Feeling Burdened By the World? God's Kingdom is the Answer!

The Holiday Season has begun, yet this time of joy and good cheer is often overshadowed by a heaviness that many just can't shake. Maybe you can't put your finger on it; there just seems to be an innate awareness of encroaching darkness underneath the outward display of festive merriment. But, as a Christian, if we can truly understand and embrace the truth of our faith, then we would know that we have been delivered into a new and different realm of reality than this broken world. Maybe we need to re-examine exactly what our faith rests on, and be willing to come to a new and greater knowledge of God's Truth ...

The Fundamentals

Let's examine the facts of our faith: To begin, if we truly identify as a Christian, we have been greatly blessed that the Son of God [and the Son of Man] walked in the midst of this sinful world and was willing to take upon Himself the sins of the entire world [across all span of time] and suffer the wrath of God [on that cruel and humiliating cross] in order to appease the righteous anger of God towards each one of us. 

Do you fully understand that through Jesus's substitutionary death, we have received His righteousness before God? That, when God, our Father, looks upon us, He sees His Son? Think about that for a moment ... Instinctively, we know we don't deserve that Grace. Yet, if we are true followers of Christ, we will repent for our sins, begin to live a new life in Him, where there is no condemnation from Heaven, and we can enjoy peace and reconciliation with Almighty God. That is called Salvation. 

And Jesus completed that part of His mission when He came to earth. He died for you and me, and three days later He walked out of the burial tomb the risen Son of God; the living, conqueror of Death, and our triumphant Savior! Salvation is now available to whomever calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a free gift and it is incumbent upon you, [it is necessary that you], either receive it or reject it. Simply put, it is a choice between Heaven and Hell; a choice between suffering in eternal agony, or rejoicing in eternal blessedness. 

I know the carnal world doesn't like to hear that they are limited to those two choices. And, yes, there are even some professing Christians that want to keep a foot in both camps. To them, Salvation becomes a burden and a self-gratifying form of faith that disrespects what it cost our Lord to give us that choice. But what profoundly saddens me is that too many cannot see that there was more to Jesus's mission than Salvation.

 He not only gave us an opportunity to choose Him as our way to reconciliation with our Father in Heaven, but as the way to enter our Father's Kingdom, which He brought with Him when He came from Heaven to earth. That's a fundamental truth that must not be ignored ... without Salvation, there is no access to the Kingdom. Salvation is the first and necessary step to entering the Kingdom [see John 3:1-5] -- there is no other way. And we need to enter the Kingdom to carry on Jesus's work. So, if you're feeling burdened by the world, perhaps you need to re-examine your understanding of Jesus's message about the Kingdom and what it means for you.

Why the Kingdom of God is the Answer

For some time now, I have discerned [and lamented] that kingdom is the latest buzz word among Christian ministries. It seems that every few years a new word or phrase is picked up by the Christian network and used as a motivating force to launch new evangelical strategies. In itself, that's not a bad thing, but I just wonder how many truly understand the importance and weight of the Kingdom of God.

When we discuss or promote the idea of the Kingdom, do we rightly represent it as belonging to God who reigns and rules over it? Or have we begun to claim ownership of the "kingdom" through our own "kingdom work" and lifestyles, ministries, and belief systems? To be honest, I became a little concerned when I began to see a proliferation of "kingdom businesses" and "kingdom universities" being promoted. And believe me, I am constantly re-examining myself and my motives! Am I self-serving, or serving God when I talk, or teach, about the Kingdom?

When the Spirit first opened my spiritual eyes to the truth and importance of Jesus's message about the Kingdom, I became conscious of making sure I was pointing to God and His reign, as well as His purpose to break into this sinful and broken world through His Son. I didn't want it to be about me and my efforts. True, we are His representatives, but how we represent and share His Kingdom matters. There is so much more beyond His gift of Salvation, as glorious and transforming as that is! But it is significantly important that we understand [and share] that we are not just saved from death and sin, but saved into a new realm of life [called the Kingdom], which results in a new identity, a new purpose, and a new destiny.

God called His creation of everything on earth "Good". But His Kingdom represents the glory of His sovereign rule over every aspect of our lives. It involves so much more than asking Him into your heart; it is His spiritual reign in our lives, whereby He sits on the throne of our hearts, and we submit to His authoritative and loving rule. By our example, we are to invite the rest of the world to become part of His Kingdom of Light, dispelling the darkness that leads to the burden some of us feel today. 

I love this quote by author Jeremy Treat: "The Bible is the story of God making His good creation a glorious Kingdom ... The Bible is a rescue story, not about God rescuing sinners from a broken creation, but about Him rescuing them for a new creation ... The message of the Kingdom is not an escape from Earth to Heaven, but God's reign coming from Heaven to Earth". Now, contemplate the weight of Scripture's truth when it says thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". The Kingdom message is about the scope and purpose of God's reign over the earth, making it like Heaven. 

Jesus came to bring a way for the men on earth to become a part of God's reign [and His new creation] on the earth through the Kingdom Jesus brought with Him. And the only way to enter that Kingdom was by receiving Salvation through faith in Jesus. By partnering with Jesus, we have a new life, separating ourselves from our sinful attachment to the old created world, in exchange for entrance into a new spiritual realm called the Kingdom of God. Today, this Kingdom has come in part as a spiritual reality for the truly Saved. We no longer claim citizenship in this world, but are renewed by our lives in the Kingdom and the promise of the fulfillment of the Kingdom when Jesus returns. That glorious fulfillment is a future event and the culmination of God's redemptive plan since man's fall in the Garden.  

So, if, as a redeemed Christian, you are feeling burdened by being in this fallen and sinful world, perhaps you should take a closer look at where you've positioned yourself. Which realm are you taking up your residence? Do you see yourself in the world ... or transferred into the Kingdom realm? Whose reign are you submitting yourself to -- the authority of the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) ... or the realm where Jesus reigns as King of the world, and God's authority is sovereign and supreme? Are you allowing yourself to be burdened by the chains with which this world will weigh you down, ... or looking forward to your inheritance and rewards when Heaven comes to earth in the fullness of Jesus Christ, and we take our places at the feast in the Millennial Kingdom?

In summation, we need not look at our present circumstances through our carnal eyes, but look with joy, patience, and expectation towards our future reality in God's fulfilled Kingdom on earth. Remember, at the moment of our Salvation, we were delivered from Satan's domain of darkness and transferred into the different and separate realm of the Kingdom of God. Stay focused on our future inheritance. It only gets better from here! 

2 Peter 1:10-11     So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Fallen Angel Stronghold Still in Satan's Plans (For Those With Eyes to See)!

I have been open and forthcoming about my Biblical Worldview, which I will admit oftentimes runs outside of, and independently from, the traditional Church's viewpoint. I hope you will give me the grace and understanding that this does not mean I seek to rebel against traditional and long-established teachings. It simply means that I have not been willing to keep God in a box in order to make Him fit my framework [or the Religious Church's] of who He is or what the Bible desires to reveal to me through the revelations of the Holy Spirit.

You see, I've always held to the axiom that everything in the Bible is true and all about the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. BUT, everything about the Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit cannot be contained in the Bible. The totality of information about who they are and the history of the world they created cannot be limited to a book with a mere 1540 pages. As John says in 21:25, Now there are also many things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. And as King Solomon is credited in Psalm 25:2 as saying, It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

So, I guess if you need to put me in a category, it could be said that I do not believe that God has quit revealing Himself to us. In fact, I believe that as the time for Jesus comes nearer, God is revealing Himself more, and continually exposing Satan's hidden strategies in order to prepare His Remnant for the physical and spiritual battles coming in these End Times. And that brings me to a connection between antediluvian history (pre-Flood) and today's headlines that I've been piecing together from several current sources. And again, I'm able to consider these things and vet them against Scripture because I'm willing 1) to accept that their connections are part of God's plan for us to know them; 2) I know how to test the spirits to see if they are from God; and 3) I'm willing to look beyond traditional religious belief systems to see if God is concealing things He wants me to search out. 

So, all that being said, this brings me to the current situation in Lebanon; namely that just this last week the Israeli military began a bombing campaign against the ancient city of Baalbek. Today, this historical site is known for being the location of one of the world's largest remaining standing Roman temples. It is also a World Heritage Site and famous for being known as "the ancient Roman citadel of Baalbek". While this is certainly of interest to us because of the chaos in the Middle East that threatens to spill over into the rest of the world primed for war, there is so much more significance to this site that we 21st Century Christians don't know ... but need to know as to how it relates to these times.

If you research the history of Baalbek in today's search engines, you will most likely discover the near ancient history of this famous site. One such extensive article tells us that Baalbek's origins can be traced back to the Phoenician era, around 900 BC, when it was known as Heliopolis, dedicated to the worship of the god Baal. During this period, the Phoenicians constructed sanctuaries on the site, laying the foundation for the religious sanctuaries and the religious and architectural legacy that would evolve over the centuries. After Alexander the Great's conquest in 334 BC, the city incorporated elements of Greek architecture, as the site embodied Greek style with its Phoenician heritage.

Modern history will tell us that in 64 BC, the Romans took over, and at this time the iconic Roman Temples came into existence, including the Temples of Jupiter, Bacchus, and Venus. These monumental temples, dedicated to these ancient gods were known for their archeological magnificence, and credit was given to ancient Roman craftsman for their engineering skills in constructing these temples of stone known for their size, weight, and engineering marvels required to transport and assemble them. As the article reports, the most famous example of the Baalbek Stones is the so-called "Trilithon", which consists of three enormous stones located in the foundation of the Temple of Jupiter. Each of these blocks weighs approximately 800-1000 tons, making them some of the largest quarried stones in the world. The article goes on to say, "The exact methods by which these stones were quarried, transported, and lifted into position remain the subjects of historical and archeological inquiry." 

While that is the extent that modern secular historians are willing to research this subject, I want to take you a little further down this rabbit hole, if you will allow me. To begin with, the name "Baalbek" comes from the words "Baal" (the god who was significant in Canaanite religious beliefs), and the word "Bek" or "Belaa" (referring to the fertile Bekaa Valley). The name "Baalbek" translates something close to "The City of Baal in the Bekaa Valley". Indeed, the current city of Baalbek is located east of the Litani River in Lebanon's Beqaa Valley. Baalbek is mentioned several times in the Bible, often referred to as "Baal-Gad" and most notably as part of the land Joshua conquered in the land of Canaan --- [Joshua took all that land ...  as far as Baal-Gad in the valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon (Joshua 11:17]. This connection between Baal and Mount Hermon is mentioned several times in the Bible, namely Joshua 12:7, 13:5, and Judges 3:3.

What is significant, yet oftentimes missed by us modern Christians, is the understanding that the pagan god Baal's name means "lord, owner, possessor, or husband", and who was the supreme god of the Canaanites, who became a substitute for YHWH when the Israelites strayed from the One, True God. Also, did you notice the mention of Mount Hermon in these passages? It is necessary that we understand the significance of this location. And this is where you need to do your own research and develop your own Biblical and theological worldview, keeping in mind that God wants us to search out the things He has concealed for this Age so that we can spiritually see the cosmic war between Him and Satan that will determine where all mankind will spend eternity.

So, once again, I am sharing where I believe the Lord has led me. It is up to you to take my discernment, do your own research, and determine what you will believe. Because, very soon, you will need to know exactly what you believe in order to traverse the path before us. So, a very shortened synopsis of where I am at this stage of my research is this ... Because of the fairly recent discovery (1946-1956) of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Qumran Caves on the West Bank, we find connections between the Bible and 1 Enoch (or "the Book of Enoch"), credited to Enoch, great-grandfather of Noah, who walked righteously with God until God took him to Heaven). 

In fact, verses from Genesis 6, Daniel 7, Jude 1:14, and 2 Peter 4 bear a striking resemblance to 1 Enoch, which historians have speculated could have been written as early as pre-Flood, and as late as 300 BC. The truth is that no one knows the exact date it was written, but it pre-dates the Bible and serves as a historical account of the defection of Lucifer and his 200 Watcher Angels. NOTE: 2 Enoch and 3 Enoch are widely accepted as fraudulent and I do not give them credence as to their veracity. But for the purposes of this post, I want to use 1 Enoch to connect the dots that will lead us to the current situation in Baalbek, Lebanon.

From 1 Enoch 6:5,6 we read, Then they [the Fallen Angels] all swore together and bound one another with a curse. And they were, all of them, two hundred, who descended in the days of Jared onto the peak of Mount Hermon. If you have eyes to see, it can be understood that Mount Hermon was the landing location of the Fallen Angels who would begin their assault on the human race, producing a race of hybrids, known as the Nephilim, who became the Giants, "the heroes of old, men of reknown". It is important that we understand that they were no "heroes"; they wished to be worshiped as gods because they shared the spirit of pride that led them to follow the rebellious Lucifer, in search of their own kingdoms. So they began to share the forbidden knowledge of Heaven with their idolatrous followers among the human race, bringing with them the secrets of astrology, pharmakeia, metallurgy, sorcery, warfare, etc. They used the knowledge of these secrets to gain authority for their sons, who could then subjugate the sons of Adam by building their own kingdoms on earth.

A very insightful picture of this ungodly situation is convincingly written by Timothy Alberino in his book, Birthright: The Coming Posthuman Apocolypse and the Usurpation of Adam's Dominion on Planet Earth: "If men could be enticed to willingly abdicate their authority in exchange for [forbidden] knowledge, then having received authorization from its regents, the Watchers could legally operate in [man's] realm... Thus, the Watchers became the lords of the earth through the dominion of their sons and the willing abdication of mankind". 

So, 1 Enoch recounts the story of the progeny of the Watchers, who continued their Fathers' dominion over the earth, which "became a living hell filled with violence and despair". Eventually the supplications of the righteous line of Seth rose to Heaven and "filled the bowls of God's wrath". So 1 Enoch goes on to reveal that God sets a plan in motion to cause "a Nephilim Civil War; kingdom against kingdom, race against race. The progeny of the hybrid gods slaughtered one another in epic battles, laying waste to their realms and reducing their megalithic fortifications to rubble". The Book of Enoch goes on to recount that the Watchers come to Enoch and ask him to draw up a petition asking God for a second chance, so to speak, and when it was rebuffed,  they were "found together, weeping, in a place called Abelsjail, which is located between Lebanon and Senir". 

Lebanon likely refers to Mount Lebanon, and Senir is another name for Mount Hermon. It just so happens that the imposing megalithic complex located between these two mountains is the very same Baalbek of today! And the fact that it lies at the foot of Mount Hermon (where the Fallen Angels landed) gives me reason to agree with Timothy Alberino's conjecture that it is likely to have been built in the pre-Flood era and served as the epicenter of the Watcher's empire on Earth!

Modern archeologists and historians only credit Baalbek as a site of an ancient Roman temple. True, the Romans would later raise a temple to Jupiter over these mammoth stones, but new technologies have provided archeoastronomers the means to date monuments erected on such sites as the Giza Plateau (Egypt), Baalbek (Lebanon), Teotihuacan (Mexico), Tiwanaku (Bolivia), Sacsayhuaman (Peru) and Goebekli Tepe (Turkey), among others, as having been constructed between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago. The fact that no one, even with our advanced scientific methods, are able to explain how 800-1000 ton stones were placed with such precision, and align with particular constellations and cosmological phenomena, gives rise to the speculation that perhaps the Giant sons of the Watchers were involved in building these megalithic structures as citadels within their earthly kingdoms. And they could have withstood the Flood!

So, as I hope you can see, this is a vast amount of information that takes us down many paths. And in this post, I have just barely scratched the surface of the implications for us Believers. But just for a moment, let's consider what the spiritual significance might be of modern-day Israel waging war on ancient Baalbek. If it truly was a fortress of the Fallen Angels, is God trying to tell us something? Granted, I'm willing to accept that it is just a coincidence ... but man, what a coincidence!  

Satan's enemy [God's chosen Holy Land], is now in a war against what was once the center of Satan's (and his Fallen Angels) empire. Is this signalling to us that the Great Battle between Good and Evil is on the horizon? You might think I'm reaching too far, and you certainly have a right to that opinion. Maybe I am ... but I never want to discount what the Lord might be trying to tell me. For too long, we Christians have closed our hearts and minds to the warnings of God, and look where it's gotten us. So pray! Pray that Heaven's divine and righteous Watchers (yes, there are good ones, too) will fulfill their spiritual purpose: to offer guidance to mankind and provide us with early warnings to keep us aligned with God's will in our lives and on the earth. And pray that we will heed them! The time is near when we will desperately need their holy counsel!     

Daniel 4:17     The sentence is by the decree of the Watchers, the decision by the word of the Holy Ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will and sets over it the lowliest of men.  

 

 

 

  

   

 

What Spiritual Warfare On Behalf of the Kingdom of God Looks Like

In case you haven't noticed, we are in the midst of a serious and profound spiritual war. At the very heart of this concept is our understanding that there has been an eternal war between God, the Creator of the Universe and all that is in it, and His Enemy, Satan, whose pride led him to rebel against God and seek ownership of all creation. In case you doubt the reality of spiritual warfare, the evidence of this supernatural conflict can be seen in the evil and lawlessness among mankind; the present war posturing in the physical world; and everything in our midst that is counter to God's will.

Whenever I've brought up the subject of "spiritual warfare", I get one of several reactions. There are some Christians who react out of fear. They have been influenced by movies like The Exorcist or the slew of demonic films that feed our sense of being vulnerable and powerless against monsters and demons from the pit of hell. Then there are those who are at the other extreme; they refuse to recognize that spiritual warfare is real, and also unavoidable. They chalk it up to radical Christians who see a demon behind every bad thing that happens to people. Of course, there are also people [both Christian and nonbelievers] who simply do not believe in the supernatural or existence of spirits in this earthly realm.

The Apostle Paul clearly states some very clear principles regarding spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-12. First, it is assumed that we recognize that we are actually in a spiritual war -- a war waged from the spiritual realms by spiritual beings! Then he points out these realities about our position in this war ... 1) We can find our strength [to fight and win!] in the Lord and His mighty power; 2) The Lord has given us battle armor to protect us as we fight defensively and offensively; 3) The enemy we fight does not look like us -- it is not of human flesh and blood, but of spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, we cannot fight and defend from our human abilities. We must learn to battle with supernatural authority from God.

I think part of our problem is that the world does not believe in or embrace either the Great Commission that our Lord and Savior gave us to thwart the schemes of the devil to claim lives for his dark kingdom, or in our supernatural authority to defeat him. It's easy to see those schemes that kill, steal, and destroy lives ... iniquity in the family bloodline (such as molestation and sexual abuse); addictions; disease; emotional and psychological attacks; anything that creates low self-esteem, among many others. 

Jesus gave us the example of what His blood would eventually buy for us -- the ability to overcome those schemes through our spiritual relationship with Him and the commission He made available to us. [NOTE: our commission from Christ means that we have authority to perform a task or certain duties that He instructs and commands us to do. See Matthew 28:16-20, and Mark 16:14-19, keeping in mind that this passage uses idioms that would have been known to the hearers in that time period]. Sometimes He dealt with a demon and cast it out of a person. Sometimes, He simply declared that they were healed and washed clean. Other times He spit in His hand and made mud out of the dirt and applied it to a man's eyes. All of these examples are part of the Great Commission to His followers and disciples, and are forms of spiritual warfare.  

But the important thing to note is that Jesus took control over Satan's strategy to enslave that person, and set Jesus them free through the power of Heaven. That's what it can look like for us, too, when we enter His Kingdom here on earth and receive His strategies so that we can overcome Satan's. But, too often, we react to Satan's game plan instead of taking control of the situation in the power of the Lord. And our most common reaction is FEAR.

But did you know that Satan actually fears US because he knows we were created to rule over him? Satan knows that Jesus brought the Father's Kingdom government to the earth at His First Coming. And He knows those who have entered that Kingdom domain as citizens, and the spiritual authority they have been given. Therefore, Satan is intimidated by our intimate relationship with the Creator, which is why he tries to get us to accept fear in the battle. But when we refuse to step into that spiritual place of fear, and recognize if for the trap that it is, the devil knows his defeat is imminent.

 He recognizes that we are confident in our authority as Kingdom representatives and in the Lord's power. Satan realizes we are poised for victory! As part of our battle plan, we must always cling to God's promises, surround ourselves with people of strong faith, and be encouragers by sharing our testimonies of how the Lord has led us to triumph over the enemy. Remembering our history of victories in the Lord encourages us, too, and is a great practice to get into!

And it is important to come to the realization that God is never going to put us in a situation or send us into a spiritual battle that is above our level of obedience. He will not subject us to something over our heads, causing us to turn from our commission. He wants to see us win! If we are committed to fighting a battle for the Kingdom of God, in the center of His will and out of righteous obedience, then He will equip us to win. It's when we step outside that safe place of His will, that we receive self-inflicted war wounds. 

So, I just want to reiterate how important it is for the Body of Christ to not only be aware of the spiritual war that is waging all around us, but to get into battle mode -- be obedient to the instructions and will of the Lord; and be ready to fight both offensively and defensively, as He leads you. Be so confident in your victory, and the ability of your armor to protect you, that the Enemy cowers in fear of you, knowing you will not only recognize his strategies, but have the power of the Lord behind you to defeat him ... the power of His blood that bought your salvation; the Lord's righteousness as your breastplate; God's Truth as your belt; the readiness to always spread the Gospel of Peace as your shoes; your faith [and God's faithfulness to you]  as your shield; and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

I want to leave you with the wise words of Pastor Bill Johnson on this subject of spiritual warfare: We were born in a war. There are no time-outs, no vacations, no leaves of absence. The safest place is in the center of God's will, which is in a place of deep intimacy. There He allows only the battles to come our way that we are equipped to win. Not only is this the safest place, it is the most joyful place for each believer. Outside of intimacy, we are likely to miss the greatest event on earth ... the finale and climax of His Kingdom on earth! 

Remember: we were born for a time such as this. All the mayhem and chaos we see in the world is not going to go away, "if we just try to get along". But we need not fear! We have the resources of Heaven that have been made available to us to ensure our victory, on earth and in the spiritual realms. Christ's blood covers us in the present spiritual war, and those to come! 

2 Thessalonians 3:3   But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one.

Change Is Coming To The Kingdom of God!

I want to begin this blog post by visiting the story of Mordecai, the Jew, and his adopted daughter, Esther. According to the Bible, Esther's husband was King Ahasuerus, King of Persia, who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces. Furthermore, the history books also say he was the Achaemenian king Darius I, ruler over what is now Iran. 

Mordecai has gotten wind that there is a plot to kill all the Jews in the kingdom, and while Esther, herself, is a Jew, it's been kept secret from her husband, the king. Mordecai implores Esther to go before the king and plead his favor, asking him to spare her people. But Esther reminds Mordecai that it is the law of the land that if anyone goes before the king unbidden, death is the penalty. Mordecai then tells his daughter that, as a Jew, she cannot expect to escape the destruction coming against all Jews, and that if she chooses to not help, that God will send His relief and deliverance from another source, and her father's house will perish. Then he speaks the words that I believe apply to us in this generation ... "Who knows if you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther's response ... to gather all the Jews together and ask them to fast on her behalf as she approaches the king, even though it is against the law. "If I perish, I perish" are her words that echo across the centuries.

I think it is imperative [in this time and place] that we ask ourselves if we have the courage and faith of Esther. We have to be blind, and far beyond a "normalcy bias" mindset to not see the shifting sands we have been resting upon for the last few decades. If the panic and fear of the pandemic in 2020 wasn't enough for us to begin examining where we are in our Biblical worldview, or to discern the changing winds of world history, then surely we can see the current precipice on which we stand. The growing involvement of AI in our daily lives; the geoengineering of plant and animal life; the promotion of gender dysphoria; the drums of war throughout the world; and the trading of human flesh for the perverted pleasures of men are all birth pains of the intolerable evil which Jesus has forecast.

It cannot be appeased by politics or a new president. And sadly, the modern Western Church is unequipped to face the strategies of the kingdom of darkness. They are unaware of [or choose to ignore] the depth of depravity that is an undercurrent in our society and culture. And believe me, I understand the fear, anxiety, and disquiet in our souls when we dare to look at it. But we can no longer afford to turn away. Our newscasts are full of innocent people being assaulted and killed by random acts of violence as they stand on a street corner, or wait for a bus. The physical and moral evil of the child sex trade is storing up wrath in the Kingdom of Heaven, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not. And just this weekend, I met a woman whose husband is using ChatGPT to engage with AI to create monsters that he hopes to interact with! The really sad thing is this man was an innocent child who was exploited and molested as a child, and his life began to spiral out of control until he now finds himself skirting the edges of being lost forever. I ask you ... Is the Church equipped to minister to him?  Would they even try? Or is he just another casualty of a society and religious system that doesn't have any answers to the growing evil in the world?

If you are a Kingdom-believing Christian, where does all this leave you? Once you are willing to "face the monster", so to speak, is it possible to truly live in a "Kingdom mindset", not letting the affairs of the world shake our faith and trust in our Father and King? I can assure you that our Father in Heaven hears our cries. And He is not absent in this situation, just as He was not absent in Esther's plight.

And if you happen to believe that the state of the Christian Church in these modern times is inoculated against the consequences of our mindset [sorry for the pun] -- let me ask you to reconsider. Hear the words of Mordecai to Esther and take them to heart ... "Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish [since you did not help when you had the chance]. And who knows whether you have attained royalty for such a time as this [and for this very purpose]"? 

Just like Esther, we Christians have to decide what our response is going to be. I cannot answer for others, but I can tell you that I have always felt that there would one day be a tremendous trial come upon the world, and I would have the opportunity to not only experience it, but stand for the Lord. Notice, I did not say that God is necessarily testing us. That infers that God has given His approval for the trials and evil the world is experiencing. 

Instead, I recognize that much of the panic and hysteria that people will encounter will come from their lack of relationship with God, and their misplaced worship of the conveniences that the world offers them. Many Christians are guilty of this! We have fallen into step with society and the culture, and we worship our status, our wealth, our power, and our comfort. Many of us spend more time with our Facebook friends than we do with our Father in Heaven. We have not sought His will in how we should live our lives, OR how we should defeat the evil in the world. We have not fed on the Word of God, but have indulged in our appetites of unrighteousness and greed.

And now that may all come to a halt. There is [once again!] talk of a mandatory shutdown of the nation's government for an undetermined amount of time as our politicians haggle over the national debt, the corruption in high places, and the emboldening of our enemies. Everything in our world could change overnight. There will be people who will suffer if our medical system, transportation system, banking system, food distribution system, utilities system, political system, and yes, even our religious system is challenged -- especially our religious system. 

Will people blame God? Will they curse Him in the midst of their despair? Will they try to bargain with Him? Or will they fast [like Esther and her people] for strength and wisdom, and then humble themselves, and pray and seek His face and be prepared for come what may? Are you honestly prepared to trust God and like Esther, say, "If I perish, I perish", knowing that you have stood righteously against Satan's plans for the world? And will the Church rise up and see this for the opportunity it is? For this is a time when not only can the world reset, and begin to look more like it was created to be, but Believers can begin to walk in their true Kingdom identities and take back Kingdom authority over those worldly systems that have gone so far astray.

This is the time to reclaim the earth for the Kingdom of God! It is a time, in the words of the late Dr. Myles Munroe, to "establish the governing influence of our King over the territory called Earth, impacting it with His will, His purpose, and His intent, producing a citizenship of people who reflect the King's culture, nature, values, and morals". Doesn't the world need that? Doesn't our nation? And don't you want to be a part of that? 

I am watching people expressing their fears over what the future holds while I am calm and filled with anticipation and expectation. I believe the Lord desires to do a great work in the lives of millions of people. And as always, everyone has a free will choice how they will receive His invitation. Whether it is millions who answer Jesus's call, or just a remnant, Satan has had his way for far too long! The battle over mankind is intensifying. But what the devil means for evil, God will use for His good. We can see ourselves as being born for this time and join with God to glorify Him in the midst of the coming trials ... or we can sit back and wait for Jesus to do all the work. But that's not why we're here! This is an amazing time to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom and to be an instrument of God to sow into the hearts and lives of people. 

It is an exciting time to be on the earth. It is a favorable time to be a worker in the Kingdom. It is also a dangerous time. The rulers in the spiritual realms, along with the authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places are all going to fight back against the Kingdom of God. We can expect to be embattled and we must prepare for casualties; yes, even martyrdom. I know that's not an idea that brings comfort, but just like Queen Esther, we must stand firm, declaring, "If I perish, I perish". Nothing is secure in this new world we find ourselves -- not even our lives. But there is one thing we can count on for sure... Jesus has paid for our victory! And just as Mordecai exhorted Esther, we can choose to be a part of that victory or not, but we can be assured that if it is not you or me, "God will send His relief and deliverance from another source", and our house and/or nation could perish. I want to be part of that victory source! I was born for such a time as this, and you are, too! Our Father in Heaven, use us to help bring Your Kingdom to earth and heal our land and this world!

John 14:1   Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.

God's Table: Where the Power of the Kingdom Meets God's Mercy & Grace

As many of you know, my husband, Mark, and I offer a ministry of Inner Healing and Deliverance to the Body of Christ. Mark received a visitation from the Lord which sanctified us for this assignment, and we have never turned back. In the process of our "training up", we became personally familiar with the reality of spiritual warfare. No one steps into their purpose without Satan launching a counter offensive to stop the advancement of the Kingdom of God. 

And when we invite people to come to God's Table for ministry, where He "has prepared a table for them in the midst of their enemies" (Psalm 23), we know we are about to engage in a spiritual battle for the freedom of the Beloved, who, usually out of desperation, is turning to us because everything else they've tried [including their church] has failed. They just want to be free of the torment, and we offer them God's Table of Mercy and Grace -- but also tell them they will have to fight to keep their freedom, and it is worth the battle! And in this post, I hope to share the different aspects of spiritual warfare. Our God is so good to offer us His rest as well as His power!

Mark and I accepted our mission in total faith and trust, but soon discovered that there are Christians who doubt that the faithful are destined for spiritual warfare. They will acknowledge that Satan can attack us, but believe we are simply to pray to Jesus to do the battling. But, in fact, the Apostle Paul makes it very clear in Ephesians 6 that spiritual warfare is not only an important reality of the Christian life, but in the Aramaic translation, he tells us in verse 10 that he has saved the most important truths for last. We are to "be supernaturally infused with strength through our life and union with the Lord Jesus. We are to stand victorious with the force [or weapons] of His explosive power flowing in and through us" [my emphasis].  He tells us that we will be fighting hand-to-hand combat, but not against human foes; rather against "the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. [Furthermore] they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage". 

That is probably the most difficult concept for those coming to us for ministry to understand. Many times, the Beloved is so beaten down by the Enemy's oppression that they never even considered that they could fight back. Too often, they have relied on their prayers to move the heart of Jesus to come defend them. Or they believe the religious doctrine that we are to "rejoice in our sufferings"  because it helps us to identify with Christ's sufferings. That in itself is not wrong, but there's additional depth to the interpretation. We need to be able to see that our sufferings come from different sources -- our sin, someone's sin against us, and God's appointment to suffering.

Let me comment further on that last statement. Suffering is the result of an action -- either we suffer the consequences of choosing sin over righteousness; we suffer the ramifications of someone else choosing to sin against us; or God chooses to give permission for us to suffer because He knows the result will be His glory. [Think of Job]! Yes, we can rejoice in our suffering, knowing that it produces endurance, character, and hope. But I am also reminded of a position stated by F.B. Meyer, a 19th Century evangelist, who said, "Everyone cannot be trusted with suffering. All could not stand the fiery ordeal. They would speak rashly and complainingly. So the Master has to select with careful scrutiny the branches which can stand the knife"... and therefore bring the honor and glory that Christ deserves.

So, when we minister at God's Table, which is made available to the Beloved for his or her freedom from demonic torment, we make it very plain that they will not only encounter God's love, mercy and grace, but also experience the authority of God to not only set them free, but elevate them to their position in the Kingdom, and exhibiting His power to defeat the Enemy in their lives. And it is important to understand that spiritual warfare is both offensive and defensive! There will be times when we suit up for battle [always under the supervision of the Lord]; and there will be times when we wage war from a place of dominion. And that place is at God's Table, where both power and grace can be found. 

I believe you will agree with me that Psalms 23 is one of the most comforting passages in the Bible. It is the ultimate testimony from a young sheep herder who would become King, that we are not alone in this world and do not have to face the dangers of living behind enemy lines without Someone who provides for us and protects us. The Psalm declares that the Lord is our Best Friend and our Shepherd. His love offers us a resting place and an oasis of peace. This oasis provides a place where our lives can be restored and revived; where He opens pathways to the joy of the Lord, which becomes our strength and our pathway to increasing righteousness. [NOTE: It is a common trait for sheep on the hillsides of Israel to circle their way up higher. They eventually form a path that keeps leading them higher. This is what David is referring to here. Each step we take following our Shepherd will lead us higher, even though it may seem we are going in circles]. 

Then there is that valley of the shadow of death verse that speaks of fear and deep darkness of soul and spirit. But then David reminds us that we don't have to fear death or darkness because our Shepherd is right there with us with His rod and staff to give us comfort and security. It's all about recognizing that the Shepherd uses His rod not only to prod us forward [to look at the future of what the Kingdom government will do on the earth], but to exercise his power, authority, discipline and defense of His sheep. His staff is used when the sheep lag behind [a picture of us looking back instead of focusing on our purpose in the Kingdom going forward]. The devil wants us to focus on the valley of the shadow of death because it is his ultimate weapon to get us to engage with him at his level (darkness and chaos). 

But what is God's counter move? He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies! That's right! We don't suit up in our armor and ride forward into battle with an army of warring angels -- we sit down at the Lord's table and feast on the testimony of what His Kingdom has established... and right under the nose of the god of this world! 

When you feel surrounded with the demonic armies of the devil, and chaos is reigning in your life, instead of gearing up for a strenuous battle, try this instead: ask the Lord to prepare His table for you right in front [and in the midst] of your enemies. Then have a seat at the table and have a celebratory feast of the goodness of God in your life. And the devil can't do a thing about it! Because when you are seated at God's Table, you are under His Banner of Love. The Enemy knows that you are seated under a covering of the Government of God and if he touches you, that Government is going to reach out and touch him! 

One of the most profound elements of this kind of warfare strategy is that God's Table is not simply a PLACE of war, but an ACT of war! It's about the influence and position I have as a Daughter of the King in the midst of Satan's evil chaos and darkness. As I engage in feasting at the Table [and in the midst of the Enemy's sphere], he can no longer stand there. I am building a platform to become the footstool for God to step down and manifest His Presence there. I am bringing my testimony of God's goodness in my life and His Government to the Table. As I feast and celebrate, it cultivates an atmosphere that brings in a different realm; God's Light begins to permeate the dark. It's as if a magnetic environment is created, drawing God's footstool to the Table, so He can step down into my situation. 

Can you see the difference in this kind of strategy of warfare? My focus is not on the Enemy but on the Table of God. I don't always need to bind demonic spirits in the Name of Jesus, but can also ask my Heavenly Father to bring His Banquet Table and place it in the midst of that territory where I am being attacked. I need to be cognizant that this is not my table, and it doesn't need me to protect it. It is God's Banner that comes over His Table [which is me]. My role is to visit the Table and celebrate at it! If I must do battle, I can engage the Enemy from the Table --- after I've feasted on God's goodness!

The ultimate message of this type of warfare is that we need to return to that Table time and time and time again. We need to engage with the joy and peace of God at His Table. That encounter at the Table changes the atmosphere by changing the frequency of Light in our body, and this along with the harmony we share with God will destroy the darkness of the Enemy. 

Feasting at God's Table brings you into alignment with the desires of His heart. Sometimes it's all out war, but in other instances, we can battle from a spirit of gratitude. Ultimately, God desires that we live in victory over everything in our lives. And when we feast on His Goodness and thank Him for all He's done in our life and throughout history, we are filled to overflowing with His joy and His peace and His Holy Spirit. And one day, when our days are finished here on this earth, we will return to dine with Him in His House forever. And I can only imagine the banquet hall in Heaven where I will celebrate my victory and feast upon His glorious Presence for all of eternity! 

Thank you to Ian Clayton for expanding my understanding that rest and feasting are spiritual weapons. 

Song of Solomon 2:4.    He has brought me to His banqueting place, and His banner over me is love [waving overhead to protect and comfort me].  

  

Seeing [And Defeating] Satan's Playbook For The Kingdom of Darkness

I know I've said it before, but I feel like it's déja vu all over again. Satan just uses the same old playbook over and over, because it works! Let me explain ... Since I began writing this blog in 2011, I have discerned the schemes and tactics of Satan and his kingdom of darkness, and while the players might look and sound different, the goals have always been the same ... to create a world of tighter top-down government control and more authoritarian leadership [under his evil guidance], with limited innovation amidst growing citizen pushback.

To be sure, there have been ebbs and flows -- in both the control and the pushback -- but Satan's overall plan has always been the same: his kingdom of darkness [which has ruled much of the world since Adam and Eve got kicked out of the Garden] seeks to defeat the restored dominion of earth [which Jesus handed back to man]. Since Genesis 1:26-28, we were given a mandate by our Creator to rule earth like Heaven is ruled. In other words, our Lord came to defeat the kingdom of darkness and re-establish the Kingdom of God. Jesus's plan has always been for His followers to continue His work in His power and authority, which He transferred to us. 

From 2011 to now, if you have spiritual eyes to see, and spiritual ears to hear, you should have seen the writing on the wall. Without a doubt, we are seeing food shortages, and the drums of war are getting louder. We have experienced a global plague [with warnings that it will erupt again]. Famine is a very real threat [and not just to third-world countries] -- meat is being rationed in our country [and we're now offered a variety called "impossible"]. And who can explain all the processing plants that have been destroyed, and dairy cows, along with millions of pigs and chickens being slaughtered? And the wars and rumors of war are no longer simply whispered among "those in the know", but openly forecast. Where have I  heard that before? Oh, yeah, they are the beginnings of birth pangs that Jesus talks about in Matthew 24. These world events pretty much resemble the four horsemen of the apocalypse in Revelation 6, too -- the red horse symbolizing war and bloodshed; the black horse is famine; and the pale horse is pestilence and death. 

But, I'm not writing to say that we should get ready for the Tribulation, or that the End of the World is here. To be honest, I'm not interested in predicting when that time will come -- no one knows except our Father, not even Jesus, Himself. So, I'm more focused on being alert to what the Enemy's agenda and playbook are, so that I can endure to the end [whenever it is] and be an Overcomer. And that means I want to help others be able to see what is happening in the world from a non-political standpoint. We must be able to see in the spirit, and see what is going on behind the dirty veil that the devil is so good at presenting to the general population.

At the beginning of this post, I mentioned that it feels like déja vu. I say that because beginning in 2014, I was writing about the undermining of our nation's Constitution, our republic, and our basic civil rights; that we were seriously eroding the truth that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." 

I remember having to memorize this paragraph from the Declaration of Independence in my elementary school Social Studies classes, but now I see that "new Government" as being the Kingdom of God, with the faithful acting as the Ekklesia [governing body of Believers acting as representatives of the Heavenly government of the Father]. But there is a spiritual force that doesn't want to see that happen. 

Back in 2014, I made mention of a political activist and theorist named Saul Alinsky. He wrote a book in 1971 titled Rules for Radicals in which he subscribed to 12 rules about how to successfully run a movement for change. That little book has greatly influenced our social and political climate for the last 50 years. And I find it most notable that Alinsky penned this for the dedication of his book: "Lest we forget at least an over-the-shoulder acknowledgment to the very first radical ... the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom -- Lucifer".

There you have it .... the reference to the kingdom of darkness versus the Kingdom of God. And the rules which Alinsky promoted certainly mimic Satan's agenda and methodology. To begin with, there is rule #3, which states "Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of your Enemy. Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety, and uncertainty". The way in which the so-called "experts" have disseminated [dis]information in our recent history has resulted in the loss of freedoms that we have taken for granted. This falls right in line with Satan as the Father of Lies whose modus operandi is Deception and false accusations. 

Another rule of the social and political radicals, as well as the first radical, Lucifer, is "The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself". If you are spiritually discerning, you will see how that has played out in our recent history. Millions survived without following the "prescribed protocol". And tragically, it's also true that millions died. So please understand that I am not making light of that number. Any death is significant, but you can see how this strategy parallels Satan's strategy of getting us to worry about things that haven't even happened yet, or that are far less devastating than he has given us to imagine. Satan's goal is to demoralize Christians into a state of passivity, resulting in his kingdom continuing to dominate the earth.

Rule #12 of Rules for Radicals is "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it". That's pretty much what Satan did to Job, isn't it? He cut off Job's support network, and isolated him from sympathy. He attempted to get Job to turn against the very One who believed in him and had blessed him, and would be there to restore him. And that rule has been effectively used in polarizing our citizens and neighbors against each other. "White privilege", "Equity", "Diversity" and "Institutional Racism" have become terms used to pick Satan's targets in his radical playbook. See how easy it is to freeze attention on a target, and use language to personalize it, and polarize it? 

These are just a few of Alinsky's rules for instituting social change, and it's not hard to see them at work in our current situation, and see them as similar to Satan's tactics. But let's not forget another diabolical tactic known as the Hegelian Dialect. In short, here's how it works .... Step number one looks like this: Our Enemy knows that, instinctively, people won't go for restricted freedoms, so they cause a problem [that didn't naturally occur] which is step number two, which causes panic and conflict. Then they come up with step number three: a solution to solve the manufactured problem, which turns out to be their original goal [i.e., restricted freedoms]. The people will embrace it because they just want the panic and conflict to go away. 

So, as Kingdom-minded citizens, who are Heaven's representatives on earth, it is absolutely necessary that we see how Satan is working in the world ... a man-made virus being unleashed on the world, causing death, panic, destroyed economies, and loss of jobs. In the Spirit, we can see that Satan desires men to doubt God in the midst of this chaos; sending spirits of fear and abandonment to invade our peace and confidence, which causes us to seek solutions in our own power instead of pressing into the power of God in us to help us endure. Satan wants us to trust ourselves, or human leaders, more than we trust our Father and Savior. It's all about perpetuating Satan's kingdom of darkness and stopping the advance of God's Kingdom on the earth.

But, we must cling to the truth that we exist in Christ, who is a safe realm that we can step into and be protected during this storm. And we need to walk in our identity in the Kingdom. Our authentic citizenship is in Heaven, seated next to Christ, the King of all Creation -- we are temporary [and secondarily] citizens of this world. We must not get distracted from anything that Satan aligns with in order to divert us from our purpose in this life. We have a destiny that surpasses whatever we may experience during our short lifetime in this realm called earth. 

We must understand that we were made for eternity, but we have a job to do while we're here in our temporary home. So, Satan and his minions can develop all the rules and radical ideas they can imagine. But they will never defeat God's sovereign plan for His people or this planet. He will rule and reign as King, and Satan's radicals will pay the price for their rebellion, unless they choose to be redeemed. So, don't get discouraged! It may seem like more dark days are ahead of us, and we wonder when this nightmare will end. But this is our opportunity to persevere for the Kingdom of God; spreading the Good News that the Light of Heaven has brought a promise of our deliverance into the realm of the Kingdom of God. Let us be about our Father's business until our Lord returns! Let's execute God's playbook and frustrate the Enemy's strategies and tactics!

2 Corinthians 2:11  .... that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.