This month is recognized as Black History Month here in this country. We give God praise for the rich history for which God has blessed African-Americans in the development and progress of this nation.
One of the sore spots for the history of America, and African-Americans in particular, was the institution of slavery. The degradation, the despair and the blatant disregard for human dignity was beyond reproach in regards to the witness of this nation. However, the question is, "How have African-Americans chosen to process this?"
Often when the issue of slavery in America comes up, Blacks (African-Americans) take deep offense to the dynamics of this brutality (as well we should). But the question that needs to be raised is, "What was God's divine purpose in allowing an entire group of people to endure this type of unmerited suffering?" There's a choice that African-Americans have to make as we progress through the 21st century; are we going to still be "mad at the white man" for the abuse our foreparents endured or are we going to forgive and seek to fulfill God's Divine Destiny in bringing us to this country?
In Genesis chapter 50, Joseph responds to his brothers (who sold him into slavery when he was a teenager) after the death of their father. The brothers thought that Joseph was going to be angry with them and seek revenge. But Joseph said to them, "Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good." It's time for Black America to forgive. We need to forgive America for slavery. We need to forgive America for Jim Crow. We need to forgive America for discrimination. We need to forgive America for all of the injustices that we have endured as a people in this nation. The word, "forgive," literally means to release a debt. Which means, when you have truly forgiven nobody owes you anything.
As we celebrate African-American History Month, let us forsake the idea that "somebody owes us something." Let us release any lingering bitterness or hatred, even for recent events that have transpired over the last several months. Let us make a collective declaration and affirm, "You may have meant it for evil; but the God we serve meant it for good!" Let us pursue and fulfill our Divine Destiny in this nation with the faith that even slavery was for our good! (Romans 8:28).
Saints, we have reached a point in the history of America where the church is being called to intercede on behalf of this nation. Whether we recognize it or not, this country is in grave danger. Why? Because we have turned our backs on God.
This nation was founded by Jehovah so that His people would have a place to freely worship Him. And instead of taking advantage of this tremendous opportunity and Divine privilege, we've turned to other gods.
God is not pleased with what is going on in America. He's not pleased with our national embracing of abortion. He's not pleased with our popular consensus of same-sex marriage. God the Father is not pleased with our easy compliance with divorce. God is not pleased with the number of fatherless children who are being abandoned in our society. The Father is not pleased, and He has given us space to repent, but we have not (Revelation 2).
If America does not "turn from her wicked ways," the Judgment of God is inevitable. Saints, God has given us the authority to turn this around. We need to pray that God would release a "spirit of repentance" upon America. We need to plead the blood of Jesus over our nation. If the people of God will intercede on behalf of the United States of America, plead the blood of Jesus over this nation, and ask God to release a spirit of repentance; then I believe that God will have mercy on our country and "heal the land" (2 Chronicles 7).
Generally, when someone is identified as a Christian, that person is recognized as a "child of God." When referring to the Body of Christ, the born-again believers in Christ Jesus, we are often called "children of God." This, of course, is correct; but this is not the only nomenclature for which the Father wants His people to be defined. It is not the divine will of God for us as Christians to "remain" children of God (Ephesians 4). At some point, God wants us to grow up and become "sons of God."
Let me state very quickly that the term, "sons of God," is a gender-neutral term. Even though the word, "son," has a male connotation, a son of God is not about gender, it's about office. For instance, if a woman were President of the United States, she wouldn't be called "presidentess." The Office is the "President," regardless of the gender of the individual holding the office. Such is the case with the term ,"son of God".
There is a distinction between being a "child of God" and a son of God. In order to be recognized as a child of God, all you have to do is be born again, through faith in Jesus Christ, by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (John 3). In order to be a son of God, you have to walk in spiritual maturity (Galatians 4). In order to be a son of God, you can't just be born of the Spirit, you have to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8).
Saints, it's time that we as the people of God "grow up" and mature into Divine Sonship. Whether you are a man or a woman is irrelevant. God is looking for a people now that will walk in the power of sonship and usher in the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ's return. This will require sanctification, consecration and purification. However, it will result in the demonstration of supernatural power that will literally transform the world. Are you ready to walk in sonship? Remember, the whole creation groaneth, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8).
As we continue to explore the Consciousness of Heaven, we want to begin to examine some of the dynamics for which this consciousness creates. Whenever a person is from a "foreign country," there are certain cultural characteristics that they're going to possess that distinguish them from those who were born in that particular nation. Things such as language, dress, foods they eat, etc.
The same should be the case with the Church. Heaven carries with it a particular "culture." And those who carry a Consciousness of Heaven will exhibit the traits of that culture. One of the first traits is Supernatural Power. The mainstream Church needs to understand that God did not create humanity to live in the Natural, He made us to operate in the Supernatural. Human limitations, restrictions and finitude is a result of the Fall; it does not represent God's original design for humanity nor this Earth. When you get to Heaven (presuming you get there) you'll find that everything is Supernatural. Why? Because the entire environment is charged by the Glory of God. People fly in Heaven. Nobody is sick in Heaven. People don't hold their breath under water in Heaven. So if it's that way in Heaven, why not here on Earth? Because of our lack of Heaven Consciousness. That's why Jesus is the Model, not just for the church but for Humanity. We're "supposed" to walk on water. We're "supposed" to be able to raise the dead. We're "supposed" to be able to turn water into wine. Why? Because that's what the Consciousness of Heaven produces.
But the greatest attribute of the Consciousness of Heaven is Love. This is more of a mystery than anything else because the Bible clearly states that God is Love (I John 4). We often forget that we are made in the Image of God. In Heaven, it is saturated with the Love of God. A Love that exceeds human comprehension and imagination. As we strive for the Consciousness of Heaven, let us press into what Heaven and the reality thereof is really all about, The Eternal Love of God.
In continuing the discussion about Heaven, let us remember that Heaven is real and is supposed to directly affect our lives here on earth. Our responsibility as Christians is to make the reality of Heaven the reality of the Earth. One of the ways that we can better do that is to remember where we come from.
Many of us still believe that we come from the Earth. Wrong. No saints, we come from Heaven. Remember, the essence of our being is spirit. God is a Spirit. All human creation comes from God. Therefore, your origin is Heaven, not Earth. God does not reside in the Earth, His Throne is in Heaven (Isaiah 66).
With this in mind, too many of us have grown too comfortable on this planet. Earth is not our home. We are pilgrims and strangers. A friend of mine once asked the question, "If Christians are just pilgrims passing through, then why are we carrying so much luggage?" We should be acting like "spiritual aliens." There ought to be something about us and within us that says, "I just don't feel right down here, I want to go Home."
Needless to say, this is not the mind-set, I would say, of many Christians. And that saints, is part of the problem. We have to get reconnected to our heavenly roots. We have to operate in this earthly pilgrimage with the understanding that Heaven is not simply our Eternal Destination, it's also our Divine Heritage. We must continue to cultivate a Consciousness of Heaven.
As we prepare to experience one of the greatest moves of God to ever hit the Earth, it is imperative that we have a proper understanding of Heaven. For many people, including Christians, Heaven is simply some ethereal place that you go to after you die if you've been "good enough." Christians don't put enough emphasis on the reality of Heaven, and its centrality in our faith and ability to complete and fulfill God's will and purpose for our lives.
The first thing we want to understand is that Heaven is real. Most of us probably feel like we already know that. Well then, if that is true, how much of Heaven's resources are you accessing on a daily basis? That's what I'm saying. Heaven is not about "bye and bye, in the sky, when I die." Heaven is a real place that is supposed to directly affect how we live here on Earth.
We also need to understand that Heaven is a specific geographical location that actually serves as the blueprint for the Earth. Just like Mars is a place, Saturn is a place, Jupiter is a place, Venus is a place; Heaven is a place. There are people there, mountains, snow, streets, rivers, houses, pianos, it's a real place.
The responsibility of the Christian is to make the reality of Heaven the reality on earth. That's why Jesus taught the disciples to pray, "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6). The reality of Heaven is what God originally designed for the earth. It's the responsibility of the church to restore that Divine Reality. We will be ill-equipped to do that if we don't function with a Consciousness of Heaven.
One of the challenges many Christians have is negotiating the dynamics of what we call, "the flesh." When referring to the flesh, we're not talking about one's physical body. We're talking about the sinful nature that every human being inherited from Adam (Romans 5). Because of the sinful nature, even as Christians, a lot of times we end up doing wrong, even when we know what's right (Romans 7). This dynamic of the flesh even affects our relationships.
Many times when we think we're "in love," it's really not love, it's lust. In Galatians chapter 5, the scripture states that the flesh is comprised of affections and lusts. It's the affections of the flesh that really fools us. Affections can be defined as "energy and passion directed towards something or someone with the intent of reinforcing one's significance, self-worth and self-esteem." So when you find yourself "falling in love," you could actually be having feelings that are flesh-driven, regulated by sinful affections.
The way to know whether or not your feelings are flesh-driven or love-oriented is your motivation. As you interact with an individual, are you motivated more by what it does for them or what it does for you? As the relationship unfolds, are you happier about the things you get or the things you give? When it comes to disputes and disagreements, are you upset when you don't get your way or are you ok when the other person gets what they want at the sacrifice of your own personal desire?
Love is Selfless, lust is Selfish. It's time for the Church to mature, and make sure that our relationships are transitioning from lust to love.
