What Does the Bible Have to Say About God's Bema Seat Judgment?

I am walking in a new season of revelation from God's Word. In my flesh, I have to fight the temptation to become lax in my time in the Bible. I never want to think that I've "arrived"; that I understand the fullness of God and who His Word says He is. And, it's not that I think I know it all, but when Mark and I get overwhelmed with our businesses, aging parents, and yes, even our ministry, it seems as if there's not enough hours in the day to devote as much time as we know we need to in order to dive deep into the Good Book. Sadly, I think we both feel if we can just spend a day getting caught up, we'll get back into our daily study time. But one day turns into two and can turn into a week, as the distractions of the world seem to take control. And my spirit can definitely feel weary and without strength.

So, it has been with great intention that we have decided to get back into our first love --  a dedicated time each morning of deep study and relationship with our Father and Jesus. We have renewed our spirits to the fire that burned in us when He first called us to His service. Holy Spirit is quickened and the power and authority in our walk begins to flow again. And over the next few posts I'd like to share some Godly feedback that we've received, with the hope that it will exhort and encourage you to grow in your own relationship with the Godhead through the Word.

The first confirmation my spirit has received is centered around God's Judgment -- even of the Body of Christ, and what that looks like. I have long been aware that the modern Church is focused on God's Grace and has relegated God's Judgment to the Old Testament. "After all", say the seminaries who have taught recent generations of pastors, "the rebellious Israelites didn't have the New Covenant and weren't covered by the Blood of Jesus, so, in their sin, they experienced God's righteous judgment".  

Never mind the reality that our rebellion and unrighteousness matches anything they did, and that our God is the same today as He was yesterday, which means we deserve and will receive His judgment as well. But we are unwilling to discern that God's Character has not changed, instead choosing to receive only what tickles our ears and feels more comfortable in our minds and hearts. Have we forgotten Hebrews 4:12? Do we not remember that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, separating soul [mind, emotions, and will] from spirit; joints and marrow; and discerning the intentions of the heart? Both God's Grace and His Judgment are just as relevant today as it was to the early Israelites. To ignore His Judgment is to act foolishly. Let us consider the first of God's pronounced Biblical Judgments that we can expect as we near Christ's return...

Bema Seat Judgment. First, let's establish that this is what is considered the Judgment seat of Christ. The word Bema in Greek means "raised up" and refers to the official seat of a judge that has been raised up. We can see it referred to in Matthew 27:19, when Jesus is taken to Pilate to be judged. Scripture says, "while he [Pilate] was seated on the judgment bench, his wife sent him a message, saying, Have nothing to do with that just and upright man, for I have had a painful experience today because of a dream I had of Him". The Bema seat is in view in Acts when Herod, Gallio, and Festus occupy it, as well.     

So, in 2 Corinthians 5:10, we see the official judgment seat of Christ and how it will play an important part in our life:  "For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]".

So, I want to establish right now that the Bema seat of Christ is for Believers only! It is not a question of Salvation! If you are standing at the Bema seat of Christ, your salvation is not in question. As Believers, we will all have received the promise that our sins are forgiven and He will remember them no more. The Bema seat is a judgment seat, where a Believer's life and works [since becoming a Christian] will be weighed and tested by fire. Our lives will be brought before the Lord in the light of that refiner's fire, and we will receive the rewards that have been stored up for us in Heaven, IF we are found worthy to receive them. I want you to reflect on this sober pronouncement and meditate on what the Scripture reveals on this matter ...

In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul puts forth the argument that like a skillful architect and master builder, he has carried out his assignment from the Lord to lay a foundation upon which a man can build his life, i.e., his faith and obedience to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. Paul teaches, " But let each man be careful how he builds upon it, for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw ... the work of each one will become openly known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. 

If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives the test, he will get his reward. But if any person's work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss of it all, [losing his reward that was stored up for him], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire".    

In other words, all Believers have an inheritance awaiting them at the coming of Christ. We will receive those rewards and crowns based on what we did with our Christian life; what fruit did we produce for the Kingdom of God after we received our free gift of Salvation? Jesus will test what we have built on the foundation of our faith. Will it be burned up as hay or straw, leaving no trace of our works for the Kingdom? Or will they be found still intact as gold and silver survive a refiner's fire? HEAR ME! Your salvation is not threatened! And I am not talking about works for your salvation! There are no works you can do for that free gift!  These are the works we long to do to expand the Kingdom Christ left in our care when He ascended to Heaven. Even if one loses his inheritance [for lack of works that glorify Christ], he cannot lose his salvation!

Paul is speaking of the rewards and crowns for our faithfulness to Christ; what will be entrusted to us in Heaven as we are chosen to rule and reign with Him. I believe some of the areas of judgment will include how we treated others; how we employed our God-given abilities and assignments; how we used our money and spent our time; how we ran the particular race that God has chosen for us, and how many souls did we witness to and win for Christ? You see, Christ's gift of Salvation [and what it cost Him] is deserving of our efforts to continue His work on the earth to show His Glory and Majesty. We aren't to accept our salvation and then do nothing. We are made in His image with the assignment to represent Him and His Nature in this dark world. That means we "Go" and we "Do" as He did! 

And that is why Mark and I consistently say we want to hear Jesus say, "Well done, good and faithful servant", when we stand before Him. And I do not believe it is prideful to say that we want to receive all the inheritance stored up for us -- and we want you to receive your rewards and crowns, too! And as we stand before our Holy and Righteous Lord, we will be so grateful for what He has done in our lives, that we will be eager to lay everything we've received at His feet, to honor and glorify Him! So, while it is a sobering thought to consider the Bema Seat Judgment, set your heart and spirit on bearing fruit for Him and His Kingdom, and look forward to seeing what is left in the midst of that fire of judgment!

Next post: the Great White Throne Judgment

Romans 14:10-12.   Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God, for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God". So then each of will give an account of himself to God. 

#bemaseatjudgment #judgmentseatofChrist #graceversusjudgment #therefinersfire #rewardsandcrownsinheaven #heavenlyinheritance #ourGodjudges #biblicaljudgments 

   

Why The Answer to the Chaos in Society is JESUS!

Everywhere we look, we see evidence of the evil one -- crime on the rise; corruption in government and business; sexual perversion and exploitation; confusion and deception in all spheres of our society, even leading our children to abandon their gender identities. It may all look hopeless and beyond reclamation. But the story of Jesus healing the madmen in the region of Gerasenes gives us hope that even our lost nation can be redeemed.

It's such an appropriate story in the Bible because their story has been repeated in so many lives throughout history. And God inspired the writers of the Bible to give multiple accounts of this same narrative. Matthew, Mark and Luke all write about the chaos that Satan caused in these men's lives and in their communities. Matthew writes that these two men were extremely fierce and violent; everyone did what they could to avoid them. Mark and Luke apparently focus on the most disturbed of the two, choosing to concentrate on the behavior of just one of the men. Mark writes that he was always shrieking and screaming, and beating, bruising, and cutting himself with stones. Luke 's account calls him "possessed by demons". 

All three of the portrayals speak of his separation from the society of the region, and being bound in chains and fetters to protect himself and the citizens. But the demons were so strong in him that he could not be held, wrenching his chains apart and breaking them in pieces. The local citizens were terribly frightened of him, for the demons drove him to live in the tombs with the dead.

How many of our own citizens in this, the 21st Century, are living in the same chaos - homeless; disassociated from structured society; lost in immorality; deceived by ungodly influence in order to cause destruction, violence, wickedness, and death? We can no longer turn and look away. And sheltering inside our church buildings in an attempt to ignore the spiritual upheaval all around us is no way to advance the Kingdom of God against the dark kingdom of the Enemy. We, as the Ekklesia and citizens of the Kingdom on earth, must join in our spiritual power and authority to fight against the chaos and invite Jesus into a personal encounter with these lost souls.

Again, I will say that the chronicle of the Madman of Gerasenes is the perfect image of what it means to say that Jesus is the answer. This man entered into agreement with Satan about who he was, resulting in a life of torment and separation from the One who created him. And his community and fellow countrymen didn't know how to help him. Instead they shunned him and left him in his misery and isolation. Truth be known, I doubt they could've helped him, even if they wanted to. They had no knowledge of the healing power of Heaven, which is what it was going to take to free this man from the demonic prison that bound his soul and spirit.

But when the madman saw Jesus, a terrible cry escaped him, and he fell at Jesus's feet; the demons that possessed him instantly recognizing who He was. They presented a challenge to Jesus: What business do you have with us? What do we have in common? Please, don't torment us! The demons wanted to be left alone to continue their torment of the madman. But because they discerned the power of Jesus to destroy them, they asked to be allowed to leave the man and go into the herd of swine. Jesus set the man free with one word to the demons: Go! Nothing in the world could accomplish what Jesus did with that one command. And now -- just as then -- the tormented man was bound in a spiritual prison. Our society wants to solve the chaos in men's lives by building more prisons, or signing them up for rehab, or building homeless camps. But none of that has seemed to work. Prayer alone has not accomplished ridding out society of the chaos. The only answer is a real encounter with Jesus!

But what is sad to me is that our institutionalized church, in the form of "religion", is not united in believing that the marginalized in our society are capable of having -- or even want --  such an encounter. Or when they hear the testimonies of those who have, they either doubt it, belittle the experience, define it as deception, or fear it because it happens in the supernatural. Their minds cannot reconcile the radical transformation of a person from Lost to Redeemed by the power and grace of Christ. It's understandable from the secular segments of our society; but from the Church? Do they not believe the accounts in the Bible of exactly those kinds of transformation? What about Saul being radically transformed to Paul? Mary Magdalene, from a promiscuous lifestyle, to an obedient follower of Christ? Moses, from a privileged son of Egypt, to a bold leader of God's chosen people? There are so many stories in the Bible of people whose lives were radically changed, and their minds renewed, to the possibilities of God's power and grace in their life.

So, it is up to us [the true Believers who have experienced God's ability to redeem us] to do what Jesus instructed the radically transformed madman to do so long ago ... "Go home to your own family and relatives and friends, and bring back word to them of all that the Lord has done for you, and how He has had sympathy and mercy for you". So we must leave our place of comfort and go and proclaim to all of Society what Jesus has done for us. Our transformation may not be as radical as the madman from Gerasenes, but we cannot deny that we are changed, all to varying degrees. 

I can testify to the truth of how an encounter with Christ, the Messiah, can bring both His Power and Peace to a life lived in chaos. I have witnessed it through the encounters with Christ that I have seen in our ministry ... lives changed from promiscuity and bestiality to Redeemed; from addictions to drugs, alcohol and porn to Redeemed; from failed marriages to walking in unity with Christ; from defeated identities to knowing their purpose for the Kingdom. And the answer for each of these lives [in bondage to Satan] was the same ... discovering their true identity in Christ and submitting to His plan for them. 

If we, the Kingdom citizens on earth, continue to remain silent, then Society, our Culture, and our Nation will limp along until the deterioration becomes complete. Satan is playing his game; we must play our strategy as well. We can no longer afford to retreat or take shelter from the chaos. The eternal lives of so many lost souls depend on our testimonies and our spiritual power and authority -- partnering with Jesus -- to effect radical transformations and take back territory from Satan's kingdom of darkness. Yes, the chaos and lawlessness is at a crisis point, but we know the answer! Let us stand in our identity. Tell Chaos, "Go"! And then Go and share what Jesus has done for you and can do for everyone!

#societalchaos #jesusistheanswer #jesusradicallytransformslives #madmanofGerasenes #Matthew8 #Mark5 #Luke8 #fromlosttoredeemed #kingdomcitizensonearth #kingdomofGod #thegraceandpowerofJesus

Ephesians 3:20-21       Now to Him (who is able to carry out His purpose) and to do superabundantly more than we dare ask or think (infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams), according to His power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.

The Importance of Prophecy for Advancing The Kingdom of God

I recently had a conversation with a beloved Sister in Christ regarding "the prophetic". From some of my comments about "false prophets", she thought I might be expressing doubt in the gift of prophecy being viable for today. I assured her that I absolutely believe that prophecy is important in the Body of Christ today. I just struggle with the amount of men and women that I discern are prophesying from their soul [and from pride] and not out of their spirit. 

In other words, I believe what 1 Corinthians 12 says ... God, as the Holy Spirit, distributes the spiritual gifts [word of wisdom and word of knowledge; along with faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning between spirits, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues]. Jesus, as God, ordains the ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. And the the Father, who is the same God as Jesus and Holy Spirit, empowers them [for His will to be done] through their gifts and ministries, as He energizes and activates them.   

And, of course, Jesus can use His ordained men and women to help grow and mature others until we are called to step into those ministries. But I'm very careful to discern who is a REAL and LEGITIMATE prophet, ordained by God, and not simply men giving each other that title, through a Church committee, or by self-proclamation. Furthermore, the fact that I believe God still ordains prophets today, is evidence that I believe God still speaks prophetically to His "called out ones", just as He did to Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Daniel, Zechariah, etc. 

These prophets all foresaw the coming Messiah, and spoke of what Almighty God told them, teaching ancient Israel about the laws and statutes of the One True God and how to live in them. When instructed by God, the prophets of old called the people to repentance when they strayed from those laws and the holy lifestyle they were meant to protect. And although they would not see Him, it was their assignment to bear witness that the Lord YHWH would send them a Redeemer; the Messiah. And, miraculously, all the prophesies in the Old Testament concerning the First Coming of Jesus were literally fulfilled -- among them, His divine conception and His place of Birth; the Holiness of His character; that He would be David's seed; that He would be crushed for our iniquities; and that His body would not be allowed to decay (prophesying His resurrection on the third day, before decay began to set in on the fourth day).  

These reasons that God sent prophets in the Old Testament are the same reasons He sent His Son, Yeshua Ha Mashiach -- to stress a return to the moral laws and statutes of God; to call the people to repentance (Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!); to instruct them on how to live a holy lifestyle; and to bear witness of Himself, sent by God  And for the record, these same reasons are why I do believe that the spiritual gift of Prophecy is for the Believer today, and it did not cease after the Apostles died. 

My spirit clearly discerns that this gift [along with all the other spiritual gifts] was given to the early Church to advance the Kingdom of God that Jesus brought to the earth, and all the gifts are just as needed today! I don't understand why anyone in the Body of Christ would think that God revoked those gifts in the First Century. The Gospel of the Kingdom certainly had not spread throughout the world, and there was still so much work and progress that needed to happen to restore the earth and the Kingdom to God's original plan -- we're still far short of that goal! So, let me share with you a few reasons that the particular gift of Prophecy is so important for strengthening and cultivating a Kingdom culture.

First of all, God did not design us to be completely mature in our faith the moment we received our Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a process of growing up into the image of Christ, and that will take practice and commitment.  Also, the point of Salvation is not to give us a "get out of jail free" card so we can live out our lives, simply waiting on the promises of God -- His strength; His rest; His provision; the answers to our prayers; His protection; His freedom from temptation to sin; and most importantly, everlasting life. Additionally, "the prophetic" is more than what is predicted to happen in the future. If understood correctly, Prophecy gives us a spiritual foundation upon which to build a Kingdom lifestyle -- it instructs us how to live and gives us goals for spiritual growth.

NOTE: It is important for Christians to grow into the mature understanding that the Kingdom of God on earth is a spiritual kingdom -- NOT a physical kingdom. That's why Jesus responds to Pilate in this way when asked about His Kingdom: My kingdom is not of this world, if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm". But the influence of His spiritual kingdom can now [and will in the future] manifest changes in the earth and in nations and in peoples.

For example, Jesus gives many prophetic pronouncements to the Disciples before His Death on the Cross. He foretells the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD; and warns of false christs and prophets, wars, tribulation, persecution, lawlessness, and most importantly, the Coming of the Son of Man. All these prophecies will be fulfilled, just as the prophecies of the Old Testament were, and they will serve to validate that Jesus was who He [and the Bible] says He was! 

The state of this world is evidence that humankind has strayed far from the moral laws of God. If we only looked at the news and the events around us, it would be easy to lose hope and give up on this life and the reasons we are living. But prophecy serves to give us that hope and to inspire us to live a holy life, awaiting in patience and endurance for the return of the Lord. Now, if we lived only in the prophecies of Jesus in Matthew 24 [of wars, tribulation, persecution, and lawlessness], it would be  easy to become discouraged. But God provides those glimpses of the future so that we might not become too lax, but that we might become strengthened and prepared [in our faith] for the Enemy's strategies. As Amos 3:7 says, "The Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets". 

So, Jesus gave those prophecies for His Disciples [in their time] and for us, in our time, so that we might begin to understand and correctly identify the season we are in. Remember, we are not to know the hour or the day, but we are to watch and remain sober, because we are children of the Light. We can see and discern correctly, because we recognize the signs the prophets have given us, and begin to look forward to our Lord's return. 

I am thankful that God still sends us Prophets and Watchmen! I praise Him for continuing to validate Scripture and our faith through the words of those He appoints as prophets. I am thankful for the discernment He gives us, so that we might hear correctly from these men and women of God, and not be deceived by those who seek to validate themselves. God is still speaking to this generation, and Prophecy is still good for educating, encouraging, and comforting the Body of Christ. Let the true prophets of God share what they're hearing from the Lord!

#thegiftofprophecy #false prophets #GodstillspeaksthroughHisprophets #biblicalprophecy #isthepropheticfortoday

2 Peter 1:19    And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts   

What Can We, the Sons and Daughters of God, Do to Take Back the World For His Kingdom?

As I described in the last post, the world is quickly spiraling into moral chaos as the Body of Christ has failed to influence the culture. Plain and simple ... we are not manifesting the Kingdom lifestyle that Jesus taught and modeled. Jesus's instructions from Father God were simple: invade earth's domain, taking Heaven's righteous government and moral laws with Him to overthrow and replace the rule of Satan's kingdom in people's lives. Not an easy thing to do after millennia of evil had darkened men's hearts. 

But from the moment our Lord declared that the Kingdom of Heaven [and God] had arrived, the battle was on. And He beat Satan at every turn, showing men that the power and authority of Heaven could defeat illness and disease; could vanquish the demons whom Satan used to torment and oppress men in their sin; and could even triumph over Death by offering Eternal Life to those who would believe who Jesus said He was, and follow Him in all His ways. That was the devil's trump card and when he lost that, he knew he was ultimately defeated. 

But men had a choice to make. Who would they choose to follow? God, in His wisdom, didn't want to force men to choose Him, but rather, gave us Free Will to make our own choice without force, coercion or fear. Jesus came to show us the benefits of choosing the Father's will instead of giving in to the temptation of Satan's desires. When a person chooses Satan, they become his puppet and pawn; controlled to carry out Satan's evil purposes. When a man or woman chooses God, they become free to partner with God to carry out His will and His design and plans for their lives -- to prosper them and not harm them; to give them hope and a future with Him in Heaven (Jeremiah 29:11).  

When Jesus chose [of His own free will as a man] to take the punishment of death for our sins, He left this world in the care of His Disciples -- to carry forth His work in transforming the earth back to its original design and purpose: to represent God's Heavenly government and re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth. That was [and is] to be our responsibility if we call ourselves Followers of Christ. Sadly, the world doesn't look like Heaven to me. And we cannot say we have done our job just because we are a member of a "Church family". We are called to live the life that Christ lived ... sacrificing comfort, material things and wealth, [even] family, and our lives, if necessary, to see that the Kingdom and the glory of God are the highest priority of our life. I don't think there are many who have done that.

So what do we do to rectify the mess we find ourselves in? How do we turn this immoral and wicked ship around? I think it begins with each of us, individually -- in our personal commitment to restore our bodies, hearts, souls, and spirits to glorify God. Am I walking the same path Jesus did to honor and glorify my Father in Heaven? Could I stand before Jesus today and have any evidence of fruit for His Kingdom? Did I make a difference in people's lives and show them the benefits of following Jesus? Does the world look like a better place than 10, 20, 50 years ago? Did I put God and His Kingdom first in my life, and can I honestly say that I have sacrificed my life unto Him?

I believe that taking back the world for the Kingdom of God starts with me... and with you. It's making up our minds that we are going to let go of everything in this world that doesn't honor God and glorify His Name and the Name of His Son. It's a really simple concept to understand -- Jesus is our King in His Father's Kingdom, and He has given us the moral laws of Heaven to follow; shown us our power and authority, as well as our responsibilities in representing His Kingdom here on earth. He has also shared the promises of God for our provision and rewards in this life and the next. And He gave the assignment to men to write it all down in an instruction manual for us to read and understand and do. It's called the Bible, and although men have tried to corrupt it for centuries, He has also sent the Holy Spirit to reveal its Holy Truth to all who seek God's divine and supernatural revelation of man's redemption and reconciliation with our Creator. 

Once, we, as individuals have developed that sincere relationship with God, King Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, we are ready for our assignments to come together to express the nature and principles of Heaven to the citizens of the world. We need to understand that it is the Father who created us for service as ambassadors to His Kingdom here on earth. That's why we're here! We are created for a purpose, and Jesus delegates His authority to each of us in order that we fulfill our specific purpose, and the Holy Spirit activates our assignments, and guides us as to what to say and do to carry out those assignments. We are not alone in accomplishing our duty and responsibilities in [and to] the Kingdom. 

An added benefit is that God created us as a "family". We have brothers and sisters in this Kingdom of God on earth. And we can come together as a delegation called the Ekklesia to carry out the moral laws and government of our King. But it involves "getting up and going", which means we must stand as opposition to the assignments the world has received from their god and master, Satan. Sadly, we have fallen behind in our responsibilities, and we have ceded Kingdom ground to God's enemies. In order to take back ground, we must throw off our fear of man, stand for God's absolute moral Truth, and deconstruct the false system of Satan's lies to expose how he has led our culture and the world into a distorted lifestyle of moral decay. The guideposts of our society are becoming defined by Secular Humanism [a belief that man is capable of developing his own moral code and self-fulfillment without belief in God] and Moral Relativism [the belief that there is no universal or absolute set of moral principles --it is "to each their own", according to what their individual "truth" is].

It is time the True Church and Ekklesia stand in their assignments as Guardians of God's Truth and Government! We must act not only as administrators and ambassadors of God's Kingdom on earth, but as overseers and stewards of His Truth. The Bible teaches us that truth comes from God; He is Truth ... "Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]. Your Word is truth" (John 17:17). All truth flows from God and we are guardians of how God's truth is expressed in the world. It is time to take absolute and moral truth back from the trash bin of our culture. We have been set apart to testify to the REAL TRUTH. It is time we quit apologizing for believing in God's truth and become bold in our very embodiment of it! Until we do that, together and as righteous individuals, the culture and the world are going to continue to worship and follow the one who will lead them to their destruction and hell. We need to show them there is an alternative and it is King Jesus!

#kingdomofgod #kingdomlifestyle #recapturinggroundforGod #takingbackourculture #kingdomresponsbilities #kingjesus #satansfalsetruth #whatisabsolutemoraltruth #weareambassadorsofheaven #Godswillformankind #influencingthecultureforGod #kingdomterritory  

2 Timothy 2:15    Study and do your best to present yourself approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth.

How The World Will Come Against A Kingdom Lifestyle

As I have persistently cautioned, if Christians don't understand and enter a Kingdom lifestyle, our society and culture will suffer from the lack of the Body of Christ's influence. We can already observe those consequences as we view the state of our lives; the chaos, lawlessness, and moral decline are direct results of Christians not walking in their Kingdom calling and purpose. 

Jesus came to model what that lifestyle looks like and to show us how to walk that righteous path. In John 14:12, He says, Whoever believes in Me, will do the things that I have done, and greater works he will do, because I am going to the Father. So, what did He do? He expands on the life of a Believer in Matthew 10:8, when He says, As you go, preach this message: The Kingdom of Heaven is near [at hand]. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. [NOTE: My spirit has discerned that cleansing the lepers is referring to those who are socially unacceptable; who have been marginalized and ignored. They can, of course, be actual lepers, but in our timeframe, could be the homeless, the addicted, the castoffs of society].

I think the Body of Christ is awakening to the calling of a Kingdom lifestyle and, for that, I am much encouraged. But there's still a long way to go to see the earth transformed into looking like Heaven. Christians MUST walk in their identities as heirs of the Kingdom. We must recognize and walk in the power and authority Jesus has given us. We need to understand that we have power from Jesus over demons and need not fear them. They cower at the name of Jesus! Christians also need to understand that walking in a Kingdom lifestyle takes priority over everything in our earthly life. It demands commitment, obedience, and perseverance, as well as sacrifice and being content with lack. And it demands a lifestyle of always seeking the Father's will in every circumstance... especially in the midst of evil, which the Enemy will bring to cause us to stumble in our purpose.

To that point, I want to bring to your attention ways in which Satan and his agents are using the world system to obstruct our Kingdom walk. Let me begin by saying that Jesus, Himself, points out to the mother of His disciples, James and John, that she doesn't know what she's asking for when she requests that her sons sit at the right and left of Jesus in His Kingdom -- it will be a lifestyle of opposition, condemnation, ridicule, pain, solitude, and yes, even death; a lifestyle that no one desires. In fact, Jesus told James and John, You will drink of my cup [share in my fate], ... you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you, must become your servant, and whoever would be first among you, must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life for many. 

And we must remember that Jesus tells His disciples in Matthew 24, that they will be hated by all nations for His Name's sake ... that false prophets will arise and lead many astray ... lawlessness will increase and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. I believe that prophecy by our Savior and Redeemer applied to those First Century Disciples, but also applies to His followers throughout the ages until His return. So what could that persecution look like for us in the present and coming years? What can we see in our current situation?

I believe we are seeing the attempt to destroy our Christian belief system; our morals and values and ways in which we practice our faith. In Satan's belief system, everything that Christians uphold must be opposed and countered. My spirit has clearly discerned Satan's strategy of destroying the family, which is the structure God designed to perpetuate His creation and His influence throughout mankind. It's not hard to see the efforts to emasculate men and weaken their position in society and the family. Feminism became a tool of the Enemy to divide and conquer the natural roles of males and females. That doesn't mean that I approve of disrespect or the disregard of anyone's worth. But it didn't stop there! 

Satan's strategy has now moved on to conflating the differences in the sexes themselves! The world's culture now proclaims that there are no differences between men and women; that we are physiologically the same and we can interchange our sexual identity and bodies at will. This has sown such chaos and confusion into our children, and threatens to extinguish God's creation from the earth. If our girls and boys are fed drugs that terminate their ability to produce children, then the human race will eventually disappear.

We see the roles of parents being diminished in their children's lives. The very ones that are to guide and raise up the children of the world to know and serve their Creator and follow in the footsteps of His Son, are seeing their rights stripped as their kids are now being educated and "nurtured" by the State, who becomes their "parent". 

Our justice system which, in a Judeo-Christian society, is based on the moral and righteous laws of Heaven, is being corrupted. Good is evil, and Evil is good. The wicked go unpunished and those who try to live by a moral code, are criminalized. It is truly becoming an upside down world. It's not hard to see that Satan and his followers have developed a strategy and plan to subvert and suppress the human spirit, bringing it under their total control. I know this sounds like a dystopian novel, but none of what I've suggested is without credibility. In Part 2, I will lay out more of what I see happening in our culture that portends the attempt of Satan to overthrow God's growing Kingdom on earth, as well as how we Christians are to counter with our own Divinely-inspired strategy to see the entire earth invaded with God's Kingdom culture. Stay tuned!

#KingdomofGod #kingdomofdarkness #kingdomofGodculture #kingdominfluence #satanicdestructionofthefamily #genderconfusion #howtocountersatansdominion #ourchangingchristianculture  #whychristiansneedtofightbackagainsttheculture #thekingdomlifestyle

 

The Gospel of the Kingdom & the Kingdom Lifestyle: Putting the Puzzle Pieces Together

If you are familiar with my blog, then you know that my husband, Mark, and I have put sharing (and doing) a Kingdom lifestyle at the core of our how we live our lives and conduct our ministry. I have shared how frustrating that has been at times, as if everything we say is falling on deaf ears, but we continue to be obedient and try to find different ways to engage friends, family, and the Church. To that end, we recently invited our good friend, Steve Harmon, to come speak to a group of our acquaintances that the Holy Spirit highlighted, and who might be interested to hear Steve's message. 

Mark and I are always careful to discern who can be trusted to teach God's Word accurately on this subject. And through our years of friendship, we have found that we and Steve are closely aligned with each other's theology regarding an authentic understanding of the Gospel of the Kingdom. So, I'm going to try and summarize the high points of his 7 hours of teaching the best that I can. So, I hope you are blessed with this teaching on the Kingdom of God.

When you meet Steve Harmon, he is a bundle of high energy, whose rapid-fire enthusiasm for the Kingdom of God demands that your spirit sit up and pay attention. From the time we picked him up at the airport until we arrived home 2 hours later, and until we went to bed after midnight, he regaled us with his latest ministry exploits. We hardly got a word in edge-wise, because we had lots to catch up on. But when he told us how excited he was that we had asked if he was interested in teaching about the Kingdom of God, then the three of us entered into our happy place... talking about the Kingdom. We discussed what he would cover and finding that we were all on the same page, we told him, "Go for it! And don't hold back"! So here are the golden nuggets that came from his excellent teaching...

The Kingdom of God ... what is it? We Christians pray "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth and it is in heaven", but do we understand the breadth and depth of what God's Kingdom is? On one level it is His government -- He reigns and rules. Kingdom includes His authority, His dominion, His military, and all things (and people) under His influence. His dominion is the territory over which He reigns.

That question of dominion on the earth is addressed in Genesis 1:26-31, where God tells us He made us in His image and gave man dominion (authority) over His creation. We were to rule the earth [both physically and spiritually] as He rules in Heaven, incorporating His rules, statutes, and laws. But, as we know, Adam (the first man given dominion over the earth) gave it up and handed the dominion over to Satan through his disobedience in the Garden. 

Remember, when Satan is tempting Jesus in the wilderness, he tells the Lord in Luke 4:6-7,  “I will give You all this realm and its glory [its power, its renown]; because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You worship before me, it will all be Yours.” So, it's important that the Church understand that Satan claims authority over the earth through the "legal transaction and transference" done by Adam when he ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul teaches his followers, "among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God". And Jesus refers to Satan in this way in John 14:30, "I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming. And he has no claim on Me [no power over Me nor anything that he can use against Me]". But has the Church taught this truth so that the Body of Christ understands the authority the Enemy has and the importance of the Kingdom and our position in it?

What is your theology regarding the Kingdom of God? Do you understand that when Jesus began His ministry and said, "The Kingdom of God is at hand", that He meant it is here NOW, and it is within reach? Many in the Church teach that it is a future event, but when Jesus came to re-establish the Kingdom over 2000 years ago, He intended to show men how to take back their dominion and territory in people's lives from Satan, and how to sow the seeds of God's will in the earth. 

The Kingdom of God exists now and into the future. Re-establishing the Kingdom is a process we are to engage in until Jesus returns, when He will defeat His enemies and rule and reign on the earth. It doesn't just manifest itself, and it's not based on how you "feel" about the Kingdom. You can't worship it in; you can't establish it within the four walls of your church building and expect it to expand across the earth; and prayer alone won't increase the Kingdom. A Kingdom lifestyle requires a renewing of your mind; letting go of old paradigms and seeing God's Kingdom on earth through His perspective. And it requires action. It's a verb! You must apply, exercise, implement, execute and carry out the Kingdom in your life! You should base your theology [belief system] on the fruit you bear for the Kingdom. A Kingdom lifestyle is a bold [cold-hearted] and fearless act of your free will to "DO Kingdom".  

What did Jesus come to teach/preach -- Gospel of Salvation or the Gospel of the Kingdom? If you asked any group of Christians that question, I contend that the majority would say Jesus came to Save us. So, would you be surprised to know that Jesus talks far more often about the Gospel of the Kingdom than the Gospel of Salvation -- (especially in the Book of Matthew)? "Salvation" or "Saved" is mentioned 11 times, and I have counted 62 times that He talks about "the Kingdom of God/Heaven". 

Sadly, Jesus's message has been distorted down through the ages, until now the Church has adopted a platform of Saving the world; teaching the Good News that Jesus came to die for our sins. But that was not the primary message of the First Century Church; it's not what the Church in the Book of Acts nor the Apostle Paul focused on when preaching and teaching. The last verses in Acts tell us that Paul spent two years teaching about the Kingdom of God and about the Lord Jesus Christ. And, yes, Salvation would have been a part of his teaching about what the Kingdom of God offered, but he taught so much more. 

Read the Book of Romans. Yes, Jesus paid the price to give us Eternal Life and erase the penalty of Death for our sins. Paul taught that we are to yield to Jesus as our Lord, not just our Savior. "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". Salvation is the result of believing and submitting to Jesus as LORD and MASTER of the Kingdom. That word "Lord" refers to our recognition of His power, authority, and majesty as God -- His dominion as owner of the earth, which belongs to His Kingdom. And notice how that sentence is constructed --- IF you recognize and yield to His Kingdom, THEN you will be saved. 

Salvation is dependent on your understanding and recognition of His Kingship and Kingdom. The Church has taught that Salvation should be our priority -- "save me so I can go to your Heavenly Kingdom". Salvation is focused on getting to Heaven. Kingdom is about submitting ourselves and our lives to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth -- to make earth look like Heaven. Salvation is our reward for a lifestyle of Kingdom. 

REMINDER: Adam was given dominion of the earth, but he forfeited it to Satan. Man could no longer walk in that intimate relationship with God that Adam enjoyed in the Garden, where death did not exist. After the Fall, man was subject to a mortal death that meant eternal separation from our Creator. But Jesus trumped Satan's strategy by taking Death upon Himself and paving a way [through faith in Him] for us to avoid eternal death and receive Eternal Life. Jesus, as a mortal man, had to win back our freedom from death. God couldn't do it. Our eternal relationship with God was lost by the first man [Adam], so it had to be won back by a man, Jesus, as the second Adam. That act foiled Satan's plan for eternal possession of the earth [through death], and established the dominion of the earth once again through the Kingdom of God.

Jesus came to make those changes on the earth and to change our position with the Father; seating us in heavenly places with Him and uniting us in His resurrection life -- He overcame death and we overcome life in this world; He ascended and we can ascend [in the spirit] to receive His counsel and guidance; He came to life in this world and we come to a new life in Christ, seated in heavenly places. 

How do we walk in a Kingdom lifestyle? The reason the modern American Church doesn't know the answer to that question is because the American Church preaches the Salvation message only. They do not teach Christians how to take back dominion from Satan's kingdom of darkness. Instead they try to "do kingdom" by impacting the so-called 7 Mountains of influence -- Family, Religion, Education, Media, Entertainment, Government, and Business. But that's not God's way. For instance, Christians put too much stock in politics, thinking if they can get a good Christian in office, that person can guarantee our personal and national safety. 

But incorporating that mindset into your theology won't keep you safe. Your best chance of being protected in this life is to be in a deep relationship with God. You are protected because the previous generation(s) have set up protected borders through their relationship with God. But consider our latest generations. Did they do that for us? Go test the American Church's theology of protection over in Iraq. How protected do you think you would be? God's protection comes from the spiritual lifestyle through which you are living. That's what matters -- not the politicians, not your religion, not your business model, or anything of this earth. 

God's way of walking in a Kingdom lifestyle is to submit to our Lord Jesus and His ways in order to bring His Heavenly Kingdom to earth. Part of that submission includes living a lifestyle of prayer. We also need to engage with people the way Jesus did ... He was led by the Spirit and He did and brought "Kingdom" everywhere He went. We have been given His power and authority to do what He did --healing the sick; casting out demons; cleansing the lepers [the socially unacceptable]; raising the dead; and spreading the Good News of the Kingdom everywhere He stepped foot. 

When we carry out the King's agenda [and our purpose for being here] we will live a supernatural life. We will walk in great signs and wonders. We will encounter angels. We will move and live in the spirit realm. We will enjoy God's provision. We will receive special revelation. And most importantly, we will live in the love and presence of God.

What are the hindrances to walking in a Kingdom lifestyle? Once again our theology and what we believe about God and His Kingdom will either advance us or hinder us from stepping into the Jesus-like lifestyle that we so desperately need.

One of the simplest hindrances to discern is the false image that the pursuit of the American dream of a house, two cars in the garage, a vacation every year, and a healthy bank account is the evidence that you're walking in the Kingdom of God. That's the Prosperity Gospel, not the Gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus never promised that. In fact, He told His Disciples that He had no place to lay His head at night, and they needed to leave all their possessions behind, grab their cloak and sword [if they had one], and come follow Him. It would not be a ministry of affluence, but they would receive everything they needed by "Seeking the Kingdom first and righteousness". 

One of the most pervasive impediments to a Kingdom lifestyle is the false teaching that God is in control of everything. Put another way, it is the teaching that God has "allowed" everything that has happened in your life, whether good or bad. But that doesn't take into account that God, in His Sovereignty, has given us all Free Will, and therefore some of our experiences are the results of choices we have made, or choices another person has made against us, or the choices of action by our Enemy, the devil.   

God's "Sovereignty" doesn't mean He will control everything; only that He can, if it is His will/desire. We must not forget that we have an Enemy who prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. We must be careful to make righteous decisions, and not give him the legal authority by being in agreement with his unrighteous temptations. We cannot, and must not, lay the evil deeds of the Enemy at the feet of our Just and Righteous God. 

And one more stumbling block to the Kingdom lifestyle is End Times Eschatology. None of us know what it will actually look like at the End of the Age. Our understanding of Tribulation and the teaching of an End Times Rapture of the Church is only a little over 200 years old, thanks to John Darby and Cyrus Scofield. None of the early Church Fathers taught it! And they were 2000 years closer to Jesus than we are. If we believe in this theology, we receive the message that we are not destined for wrath and will be "raptured" out of this world before "the bad stuff happens". This does nothing but convince us to sit on the sidelines and wait to be swept up to Heaven. It does nothing encourage us to enter or walk in the Kingdom of our Lord. 

My summary statement: This doesn't by any means capture everything that Steve Harmon taught. But it highlights some of his key points, especially the understanding that the key to a rewarding and fruitful Kingdom lifestyle is the desire to experience that deep spiritual relationship with God that comes only from putting Him and His Kingdom first in your life. You have to be willing to give up everything for Him; to pour out your life before Him and sacrifice [give up] all that this world has to offer -- your family, your money, your job, your status, and even your life! 

The Kingdom lifestyle is not an escape from this world so we can go to Heaven. It's an invasion of Heaven into this evil world. It's a restoration to the lifestyle Adam enjoyed in the Garden with God. We are to take back ground from the false kingdom of Satan wherever we find ourselves -- in our families, our communities, our jobs; even in Walmart! If we can manifest the presence of Jesus wherever we go, we can and will see the increase of His government, and it will have no end. 

That, my friends, is a quick summary of Steve Harmon's Kingdom teaching. Of course, it was impossible to give a synopsis of the entire 7 hours in this one blog post, but I encourage you to visit his website for more teachings: steveharmon.org. And, I know Steve would agree with me when I say this ... if your spirit is feeling uncomfortable and challenged, that’s not a bad thing. Let that tension help you to examine your theology and take your questions to God and ask Him … how do I need to renew my mind so that I am in sync with your thoughts and ways? Will you teach me how to see and enter your kingdom and begin to influence people for their healing… physically and spiritually? Tell Him you want to grow up into that super level of experiencing the Kingdom in your life; of entering the Kingdom in the fullness of your destiny and purpose.

Let me leave you with a prayer that expresses my heart on the subject of the Kingdom lifestyle ... Father, We thank you for providing the opportunity of attaining the fruit and the benefits of seeing and entering the kingdom. And from our kingdom position, help us to use the power and authority you transferred to us to take back territory from the kingdom of darkness and transition it into your kingdom on earth.

I pray that each of us will make the choice to make Jesus Lord of our life. That we will GO and take the Good News that Jesus invaded the earth, bringing His Father’s Kingdom and its authority and dominion to the earth so that we can partner with Him to make earth look like Heaven. 

Lord, change our hearts to help restore the earth for the glory of your Kingdom — on earth as it is in heaven. Help us to walk in the miracles and signs and wonders that the Kingdom is at hand… it is here NOW and it is for us! Amen!

#Kingdomlifestyle #GospeloftheKingdom #KingJesus #WhatdidJesusComeToTeach? #Kingdomtheology #HindrancestotheKingdomofGod #BenefitsoftheKingdomofGod #FalseTheologyoftheWesternChurch #steveharmon 

Isaiah 9:7    There shall be no end to the increase of His government and of peace, [He shall rule] on the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From that time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.     

      

  

Kingdom Dynamics: We Serve The Lord Together and Separately

The Holy Spirit has me delving heavily into 1 Corinthians 12, as a means to better understand the Kingdom dynamics of the Body of Christ. We know this as the chapter on the spiritual gifts. And what He's showing me is all the previous confusion [in the Church] that has surrounded this important chapter of our faith. I don't know about you, but throughout my experience in the various churches I have attended, this chapter was usually glossed over -- read, but never explained adequately. I kept searching for a place that answered my questions about these spiritual gifts ... how was it decided who got which gift? Why is there so much controversy and disagreement among denominations as to their use and significance? Why have men tried so hard to put their "spin" on what Scripture says? 

As I have studied this chapter, I discerned the Holy Spirit removing the veil that the Church had placed over my spiritual eyes. I do not pretend that I have it all figured out, or that I have perfect discernment, but I am enjoying the new revelations that come from stripping away "religion" and perceiving God's will in this important passage of His Word.

First of all, let me say that so much of what God wants us to understand is clearly communicated in Paul's letter to the Corinthian church, which scholars estimate to have numbered between 40 and 150 people. I find it interesting, that the very first sentence, Paul tells the Believer is, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be misinformed". Apparently, these early Believers struggled with the same issues we have confronted. He finishes up that first paragraph by making sure they understand that "no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except in the Holy Spirit". In other words, if we are going to have a relationship with [and know] Jesus as our Lord, then we must have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, too, because it is He who makes the Lord known to us. Furthermore, our relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is  dependent on our acceptance and acknowledgment of God, the Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth. And that brings me to the core principle of 1 Corinthians 12 and the basis of Kingdom Dynamics in the Body of Christ. 

Read verses 4-11: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Do you see it? Paul makes it clear that there is a variety of spiritual gifts available to the Body of Christ, but they are all administered [or "apportioned" as Scripture says] by the Holy Spirit. Simplifying it even more ... many gifts, but only one Spirit who distributes each gift to a particular person for a particular purpose. The Bible says that it is "as he [the Holy Spirit] wills". But if we rightly understand the relationship between the Father and the Holy Spirit, then we know that it is the Spirit that brings every work that God wills to its ordained completion. In other words the Holy Spirit is involved in bringing God's will [in the lives of individuals] to God's desired fulfillment. 

It is essential that we grasp the truth that each of us was created for a divine purpose in the Kingdom of God on this earth. We are all designed to accomplish individual jobs, so to speak, to secure and advance the Kingdom until Christ returns.  There is much work to be done, and that is why we all may have unique assignments, BUT they are all for a common cause. We serve our God both together [as the Body of Christ], and separately in our spiritual gifts and capacities, taking upon ourselves the mantle assigned to us. So, to put it simply, again, it is just as Paul writes ... we are one body, with many members. And God arranged the members, as He chose. 

Which leads me to another conflict that many of you have probably encountered. How many of you have been given the Church "test" to determine what your spiritual gifts are? And how many of you instinctively felt whatever the committee or your denomination chose for you just wasn't a good fit? That's because it is the Holy Spirit who manifests God's will for your life, not Man! 

So let me extend a word of encouragement to those who find that their Kingdom assignments are outside what their Church family finds acceptable. Do not despair! I also know what it is like to be called by God to walk towards Him on a path that diverges from the path of comfort and contentment. With that comes the excitement of new revelations and seeing God in a new light ... His light.  And it can be a lonely place. All of a sudden, your spirit is awakened to a view of God that is exhilarating as He shows you His glory and character and power in ways that you've never seen or understood before. And He is revealing who He made you to be! In addition, the Bible is opened up wider and your understanding reaches new heights that are almost dizzying. And you want to share it all with your fellow Christians.   

Then you discover that God is not showing them the same things -- or they are unwilling to receive it.  And, at first, you may have doubts that what you are discerning is correct, because your church family doesn't see it, and they have Scripture to back up their warnings.  But when you go to the Father in prayer, the Holy Spirit convicts you that He is, indeed, calling you to a greater and higher understanding. And it's all according to your unique assignment and apportionment of spiritual gifts. And you cannot turn back, because you recognize that it is all in service to God's Kingdom. 

But what do you do when those Brothers and Sisters in Christ admonish you to be careful of being deceived by the new revelations that your spirit KNOWS are from God?  All I can tell you is this ... when you are called by God to a Kingdom assignment, you will learn that being a true Disciple of Christ is an exciting journey, but it can also be a lonely road. But when you willingly and obediently go where the Lord takes you, you probably will no longer look like your fellow Christians or meet with their approval. But neither did Jesus or the Twelve. And that's pretty good company, from where I sit.

And remember, your gifts and your assignment may be unique to you, but it is in conjunction with others who are doing [in obedience] what they have been called to, and together, you all serve the will of God. It takes the family of God honoring and respecting each other's assignments to accomplish His will for the redemption of mankind. We are to be ever alert to the wisdom and counsel of God's Holy Spirit, so that we might complete our responsibilities on earth to the glory of our God Almighty.

And that brings me to a last word of encouragement, and it comes from the Bible: "The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands". (Psalm 138:8).  In other words, pray that the Lord will finish the good work He has begun in you, because it is for His glory. And know that you will never be alone. He and the Holy Spirit will always be with you, and along with the saints in Heaven, they are interceding for you and praying before the Father on your behalf. Remember, you are part of a holy and consecrated remnant; set aside and called for holy purposes. Rejoice that you stand out as different among the multitudes of the faithful. You are not alone! I share in your identity and count it joy that you have joined God's ranks of faithful servants. Blessed are we who have been entrusted with hearing God's heart for these End Times, and whose Word is a Light for the path we are on.

#spiritualgifts #HolySpiritapportionsgifts #theremnantchurch #giftsoftheHolySpirit #God'slightonus #kingdomassignments #walkinginthespirit #God'swillforyou #familyofGod #separatebuttogetherinthechurch

Ephesians 4:15-16    "But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ. From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love."        

      

What Happened To the Power of the Church?

I know that I probably have a false reputation as a "Church Hater". But that would come from people who misunderstand my motives and my heart when I am critical of  "the Church". First of all, I draw a distinction between the Church as the organized religious structure, and the Church as the Body of Christ; the individuals who are the family of Believers and are God's children.

While I am greatly encouraged by the Body of Christ, who are my Brothers and Sisters seeking to understand their relationship with God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit at a greater, more intimate level, I am also discouraged by the lack of equipping offered to these Believers for their ministries -- which is the job of the institutional Church. Power and authority belong to both groups called "the Church", but it is used for very different purposes by each.

As Christians, we can no longer avoid the uncomfortable conversation ... there is a growing schism among the Western Church. People who, five or ten years ago, were comfortable "in the box" suddenly find themselves at odds with what they are coming to realize is a powerless Church.  And they also find themselves in conflict with people [who are quite content with where they are]; people who they've worshipped beside for decades. So more and more Christians are becoming dissatisfied with the status quo of the Western Church.  And I would suspect that there are more than a few who are caught between those two paradigms ... out of the box, but not yet comfortable to let go of their traditions. 

But we have come to a point in history, where we can no longer remain apathetic -- or even sympathetic -- to a powerless Church. Both the Body and the Institution must step into their purpose to influence the culture of our country and resist the evil that threatens to engulf us. As simplistic as it sounds, it is time for both factions to Wake Up! We cannot hold on to our man-made [or worldly] identities and traditions and expect to be effective against a spiritual enemy. It's those identities that the devil laughs at, because he knows they are incapable of defeating him. 

For each of us, there is a grid or a system that we relate to. And that's called Religion. Everybody says that by following their steps, you can know God better, you can be happier, you can...(insert claim here)". So, everyone's faith comes with attachments. And those attachments differ, depending on which religious traditions you embrace. But here is what we need to understand: Jesus wasn't promoting man's traditions. He came representing the Father, with a clear message to His Disciples of how His Father wanted the Gospel of the Kingdom advanced. The Disciples were to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them, and then baptize people in both water and the Spirit; healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead, and spreading the Good Word that all this is possible because our Father in Heaven wants to partner with us to bring Heaven to Earth. All that -- the works and the Gospel Message -- is all about POWER.

The problem is that a lot of our denominations haven't preached the Gospel with the Power component [which is the Holy Spirit] for so long, they are freaked out when they see it!  The Western Church proclaims they have the correct knowledge of the Bible (in all their variations), but what we need is the obedience the Bible calls for.  Therefore, the institutional, religious Church has become a system. We even take tests to see what "gift" we have, or what "office" we should occupy. But if we look for a model, or instructions, on how Jesus told the Disciples to "do Church", it is the Church that sprang up in the Book of Acts.  It is the only Book of the Bible that clearly shows that the Disciples were doing all that Jesus taught them while He was on earth.

But how many of your fellow Christians do you see healing a sick person, then baptizing them in water, and then urging the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to come upon them as it did in the Book of Acts?  Right now, some of you may be thinking, "But I'm not a Pastor. I don't have the authority in the Church to baptize someone". But we are called by Jesus to do it! Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20).

Those disciples were not part of the religious system of their day! They were not rabbis and they were not recognized as having the authority to do those things -- neither by the public nor the religious leaders. Yet Jesus told them He had the authority to commission them to do far more than the religious establishment was accomplishing. Furthermore, He told His disciples to then teach others to do what He had taught and shown them! Remember: Jesus, God, and Holy Spirit are the same today as they were then, and will be forevermore. So, why aren't we being obedient to His teaching?

Notice the difference in how Power was used .... Jesus transferred His power from the Father and the Holy Spirit [to heal and baptize and make disciples] to His followers, [thereby defeating the Enemy in those lives]. The leaders in the religious system used their power to maintain their status and authority, and to control the masses. Furthermore, their power was man-driven, not bestowed upon them by Heaven.

Our religious traditions have reduced millions of Christians to sitting in a pew, or a class. They get taught and receive knowledge, but unless you go out to do "all that Jesus commanded us to do", you are not going to bear fruit or advance the Kingdom. So how much is that knowledge really worth in the Kingdom of God? Since we are not just supposed to be "hearers of the Word", how much does that model result in "doers of the Word"?      

The reality is that more and more Christians are awakening to the fact that Church, as we know, it is no longer satisfying to their soul and spirit.  They can no longer deny that the world doesn't look or feel any better because of the Church. In fact, the Church is looking more like the world. They are recognizing the Truth about what the Great Commission really is -- that it's more than sharing the Message of Salvation; more than Jesus dying to cover our sins. He died to remove our sins and to create in us a new man or woman -- one that bears fruit for the Kingdom by doing what Jesus did and doing the things the Church in the Book of Acts modeled for us. And so they are leaving the traditional Church model and seeking ways to observe all that Jesus commanded those Twelve Disciples.

As we see Evil increasing in our lives, and as we get closer to Jesus's return, I believe we are going to see a split in the Western Church. One side thinks we have evolved beyond the actions of the Disciples in that First Century. They think that laying on of hands to heal the sick, delivering a Christian from demonic torment, or baptizing in the Spirit is not for today. They believe we are to submit to the authority of the Pastor and the Church system. The other side has been awakened to the power of the Holy Spirit in the Believer [to bear much fruit for the Kingdom], and they believe they are to submit to Jesus's authority and see the Body of Christ become the Church Jesus intended it to be.

The bottom line is this .... I don't care if a Christian goes to a 5,000 member mega-Church, or is part of 20 devoted Believers who meet in a home. If there is no fruit being produced by either group, then the Holy Spirit is not present. And when the Holy Spirit is absent, there is no power to fight the spiritual battle against the sinful nature of this world.  And that is not what Jesus had in mind for His Church.  Yes, we receive the Holy Spirit the moment we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior. But I want the Fire of the Holy Spirit to be recognizable in my life! Remember that John the Baptist said He baptized with water, but "He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire".  It was that fire and Power that changed the world; and it is that same fire and Power that will change the world today.

God poured out His Holy Spirit with fire and signs, healings, and spiritual gifts on the Church of the Book of Acts. He knew if the Early Church was going to survive the horrific attacks that would come against it, Believers would need the spiritual power of the Holy Spirit to counter those attacks and advance His Kingdom on earth. He has awakened us in the 21st Century Body of Christ to the same truth. We need the joy of being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to counter the ambivalent, compromising, and weak institutionalized Church.  As we begin to walk out the power that Jesus and the Book of Acts Church modeled for us, we will see God renewing us; restoring us; and equipping us to do what must be done if mankind is going to resist and defeat the system that Satan is bringing.

The question is, can the institutional Church join hands with the Body of Christ who are walking in that heavenly Power? I am in total agreement with Gabe Lyons, a Christian media/culture expert, who recently wrote "A Letter to Christian Leaders", in which he said, "Together, we can be smarter, more informed and creative than if we try and go this alone. I write with a desire for unity, clarity and sharpening as we consider how Christian leadership ought to be exercised during our time of confusion. To be blunt, I believe we are in a spiritual, psychological, biological and informational war accelerating into a crisis of isolation, distrust, polarization, censorship and physical harm. Discernment and wisdom from Christian leaders will be critical, but the time to be convicted, clear-minded, and courageous is now. The enemy wants us divided, but the strength of the Church has always been in her unity in the essentials, and charity in the non-essentials". 

Spiritual leaders -- both in the Body of Christ, and in the Church building -- have an opportunity to stand in their God-given authority, resisting the temptations to follow what the world systems are mandating. It is time to keep our lamps filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit, so that we might constantly be supplied with His wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear [awe and reverence] of the Lord. There is no time or room for fear and compromise. We are at a pivotal moment. We must be faithful to all of God's commands, while standing firm in our resistance to Evil, and we must prepare our Brothers and Sisters in Christ for the season ahead. God bless you as we boldly advance the Kingdom of God in all its Truth.

#KingdomofGod #thepowerlesschurch #thepoweroftheholyspirit #thebookofactschurch #thebelieverspowerandauthority #powerandauthorityofjesus #fireoftheholyspirit #religionandpower #bodyofchristvsthechurch #thedividedchurch #wakeupchristianleaders #God-givenauthority

Jeremiah 6:16     Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 

Updated: Mother's Teach Your Children!

This is an updated version of one of the very first posts I wrote when I began this blog in 2012. At the time, I thought the world was in a heap of trouble, but it didn't come close to comparing what we're facing today. So, it is worthwhile to revisit this address to mothers [and fathers] to teach your children to know their history; to know who they came from, and the stories of how their ancestors overcame their struggles. It's the same reminder that God gave Moses to share with the Israelites -- to remember all He had done for them through the history of time. We need to do that for these present generations. Their survival depends on it!

As a Baby Boomer, I was raised to remember the standards of courage and moral values set by my ancestors. I was taught the skills that my grandmother considered were important in the care of her family (knitting, canning, baking bread, gardening). I was also taught to acknowledge gifts with a hand-written thank you note, and to say “thank you”, “yes, sir”, and “excuse me”, when it was appropriate – the kinds of things that contribute to a civilized society.

My most prized possession is my Family Bible, dating back to 1814. In it are recorded the births, marriages, and deaths of a long line of people that leads to me. It is not only a reminder that the world is not all about me, but it helps me to remember who I am and where I came from. I wanted to know their stories and experiences; to learn from the hard work and perseverance that brought them through some of the most difficult times and adversities this country had ever seen.

I cherished the handed-down history of my family from the Civil War, when they buried the family silverware to keep it from being stolen by General Sherman’s advancing army. I listened to my grandmother’s story of taking in washing and mending during the Depression in order to feed her five young children, after she suddenly became a widow at 28. And I sat at my father’s knee as he recounted getting his parents’ permission to sign up, at 17, to go to war, after Pearl Harbor.

I wanted to think that I could be as brave and determined as they were in the face of those adverse circumstances. Their memories and stories were passed down to me by my mom and dad, and aunts and uncles, with pride in our family heritage of sacrifice and endurance. I loved that personal history, but also was introduced to the history of the founding of our country, which was spoken of with the same pride and loyalty. As a child, I was enamored with the tales of the brave men and women who fought for our freedom and independence, and often wished I could have lived during that time to experience that struggle [from what must have seemed like sure defeat at the hands of a despot] that led to a Divine victory whereby men would rule themselves. 

But it wasn't all about Independence and the heroes who secured that for us. I was also taught the sorrow and deep pain of the Civil War and how that division was still affecting our country. I was taught that it was incumbent upon each of us to defend and protect what millions of men had died to preserve. And I remember a similar division spreading its wings during the Vietnam War. Did we learn any lessons through those conflicts?

And now, I find myself in my seventh decade thinking, “I have a feeling, that very soon, I’m going to have the opportunity to not only prove myself worthy of all my family's legacies, but to share in the confusion and suffering of my country becoming divided”.  Believe me, I am not claiming that our country is perfect! Not by a long shot! There has always been an underlying element of men [and women] whose loyalties have been attached to nefarious and wicked schemes to benefit themselves and the Luciferian rulers of this world. But our God has always been present, working through Godly men and women to help us stay the course and serve Him, according to His will. Sadly, that knowledge and faithfulness is disappearing.

I’m not so concerned about how I will handle the trouble that’s coming. I KNOW who I am, and not only who I came from, but where I’m going. But I do worry about the generations that are following us. Do they know? Because I’m not sure the legacy and birthright of the individuals who built this nation have been taught or inherited by those who are being primed to take over the running of this country. Not only do they spurn the skills of their grandparents and ancestors as useless and archaic, but they’ve not been taught to think for themselves, and they rely only on social media for their news and information. They have no idea of the truth and spirit of this nation.

Without a fight, Tik Tok has hypnotized the minds of our younger generations with brainless entertainment, while mixing in a few propaganda messages why young Americans should hate our evil country. Very few have the knowledge or the truth to refute the indoctrination, nor are they willing to make the effort to learn. As long as the laughing babies and cute animal videos continue to stream nonstop, they are content to be lulled into passivity and ignorance. 

Witness the miscomprehension of the atrocities in Israel that occurred on October 7th of this year.  Thousands march in the streets and on campuses without any real understanding of the history that underscores what they see displayed on their phones and TV screens. But why should they? They’ve been convinced that history is unimportant; that it is irrelevant to their immediate lives, and that it can be altered if it doesn’t fit the narrative of those who have decided that social ideologies are due for a change. 

But remembering our history is so important to retaining our identity and our every existence. I want to extend a challenge to you … If you asked your children or grandchildren to tell you what they've learned from you or their grandparents, could they tell you?  Have we handed over the responsibility of forming our children's identity to some School Board that knows better than we do?  And most importantly, do our children know that the rewards of this life come from working hard, helping others, overcoming adversity, and giving all the glory to our God? 

It is precisely because we've been such a prosperous nation post-World War II, that the American mindset became all about giving our children everything it was possible to give them. We made it all about them, as we left the memories of our family histories behind. The Enemy convinced us that we didn't want them to suffer lack, or discouragement, or difficulties, and we lost sight of the tremendous value of sharing [and experiencing] those very aspects of life. And that also includes failing! We forgot to teach our kids the lessons of how to learn from our failures -- because every child received a “participation ribbon”. 

That's why God spends so much time in His Word reminding us to remember! It is through our shared and deliberately remembered history that we are able to see our role in our present conflicts. When we forget our history, we forget that we possess, within our DNA, the memories of how to overcome the obstacles, oppression, and struggles that come our way. When we lose those memories, we don't really know who we are or who we came from, or what our present role is to be. And more importantly, we lose whose we are.  

God admonished Moses to remind the Israelites to remember all He had done for them; the miracles of their survival through horrendous persecution. Have we taught our children and grandchildren of all the ways God has seen us through our own trials and tribulations, or shared the stories of their grandparents or great-grandparents? Or have we chosen to shelter them from anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or that might be too difficult for them to handle? If so, then finding their way through our uncertain future is going to be difficult for them. 

But it's not too late! It's time to become deliberate and attentive to remembering! Teach your young children the stories in the Bible of God's people overcoming their obstacles, and then relate it to your own family history. And we must begin to amend the lack of "remembering" that we didn't teach our young Millennial adults. It's time they begin to understand that what they've "learned" from technology and social media and their “woke” professors does not compare to the power of God's work in their family histories.  

Each of us has a story to tell --- and that story helps define our morals, our value systems, and our successes in life. By the Grace of God, I owe whatever strength of mind and character I have to the examples that were passed down to me.  What are we passing down to the next generation? PLEASE take the time to tell your children and grandchildren about overcoming difficulties; and teach them how to think for themselves. They have inherited a rich history of resiliency and fortitude. That is the American legacy. Teach them to embrace it. They are going to need it! 

#mothersteachyourchildren #thevalueofmemories #rememberingfamilyhistory #whatlegacyareweleavingourchildren? #theimportanceofteachinghistory #doyouknowwhereyoucamefrom? #whodoyoubelongto? #doyouknowyouridentity?

Isaiah 46:9-11     Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other ... Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ ... I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.