The King’s Jurisdiction
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Aug 132018
A Letter to Kingdom Citizens
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Jun 262015
Earlier today the Supreme Court delivered a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. This is a historic ruling for the United States and one that fuels a lot of feelings on all sides of this issue. There are a lot of questions that people of faith are having right now because of this ruling so I felt compelled to address a message to the citizens of God’s kingdom.
Who is a citizen?
First, let’s address the subject of the qualifications to be a citizen in the kingdom of God. To be a citizen you have to be saved; born again. This has nothing to do with church membership. Salvation happens when a person repents. The word, repent, means to change the way you think and to accept God’s word as the truth and Him as your Lord. In doing so you’re asking God to forgive you of your sins and you’re admitting that you have violated what you know to be His laws and you’re making a confession to accept His mercy and change. The word Lord actually means owner, or master. So if Jesus truly owns you, you’re no longer your own but you belong to Him which means you will obey Him. There are many religions and many churches who claim to be affiliated with Jesus but you will know them by their fruit. None of us are perfect, but if you’re truly His, you’re going to do your best to obey Him and follow His word… even if it offends other people.
How does this ruling affect the kingdom of Heaven?
Nations are facing terrorism, economic crisis, civil unrest, starvation, and a plethora of other problems. The kingdom of Heaven has none of these problems and will never have to worry about such threats; that’s why God wants to impact earth with His government. His government functions perfectly.
How does this ruling affect God’s citizens on earth?
That’s what is so wonderful about God’s kingdom; even in the midst of a foreign land He still has jurisdiction over His people. This ruling has no effect on God’s people or His kingdom- it’s just another beautiful day in His kingdom. God is still King and He is still on the throne.
Ask yourself this:
Is drunkenness a sin? Yes.
Is telling a lie a sin? Yes.
Is committing adultery a sin? Yes.
Is having sex outside of a marriage a sin? Yes.
We have all of these acts of sin taking place in the United States every day yet God’s people are still fine amongst it all. God’s kingdom doesn’t change because of what a nation in the earth makes a ruling on; God is consistent always. This ruling has no bearing on God’s kingdom- His kingdom still reigns and He is still on the throne today as He was yesterday. If someone is a drunk and they come to Jesus they have to leave their ways behind and accept His ways. It doesn’t matter if they are over the age of 21; it doesn’t matter if it is legal on the earth. In God’s kingdom it is illegal.
Ephesians 5: 18 (KJV)
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
In God’s kingdom you obey the King, regardless of the laws of the nation where you currently preside. Just because it is now legal in the United States to marry a same sex individual, it doesn’t change God’s law. Just as with a drunk, if someone comes to Jesus and submits to Him they are submitting to His authority and agreeing to follow His laws. If someone is a drunk they give up their way and follow Jesus. If someone is a kleptomaniac they give up stealing and follow Jesus. If someone identifies as gay, they acknowledge that in God’s kingdom this is illegal and they no longer deem it acceptable and they turn and follow Jesus (Romans 1). People who are in adultery may have a hard time letting go of that relationship, but they understand that to be His they have to. People who used to drink may still love the taste and feeling from being inebriated, but they understand in God’s kingdom it is illegal so they give it up. Someone who identifies as a homosexual may have a hard time facing the changes that God’s word demands, but they understand in His kingdom it is unacceptable and they follow Jesus. Nothing has changed.
There is a man in the United States that said he would light himself on fire if this ruling happened… listen, this is ridiculous. If he is going to light his body on fire because the Supreme Court has ruled it legal and constitutional to disobey God, why doesn’t he also do it because they allow drunkenness to be legal, or marijuana to be legal. You cannot force people to do what you want; even God Himself doesn’t do that. Stand for the truth, preach the truth, and let people make their decision. Show them love no matter what they decide in hopes that they will listen and their hearts be changed. We’re not the Holy Ghost, so let the Holy Ghost do His job and we do ours.
Let me take a step back and make a note of something. Earlier I stated “We have all of these acts of sin taking place in the United States every day yet God’s people are still fine amongst it all.” I know the thought will come to someone’s mind “Some of God’s people are committing these very sins.” You are absolutely right. The difference is whether they are working on changing their ways. When a citizen sins they must acknowledge that they are wrong, not deem their behavior as acceptable. They must repent, and ask God to help them to change. When a religious person sins they unremorsefully say “It’s OK I’ll just ask God to forgive me like I always do.” As true citizens of God we should be becoming more like Jesus in our culture.
How does this ruling affect our nation?
This is a good question and the one that is important to ask. This ruling does have an effect on the nation. What is that effect? At this moment I do not know. But here is what I do know.
Psalm 33: 12 (KJV)
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
When a nation makes God their Lord- remember what Lord means?- they are blessed. As a nation we face a lot of crisis and problems that are a result of disobedience. Overtime we have grown accustomed to those consequences even though they may have a significant impact on our nation. There is an effect on a nation who makes a ruling to accept something that God says is illegal. God doesn’t necessarily relinquish punishment and retribution on the people of earth, but because His word is law, and the bible says what it does in Psalm 33: 12, there is an automatic effect that takes place as God has to release His hand from a part of the nation. God has always wanted us to obey Him with our own free will. If the nation decides to disobey Him or go against Him, He allows them to. Remember Samuel when the nation of Israel rejected God as their King?
But remember citizens of God, God is able to keep you safe and even bless you right in the midst of a nation that turns against Him; He’s done it before. Let’s also remember that at one time we were also lost in sin and continue to pray for our lost brothers and sisters that they will turn to God. Regardless of their sin, God loves them and wants them to return to Him just as He wanted you and me to at one time in our very recent past.
Don’t be discouraged. Everything that is happening must come to pass according to scripture. Continue to pray, continue to lead, and continue to follow the Lord. You were a citizen of His kingdom yesterday and you still are today. God’s plan hasn’t changed- He is still working in the earth through you, His ambassadors.
The Priority of the Kingdom Mandate 3
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Dec 242012
This is the third part of the message on the Kingdom Mandate taught at Liberty Ministries Church International.
Liberty Ministries Church International
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
MESSAGE BEGINS AT 56:00.
The Priority of the Kingdom Mandate 2
Kingdom Awakening, Video
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Dec 232012
This is part 2 of the message on the Kingdom Mandate taught at Liberty Ministries Church International.
Liberty Ministries
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
Message begins at 46:00.
Reconnect
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Apr 272012
God has a reason and a motive to why He does what He does. Everything God does is for a purpose. There is a motivation behind all of God’s creation. God made everything and everything has a source. If you take a plant out of the soil and set it on a table you have removed it from its appropriate environment. When something is not in its right environment it begins to die. It’s a law. Take a seed and sit it on a window seal and it will not do anything; but put it in the right environment, the soil, and it will sprout. So God made our bodies out of the dirt and our bodies require things from the source it came from which is the earth. So our bodies need oxygen, food and water from the earth. Even when we leave the earth for a little while during space exploration we have to take part of the earth with us in order to sustain the body. We can see this clearly and is a revelation to us. God also made our spirit, in the image and likeness of God He created it. Just like the body must be connected to its source, the earth, to live- so must our spirit be connected with its Source, God, to live. When we disconnect things from their source they begin to die immediately. It may take some time for this to become evident… but the effects of this separation will manifest. They manifest in our own lives and can be seen clearly from our current state as a society. We need to be reconnected with our Source and with His kingdom. LORD, may Your kingdom come, Your will be done, ON EARTH, as it is in Heaven.
Persistence Pays Off
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Aug 152011
Luke 18 : 1-8
1. Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2. saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’
4. For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5. yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’”
6. And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said;
7. now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
8. I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
NASB
This parable is an answer to those who have asked God something and you don’t seem to get an answer. You think God is just holding out on you; God is blessing and answering everyone else’s prayers but not mine. This can seem to be the case unless we understand prayer. Look at what Paul wrote to the Ephesians…
Ephesians 6 : 18
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
NASB
Two words I want to really focus in on- perseverance and petition. These are key components to effective prayer. Let’s define them…
- steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
- a formal written request made to an official person or body (as a court or board)
- a written document signed by a large number of people demanding some form of action from a government or other authority
- a formally drawn request, often bearing the names of a number of those making the request, that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority or power, soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit:
I cannot stress the importance of exercising this in our prayer life. You can’t be a lawyer and not know about making a “petition” and you cannot pray effectively without “petitioning”. Look at the third definition for petition where it states “…soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit:” If you have ever had a prayer answered it’s because you requested something God had already spoken as being a right or benefit- or because He gave you favor or mercy. A petition is a legal request to a government or authority based on rights or promises- when we pray we’re making a legal request to God based on rights…
Matthew 5 : 7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
KJV
or benefit…
Psalm 103 : 2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
KJV
Psalm 116 : 12
What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me?
KJV
Some may read this and at first think to themselves “I don’t have any rights… I’m just at God’s mercy because I am just a lowly servant who’s at His mercy.”
My reply to you would be the same as Job to His worthless friends, “What a help you are to the weak!”, he says sarcastically.
As a citizen you do have rights, why? Because that’s the way God setup His government system. Rights are for citizens and you have to understand your rights in order to have access to them. If God says in His word “blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” then you have to remind God of that in your prayers. He’s a King so if He says something it becomes law! So we pray…
“Lord, you see adversity coming against me from these individuals at work and the stress and humiliating situations I have found myself in; God I have shown mercy as my reaction to these things- I could have acted completely different in response to these events but I have remembered Your word “if I am merciful, I will obtain mercy“. So Father in Heaven I remind you of Your word and my right as a citizen- because I have shown mercy, mercy shall I obtain.”
Praise God! I’m telling you if you find yourself in need of a prayer like this and you petition God with your request in this manner, you will begin to see favor come upon you from those around you and even from those in positions of authority. God will turn their persecution into shame because you have laid claim to the right of mercy. THIS IS POWERFUL! THIS IS A TRUE PRACTICE OF FAITH!
Faith is the strength of your convictions, in the time of testing, that His word is true. That means no matter how bad things get, you believe His word and that it will prevail. If you can get understanding of this, trials will be something to weather rather than something sent to destroy you. God knows your benefits and rights… He’s the one that created them when He spoke them- He just wants you to believe His word enough, that you will remind Him of His promise and then wait for the answer.
Now back to my first scripture
Luke 18 : 1-8
1. Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2. saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’
4. For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5. yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’”
6. And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said;
7. now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
8. I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
NASB
This is an area where we overlook much of the time. We expect to pray once and see results immediately. It’s OK to pray and expect- in fact the bible encourages this- but when you don’t see results and you know you’re in line with His word in your request- you must continue to petition. Jesus gave us this example about this widow woman. He says to continue and press in on the Lord for your request. If in the parable this evil man gave in because he didn’t want to be wore out by her constant pleas- how much more will God answer your request when you continue to request of Him your petition. IT EVEN SAYS WILL HE DELAY A LONG TIME TO ANSWER HIS ELECT YOU CRY OUT DAY AND NIGHT! WOW!
BUT when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth… That’s another article for another day…
Continue to request and petition day and night unto the Lord- He will answer. Don’t give up! I could go into the Jewish culture of how a child must ask his father three times to get a yes- but I’ll leave you with this to meditate on. But BE WARNED if you request and petition something of God day and night be ready to receive it. If you’re asking for direction, an answer, for God to use you, for your purpose- He’s going to give it you- so don’t ask anything unless you’re ready to use what He gives you.
-For The Kingdom
To The Hurt
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May 222011
Deuteronomy 18:22
22. When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
I am praying for all those hurt by this mans false predictions of May 21st 2011. It came and went… but nothing happened. The bible specifically says it is NOT for man to know the time. We’ll see signs of the season, which we do, but the day and hour is not known. It will happen one day- but it’s not the end of the earth destruction that is thought of. The bible clearly says the earth shall abide forever and the meek will inherit it. God is so committed to His kingdom influencing and impacting the earth that one day He’ll renew the earth.
!ATTENTION! Quit worrying about the end of the world and instead focus on influencing the earth and making a difference for the Kingdom of Heaven! You’re a citizen and an ambassador in the earth- so do your job and impact the earth with the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven! We have become so preoccupied with leaving the earth that we’re not being effective in our calling! You don’t know when He’s returning, nor the angels- neither does the son- so get back to the kingdom!
-For The Kingdom
Quick Thought
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Dec 282010
Luke 6:46
46. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
KJV
Simple verse but something God asks me every time I…
- display fear
- display worry
- question Him
- lack faith
- forget to pray
- neglect to read His word
- disobey
- display any character trait other than that of His kingdom
It hurts but we must adhere to His chastening. (By the way, chastening is another way of saying “butt whipping!”) We don’t realize what we’re doing when we disobey His word. It’s not a practice… religion practices obeying the King, but to kingdom citizens obeying the King is our culture.
Is it your culture? … or are you obeying His word on a trial basis? …until the next temptation comes? There are some things we know we would not do in front of God Himself, but we do them from time to time without much of a thought. We sometimes, with these types of slip-ups, say “I’m still struggling with this.” Struggling is a word we like to use synonymously for things we know we should not be doing but we do them anyway. It’s these kind, the simple things, that keep us from obtaining the level of depth we desire of God. It’s these small things that separate the majority of Christians from the Elijahs, Elishas, Isaiahs, Pauls…
Song of Solomon 2:15
15. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
KJV
It’s the small foxes that keep us from the precious fruit, the best fruit…
If we’re to be an influence to those around us impacting them with our culture, the kingdom of Heaven, we must display after the manner of our Lord. We must be good stewards, representatives, ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Taking no offense of His Word lightly. That doesn’t mean we’re perfect, but we try our best to obey Him.
-For the Kingdom
Not Forced
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Dec 172010
Because of my wife I am constantly aware of how much sugar we take in in our diets. Due to this awareness I usually drink water most of the time other than my regular coffee. However I just cannot seem to resist the urge for the occasional Sunkist. I don’t know what it is about it, I just love it.
What’s funny about this is when I am opening it up I am thinking about all the sugar I am getting ready to take in, but I decide in my mind that this will be the last one for a very long time. In fact I even think to myself “I may not drink one of these ever again”. This is really easy to convince myself of because I am getting ready to enjoy the drink.
Isn’t it funny how easy it is to make a commitment NOT to do something when you’re about to DO the very thing you’re vowing against? I started thinking how easy it is for some people to say say they’re not going to go against God’s laws in a certain way again, while they’re in the act.
“After I finish this night of drinking with my friends, I’m not going to do it anymore…”
“After I finish this pack of cigarettes I’m not going to buy another…”
“Starting tomorrow I’m going to read my bible everyday…”
“Starting this January I’m going to go on a diet…”
It’s easy to make a commitment for later when you have what you’re desiring now… therefore it means nothing. Cancel that night out, throw the rest of that pack away, read the bible now, start that diet today… now that’s hard. How do you feel about discarding what you have now and starting that resolution today? A much tougher sale to make to yourself isn’t it?
Commitment can’t be forced, it is a decision that must be made. There is an old saying “Those convinced against their will, are of the same opinion still” which is still true today. All we can do is plant seeds with people and pray to the Lord of the Harvest for their germination. Sometimes it can be hard to watch those we love hurt themselves, but no matter how much we want to go up and knock some sense into them- we have to use wisdom in our communication with them.
Plant seeds, water and then let the Lord draw them to His purpose.
Lord
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Nov 162010
Would you go to a lawyer for legal advice who didn’t understand the difference between interpreting the “spirit of the law” and the “letter of the law”?
Would you let someone cut your hair whose experience is primarily their 4 year old child’s?
What about having a health diagnosis made by a Doctor… of Veterinary Medicine?
Of course these are all ridiculous questions- the answers are fairly obvious. The point of these questions is not to say one needs a specific education from a particular university to be chosen, but that we want those associated with a certain field of study… to have studied! We want someone who has a passion for what they believe in, a passion for their purpose.
Most would agree with the above statements… but when it comes to being citizens of the kingdom of God, the country we associate our self with, whose King we say we follow… many times it doesn’t seem we understand God’s laws nor his word. I say this because of those who, I dare say, say Jesus is their Lord but they don’t do what He says.
Remember Lord comes from the word Adon- where we get Adonai which means Owner. So if He owns you, why do we still disobey His commandments. I’m afraid in today’s theology of many peoples we have made grace a religion. I have heard it said of those “I’m no longer under the law, I am under grace.” And this is a scripture that is wonderful to us… but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted by many and is used as a weapon against God’s laws in order to break God’s commandments. Many have set in their minds that they cannot obey God’s laws and so they live as if grace covers any sins they continue to commit and live in… because after all, their not under the law any more. Paul said “God Forbid” that we may break God’s laws just because we’ve been grace. We’ve been given grace so we can be once again in the kingdom of God, be in right positioning with the kingdom, right standing with the King because of the blood of Jesus.
Will a judge pardon someone for theft so that he can now break into as many banks as he wants to without fear of consequence? No. If he was pardoned it meant he was released from the judgment that was due for his crimes, so that he can be a part of society again. He was deserving of punishment according to the law but he was pardoned by grace given from the judge. This is what Jesus did for us.
Ask yourself this… if grace is given to cover every sin you could ever commit going forward… then what is the purpose of repentance anymore? If you are on your way to heaven no matter what you do, because of grace, what is the need for repentance?
God gave us grace, ability, to keep His laws again- Not sacrificial law, because that was the works that Paul was speaking of that cannot save, but ability to keep God’s laws- which never change.
