The Call to Kingship

One of the callings in the church that doesn't get enough attention is the call to kingship. There's a lot of focus on being called to preach, the call to pastor, the call to teach, even the call to prophecy, but there's not enough focus on the call to being a king. The Bible says in Revelation chapters 1 and 5 that God has made us kings and priests. In order for us to be adequately prepared and function properly in the Kingdom movement that God is releasing in the earth, it is important that we understand the nature of our call to kingship.

When we go back to the Book of Exodus, the Scripture says that God described the children of Israel as "a kingdom of priests" (Exodus 19). Generally, when we think of the children of Israel, we think of a group of disobedient people that God had to rescue out of Egyptian bondage and put up with through their wilderness wanderings. Even though this is true to a very large extent, it doesn't represent who God ordained them to be. This identification that God places upon His people in Exodus 19, is right before His Divine visitation and the giving of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. What a lot of people miss in regards to the Ten Commandments is that it wasn't just about "a set of rules" for the children of Israel to live by. It was the establishing of God's Kingdom amongst His Redeemed people. It was the Inauguration of the Kingdom of God! And what God had ordained for the Israelites was for them to serve as kings (a kingdom of priests) in the establishment of His Kingdom heading into the Promised Land. However, needless to say, they failed to answer this call.

God has extended this same call to the church in this present day and hour. When Pilate asked Jesus was He the King of the Jews, Jesus responded by saying, "to this end was I born" (John 18). And saints, the reason we've been "born again" is to serve as kings under Jesus Christ. That's why He is the King of kings (Revelation 19). Every born again believer has been called to a Ministry of Kingship. But just like in the natural, it's something you have to "inherit." The son of a king doesn't just "become" the king, he must inherit his father's throne. He has "the right" to the throne because he "is" a son, he's an heir; but the prince must still inherit the throne and authority of his father the king. This becomes a challenge for many Christians because the scripture says in Galatians chapter 4 that "the heir as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of al." As a child of God, you can't walk into the ministry of kingship operating in a state of spiritual immaturity.

Saints, the power that God has given us, associated with the manifestation of His Kingdom is beyond measure. The authority and dominion that has been reserved for the children of God is beyond belief. But God's not calling babies, still weaning on milk, to walk in the ministry of kingship. It's time that we grow up, take off the spiritual bibs and diapers, and mature into the men and women of God that the Lord is calling us to be; so that we may aptly and appropriately answer the call to kingship.

The Masterpiece of God

From Michelangelo's Masterpiece:
"The Creation of Adam"

Most of us understand that the God we serve is the Creator. The Bible clearly shows in the first two chapters of Genesis that God created the heavens and the earth. But one of the things that we often lose sight of is that God's Creative Power is not restricted to the Beginning. The God we worship is still serving in His role as Creator. I've heard people make the statement, God's not making any new land. Says who? Don't restrict the creativity of God to the first chapter of the Bible. He's still making things out of nothing. That's what He does!

But let us not forget the masterpiece of God. The masterpiece of all of God's creation are humans (male and female). The reason why humans are the masterpiece of God's creation is because we are the only aspect of His creation that were made in His Image and after His Likeness (Genesis 1). So as human beings, we represent the Masterpiece of God. Now one would think that the masterpiece of humanity has been ruined because of the entrance of sin into the human race. Au contraire, Saints. As a matter of fact, quite the opposite. Believe it or not, the fall of the human race gave God a chance to show how great of a Creator He really is. It's one thing to make something out of nothing. It's another thing to take something that's marred and broken, "without form and void" (Genesis 1), and then turn "that" into a masterpiece. That's what Salvation is all about.

When God sent His only begotten Son to save the world from sin, He also used Him to demonstrate what His Masterpiece of Creation is supposed to look like. We've often miss in Christianity that every born-again believer is supposed to manifest the Witness of Jesus Christ (Romans 8). Jesus is not so much the masterpiece, as much as He is the Model of the Masterpiece. He didn't have to be made, He always was. With that understanding, our whole ambition for living should be to imitate and emulate the Model of the Masterpiece that Jesus demonstrated while on earth.

The Bible says that "we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2). God is still creating in us. He's actually creating the Model of the Masterpiece within us, so that we can be witnesses and manifestations of the Model of the Masterpiece, which of course is Christ Jesus. But here's the mystery saints, the manifestation of the masterpiece isn't restricted to the earthly and temporal realm. One of the things that undermines the witness of the church is that we think too much in finite terms and earthly dimensions. 

Remember, the masterpiece of God (His human creation) wasn't made for time, we were made for Eternity. And also remember, our source is not Earth, our Source is Heaven. That's why Jesus repeatedly said, "my Kingdom is not of this world" (John 18). Saints, it's time that we honor the Father, submit to the craftsmanship of the Holy Spirit, and allow Christ to be formed in us as the Masterpiece of God.

A Sense of Urgency

The Church lacks a sense of urgency.

One of my gravest concerns for the mainstream church is our apathy and indifference towards the things of God and the signs of the times. There are things happening in this nation that ought to have the people of God outraged. 

This whole situation with Bruce Jenner and the gender-identity crisis grieves my heart; but not more than it grieves the Heart of God. I recently received a report that ESPN plans to award Bruce Jenner for his courage in this issue. If this report is true and ESPN follows through with this, I will have to subsequently boycott them and not watch their network anymore. I can't support a company that openly supports and celebrates perversion and confusion. But where is the voice of the church? Why don't we hear more spiritual leaders in America rising up with the authority and influence that God has providentially given them, and speak out on issues like these that we know grieve the Heart of the Father? It's because the church lacks a sense of urgency. 

We, too, have fallen victim to the dormant spiritual slumber that has affected and infected this nation. We too, even though our souls are covered by the Blood of Jesus, have allowed the Evil One to blind our minds to the truth and the urgency of the hour (2 Corinthians 4). Saints, let me make this as clear as I can; if something doesn't happen to turn America around, you're going to see this country in a shape that you've never witnessed before. 

A prophet of God made a declaration at the end of 2011, stating that God had told him to put together a 15,000 member Prayer Force to turn around the judgments that were set for America.

We can no longer afford to be laid back in our faith. We can no longer afford to "go with the flow." We can no longer sit idly by and think that we can't make a difference. Yes we can! We not only can make a difference we must make a difference. I challenge every believer who witnesses this blog to renew your commitment and devotion to the Lord. 

As we prepare to move into the Summer Season, let the Holy Spirit lead you and guide you in the paths that God has ordained for your life. Those areas in which you know you are weak and are out of the Divine Will of God for your life, seek God for a spirit of repentance and conversion, that God will renew you in the spirit of your mind (Ephesians 4). Seek to become an even more devoted disciple of Christ. Stretch yourself even the more to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8). I make this exhortation, Saints, because the hour is late. Play time is over. We must now approach this season with a sense of urgency.

The Reality of the Resurrection

Photo courtesy of Dr. Ashraf Fekry via Flickr

What if I told you that you didn't have to die? That's what Jesus said in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Saint John. Any man that believeth in Him will never die. The key to this promise that Jesus gave to the believer is the understanding of the reality of the resurrection. 

Even though the resurrection is an event that we generally celebrate once a year, the reality of the resurrection is not supposed to be restricted to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The reality of the resurrection is supposed to be a weapon that arms our faith, that is supported and strengthened by He who is the Resurrection, Jesus the Christ.

What is the reality of the resurrection? The reality of the resurrection is the fact that anything and anyone that is united with God through Christ cannot die, period. God is Life, and human beings were never designed to live or exist apart from our Creator, who is God. Therefore, had sin (separation from God) never come into the human equation, death would not even be a topic of discussion for human beings (just ask the angels). The blessing is that God sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins so that we would never have to die. Remember, the wages of sin (not just the transgression of God's Divine Law, but separation from Him) is death. Jesus paid that price with the shedding of His Blood on Calvary's Cross. So, the way the New Covenant works, through faith in the redemptive work of Christ, our sins are forgiven, the debt of sin is paid, and as a result we don't have to die.

Many of us already know these basic doctrinal beliefs of the Christian faith. So why are a lot of Christians still afraid to die or at least apprehensive at best? It is because we don't fully understand what Jesus purchased for us in dying for our sins and redeeming our souls back to God. When Jesus died, He didn't just abolish death, He gave us the gift of Eternal Life (John 3). Once again, most of us already know this. But the problem is, we don't possess a firm enough grasp on what Eternal Life is. Eternal Life is not just what you'll experience in Heaven "after you die." That's how most Christians think of it. Wrong. Eternal Life is the essence of the life of God that allows you not to die. Can I say it again? Eternal Life is the essence of the Life of God that allows you not to die. Therefore, the more you've grasped the Life of God, i.e. Eternal Life, the more you understand from a conscious standpoint your inability to die in Christ.

Saints, the Resurrection is Real. But it's not just an "after-life" phenomenon. The more we grasp internally the Eternal Life of Christ in our conscious, temporal reality, the more we'll believe what Jesus said, that we'll never die.

Where Do You Want to Be Great?

I believe that God has deposited within every individual an innate desire to be great. Sometimes certain environmental conditions can preclude people from realizing their full Divine potential, but nevertheless, the seed of greatness is within them. I believe this because I am convinced that God has endowed every human being with certain gifts that were designed to be used to His Glory before the foundation of the world was laid. The challenge, however, is to whose glory are these gifts going to be used? And that question can be addressed by asking, "Where do you want to be great?"

God has no problem with us striving for greatness. As I mentioned earlier, God put greatness within every one of us. But things get distorted when that greatness is not used to the Glory of God. So, when the question is raised, "where do you want to be great?" the choices are earth or heaven. People I don't think, fully yet realize that Heaven is a true, geographical location. Just like the planets Mars and Pluto and Saturn are real, heaven is real. The catch is heaven is an eternal place, the Earth (at least in its present form) is temporal. So do you want earthly greatness or heavenly greatness?

The greatness of this world is fleeting and temporal. It doesn't last. People spend, literally, a lifetime trying to be great and trying to be successful; only to see it end within the span of a century (which is nothing compared to eternity). When reaching for earthly greatness, the objective is to be applauded by men. The reason we know this is the case is because the greatness of the earth is defined by men. So in order to achieve it, you have to fit into the design and values of the men who have defined it. This is not of God. Earthly greatness revolves around self-centeredness and self-promotion. These too, are not of God. Yes, there may be momentary pleasures and scintillating thrills; but once again, it doesn't last.
But the Greatness of Heaven is Eternal. It is not defined by man, it is defined by God. 

God determines who's great in heaven. And what people don't understand, including in the church, is that if you achieve heavenly greatness, that greatness will be manifested in the earth realm. Jesus defined the greatness of Heaven by stating that he who is the greatest among you is the servant of all (Matthew 23). If you notice, even in the church, those who have the highest positions are expected to receive the greatest deference or service. This is not the culture of the Kingdom and the greatness of heaven. That's why Jesus made it clear when He said that He didn't come to earth to be served but to serve (Mark 10). What would it be like if instead of getting the highest salary at the church the pastor received the lowest? What would it be like if instead of the ministers at the head table we were in the back of the banquet hall? I'm not making suggestions, I'm describing how some of the protocol that we've established in the church runs counter to the spirit of greatness that has been established in heaven.

Saints, as we prepare for this next move of God, all of us, we have to get off our high horses and pull out the water and basin (John 13). It's time for us to put on the mantle of humility. It's time for us to aspire to the greatness of heaven and become the servant of all.

What Lies Ahead for America?

I am gravely concerned about what lies ahead for our nation, the United States of America. I don't think people really understand, including the church, how close America is to experiencing the Divine Judgment of God. Whether you know it or not, God is not playing! America was founded by Christians and it was founded under the Providential Hand of the Lord. America belongs to God! And He is not going to sit idly by and watch the nation He founded and established literally go to hell! So what lies ahead for America?

One of my concerns for our country are the dismal economic forecasts that I keep hearing reported, particularly those of a prophetic nature. If America doesn't repent and turn back to God, we're going to experience judgment in the area of our finances. There will be a financial meltdown like this nation has never seen, including the Great Depression of the 1930's. In case you're not aware, America is in "tremendous" financial debt. We cannot afford the trillions of dollars for which we are in debt right now. With other economic and international dynamics taking place, the American dollar could collapse literally at any moment. If this were to happen, overnight America would be a Third-World country. You'd see abject poverty like you've never witnessed before in this nation. Forget any concept of a "middle-class." Inflation would be off the roof and there would be absolutely no government benefits! So what would people do without welfare and unemployment benefits? This is what lies ahead for America, if we don't repent and turn  back to God.

Another area of concern for America is our standing and status within the international community. It is no secret that many of the countries within the Middle East literally hate America. The extreme Islamists would love nothing more than to see the utter destruction of this Western power. A man of God in Louisiana, not too long ago, had an open vision where he was in the Middle East and was in a conference room with several nations of the Middle East along with Russia. In the meeting they were discussing how they could proactively destroy America! This was not this man's imagination, this was a Divine Revelation from God! There have also been prophetic words that have gone forth declaring a Russian nuclear attack against America. And we don't even have to bring up the imminent threat of ISIS! Saints, if God lifts His Hand off of America, destruction is inevitable for this nation. This is what lies ahead for America, if we don't repent and turn back to God.

I urge you saints, now more than ever before, PRAY!!! Pray for America that God will spare the Judgment that has been prepared for this nation. PRAY, that God would release a spirit of repentance and that we will turn from these idols of greed and materialism, the promotion of homosexuality and a lack of compassion for the poor. PRAY, that same-sex marriage will not be legislated by the Supreme Court this year. PRAY, that God will restore right relations between America and Israel.  PRAY, that God would have mercy on America and spare us from an attack from ISIS. Read 2 Chronicles 7 and pray and Intercede on behalf of America, for what lies ahead.

Sacrifice unto God

One of the things I believe that many Christians fail to take into account  a lot of times when relating to God, is that God as God is worthy of Sacrifice. When you study the civilizations throughout ancient history, even though they were not in covenant relationship with Jehovah, they knew that the deities that they were subscribing to were due sacrifice since they were culturally recognized as their gods. This mindset I believe is something that God has built in naturally into the human spirit because man was made to worship God, and an instinctive and intuitive part of this worship involves and requires Sacrifice. So if your relationship with God is headed in the right direction, then there is a component of Sacrifice that has been established with the Lord to demonstrably show your love and adoration to Him.

One of areas of Sacrifice that we as Christians need to focus on is Sacrificial Giving. Yes, we are to pay our tithes and offerings, (Malachi 3). But in the words of Paul, this should be our "reasonable service" (Romans 12). We are approaching a Season where, if we're going to seriously and significantly establish the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven, we're going to have to contribute financially sacrificially. A good example of this is King Solomon. When dedicating the Temple that his father King David had envisioned, he sacrificed thousands of sheep and oxen on the altar (2Chronicles 7). Solomon did this to manifest his thanksgiving and praise to God for the building of the Temple for which the Lord had promised to his father. Saints, we too need to sacrifice at that level for the construction of the Kingdom and our thanksgiving to the Father.

Another area of sacrifice is the Sacrifice of Praise. It needs to be understood that God wants His people to worship Him and to praise Him. This is not optional, this is mandatory. There are still too many believers that attend worship services and are content to play the spectator role. This is not the will of God. Hebrews chapter 13 clearly admonishes us to off er unto God the Sacrifice of Praise with the fruit of our lips. God wants to hear some noise coming out of His people's mouths! (Psalm 100). Jesus says that the Father is looking for "true worshipers" (John 4). It is a sacrifice we need to render unto the Lord, and not just when we go to church.

The last area of Sacrifice that we want to explore is the Sacrifice of Love. The reason love is such a sacrifice is because if you plan to love according to the will of God, it's going to require the sacrifice of self. True, godly, effective love is Spirit-led, Christ-centered, and self-less. It's not easy, and that's what makes it sacrificial. 1 Corinthians 13 describes love in the King James Version as long-suffering. When you truly love the way God has commanded us to love, you have to give up your own personal rights. The right to privacy, the right to comfort, the right to convenience, the right to be treated fairly, the right to receive respect, the right to receive mutual and reciprocal interactions. When you commit to love, you commit to sacrifice these areas if necessary. I know I'm saying it right, because Jesus sacrificed ALL OF THESE THINGS in the greatest act of love this world has ever seen in His dying on the Cross for our sins. The Bible says that Jesus gave Himself for us "an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour". (Ephesians 5).
Saints, it's time to take our love and commitment to God to the next level. No more of this "pedestrian Christianity". No more of the this convenient spirituality. It's time for us in the name of Discipleship to bear our cross and die daily (1 Corinthians 15). It's time to offer our Sacrifice unto God.