Jesus Is Building His Church

In Matthew 16:18b we read a very familiar statement of Jesus.   “Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”  Jesus told Peter that upon the rock of the identity of Christ He would build His church.  Not only was the identity of Christ a factor in this building but also Peter had to know who he was.  Peter just prior to this had Jesus recalibrate as it were his identity.  He was known as Simon the reed which speaks of a wavering in the wind, to Peter the rock.  It is the same for us today.  We need not only have a revelation of the Christ but who we are in Him.  Jesus saw beyond the surface to the great stability in Peter's life.

Those of us who have gone to one of the home improvement stores to buy building materials have surely experienced searching through lumber piles to find a straight board.  I always like it when I find a freshly opened sling of 2x4’s so I don’t have to move aside so many warped and twisted sticks to get what I need.   It is very difficult to build anything straight with a bunch of bent boards.

Many of us have also experienced being one of those rejected boards so to speak.  We may have been the last one chosen for the team or just left out all together.  We may have made a mess of our lives through poor choices resulting in being rejected from employment or any number of things in life.  All these experiences help form our identity, the person we think we are.  It is possible after being rejected so many times we conclude that we are useless, and take on a false identity.  Some have even accepted the label and wear with a sense of pride.  It might say “I am a reject and I expect you to reject me”.  And surely with God’s high and holy standards we do not even consider the possibilities of being used by Him.    

In recent days we have heard the term remnant used to describe a group of people that God will raise up in the last days to do the works that Jesus did and even greater works.  It is a mysterious sounding title for a group of people but I always think of carpet remnants, a collection of left over pieces of rug not needed to complete the installation.  They just didn’t fit into the structure of the builder’s project.  These left over sections of carpet are sometimes gathered up and placed in a store for sale.  Many people come to check their colors and size them up to see if any would fit into their plans but too often they are just further rejected.

If this sounds familiar or you can identify with these rejected building materials you are in good company.  Jesus Himself was the stone rejected by the builders but has become the head of the corner.  He is the Chief corner stone and the one who is in charge of gathering the building materials for His church.  He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hid as were our faces from Him.  (see Isaiah 53:3).   He is gathering a remnant, a group of rejected people that the builders tossed aside.  All those who have been warped, twisted and bent out of shape are just what He is looking for.  The ones who were not good enough or did not have a pleasant appearance are on His shopping list.  God is the master builder and knows how to fit every piece into the place designed for it. 

I remember back in the seventies burl wood furniture, clocks and end tables just to name a few were very popular.  A burl is like a huge wart that sometimes grows into the main trunk of a tree.  Loggers often leave that section of the tree behind because it doesn’t make good lumber it is too tough to work with.  But there were those furniture builders who would go around looking for those discarded chunks of log because they knew what was on the inside and what they could become.  Though these pieces of wood were very difficult to work with, once the master builder completed the transformation they were the most beautiful and stunning pieces of furniture around. 

Likewise God is at work gathering together those that the builders rejected forming and shaping them into a building, beautiful beyond anything before seen.  We must not allow our former identity to hinder us taking our rightful place.  We need not only have a revelation of the Christ but a revelation of who they are in Him.  Refuse to be disqualified by defects but allow God to redeem every one and turn it into a jewel.  God never intended that we become a bunch of warped, twisted or bent rejects but like the master wood carver, He sees on the inside the beauty hidden there.  Just as the ugly wart-like burl on the side of a tree is discarded by the woodsman but saved by the craftsman, so God takes what the devil meant to exclude or disqualify us and turns it into something beautiful and precious.   

The demons of Hell have been at work to defile and disqualify us from being used by God but the very ones that they have opposed so violently will be the ones to put the final nail in their coffin so to speak.  Jesus said “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” 

Don't Feed The Birds

If you have ever eaten lunch at one of the restaurants at Coulon Beach on Lake Washington in Renton you have surely noticed the water foul hanging around hoping you will toss them something tasty.  The management has posted signs not to feed the birds because they become a nuisance.  Like many other wild animals, if you feed them they will tell their friends and before you know it you’ll no longer be able to enjoy your lunch.

There are certain types of birds that like to show up at church or wherever the word of God is being proclaimed because there is always a lot that gets discarded.  For sure on Sunday mornings you will find the fowls of the air waiting to steal the seed that is sown.  Jesus explained in a parable that when anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, but doesn’t understand it or can not conceive of it, the wicked one snatches it away preventing the hearer from profiting from the word.  (See Matthew 13:19)

Imagine if you will, each proclamation of God’s word being a check written from His account to the hearer.  Though God never bounces a check and His word never returns void, (See Isaiah 55:11) it can be rendered ineffective.  Though His checks are always good they only profit those who deposit them.  Anyone who lacks understanding and wisdom will not make it to the bank before the thief snatches it away. 

 There are several reasons the thief gets away with our blessing. We can develop an immunity of sorts to messages we hear often and take them lightly assuming they won’t add much to us.  There is always the message we wish brother so in so was hearing because he really needs it, while we miss it ourselves.  We might also disagree doctrinally or have misconceptions about the validity of the message.  Religious tradition also makes the word of God ineffective.  (See Matthew 15:6)  Some things the church has believed and taught as gospel is only hearsay.  We believed it because everybody seems to accept it as truth.  But when the Gospel of the Kingdom is preached some have trouble believing that His Kingdom should actually come and His will be done in this present time.  Too many have put off all those promises for a future millennium.  Having accepted error as truth can also make truth appear to be inaccurate.  All these are examples of leaving the check lay there allowing the thief to swoop in at steal it. 

Isn’t it ironic that the devil accuses God of the very thing he is about to do.  Before he introduced lack and poverty into the earth he accused God of being stingy.    God gave Adam and Eve rule over all the earth and they lacked no good thing.  The serpent managed to steal their authority by convincing them God had held back something good and to possess it they must eat of the forbidden tree.  As a result poverty, lack and death came into the world.  We see it yet today, so much of the devil’s work is blamed on God.  Though Christ has reversed the effects of Adam’s failure the thief still uses that same strategy against God’s people.  He will subtly suggest the reason we are deficient and lacking in areas of life is because God just hasn’t come through for us.  If we agree with him his next step is selling us on the forbidden fruit as the solution.  He has an ability to make his thievery appear that God never provided for us in the first place.  He keeps us powerless by snatching away the word of grace, the empowerment that is rightfully ours and then accuses God of not providing.   

 The devil builds a lie slowly from the ground up.  He is so subtle that he will turn our attention to things that we are used to, things that are part of this natural life.  He directs our focus toward things that we can identify with, but only exist because of his own lies in the garden.  He knows he can’t just barge in with a blatant lie but must slowly interject thoughts to prepare us for his next step.  He might start with, “I am getting older now”.  Then later it is “I can’t do all the things I used to.”  Or, “my memory isn’t what it used to be so I doubt God will ever use me in a significant way”.  Or he might point out other weaknesses in our lives insinuating they only exist because God is holding out on us.  He repeatedly speaks these things to reinforce them in our thinking.  His strategy is that we would blame God which in turn keeps us from receiving the necessary truth of God that restores our authority and confidence.   

It never dawned on me that accepting those thoughts was actually agreeing with the devil and even blaming God.  By the time I realized it he had stolen God’s promises right out from under my nose.  He managed to keep my attention on my deficiencies while he stole God’s solutions.  This went on for many years without my knowing it was an evil strategy.  I always believed those were my own thoughts because they were true to my natural senses and in fact I enjoyed an occasional pity party without understanding the price.  God is not moved by our whining but by faith.

So now I carefully examine each thought to determine the source.  I filter as it were thoughts to determine if they edify or add value to my life.  Though we are not to deny the natural realities of earthly life, faith sees the superior reality of heaven where there is no lack.  God will not emphasize or dwell on the problem but the solution.  His words are spirit and they are life.  They will always give hope and add value.   I immediately reject thoughts that draw my attention to self deficiencies.  I am fed up with the wicked one getting away with my blessings.  New management has moved in so to speak and has posted signs, Do not Feed the Birds.

Who Do You Think You Are

This question might come to us as a challenge to our identity, position or authority. It is usually in a critical tone meant to intimidate us from moving forward. Like the serpent in the garden that spoke doubt and confusion to Eve. He sows doubt concerning God’s word to us. If we break out of old patterns to walk in the authority God says we have he will bring up that critical question. “Who do you think you are?” He wants us to take ownership of this critical thought because he knows our thoughts are powerful in forming our identity and direction.

If the deceiver’s questioning voice can shake our confidence and inject uncertainty about our identity then he has at least temporarily prevented our forward progress and spiritual growth. Our thinking patterns not only affect our identity but our destiny. Just as we must know where we are to proceed to our destination we must know who we are to fulfill our destiny in Christ. Our “God thoughts” will always be challenged by the one who wants to keep us from our destiny. In reality our enemy fights to keep us from repentance or changing our thinking patterns.

There have been some who actually believed they were Jesus Christ. They agreed with the spirit of antichrist who twists bible verses and with flattery puffs up their pride. On the other hand those who humbly seek to be conformed to the image of Christ hear that critical voice questioning the validity of their motives. It is so ironic that he will tell the one person they are the Christ then tell the other he has no business thinking he can be Christ-like. If the deceiver can not cause us to fall short of our destiny he will try to push us beyond it. So it is not only important that we know God’s written word but His voice as well. God is love and His voice will bear the fruit of love. His love is patient, kind, and gentle. Never boastful, nor will He inflate our egos. He will never flatter or condemn those truly seeking His truth.

Most of us are familiar with GPS--- global positioning or navigation devices for our automobiles. It normally requires three or more satellite signals to pin point our location. Without a location the GPS device is nothing more than an important looking gadget unable to lead us to our destination. In a similar way knowing our own identity is crucial to fulfilling our destiny in God. Deuteronomy 19:15 says there must be two or three witnesses to confirm a matter before judgment can be made. Jesus quoted this passage in Matthew 18:16 concerning settling disputes with a brother. This principal can be used to verify or confirm our identity.

Jesus would not bear witness of Himself lest His identity be in question. (See John 5:31) He was following proper protocol not implying He was not trustworthy but I believe He was acting as an example for us. Our identity must be verified by the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, these three agree as one. The scriptures testified of the Christ, John the Baptist testified of Him, the Father spoke from heaven (This is my beloved Son) and the Spirit rested upon Jesus at His baptism. The devil will challenge our identity just as he did Christ’s in the wilderness but because of those who bare witness we shall not be moved.

1st John 4&5 teaches us the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. We know that we are of God if we love one another. His Spirit within us bears witness to the truth. Like the three satellites used to determine a position there are three that bear witness on earth, the Spirit the water and the blood and there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost. In the context of these verses John assures his readers of their identity. Just as Christ was born of God, those who love Him will also love those who are begotten of Him. The one who is born of God also overcomes the world. Having our identity established in Christ is crucial to overcoming the world and the devil’s critical voice.

Who do you think you are? You must agree with the three that bear witness in heaven and on earth, they testify to your identity. The Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit declare us to be the Children of God. We should not accept an identity that is not witnessed to by these three.

American Politics

Changing a Nation

God’s People have more power to change the political landscape of a nation through thanksgiving and prayer than through the ballot box. We all should participate in electing our government leaders, but as Christians we have something more powerful than our vote. Changing the ruling party or replacing individuals in office may be necessary but history reveals it has not resulted in turning America toward righteousness. God has given us in His word the recipe for bringing about the transformation of a nation.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 1 Tim 2:1-3 NKJV

We are inclined to complain and criticize our elected officials because they do not share the same values and beliefs that we do. The bible says the power of life and death is in the tongue and the tongue is like a flame that is set on fire of hell. With our tongue we bless God then turn and curse men who are made in His image. (See James 3) The very fact that all men are made in God’s image is reason enough to give thanks to God even if they are opposed to righteousness. Our thanksgiving and prayer of blessing sanctifies or sets them up for divine influence.

If an elected official is operating in darkness and all we do is criticize and complain we are only reinforcing the darkness. Criticism is generally rooted in a religious pride. We know that God’s desire is that all nations yield to His standards of righteousness and justice but some of us lack understanding of His ways. Romans chapter 13 tells us the higher powers such as earthly government officials are ordained of God, ministers that we are to be subject unto. His intent is that they oppose evil and not good.

We know that some leaders are opposed to God and His righteousness but His way of turning them around is not to oppose them personally. There are several examples in scripture of righteous men and women of God becoming leaders that influenced nations. Daniel honored the king of Babylon for his position without compromising his own personal righteousness. He was a light in a dark place and eventually found favor and influence with Nebuchadnezzar. Joseph honored those in positions of authority over him and found favor in their sight. It opened the door for him to provide wisdom and a solution for the famine in Egypt. David honored king Saul even when Saul was out to destroy him. He allowed God time to work in the situation instead of taking matters into his own hands. As a result David was promoted to ruler over Israel. These examples all show us God’s way of either changing the heart of an existing leader or replacing them.

The manner in which leadership is gained is how it will need to be maintained. If an office is gained through God’s favor He will maintain it in like manner but if we gain a position through strife and criticism we will surely face much of the same as we hold that position.

We too often try to hold the heathen to God’s scriptural standards and it would be good if they adhered to them but they can not. No man without the grace of Christ can keep God’s laws—that’s basic Christianity 101. The only people Jesus confronted over such standards were the religious Pharisees and scribes. They were the ones who took pride in knowing God’s laws so they should have been the best examples of godliness but they were not. It looks somewhat similar out there these days. The religious people are expecting those who do not walk in God’s grace to have the power to do right, but it can’t happen. In fact we who have God’s grace in abundance should be the first to show them grace, not as rewarding evil but empowering them to do right by imparting grace to them, honoring and thanking God for them.

The Heathen Are Cleansed

Peter, in a vision saw all manner of unclean animals lowered down from heaven and he heard the Lord say “arise Peter, kill and eat.” Peter answered saying “not so Lord for I have never eaten anything common or unclean”. This happened three times and Peter understood it to mean that God had cleansed that which was formerly unclean. The gentiles who were previously unable to come to God were now made clean or acceptable. (See Acts 10:13-28) Even before the gentiles received Christ and were converted, God saw them clean. He had called them to salvation and had cleansed them ahead of time as it were. They only needed to come and confess there sins and turn to Christ by faith. Their belief and confession of Christ would seal the deal. The vision Peter had was to reveal a truth and allow him to see the gentiles through the eyes of God.

Thanksgiving and prayer leads to sanctification. (See 1Tim 4:1-6)
In a similar way Paul says food that was formerly unclean can be sanctified or cleansed through thanksgiving and prayer. God used food to illustrate to Peter that the gentiles were now acceptable. The unclean was now made clean through the work of Christ. Paul also tells Timothy that every creature is suitable for food when received with thanksgiving and prayer.

My point is, this principal is still in effect. Our prayer can either set an unbeliever apart unto God for divine influence or the opposite can also occur. A prayer laced with criticism and complaints about ungodly leadership can release more demonic influence upon them. We need to see those who are away from God as though they are clean already. If our prayer for them is not to bless and thank God for them it will likely be tainted with complaints and criticism. We don’t dare allow our enemy to use us and our access to God’s throne to bring accusations against anyone. The devil is the accuser but his only access to God is through misguided believers. We are to represent God’s case before the throne not the devil’s case. God has declared all men innocent by the blood of His Son.

Here again I want to clarify that I am not saying the ungodly are saved by default, obviously not. They are lost until they come to Christ by faith just like we all must do. I am trying to stress there is a difference between seeing men through the eyes of the law and the eyes of faith. Faith sees them as they will be while the law can not see past their faults. That reminds me of a story a young police officer told me. He was riding along in a squad car with an older officer who shared how he hated what he had become over many years. The longer he was on the force the more he looked for people to do something illegal and became obsessed with the desire to catch someone in the wrong. No longer was it innocent until proven guilty but you are guilty and I’ll catch you sooner or later. It is a sad state to be in; always looking for faults in others but that is how legalism can effect Christians as well.

If Christians truly want to win over those in places of authority we need to adorn ourselves with that meek and gentle spirit. How about Paul’s instructions to women whose husbands do not believe? He says basically husbands will not be attracted to Christ by their wife’s preaching the word or even their outward beauty, be it hair, clothes or jewelry, but by the inner beauty of a meek and quiet spirit. This sort of adorning is like a priceless jewel in God’s eyes. (See 1 Peter 3)

America is looking for a true alternative to the leadership they have known. The type of leader America really needs and wants will only be installed by God. Popular votes won’t do it because most Americans do not see as God does, with the eyes of faith. God will raise up those who will submit themselves to the process like Joseph or David and refuse to strike out at the one in authority but honor their position. Where are these leaders, are they locked in a dungeon or hiding in a cave waiting for the favor of God to fall upon them? We may not see that person but God has been grooming and preparing for himself leaders who will not bow to the giants or the controling Jezebels of our day but will defeat that prevailing spirit through God’s Spirit.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against wicked spirits of darkness in high places. It is not by human might or power but by the Spirit of God that America will be delivered from the grip of evil.

Less Equals More

Less Can Equal More

How often do we size up what we have and assume it is too little to amount to anything? I remember an old saying, “That’ll never amount to a hill of beans.” With my limited gardening experience, it was common when planting corn or beans to place two or three seeds in each hill and hope for at least one to come up to create a stalk of corn or beans. I suppose if a person only had one seed to put in a hill it may not survive and reproduce a crop. Thus the saying may have originated from something like having only one seed in a hill.

Jesus and His disciples were about to take a boat trip. After they had shoved off from shore He said to them, “Beware of the leaven of the scribes and the leaven of Herod.” Then they began to reason among themselves thinking Jesus was concerned about having enough bread. Jesus over heard their discussion and asked why they hadn’t understood that He was not speaking of bread but of the teaching or doctrine of the Pharisees and Herod. Then, concerning natural bread He reminded them of the time He multiplied the five loves and fed twelve thousand with twelve baskets of fragments left over and when He multiplied the seven loaves to feed four thousand with seven baskets of fragments left over. Then He asked them a curious question. “How is it that you do not understand?” It appears there were two things Jesus really wanted them to get. One was concerning the deceitful doctrine of the Pharisees and the second was having only one loaf of bread was not a problem, in fact it may set the stage for an even greater miracle.

If five loaves were multiplied with twelve baskets of fragments left over and seven loaves were multiplied with seven baskets leftover, it would appear that starting with less added up to serving a greater number with even more left over. God delights in taking that which appears inadequate and turning it into more than enough. Men would say it will never amount to a hill of beans but God will use it to feed the multitudes.

God has given each of us bread or seed to reproduce and to bear fruit in His Kingdom. The seed may be various talents or gifts of ministry or even natural skills. It is obvious that God has given gifts according to His own will. Some are more talented in one area while others are talented in different ways. We have a tendency to look at those more gifted than us and conclude we do not have enough to amount to anything. But Jesus does not want those who only have one loaf to assume it would never amount to a hill of beans. Jesus may be alluding to the possibility of the lesser having the ability to be used in an even greater dimension. Let’s do the math. If seven fed four thousand with seven baskets left and five fed twelve thousand with twelve baskets left, then one loaf might feed fifty thousand with one hundred baskets of fragments left. I am not suggesting there is a scientific formula for this I’m just trying to point out a trend in the numbers.

My point is totally that we should never belittle what God has put in our hands, no matter how small or insignificant it may appear. The parable Jesus taught concerning the mustard seed confirms this thought. Though the mustard seed is smallest among seeds and seemingly insignificant, when planted it will grow into a tree large enough for the birds of the air to take refuge in.

Those who received the word yet did not mix it with faith profited nothing from it. It takes more faith on our part to challenge the greater need with the fewer loaves. Planting the seed through faith is what makes it grow. Having greater faith will not necessarily put an earthly bakery at our disposal but an ability to transfer substance from the unseen realm of heaven into the visible realm of earth. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things unseen. God has a bakery in heaven, to supply us with the bread of His word and also natural bread when needed. It is up to us to recognize the little we now have is the key to opening heaven’s windows. Planting the small seed initiates the miracle. When a seed falls into the ground it is as good as dead, buried out of sight, but a miracle occurs and it becomes a plant that contains more seed within it. Just as Abraham’s descendants multiplied beyond numbering, one small seed or loaf can be multiplied beyond our ability to count.

The parable of the talents also parallels this thought. The servant who was given just one talent did not take it seriously but set it aside in a safe place. He may have said it will never amount to a hill of beans. A distorted image of his master made him afraid to risk losing the talent so he protected it instead. The very thing he feared came upon him. When his master returned to find he had done nothing with it, it was taken from him and given to the other faithful servant. Planting the seed and bringing forth a harvest is the goal. Taking what God has put in our trust and investing it in the fields of this world will reap a harvest of souls.

God loves to use the things that are weak and despised by men to demonstrate His power. The Old Testament records several accounts of God giving great victory to small insignificant bands of warriors so that He would get the glory. Paul said that his preaching was not with excellent speech or enticing words of human wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and power so that our faith would not rest on man’s wisdom but on the power of God.

I want to be found faithful with the talents that have been entrusted to me. I refuse to look at the small loaf I have in my hand and fail to challenge the great need and hunger of the multitudes with it. I must do my part to take what God has blessed and break it into pieces and serve it out believing God to multiply it to meet the need of those who partake of it. I will not assume that excellent speech and communication skills are required to deliver God’s message lest I promote faith in man’s abilities and wisdom rather than the power of God to make much out of little.

Dispensers of Grace

The term “dispensation of grace” is often used to describe the period of time known as the New Covenant. The time period between Moses and the death of Jesus Christ was called the dispensation of law. One of Webster’s definitions for dispensation is simply “something being dispensed or distributed”. Under the Old Covenant, justice was dispensed according to the law but under the New Covenant justice is to be dispensed according to grace and truth. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) KJV

Some of us in America have grown used to the idea that a grace period is owed to us. In many cases it is required by law that creditors allow a certain number of days for their debtors to be late on payments. Since the law has stepped in and mandated such regulations in our natural world we can carry that line of thinking over into our relationship with God. We thank God that He has allowed us a period of time in which to come and acknowledge our debt of sin but it was never required of Him. The very essence of God’s grace is that it is a gift. It is not owed by Him and it is not deserved by us. A gift can only truly qualify as a gift if it is freely given, not by obligation or debt.

Old Covenant righteousness depended upon human ability and an obligation to keep the commandments, but New Covenant righteousness results from receiving divine strength (grace) as a gift. Only those who are free from debt can give away the gift of grace. If all accounts have not been settled between us and God what I may think is a gift to Him is actually only a payment on my debt. The same is true with our relationships with our fellow man. If I have not forgiven a brother and try to offer a gift to either him or God it is not truly a gift. If I owe my brother ten thousand dollars and give him one hundred dollars I can not call it a gift until the debt is paid. Using an example of financial indebtedness gets the point across but that does not mean if someone owes us money we should automatically release them from their obligation. The critical issue is to never carry a debt of sin or an offense lest we not be forgiven our own sin debts.

Jesus said in Matthew 5 that if we bring our gift to the altar and have an unsettled issue with a brother, we are to go first to our brother and make things right, then we can come and offer our gift to God. This shows us that we can not truly be right with God or “debt free” in God’s eyes if we are indebted to a brother. Many times unresolved issues are the result of us wanting our offender to suffer some sort of punishment. That is a legal trap that will cut us off from grace because the standard of justice we want for others is the one we will come under. If we are the offended one and are not willing to release our offender from his debt we fall into the same indebtedness. We must see offences as a perfect opportunity to dispense grace.

As New Covenant believers we are dispensers or distributors of grace. Freely we have received and freely we impart it to others. Just as we must be debt free to give away a gift we also must be innocent to suffer for Christ’s sake. All who have had their sins forgiven have been declared innocent of all charges. Our enemy the devil is a legalist and is always looking for ways to trip us up. One of his favorites is to get us to hold our offenders responsible to repay their sin debt. In doing so he knows we will become guilty again. If we remain in that condition unwilling to release our offender, our enemy is empowered to harass and condemn us by the law. We must maintain our own innocence by not requiring our offenders to pay their debt to us. Innocence is equal to being debt free. In the same way, only those who have been justified can dispense justice.

Most of us equate justice with the punishment of those who do evil. Old Covenant justice was eye for eye and tooth for tooth, the adulterer was stoned, and the thief had to pay back double. But in this age God has ordained civil authorities for the punishment of evil doers. (See Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2) He has given His people, (the church) the ministry of reconciliation. (See 2 Corinthians 5:18-19) Civil authorities are given to struggle against flesh and blood but we as the church battle in the spirit realm. The weapons of our warfare are not natural but mighty through God for pulling down spiritual strongholds. (See 2 Corinthians 10:4)

The Apostle Paul was given the message of grace and the charge to steward it. He was as it were the administrator or executor of Christ’s estate and given responsibility for distributing the inheritance of the saints. Paul was given a glimpse into God’s vast treasure house which he describes in Ephesians 3 as the unsearchable riches of Christ. Paul’s revelation ignited a passion within him that all would know the riches of their inheritance in Christ. He was faithful to declare the message, to correct those who were led astray from the truth and to dispense justice on the enemies of righteousness. (See Acts 13)

In Hebrews 9:14-17 Jesus Christ is referred to as the mediator of the New Covenant. Prior to His death, His will or testament had no effect, but upon His death His will became enforceable. Everything that had been left to His descendants became available to them. Paul grasped this revelation and saw that he was to be the executor of Christ’s will and to see that all understood the inheritance that was left to them. The word mediator could also be translated reconciler. God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself. (See 2 Corinthians 5:19) In the previous verse Paul says that God has reconciled us unto Himself by Jesus Christ and has given unto us the ministry of reconciliation. So if we connect the dots we see that we are not only to be recipients of this great grace but dispensers of it as well. Like Paul we want every one to know the great inheritance they have coming to them. We want to execute justice upon our enemies who have hindered our receiving it. We want all who have never heard to hear the good news.

Join The Ruling Class

Most of us in Christian circles have heard it said that we are in training for reigning and schooling for ruling. As we become Christ’s disciple He enrolls us in His ruling class. Some that are invited to join are already part of society’s ruling class and may see it as unnecessary or even foolish to join. In Mark chapter ten we read of a rich ruler who was invited to join but when he considered the cost of tuition he went away very sad. Though he had much wealth the price to enter in was more than he wanted pay. Ironically, according to Jesus, the more wealth a person has the more difficult it is for them to pay the tuition. The poor gladly receive the message to enter the ruling class of God’s Kingdom, though the price is the same for all they have much less to leave behind. The rich man’s ruling power was derived from his wealth. To become powerless and weak in order to become mighty and strong made no sense to him.

To become a ruler in the Kingdom of God we must humble ourselves and become a servant. We must make the shift from ruling with power alone to the authority that comes through humble service. When Peter and John passed by the lame man begging for money at the entrance to the temple they responded to him saying “silver and gold we do not have but that which we have we will give you, in the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk.” (my paraphrase). Having no silver or gold made it more obvious to help him in a different way. He was not just empowered to eat another meal but they empowered him to become productive and self sufficient.

Many government programs are intended to empower people and help them out of their situation, but instead cause the recipient to become more dependant rather than independent. Those in need can easily look to those with money as their source but we need always point them to God. It is much easier to convince hurting people that God is their source through a miraculous healing because they know it could not have come from man.

Power is more than money. Anything that propels us ahead of the crowd so to speak is power. Our God given gifts and talents enable some to exceed the average person in many areas. It may be music, sports, or the ability to speak and teach, all these are good gifts that empower us. The temptation for the highly gifted person is to bypass humility and service and forge ahead in the power of their gift. The danger of doing so is a lack of authority.

To obtain the badge of authority for ruling in the Kingdom we must relinquish ownership of that which we have and become a servant or manager of our master’s wealth. If we learn to be a faithful and wise steward, in due season we will be promoted to a position of authority. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 illustrates this very point. Three servants were each given charge over a portion of their master’s wealth. The first was given five talents, the second was given two and the third was given one. They were to be managers of their master’s wealth while he was away. When the master returned he asked each one what they did with the wealth entrusted to them. The first two servants both had doubled its value but the third servant just kept it in a safe place and returned the exact amount that he was given. This story is an example of three disciples who entered Jesus ruling class. The first two passed the final test and were promoted from managers to rulers over a portion of His Kingdom. The fact that they were faithful in managing the valuables of another proved they could be trusted to be co-owners with the master. The third servant who did not take interest in or add value to the wealth entrusted to him was proven to be unfaithful or untrustworthy. It appears that he paid the price to enter the training class but did not trust that his master would reward his efforts. He assumed the master would take advantage and pocket all the profits.

The reward for being faithful with that which belongs to another is to be given ownership. We are to go full circle in His ruling class. We give up ownership of all we have to enter, and if we are found faithful to value what our Master values we will be given ownership of what He has entrusted to us. The faithful servants were not only given ownership and authority over the wealth but were given cities to rule over.

As joint heirs with Christ we are promised cities and nations as an inheritance but first we must learn the ways of His Kingdom. Some of God’s people have fashioned the use of their gifts and callings after the design of earthly kingdoms. They launch out in the power of their talents and wealth without attending the ruling class and passing the final test. Jesus clearly said to become great in God’s Kingdom one must be the servant of all. The badge of authority is humility and service. Though we may be promoted to co-owner and ruler, we will always need our badge. It is what distinguishes God’s Kingdom from the others.

God’s Kingdom has both authority and power. For example a police officer has a powerful weapon strapped to his side but his authority to use it is given by those over him. He has been trained to understand the heart of authority is to protect, not to lord it over others or use it for personal advantage. In a similar way God’s people have various talents, gifts and even wealth to be used to advance the Kingdom but to do so with authority they must also be under a higher authority. In Matthew chapter 8, the centurion who came to Jesus seeking healing for his servant recognized Him as a man of great authority. He understood that Jesus could only have authority to do the things He did by being under a greater authority.

As a side note: In recent years we have witnessed a decline in honor and respect for people in positions of authority. I suspect it is closely linked to an increasing rejection of God and His word as the supreme authority in our land. Even those who are in positions of authority lack respect for others in authority. Whenever we reject or fail to honor the one who is over us, that rejection filters all the way down the line, from our president to the park ranger and so on. All authority is given of God and without Him over us all that is left is power, and power that is not under authority becomes self seeking and oppressive. This all sounds rather gloomy but it is the church’s greatest hour to restore and rebuild the ruins and desolate places in our land.

Kingdom people are wealthy in many ways. They are gifted, talented and have every resource available in Christ. There is no reason to hold tightly to our earthly stuff and skip the ruling class because once we have passed the tests we are given access to unlimited resources. We need not operate in mere power when we can have His supreme authority.