goes against the world's nature and we are persecuted for our righteousness; ending with us receiving great rewards in heaven for our allegiance to our Lord. That's what it's like to be transformed from a lost soul into a Kingdom citizen!
     But it's what Jesus has to say about fulfilling the Law that I want to examine today. How many times have we read His teachings on Murder, Lust, Divorce, Oaths, Revenge, and Love in the Book of Matthew? We've all seen the simple moral lessons on each of these important topics, and Jesus makes it clear that they are important commandments to follow. He even warns that entering the Kingdom of Heaven depends on us understanding them. But I want to take you a little deeper, if I may.
     Remember, Jesus wants us to understand that He has not come to abolish the law or the prophets, but rather to fulfill them. And have you noticed that He begins each of the five topics He covers with this statement: "You have heard it said [to those of old]"... quoting from the Old Testament and the Law.  But He follows it up with, "But I say to you"... bringing a new perspective to the Law, now that the Kingdom of God has arrived with Him.
     I want you to see and understand two things: 1) He is showing us what a renewed mind, one that perceives things from a Kingdom perspective looks like; and 2) He is showing what the root cause is of these spiritual sins. Let me show you how that works. Let's start with the topic of Murder. Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder'... But I say, whoever is angry with his brother ... whoever insults his brother ... whoever calls his brother a fool will all be held to judgement. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison."
     He is showing us how to renew our minds and not give in to sinful actions. He gives us a heavenly solution to a sinful problem. There is no murder or anger in Heaven. But even more importantly, He is showing us that the root cause of murder is the spirit of anger! If you give in to the spirit of anger, and do not change your perspective to a kingdom one, that anger can lead to bitterness, then to resentment, on to hatred, and eventually can wind up at murder!
     Now let's look at Adultery. Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."  Here, we see that the root cause of adultery is lust. If we give in to a lustful spirit, it can lead to fantasizing, perhaps pornography, and even eventually, adultery. But Jesus gives us a solution. Change the way we've looked at, and bind it as it is bound in Heaven. Put a stop to anything in your life that enables or encourages you to go down that road.
     Divorce is a difficult one. Jesus doesn't have much to say about it:  “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’  But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." Jesus quotes the Law and then re-defines it according to the Father's spiritual rules. It's as if He's saying, "You've heard me say that lust is the spiritual root of adultery, and lust is what leads to sexual immorality. So, that is the only grounds on which you can serve a bill of divorce to your wife. No longer can you just decide you want to end the marriage. Any grounds other than the one I have established is not recognized, and is a sin. Divorce does not exist in Heaven. It should not exist here on earth.
     Oaths are another area that He is adamant about.  "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all....". Here, Jesus is reformatting the Law again. Taking an oath was okay under the Law, as long as it was not false. But in a renewed Kingdom mindset, one doesn't want to take an oath at all. We recognize who we are, and our word as sons and daughters of the King carry all the weight we need. Oaths can lead to destruction, such as the oaths taken by Freemasons against their bodies and the health of their family members. I have seen those oaths destroy families and lives. The consequences of seemingly meaningless pledges and vows have unleashed havoc on innocent lives for generations. Follow Jesus's advice: Let your "yes" mean "yes", and your "no" mean "no".  
     Revenge or retaliation is another topic Jesus addresses:  “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."  There is no revenge in Heaven, except for that exacted by YHWH. Remember: Vengeance is His alone! So a Kingdom mindset turns the other cheek to keep the Enemy from inciting evil; always giving more than what was taken. A Kingdom mindset does not let a root sin of anger develop into bitterness, followed by hatred, which could end up with murder,
     Finally, Jesus ends up with the most surprising advice:  "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven."  That is so counter-intuitive to the human mind. But a spiritually renewed mind can recognize that that is exactly what Jesus did! True love is a sacrificial love, and it is perfect love.
     So I hope you were able to see the elements of Inner Healing, and see the root causes of spiritual issues in Jesus's teaching. And I hope you were able to peel another layer of revelation off Scripture today. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to bring it to the fullness of its purpose: to help us transform this earth into Heaven. Our Lord has so much to reveal to us about the mind of the Father, and is trying to teach us to renew our minds to see from the Father's Heavenly perspective. These verses offer so much more than "Don't Murder, don't cheat on your spouse, don't get divorced, don't seek revenge, and just love everyone". Jesus is trying to teach us how to live a Kingdom lifestyle and not yield spiritual territory to our Enemy. May we grow each day toward that perfect life and discern His righteousness in all its ways!

Luke 6:40      A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

 
      
    

How Are We To Live Under Our King?

   
     A couple of posts back, I expressed the idea that we Americans have difficulty understanding what it's like to live in a kingdom, since we have never experienced it. Therefore, it makes sense that we might struggle with how Jesus, who is our King and Savior expects us to live and honor Him. Hopefully, I can help you put some familiar Scriptures in their proper kingdom perspective, and see how Jesus describes kingdom living.
     It's important that we understand that a King is also "Lord" of his kingdom, which has different connotations: Master, as in having dominion, or absolute control; and an identity as Ruler of his subjects. And here's why living under a King in a true kingdom is beneficial: as the supreme master and ruler over his subjects, a King protects the citizens of his kingdom, as well as owning all the resources, distributing them as he sees fit to those in need. There is then no competition for those resources, because everyone has what they need, when they need it. And since the King owns it all, there is no ownership by the citizens which can result in jealousy, deceit, or greed. The citizens are stewards of what they receive, by way of submitting their allegiance to the King.
     This concept is expressed in Matthew 20:8-10, And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.  Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. Jesus is showing us the equality of living in His kingdom.
     So then, from a kingdom standpoint, and for a successful kingdom life, the most important thing we can declare is that "Jesus Christ is Lord". Paul tells us this in Romans 10:9 ... Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. And by "saved", Paul means redeemed, bought back, salvaged, restored from the estrangement our ancestors Adam and Eve caused with their rebellion against God [the King] in the Garden. It's about restoring that right relationship with Him by acknowledging that Jesus is King and Lord of everything, including our lives and our destiny.
     So, again, I come back to how do we rethink [or better yet, let's look at it from the Biblical perspective ... renew our mind] about what living under such a Lord looks like. Well, Jesus is Lord of the earth, right? Another way of saying that is, He is Lord of the land. Even our Western minds understand the concept of a landlord. It is a small, but accurate picture of Jesus as Lord. The landlord is the owner and authority of the land [or property] that you occupy, and we as tenants [or residents/citizens] are responsible to obey His instructions, commands, and laws. 
     Jesus cannot be Lord without obedience, so IF He is Lord, you cannot say "Lord...but" or "Lord...except" or "Lord....wait".  IF He is Lord, the only thing you can say is, "Lord...yes"! Jesus tells us this is His expectation when He says, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me (Luke 9:25); and again, in Matthew 10:37-38, He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38) And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
     It's pretty clear ... unless Jesus is the first priority of your life; unless He is above any other thing or person you treasure; and unless He is above every goal, ambition, or dream you have ever had, or will have ... then you cannot call yourself a disciple, nor is He Lord of your life. One of the most serious questions Jesus asks in the Bible is this: Why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things I say? Can any of us honestly deny that we have not been guilty of this accusation at one time or another in our lives? There are no exceptions to His demand for loyalty and obedience. The bottom line is this: Either Jesus is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.
     And with that understanding, comes a serious warning. In God's Kingdom, there can be only one King and Lord. We must understand that He does not share ownership of His Kingdom with anyone; not even us, His loyal citizens. He graciously shares all His riches, resources, and all good things of His Kingdom. That is a right we enjoy as a citizen. But as soon as we forget this principle, and begin thinking we own anything, then we make ourselves a lord. With that mindset, we take our focus and trust away from His provision and begin thinking we are responsible for our own needs. We then become proprietary of all we have; we fight to keep what we have; and we begin to live in fear of losing it. When we live in the true Kingdom of God on earth, there are no shortages and no worries or fears about our resources. When we relinquish our possession of what God owns, and acknowledge His Lordship, we find that we have full access to those resources; more even than we could dare to hope or ask for.
     I know that on one hand, this sounds simplistic; and on the other, so foreign compared to how we've been taught to consider Jesus. I think our primary title for Jesus, as taught in the Western Church, is Savior. Yet, in the four Gospels, which are the teachings and revelations of Jesus in the Bible, He is only designated Savior 3 times, but Lord 190 times, and King 364 times. I know it is easy to dismiss this concept of Jesus as Lord/King and ourselves as citizens of His kingdom, but if you agree to accept the Bible as the true revelation of Christ, we cannot dispute this perception of Him and His domain, nor can we refute our rightful identity as sons and heirs of the King. I don't know about you, but that's an identity that is worth exploring, accepting, and inheriting.

1 Thessalonians 2:12     We comforted and encouraged you and challenged you to adopt a lifestyle worthy of God, who invites you into His kingdom and glory.
 

The Beauty and Balance of Bold Faith

     In 2008, I received a word that awakened an innate love of writing that had surfaced as a child, and then had lain dormant for over 30 years. A man whom I only met once told me he had a message for me from my Father in Heaven to "be the pen and not the blank piece of paper". Only God could have revealed to him that I was meant to write, since no one -- not even my husband -- was aware that my gift even existed, let alone that it had been inoperative for so long.
     He told me that God wanted me to write because He created me to do it, and that it pleased Him for me to use my gift. That's all it took -- there was no question about it; no hesitancy at all. I was simply going to be obedient. That led to three years of writing every single day for the joy it gave me, and for the pleasure of my Father. The result was a novel that I have yet to publish because the goal wasn't to write a best-seller, but to just develop a discipline of writing ... and to please God, of course.
     Three years later, I heard a word from Him, myself. I was commanded to write a blog -- this very blog -- to calm the fears of women as we faced a radically changing world. I clearly heard in my spirit that women were frightened about the economy, the constant threats of war and terrorism, the transformation of our society and morals, and the structure of the family, just to name a few. But the Lord told me that in all these matters, I needed to point them to Him. In other words, don't shy away from examining world affairs, but give them courage to face an evolving world by looking at it through a lens of faith and the Bible. Thus, began a season of blog posts on looking at subjects like the Hegelian Dialect, Normalcy Bias, World Politics, Isis, and Prepping.
     Then in 2015, God told me to stop looking at the world, and point my audience solely to Him. I wrote about new revelations I was receiving on old, familiar Scripture. And I discussed topics like Occultism and Witchcraft; Power and Authority; and our relationship with the Holy Spirit. And if you've followed the path the Lord has led me on, you now know that He is declaring a new season of writing on the Kingdom of God.

     As you can see, He has been moving in my life and there is a progression towards knowing more of Him and His ways. But I'm not the only one! I have been blessed within the last three days to be among groups of believers just like me; people who are on an individual journey, but one that God has designed to benefit all of us. Our assignments don't resemble each other's. What's more, God is showing me how important it is for those of us who are "watchmen on the wall" to stay alert and aware of not only what He is doing in the world and the spirit realms; but what He is teaching each of us, and what we are encountering and learning; and also what the Enemy is up to in his schemes and strategies to defeat God's agenda.
     And this is encouragement for all of you who read this blog. As we focus in on our individual assignments, we can sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture -- all that I mentioned above. And when God has placed you in a remote location to sow seeds for the Kingdom, as He has me and my husband, one can feel isolated and removed from where [we perceive] all the action is occurring. So, it was good for us to travel to Austin a few days ago to be in the company of a diverse group of Kingdom-Seekers and hear what the Lord's been up to, and to get a glimpse of where He's taking us.
     As you know, Mark and I have been given an assignment of working with Jesus to bring Inner Healing and Divine Deliverance to those who are hurting in this world -- the broken-hearted, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed. But He has recently added "teaching the Kingdom" to our job description. Those two tasks are consuming both our ministry and prayer time. So we were able to share these experiences with the group and hear how the Lord is working differently in their lives. And that's where it got interesting and exciting!
     We had a Watchman whose assignment is to research and investigate -- and ultimately destroy -- the rapid advancement of technology and how the Enemy is using it in nefarious ways to infect and infiltrate our bodies. I'm not just talking about listening in on your phone conversations or the vaccine controversy, folks. The knowledge that the Lord is downloading to certain Watchmen makes the plots and storylines of TV Shows like the wildly popular Stranger Things seem like fairy tales. I mean, I'm talking about the fact that the Enemy knows Scripture such as 1 John 5:1, which says, This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
     So, imagine if you can, that the Lord downloads a message to you that concerns this topic of light and it has huge ramifications for the human species. I'm going to give you a very condensed science lesson and you will see what I'm talking about. According to Wired.com, an online magazine that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics, all objects produce light. That is, we are matter that consists of energy fields and magnetic fields, which result in electromagnetic waves. All of these electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed (the speed of light). However, they have different interactions with matter. And technically, the interaction with light and matter depends on the frequency of light. And here's how and why that is important to us humans ... What happens, say if there is no light that enters your body through your eyes? What if you are in a place with absolutely no source of light? The correct answer is that you will just see black [or darkness] - forever.
     What if the Lord showed you that the Enemy has co-opted mankind to develop various ways to insert Artificial Intelligence into our bodies that will bend light, so that what is attacking our bodies through allergies, seizures, body aches, profound fatigue, autism etc., cannot be found? When the Light Source is diverted, these attacks on our bodies remain in the dark and are many, many times undiscoverable. But what if God gave you the keys that fit into the locks previously unopened by traditional and non-traditional medicine? What if He showed you that the body could actually speak to you [via muscle testing] and show you what, how, and where those attacks were originating from? Would that fit into your faith grid? Can you trust that the God of the Bible could [and would] reveal something so unorthodox and extraordinary? 
     Picture, if you will, this diverse group of obedient followers of Jesus and how we were able to reconcile our dissimilar, non-traditional paths of faith and obedience. After all, my path certainly has nothing in common with revelations regarding the quantum mechanics of the body. Yet, one could conclude that the goal of both ministries is healing of both body and spirit.
     The point that I want to make by sharing these disparate accounts of journeys with God is that, in the end, the entire group had one thing in common ... despite different paths, we all arrived at the same position of faith: no matter what this world conjures up to try to destroy our assignments from God, the blood of Jesus defeats it. We have been given the power and authority from our Lord over all the power of the Enemy, and ultimately he cannot harm us. Those of us who answer God's call to boldly walk where most people dare not tread can expect criticism and rejection. But that was the beauty of this gathering of the faithful. We were all willing to accept our assignments, even if it meant isolation, condemnation, and the possibility of failures. We might not look like the world, or even each other, but we all recognized that we have the Light in us, and when we expose the Enemy's darkness to the Light of Jesus, we can and will be victorious!
     So, I just want to end this post with this word of encouragement to you ... don't worry about how your assignment from God looks to others; and don't compare or try to emulate another's spiritual walk. There is something uniquely and exceptionally beautiful about how God designates each of us for specific purposes, and how those purposes balance each other out to fulfill His ultimate plan. We don't need to try to figure it all out or how it all fits together; we just need to be bold and persistent. That's the picture of Faith that honors and glorifies our Father in Heaven. May it ever be!

If you would like more information on the ministry of Quantum Mechanics and the healing of the body, visit Natalie Morris at Quantum Command. 

1 Corinthians 7:17    May all believers continue to live the wonderful lives God has called them to live, according to what He assigns for each person, for this is what I teach to believers everywhere.

The Good News of The Kingdom of God

     I know it may seem as if I'm belaboring the point of the Kingdom, but I do not think the Body of Christ has a firm grasp of how important this matter is to God. Has it become clear to you that all the parables Jesus teaches in Scripture pertain to the Kingdom? Or, like me [before my spiritual eyes were opened], perhaps you assumed they were moral lessons that we are to learn to become better Christians. But, in my case, that belief came from an immature understanding of the "big picture" the Bible presents.
     For far too long, I accepted the Church's organized and religious versions of what God wanted to tell me through His Holy Word. And it wasn't until I began my own earnest study that some of those teachings and doctrines fell short, if not exposed as downright corrupted. Let's start with the Book of Genesis. It is more than the Sunday School stories we were taught on the Creation of the World, the Fall of Man, Cain and Abel, Noah and the Flood, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob and Esau, Joseph sold into slavery, and the proliferation of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Yes, Genesis reveals all those important stories, but there is so much more! The very core of Genesis is based on God's plan [from the beginning] to make Earth an extension of His Kingdom in Heaven. And He intended for His creation [man] to rule and have dominion over the earth by establishing His Kingdom principles. Man was created to be in authority over God's creation.
     But as Scripture tells us, Man relinquished that authority to Satan in the Garden. It has been God's design ever since to restore our rightful authority and dominion. God intended to rule Earth through our leadership. We were created to be second-in-command under the Rulership of the Triune God.  From that first rebellion in Genesis, God has planned for us to re-discover not only His purpose, but ours, and to reclaim our inheritance as sons and daughters of God.

     Here is the one thing that I believe those of us of the Christian faith need to come to terms with: Jesus did not come to establish Christianity or the Christian religion. He came to restore the Kingdom of God to earth! Everything that Jesus said and did during His three-year ministry came from the Divine instructions of the Father. He only said and did what the Father revealed to Him. His ministry reflected His passionate desire (and the Father's) to establish the Kingdom of God in men's hearts so that they might influence all aspects of the earth.
     But remember, the fact that God is sovereign over His Kingdom, and we were created to administer His Kingdom here on earth, indicates that we live under His rule and His reign. The effect of His Kingdom touches our body, soul, and spirit and is able to heal, transform and renew every part of us. But His Kingdom is not designed to just effect our physical body or inner man. We are supposed to be shining examples of what a Kingdom citizen looks like. And I mean "shining" in the sense that the light of Christ and the Holy Spirit is evident in all we do and say. And it's all really simple. In fact, Jesus said, "Whoever does not open their arms to receive God’s kingdom like a teachable child will never enter it.”
     When you think about it, He has given us everything we need to enter the Kingdom ... 1) His Word, reveals what Kingdom living looks like, along with our responsibilities as citizens of the Kingdom, and includes the blessings that come from entering into the Kingdom. Jesus presents all that relevant information in the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 2) He has given us the Holy Spirit as our Guide, Counselor, and Teacher to help us stay on track and keep us focused on the Kingdom. 3) He has given us a goal to reach: Seek the Kingdom first, and His righteousness. Then ALL our earthly needs will be met. 
     Yet, I fear that too many of us look at other things first before we ever consider the Kingdom of God as our priority .... we look at our families, our jobs, our positions in the Church, our positions in the world, our finances, how other people see us, and anything that makes us feel good about ourselves. But Jesus is our King, and our loyalty must first be to Him. We cannot say, "Lord, I will follow you and represent Your Kingdom, but first let me ______". 
     The Good News of the Kingdom is that once we enter into the Kingdom through the doorway, which is faith in Jesus, we have entered a new country; we have a new homeland. We are no longer citizens of the United Citizens, but are residing in the Kingdom of God. We are then commissioned as ambassadors and representatives of His Kingdom government, and our assignment is to help others find the doorway, too. That's what Jesus did! Yes, He performed signs and wonders, but the purpose of them was to bring the Kingdom of God [and His access to its resources] into view so that everyone He met would "seek the Kingdom" and desire to enter it, too. 
     As citizens of the Kingdom, we have full rights and access to the resources of the Kingdom. Jesus showed us that when He confidently expected there to be enough food to feed the five thousand. He knew His Father's Kingdom was one of plentiful provision. He knew that as long as He tended to His Father's business, all of His needs would be met. Today we read that story and call it a "miracle". To Jesus, and Kingdom-minded citizens, it is an expected development.
     The Good News of the Kingdom is that healing, deliverance, provision, mercy, love, and grace [among many other rights of Kingdom citizens] are all parts of God's system of Kingdom government. They are the privileges of every person who enters the Kingdom through the door of Jesus. They are not end goals within themselves, but benefits of understanding who we are and our position within the Kingdom. It is exactly because we move beyond the door of Jesus [and our "born again" experience] that we can mature and grow as true sons and daughters of the King and take part in this increase of God's Kingdom on earth.
      And as children of God, it is important that we not only seek His Kingdom, but His righteousness, as well. We need to know His mind and His heart; begin thinking like Him so that we can be instrumental in seeing His righteous will done here on Earth. I have such a longing to know more of the Kingdom and my role in it. I have stepped through the door that is Jesus, and now I want to know how I can be a good citizen of the Kingdom. What is the best way I can serve my King? How does He want me to share the news of His Kingdom? Am I hearing my assignment correctly? I don't want more of religion or church-y systems. I want to walk boldly and confidently in His Kingdom system! And I know any and all news about the Kingdom is "good".  But, Lord, I am asking you to reveal my next steps, and I pray that my Kingdom walk serves Your purposes, not my own. I thank you for drawing me into Your Kingdom. Now, help me to be worthy of my citizenship, as I seek you with all my heart.

Revelation 11:15       ... The kingdom (dominion, rule) of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever. 

    
      

What I've Learned About My Kingdom Assignment

    

     If you are following Jesus's command to "Seek the Kingdom first", and you are committed to Kingdom living, then sooner or later, you can expect to hear from the Lord and be given a Kingdom "assignment". That word assignment has lots of connotations ... task, appointment, mission, an anointing. And it can take on grandiose implications, or it can hint at a more modest significance. In other words, our assignments might range from a lifetime as an apostle equipping thousands of saints, to being called to pray one afternoon for a single person. In other words, assignments come in all sizes.
     But I will also tell you this ... that in order to receive your assignment, I believe you must renew your mind to understand that the Kingdom of God is exclusive. By that, I mean nothing can come before the Kingdom of God in your life. It must be your priority over everything this world can give you. And that includes your family, the religious Church, and the marketplace. And here's a truth that is hard for many Christians to accept: The Kingdom will cost you something! Salvation is free; it doesn't cost us a thing. The price was paid by Jesus on the Cross. But walking in the Kingdom is costly. You will have to cut the cord to this world to inherit the Kingdom!
     In fact, Jesus was pretty clear about that when people [who came to hear Him preach on the Kingdom] proclaimed they were ready to follow Him. In Luke 9:57-62, Jesus doesn't hold back when telling them what it will cost them: As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  To another He said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”  And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.”  Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” 
     Jesus makes it clear that Kingdom living will cost you the comforts of this life [including everything from a place to sleep, to a home, itself]. He makes it clear that the Kingdom of God must come before your family -- you must be willing to have an exclusive relationship with Jesus and God the Father, which means being willing to cut all ties to other relationships; including all family members, both the living and the dead.  And He shows us that if any part of us longs for that "old life" with its human/family attachments, we are not prepared to serve the Kingdom and will not be given Kingdom assignments. Just as for the men in the Bible, I believe that cost is too high for many Christians.
     I've learned that Kingdom Living has nothing to do with my personal priorities -- and everything to do with God's Kingdom taking precedence in my life. Once I was able to recognize that the Kingdom of God [and all it encompasses] was to be my primary objective in serving the Lord, my assignments have become clear.
     It began with a dream [or vision] that Mark had from God, telling him to sanctify ourselves and our property to His purpose. He was given very specific instructions as to what that sanctification process was to look like, and although we did not yet know to what "purpose" we were being called, the Lord led us to specific people (Dr. Charles Kraft and Barbara Bucklin) who spoke into us and activated our assignment to participate with Jesus and Holy Spirit in an Inner Healing Ministry, and then to teach others as we also preached the Gospel of the Kingdom.
      Because I can now see my assignments so clearly, I am careful to guard them. Because you see, the Enemy would like nothing better than to distract me from my Kingdom mission. And I will tell you that as Mark and I have continued to pursue Kingdom, the spiritual warfare has escalated. The devil does not want us to educate and equip others to seek the Kingdom first!
     Since receiving our assignment as Kingdom ambassadors and Inner Healing Ministers, Mark and I have noticed an increase in spiritual attacks. And when I decide to hammer home the Kingdom message in successive posts, the Enemy lets me know he notices it. Therefore, it is important that Mark and I recognize it is inevitable that our Kingdom assignment will come into conflict with the worldview and ideologies that control the political, economic and social systems of this world. The purpose of a Kingdom worldview is to focus people's hearts and minds on a system from God's perspective. Therefore, everything of this world will be challenged, and since satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), he's never happy when we point people [especially Christians] away from religion and towards Kingdom. He knows we can actually change the culture, not only of the Church, but of all mankind in general! So I've learned that it is important to be effective in my prayer life; to have powerful intercessors praying for us; and to recognize that spiritual warfare is now at a higher level.
     All that being said, I also know that my Kingdom message must be centered on Jesus; my ministry and assignment must reflect His love and the principles He taught in His ministry. If we seek first His Kingdom, and focus on Jesus being the center of our lives and ministries, then He will lead us to do the things [in our assignments] that will glorify God and bless the lives of those we come in contact with.
     I have also learned that my Kingdom assignment not only effects me, but my husband, so I am extremely blessed that we are on the same page. In fact, I am seeing God bringing couples into covenant partnerships as they receive their "team" assignments. And as you come into a mutual alignment with the Father, I have learned that it is important to stay "mission-focused". It can be easy for one or the other of you to get pulled into other obligations to serve the Lord [out of a desire to be obedient] by serving the needs of others. But it is important to be able to discern if every new opportunity aligns with your original assignment. If not, as hard as it may be, there will be times you just need to say "No". Time taken away from your primary assignment can result in a failure to fulfill or carry out God's plans. And that will lead to a dissatisfied spirit and frustration.
     I think one of the most important things I have learned is how vital it is to have people in my life who understand and partner with Mark and I in our Kingdom assignment. I believe it is important to be connected to a body of believers that walks in a Biblical model of discipleship. If you are blessed to belong to a Church that actively equips and releases the saints for the work of the Kingdom ministry, then count yourself fortunate, and take advantage of that connection. Sadly, I do not believe many Churches can meet that criteria. Therefore, it has been important for Mark and I to be connected to small Home Church groups who share in this ministry assignment and are willing to run the Kingdom marathon with us.
     Finally, one of the most important things I've learned about accepting my Kingdom assignment is the need to find a balance between my work for the Kingdom and a time of rest and restoration. It is important to do things that strengthen me spiritually, such as prayer time, Bible study, community with like-minded Believers. But I also need to have some "me time" to do the things that feed my soul (reading, writing, music). It is essential that Mark and I spend time together apart from our ministry to get revived and just enjoy the simple things Jesus has created. It is equally important that we have down time with friends who understand our hearts as well as make us laugh. We are there to support each other in our Kingdom assignments and adventures. Jesus called His disciples His friends, so even though the Bible doesn't focus on it, I believe there were times they laughed and sang and enjoyed life as they traveled the countryside preaching the Good News of the Kingdom. We must do the same. Remember, relationship is the key to God's heart.
     In summary, my journey in my Kingdom assignment is relatively new, and the Lord is unfolding new layers and revelation each day. I know that my citizenship in the Kingdom is more important than my citizenship in the world. I know my assignment and I am dedicated to fulfilling it. I know that accepting my Kingdom assignment will paint a target on my back -- and satan, the world system, and even the religious will be aiming for me. But I know who I am in the Kingdom, and I know the purpose of my assignment, and I will not waver. It is a privilege to be called to serve the Kingdom of my Lord, and He will be my strength and my refuge. I will be victorious in my assignment!

1 John 2:27    But the wonderful anointing you have received from God is so much greater than their deception and now lives in you. There’s no need for anyone to keep teaching you [the false doctrines of men]. His anointing teaches you all that you need to know, for it will lead you into truth, not a counterfeit. So just as the anointing has taught you, remain in Him.