Up to this point, we’ve been given a basic understanding of angelic activity, functions and categories. We have seen some patterns emerge in Scripture and also the function of angels in different dynamics interacting with humanity upon the earth. Now we will look further into this angelic structure that God designed and see that it is a reflection of God’s government that He wants the Church, had always planned for the Church, to function in.
What I’m about to share is the revelation the Lord has given to me concerning angelic government. For starters, I will say that angels are willing to hold what men refuse to hold. I believe it is the role of God’s fivefold ministry government to hold and function in some ways how the angelic host functions. We should be doing spiritual warfare, we should be messengers of God, we should be declaring the holiness of God and protecting it, and we should be burning ones. All of the dynamics that we have seen describing angels are actually somewhat a description of what God would want out of His fivefold ministers and leaders.
In the Old Testament, angels helped govern the spiritual condition but they were limited because of man’s free will operating in opposition to them. They have been given a measure of authority but not full authority. This is unlike man who has been given full authority, which is either rightly exercising it or delegating it, unfortunately, to satanic influences. As we see how angels operated in the Old Testament trying to bring the intentions of God, so should we, His fivefold ministers and leaders today.
In the New Testament, man’s will is more aligned because of the Holy Spirit and not in so much direct opposition to what and how God desires to govern. The Holy Spirit has become a great teacher, comforter, instructor, and revealer. The Holy Spirit’s role has replaced much of what angelic messengers in the Old Testament would do. Perhaps this is why we do not have so many angelic encounters as they did in the Old Testament. But I do believe there is a balance for angelic activity in our life, as long as our life is in balance with the Holy Spirit. If we are more focused on angelic activity surrounding us than on the Holy Spirit, then we are out of balance and in danger of worshiping angels.
What we have seen so far is that angels are given angels under them to command. We see that there are chief angels as well as other angels. This points to a structure or a way of governing that God has put into place. Once again, we see that God has an overall structure that He wants us to follow and the pattern is repeated through families, the Church and fivefold ministries, and even into angelic functions.
Revelation 12:7-8 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
But we also see that angels take and give orders. We see that there are other angels submitted one to another and working in harmony to bring the intentions of God upon the Earth. We have seen that there are angels overseeing other angels and even waiting for them to complete their assignment before their own assignment can take hold. We have also seen that there is no insubordination or unwillingness to perform certain assignments given. We see that once an assignment was given to an angel, they held fast until it was completed.
These things are all governmental or show governmental structuring. If angels are in a form of governmental structure, then so should we be. I believe we are falling far short as the Church or true ecclesia of God, in moving in full authority that we have been entrusted with. We can see from the previous paragraph, that many of those things that angels do, we do not do or fall short of completing.
Governmental positioning
There is a tremendous parallel of the different groups of angels and the government of God. Upon aligning them side by side, we begin to see just how much God is a God of order and structure. The longer I study all kinds of different topics the more I see you just cannot escape a governing body being established as oversight for the Body of Christ.
In Ephesians 4, we see there is a government that God has set up of the fivefold ministries. There are five distinct gifts with the reality of a fourfold function. As you look at the angelic structures, we also see the same pattern emerging of five distinct giftings. If we begin to parallel these, they look something like this:
Apostles – Archangels
Both are warriors and conquerors.
Both have strategic assignments.
Both oversee and direct others.
Prophets – Messenger angels
Both have God’s heart and intention.
Both have foreknowledge.
Both bring a specific message.
Both bring a message that may not be understood.
Pastors – Watcher Angels
Both are assigned to watch over Earth and humanity.
Both are given specific territory.
Both are not transient but are more resident.
Teachers – Cherubim
Both are proclaimers.
Both are protectors of the truth.
Both are protectors of God’s holiness.
Both are called to protect what is precious to God.
Evangelists – Seraphim
Both are trying to bring men into the holiness of God.
Both look at how sin holds back man’s approach to God.
Both take coals from the altar to touch the lips and heart of men.
Now I know that these things seem hard to receive but there are distinct similarities. There is also a governmental structure with angels. Each one is staying in their function and assignment. And each one allows others to function in their assignment.
I believe that there are primary corresponding angels to each office working alongside God’s government. I also believe these are untapped resources to help us align with heaven for a greater impact…….
Here is a portion of my new book I am writing on… “Kingdom Discipleship, Changing the Culture of the Church”. My other books are on Amazon and Kindle under my name.
With so much of the cultures problems today coming from a fatherless generation it has created a culture of orphans or an orphan spirit that is dominate in society. Kingdom discipling will correct this problem. But mentoring and instruction will not because there is no commitment to lifelong investment. It is having vision for a person and who they can become. There are many good materials on the orphan spirit so I only want to touch it briefly and how it realties to culture so we understand what we must change.
If a culture is going to shift with truth then the way truth is presented and those applying that truth become key to cultural change. Especially in the church today we have very little spiritual fathering and much watered down instruction. God designed families as a model of culture. Without true leaders being fathers investing into sons and daughters we will lose culture. In a nature once people do not reproduce at least to replace themselves the culture can be lost. The actual statistic is 1.62% barely maintains a culture and any less the culture will be lost. If we look at the church we see why we are losing our culture, we are not reproducing the right kind or number of sons and daughters.
Fathers are given to develop there sons and daughters, to impart to them, provide for them, encourage them, love them, and give them security. Much like a natural father would do. But just like a family requires a certain culture to accomplish this so does it require that culture was in the local family of believers. Without that culture present all you have is typical instruction. Rom 8.15 speaks of the spirit of adoption. The word adoption means to be seated as a son; it means God is pleased to associate in relationship. To be seated as a place and position and in this case to receive an inheritance. But in the same person speaks of the spirit of bondage. The word bondage can be defined as the state of a man cannot enjoy his inheritance. So Sonship is all about inheritance.
When we abandon our position we abandon our inheritance. That abandonment is best described as being orphaned. In the Hebrew the word orphaned means bereaved and lonely. In the Greek it means parentless or fatherless. Webster’s defines an orphan is one deprived of parents by death or desertion. In the Old Testament know one was orphaned as the priest adopted any person whose parents had died. An orphan spirit is contrary to the kingdom of God which is all about relationships. Without this key relationship being taken care of we cannot have a change of culture within the church. So what are the hallmarks of an orphan spirit?
Inability to have lasting relationships –
Hatred of authority, general distrust for leaders –
General lack of direction for your life –
Inability to make key, strategic decisions –
Drawing near, then backing away from intimacy –
A sense that they’re just going to reject you anyway –
A gnawing sense of failure, never quite good enough –
An inexplicable drive to succeed, win, prove yourself
No home, No inheritance, No name
Fight for everything
Satan first introduced the orphaned spirit to Adam and Eve. He knew that if he could bring these 10 things to bear in their life that he could be a control the culture of the Earth. For too long we have misinterpreted the gospel message of us receiving Christ, when in reality the gospel is about a father who came to find that which was lost. It’s about a father who came to break the orphan spirit off of his creation. I came to a great realization of my own ministry because of the fathering spirit upon me that everyone associated with our ministry has come because of an orphaned spirit that they had.
An orphan spirit has great emotional pain most the time started by traumas associated with loss. It can be a loss of security, a loss of trust, a loss of value, and also a loss of belonging. They can come to the point of not trusting their leaders or those in authority. They can experience rejection that leads to damaging them. Fear hopelessness sadness any critical spirit can set in.
With an orphaned spirit relationships are very shallow. Relationships in the business world can sometimes hold greater value than the family of God. When these relationships are shallow person is private, isolates, and become self-reliant. They are suspicious and very manipulative. They easily pick up the offense of others. The words that come out of their mouth are generally, God is all I need, God in me, and I don’t fit. They destroy the relationships and find fault with leaders and others as a defense mechanism for their own life.
An orphan spirit needs constant current encouragement. But when you try to correct them they generally abandoned. They look at the correction is attacking their identity because the identity of being a true child of God is not intact. They strive to be accepted and weigh the value from that affirmation of their own self worth and being a child of God. When there is not enough affirmation they soon abandoned the spiritual parents.
For most of those with an orphan spirit it may not be that actually happened but how the person perceived the event. They may have made circumstances to be larger than what was really there. But many times orphan parts expect leaders to do everything, fix everything for them but they do nothing for their leaders. They have three lies that they believe constantly. First they have a sense of rejection that no one loves them and wants them or accept them. The second lie is that they are useless and therefore was and have nothing to offer in their life does not count.
The third lie is that they will never amount to anything or are unable to cope with life. They believe they are incompetent and have tried and failed to look at their self as a failure.
If you look at this outcome of an orphaned spirit we soon see that this is prevalent in the current church culture we have today. It actually is even very current and prevalent in the leadership of the church we have as well. We have many leaders that never have settled their identity of who they truly are in Christ. They are orphans producing other orphans. If we truly want to change the culture of the church we must also accept the responsibility and role of changing those things internally that are affecting our culture. The orphan spirit is one of these things that must be addressed to change the culture of the church. It will require great investment and sacrifice of leaders and emerging leaders to see true spiritual sons and daughters come forth.
The key of course is the spirit of adoption Romans 8:15 talks about. It is having spiritual parents, who reflected God who will totally accept you and not disown you. You see you cannot disinherit an adopted child. They have an equal share in the will and testament of the parents. This gives the adopted child unshakable confidence that they will always belong and have a place that they can call home. Our spirit ceases to feel orphaned when we have confidence that we belong to a family – God’s family. It enables us to connect with our brothers and sisters, and yield ourselves fully to those in authority in the church. The spirit of adoption says I belong, I’m included, I am no, I am desired, I am wanted, I am cherished, and I am treasured. This has to be done more than by instruction and teaching but by modeling and living this out in relationship.
So the moment of time we are in this hour is God is indeed turning the sons and daughters towards their spiritual fathers. It is a season of sons and daughters pursuing their fathers and fathers pursuing them. Malachi chapter 4 talks of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children’s father least he comes in smite the earth with a curse. The word curse means to be utterly destroyed. But it has a far greater meaning. It actually means to be ineffective in service. The verse is not talking about the Earth being ineffective in service, but about the sons and daughters not being effective in service, thus the whole Earth feels the effect of. Which means cultures and societies are going to be directly impacted by whether we fulfill this verse of truly fathering in investing in the next generation of sons and daughters.
Romans 8:18-19
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us . 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God .
The glory that God wants to reveal through his sons and daughters is a glory that has on her splendor opinion and praise within it. These are all descriptions of the word glory that is revealed in us is true sons and daughters. It is a Doxa glory which is a glory of the most exalted state where God honors that which is being talked about, specifically the sons and daughters.
Part of the problem that we have with the current structure is that people are not really looking for fathers looking for grandfathers. Grandfathers affirm and bless but generally spoil. But true father’s affirm and bless but also know how to develop their children to the fullest potential. Grandparents may create an inheritance but an inheritance is only passed from fathers to children. Part of this inheritance that we are to receive and pass on is a greater weight of glory. It is the manifestation and revelation of the relationship that we have with the spirit of adoption.
Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God .
The whole Earth is groaning and waiting for this manifestation of this adoption. The word manifestation means the disclosure of truth and instruction. It also means events by which things or states or people are brought into view. That description of that word is a total description of a culture emerging upon the Earth. A truth is come to establish a doctrine to form a culture to changes society. It is truth manifest that creates the change. In this case the greatest change that will touch the Earth and all creation is the manifestation of the truth that we are truly a sons and daughters. This above all things is how we will change the culture of the church.
This Adoption is based on 3 things
Revelation —- privilege
Relationship —- place
Legal document — covenant
Romans 8:14
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God .
Led = 1a to lead by laying hold of, and this way to bring to the point of destination: 1b to lead by accompanying to (into) a place.
This is about joint partnering with the Holy Spirit in relationship. It also is about being led by the Holy Spirit not just in an event but a process for destiny. It is about the revelation of being a true son and daughter so cemented in our heart that we could never doubt, not even for a moment.
John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name : 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God .
Something born means something has been fathered. We are fathered by God! Spiritual fathers are only extensions of father God. In some ways they are tools that God uses to be the example of his fatherhood upon the Earth. When read receive the provision of what God has done through his son he gave us the legal right to become his sons and daughters. That means what he has his ours and what we have is his. He took our sin, and we take his inheritance. That once again is a transfer of culture that is resting in heaven and the earth.
Today we have prodigal sons and daughters setting in the church. Much like to prodigal son in Luke 15:14 the orphaned spirit has led them to join himself with the citizen of another country. It is caused them to be hired out as servants but into the spirit of bondage not being able to enjoy their inheritance. A fear is gripping them of returning back or father. When the sun came to himself he received the revelation that he was truly a son. He knew that no matter what he was still be accepted and loved. Return back to his father and the father turned to him with expected eyes to meet him. Just recently have had several spiritual sons and daughters return back that for some reason had left enjoy themselves to something else.
In Philemon 1:10 Paul appeals to Philemon for his son Onesimus who was begotten (won over to sonship) to the Apostle Paul while he was in chains suffering for the Gospel. The word “begotten” comes from the Greek word “gennao”, which is a term used of a men who has fathered children. Onesimus was not just made a believer in Jesus Christ, but Onesimus was literally won over to the Apostle Paul’s way of living. This process of fathering goes beyond leading someone to and instructing them in Christ. A man can biologically make a child and give the child instructions or advice (that may not be followed), but Paul’s begetting of Onesimus refers to a father who lives as such an example before their children that the whole heart of the individual has been won over to their way and example of living in Christ.
But God wants us in this hour as fathers to turn and apply covenantal blessing upon their sons and daughters. God desires that spiritual fathers would nurture the seeds of prophetic promise and impart their own spiritual maturity and wisdom and faith and until their children reach the age where they in turn can beget spiritual sons and daughters. This is the long-term goal of changing the culture of the church. The church is not just a program but is a true relationship of investment. It is walking life out together as sons and daughters who share the common faith of their fathers. That truly is a cultural shift.
I recently talked with a couple people on the topic of worship leaders who also drink. They could not understand how they could be leading worship and doing this at the same time. The reality is we all have faults and short comings in our lives. Until we allow God to convict us we really wont change. Some of our faults are private and some are out in front. The Bible says to not be drunk with wine or come into a different state of consciousness. The Bible also states to not do things that make your brother stubble. Yet another place speaks of your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
In a society that says it is cultural acceptable to be a Christian and drink is just that a cultural acceptable standard. But that is culture. The biblical standard is far different. Holiness is the ultimate standard and the things we do should not affect that. Drinking does not lead us to holiness. I know you will say well what about TV or this and that. I will tell you the same things. Much of what we fill our spiritual well with does not lead us to holiness. What you put in, is what you have to draw from. Much of what we fill ourselves with has demonic agendas attached to it. Stating what you believe to be a justifiable truth because it is culturally acceptable with no Biblical basis does not make it Biblical standard nor acceptable to God. Especially if you were once enlightened and now have fallen away from that truth.
We want to see God move in America but America is the vilest self justified nation of the world. Much of the evil other nations face can be directly connected to what originates here. This is not my opinion but a repeated opinion my host in the nations I have traveled to have told me. I have had it explained repeatedly how American culture has adversely affected them and the life of the church, reducing spiritual life in individuals. Every time I hear of why it is not happening here, like over there, it brings me to one thing. We don’t realize they follow biblical standard and we follow cultural standards. In the church we change biblical standards and replace them with cultural standards. We don’t live a holy life and justify our self indulgences. In Africa, where things are happening like we desire to see, if a man drinks he is not fit to be in any role in a church but to sit under the word for a change from the addiction. In America we are willing as leaders to have no standard, so we can have a natural gift appointed to a position, even though their life is not whole. We have made what God has said is holy as common, and thus made it unholy, so we can be relevant to culture. And we wonder why God does not show himself in our meetings as His stamp of approval.
The desire to have a culture of entertainment in the church has made the church to become another club with a “spiritual option” attached to it. The desire to please people and not confront their lifestyles carries greater weight that pleasing God. Homosexuals in pulpits, or teaching classes, people drinking on worship teams and leaders in sin are not biblical standards. They actually remind me of philistines, Baal, and other enemies of Gods people in the Old Testament that He said come out and be separate from them!
When leaders are placed in a leadership role it is because their life is an example to be modeled after. I have heard of people becoming alcoholics because they say their brother in a leadership role, at a checkout line buying alchol and thought it was ok to drink because they were buying. The person eventually fell away from God and died in sin. The real problem is the senior leaders standards are not biblical, more so than the individual who drinks. A person might be leading worship, or on a worship team but the reality is what kind of worship they are experiencing. Is it throne room and people are moved by the spirit of God or is it entertaining and based not on spiritual life but natural ability? Remember God will anoint things sometimes because he loves people and desire to meet with them. But how much higher or better could something be if the person leading had their life right.
We want to see a move of God. Many do. But few want to pay the price of living a life that would release that kind of move in America. When this next move of God comes I guarantee it will have deep heartfelt repentance with it. Christians will be awakened to lifestyles they are living, that are contrary to Gods heart. They will repent not because of being caught or found out but because they realize THEY have broken His heart and made the heart of God sorrowful. The move of God is coming. Right now it is unfolding with those living contrary to culture, living a lifestyle of repentance. For those with mixture a moment of repenting for a lifestyle will suddenly come and they will be overwhelmed with it. Drop the culture society is trying to dictate and live a life contrary to it and you probably will be living a Biblical culture.
I wanted to write a personal blog today. We all have just got done with Christmas and this year seemed to be more special in the midst of heartache. With my wife’s dad passing a few weeks prior to and then 4 days prior to Christmas I did her grandmas funeral, has caused again the evaluation of life.
Family is what is most important and this year seemed to be a greater appreciation of each other. I enjoyed my kids being home more than ever. Having all of us together is a great joy and maybe one of the greatest. Memories flooded me this year of years ago, as I reflected on the struggles of raising 3 teenage boys, launching a ministry and trying to hold balance. In some ways you want to relive certain times to do things different and in other places to be able to hide the memories deeper. As you’re around your grown kids you see the places you should have shored up, but you also see the great accomplishments you made with the core values they carry. Even though their life might not be where you want it to be, the core values will eventually get them there.
As we all get older we see that life is more fragile than we care to admit. The moments seem to tic by into years and suddenly you realize there is not that much time left. We re-evaluate thinking looking backward will possible fix things now, but evaluation is not to see the wrong but the right we have done. Re-evaluating is actually the looking to see the road markers that solidifies we are on the right path in life and decisions.
We need to be living each moment to the “fullness of life”. As a Christian the new life we each has been given is to leave lasting impact on others. For myself there seems to always be so much crowding in, taking precious moments that cannot be given back unless the Lord redeems the time. So many make demands on me and sometimes the demands are not necessary. It is time to only do what I am really to do. I see so much untapped potential in myself and have decide I must crowd out the distractions and begin to crowd into the untapped areas. It is time my later years far exceed the former and a greater weight of glory I would carry.
This morning the Lord woke me at 3:00 AM. This is always the time God has chosen to have in-depth conversations with me. It never fails as I come out of sleep with a “knowing” the spirit is near for conversation and I turn to look at the clock it has always been exactly 3:00 AM. It is never a minute less or more.
The Lord began by saying “I want to talk to you about your authority, specifically your authority as an apostle”. He then proceeded to speak, first about the authority we all have as believers. We have as sons and daughters have positional authority because of the spirit of adoption. We have the same rights and privileges as Jesus who is our savior/ redeemer and spiritual brother. But for those of us with a governmental position in the kingdom we have a governmental position with authority to go with that function as well. I understood all he was saying, but the Holy Spirit was relaying foundation. This was what the Lord began to speak to me about.
He said that all authority is ordained by him and is positioned in the earth for a set time. That the authority on the earth 100, or 1000 or even 10 years ago was effective for that chronos upon the earth but would not be effective for this season. (We are talking governmental authority of a fivefold office and not individual authority which is consistent no matter the time or season of the earth) That every season also has been assigned men and women to have positional authority for the time they have been set in place. That many desire to have authority from another era, but it would be non effective today. There is an authority that is to operate NOW in the earth and if operated will have the same effect.
He then showed me a policeman, a president, and army general. How those in times past with the season of the earth they each were positioned in and how their authority operated. Then he took them from the past forward and showed them trying to use authority and how people listened but did not respond. He then took people from the present time and showed them trying to speak with authority in the past and how it was not relevant.
The Lord then spoke and said “if you would use your authority as an apostle daily you would see the umbilical cords coming from second heaven be cut off people’s lives in a drastic way and they would become more free. (All things in second heaven are spiritual but not all things are from God.) You have the authority to wield like a great sword above the heads of people and can cut off chains of bondage.” He then showed me the cords trying to bring the wrong kind of life into people. He showed me the outcome that authority is positioned between heaven and earth as a covering and protection from demonic attack from second heaven. When that authority is not in place then people are subject to bandage’s, circumstances and other things.
He also showed me every day was also a set time within others measures of time. He showed me how authority was connected with time but not just a season of life, or a year but even down to a single day. That in some things the single day required authority for that day and that day alone. That certain things required movement in that moment to change the spiritual condition and climate. I was challenged but what he was saying and showing me.
He then showed me the relationship to chronos time and authority of fivefold offices. When Gods government does not know the times and seasons of the earth it affects how they use their authority. He showed me the standing still of the sun so a battle could be won. He showed me most fivefold ministers do not use authority because of not knowing the season of the earth they are in or their position in God. Most of the body is held in a bondage that could easily be broken if His ministers would take position as true covering and not a dictatorship demanding submission. I know for me I have grown weary in battling so many things over the years with so few willing to battle along side or battling for the wrong things.
The Lord knew my thoughts. He said “I know, but it’s time to rise up again. Now you will see how much more effective you will be! Your season is coming to fullness not completion! The understanding gained will cause the reach of the sword to be extended! It is a season of time the few can reach far. They will be given a further reach, reaching over areas where others will not rise up. It is a season of a blanket of authority will be placed over the people of the earth. ” I know there is a strength coming to those who are weary. It will be a fresh breath to lift us! We are starting to feel this breath carry us at the BASE.
He then showed me America and the saved and unsaved. The church accepting that which holds no authority because of the lack of knowledge and understanding. Assuming that what is seen is the best of what can be attained. He then showed me the unsaved. Amazingly they had taken the role and position of the church accepting that which holds no authority because of the lack of knowledge and understanding. Assuming that what is seen is the best of what can be had.
I challenge those of you in ministry to extend your reach of authority. Shake off the weariness we all experience and see how God will shift you to cut cords of bondage. Get an infusion of His breath and gain strength. We are about to take land we have never held before!
I have been mediating on some things recently after reading a post by my friend Jim Becton. I know we have the right message but it seems we are having a hard time getting the structure really set to grow and advance. There is always a given message, then a structure exists for that message to be demonstrated, then a culture forms around the message and structure. The structure does not necessarily mean a physical building but more so a community or an outlet for the “doing”. These then creates a hidden outcome which we call culture.
Today in Christdom we have a congregation setting and an Ecclesia (Biblical Church) setting existing at the same time. Traditionally the congregational structure exists for the people to serve it. The ecclesia exists to serve people. Traditional builds is life around the congregational setting and the Ecclesia builds its life around equipping people to do works of service as weekly missionaries into the world setting.
However, what has occurred is most Christians ministering inside the four walls (programs) while the unbelieving world outside is ignored. Apostolic churches will have teaching and some training, but their mindset is to go outside the walls to demonstrate Jesus in all walks of life. They in essence are emerging kingdom centers, a local community, a congregation ‘called out’ [ekklesia] of the world. A community that has decided to live in the power and values of Jesus [Acts 2:42-47].
A kingdom center looks different than an apostolic church. It encompasses a much larger area of influence than a single local church meeting. It would be a regional center where individual local meetings can come together in true Holy Spirit unity to demonstrate true Christian unity of the Body of Christ to the unbelieving world by a community living out the power and values of Jesus.
What happens at a kingdom center is the following.
Receive continual prophetic revelation for what God is doing and wants to do in the region. This helps prevent stagnation.
To bring in five-fold ministries, and insights from around the nation and world to maintain knowledge of what God is doing in other places; to bring teaching and instruction the Holy Spirit is revealing.
To combine resources for large works that God would like to do in the region. These works would be beyond the resources of a single meeting.
To train and send out apostolic teams to local meetings in the region, state and nation when a need arises.
To be a place where Christian music and art can be brought together and demonstrated to the world.
To be a house of worship where Jesus is exalted; where prophetic songs are birthed; where singers, musicians and worship leaders can be trained and sent out.
A kingdom center is really a stewardship center that serves a region. It has a visionary apostolic leader appointed as oversight not of people, but gifting in people. Along with prophetic gifting and insights a team ministry is formed that actually becomes a stewardship center of how Gods is forming the kingdom over a region. This stewardship is walked out by:
As a hub interconnecting house churches, home meetings, churches, networks, ministries and saints with the city and regional Church.
As a training center encouraging, supporting, and equipping church planters, strategic leaders, and intercessors representing every sphere of society and the five-fold ministry within a specific geographic region.
As a strategic operations center communicating, coordinating, and facilitating the gathering of spiritual intelligence and supporting the strategic councils formed to represent the 7 spheres of society and the five-fold ministry.
As a resource center where the gifts, talents, abilities, and anointings in people are assessed and deployed into their community.
As a supply center where resources are received and distributed.
To facilitate the mobilization of people and the implementation and coordination of the plans developed by their councils.
To connect para-church ministries, including but not limited to healing rooms and crisis pregnancy centers, with the Church in the city/region.
To assist in any capacity that supports the Church’s role in presenting the gospel of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ in character and power.
A kingdom center acts outs its assignment by instruction and equipping people into greater revelation and understanding of identity and purpose. Most kingdom centers do not want to pastor people or micro-manage things, or control people, but see a larger picture of what is needing done due to apostolic and prophetic insights they have been graced with. The structure built from the community exist to:
To established the five-fold ministries, to equip, empower and release the people of God into their missional callings.
To see the call of God in both the church gathered [Sunday] and the church scattered [Monday – Saturday] are in mission. Mission shapes their reason for existence, their ministry training and their lifestyle through the week 24/7.
There is a dynamic engagement between the people of God in mission and the recognition of market place ministries and the commissioning of people into their callings and destiny.
The apostolic center is a teaching/training centre networking with other churches, which are like minded, forming a learning community. Those churches are regiona and national.
A focus on the Kingdom of God – the declaration and establishment of the king and His kingdom in the world – the ever present mission context – through the commissioned people of God.
A focus on overall assignment being completed in a region
So within the context of message forming community establishing culture and the aspect of stewardship of the things of the kingdom, every kingdom center is formed and birthed with a distinct missionary call, grace and ability to affect change in a region. Most Kingdom Centers emerge from an apostolic church that has developed a fuller Kingdom mindset. There are some Kingdom centers that have been established for the set purpose of being a center within a region not emerging from a church. This occurs mainly by relationship and authority that has been demonstrated. Many Prayer Centers have Kingdom center dynamics but most have no leadership training or five fold developments, vision other than prayer, or other dynamics of a true Kingdom center.
We at the BASE emerged from an apostolic church reaching Kingdom fullness and transitioned into a regional Kingdom Center. When we reached being a kingdom center within a region of our state we were most effective and had great influences.
But now we have transitioned by a relocation of our center to our capital. This type of transition poses many different challenges. First we carry with us an already established authority along with other dynamics. This means we are not a new work but already established. But for those who did not see the years of process it is hard for them to accept the depth of what is represented. It also is hard to portray this to others in a short or even singular encounter with the Kingdom Center. For us we have a rich proven accomplishment that God done through us that most have never seen and may not even hear of.
A second challenge in a relocation is not making assumptions of past accomplishments are to be duplicated in a new location. There are dynamics but maybe not all things are to be duplicated. A couple examples are our School of Ministry which operated 5 days week, 3 hours a day, 9 months. We had over 45 full time students being taught over 550 of apostolic instruction. Today we have 2 hours per week. This is a big shift. Moving from a small town to large city shifts time. Where many people’s lives flowed around the ministry in the smaller population, in a larger setting time is divided by travel and distance and distractions so involvement is different.
One thing as I look at the overall missional call upon us is there is a greater authority and grace resting upon us than we realize. For God to relocate us over rising up a center tells me many things. It shows the apostolic mindset present within a city. It also shows the desire of God to bring certain dynamics that must be needed to a city. The thing we have learned is that whether people participate with what is offered, or even want to recognize it, does not diminish our existence, what we have to offer, or assignment as a Kingdom Center.
Having received with all my heart the Salvation offered to me by the tender mercy of God, I do here and now acknowledge God the Father to be my King; God the Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, to be my Saviour; and God the Holy Spirit to be my Guide, Comforter and Strength; and I will, by His help, love, serve, worship, and obey this glorious God through time and through eternity.
Therefore, I do here and now, and forever, renounce the world with all its sinful pleasures, companionships, treasures, and objects, and declare my full determination boldly to show myself a soldier of Jesus Christ in all places and companies, no matter what I may have to suffer, do or lose by so doing.
I do here and now declare that I will abstain from the use of all intoxicating liquor, and from the use of all baneful drugs, except when such drugs shall be ordered for me by a doctor.
I do here and now declare that I will abstain from the use of all low or profane language and from all impurity, including unclean conversation, the reading of any obscene book or paper at any time, in any company, or in any place.
I do here declare that I will not allow myself in any deceit or dishonesty; nor will I practice any fraudulent conduct in my business, my home or in any other relation in which I may stand to my fellow men; but that I will deal truthfully, honorably and kindly with all those who employ me or whom I may myself employ.
I do here declare that I will never treat any woman, child or other person, whose life, comfort or happiness may be placed within my power, in an oppressive, cruel or cowardly manner; but that I will protect such from evil and danger so far as I can, and promote, to the utmost of my ability, their present welfare and eternal Salvation.
I do here declare that I will spend all the time, strength, money and influence I can in supporting and carrying on the Salvation war, and that I will endeavor to lead my family, friends, neighbors and all others whom I can influence to do the same, believing that the sure and only way to remedy all the evils in the world is by bringing men to submit themselves to the government of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I do here declare that I will always obey the lawful orders of my officers, and that I will carry out to the utmost of my power all the orders and regulations of the Army; and, further, that I will be an example of faithfulness to its principles, advance to the utmost of my ability its operations, and never allow, where I can prevent it, any injury to its interest, or hindrance to its success.
And I do here and now call upon all present to witness that I have entered into this undertaking and sign these Articles of War of my own free will, feeling that the love of Christ, who died to save me, requires from me this devotion of my life to His service for the Salvation of the whole world, and therefore do here declare my full determination, by God’s help, to be a true soldier of The Salvation Army till I die.
This is not a day a man saw the need for change it is the day a man decided there had to be action to begin change. Oct 31st 1517 Martin Luther took action! He saw the state of the church and the indulgences that were freely given out. He saw that no one wanted to live a holy life separated and set apart for God, but that they had determined their own way to be self-righteous. The very fact that they gave absolution for indulgences showed that they knew the indulgence was wrong. But there was more to it than the rich just having their way and paying for their sin. He saw it was a leadership problem, it was a doctrinal problem, and a theological problem that caused the state of the nation to be the way it was. Not only did Martin Luther nail his 95 thesis to the door, but he also attached a letter that is now called “Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences.” This letter though seldom read is the real basis for the actions that he took.
In His letter he was not confronting the church directly, but coming from a scholar’s point of view. His perception to church practices and his tone of writing was in accordance with a searching out more than a doctrinal perspective. The way Martin Luther wrote his letter had a challenge with it, to look at the attached points and engage in discussion. The 95 points of discussion he attached with this letter was not looked upon from the church as a perspective of discussion, but of accusation. Luther desired in his letter that open dialogue would be given and for those wishing to discuss they could even write by letter if they could not attend in person. He stated that: “Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter. In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.” Little did Luther know his desire for change would cost him greatly. He would be ridiculed, defamed, considered a heretic, and be excommunicated. But all of this was Gods plan to birth many of the modern day church movements we have.
What we are needing is true reformers to come forth in the spirit of Martin Luther. Not attacking, but openly discussing the doctrinal points, allowing for all to give explanation of why they believe what they believe and how it aligns with the word of God. The truth of Gods word will always stand above men’s opinions. This is what Luther knew. With the Bible as the final judge, being the foundation for all belief systems, we must return back to it in its totality and not deviate from the principles that it is laid out for us. I do not believe we are in the same state of the day of Martin Luther, but we are in other ways in need of reform. With over 450 denomination setting in place with their own private interpretations of Scripture, it is no wonder that many unbelievers are confused about what to truly believe. What many do not understand, is that it took years afterwards before the transformation truly occurred.Many of the things Martin Luther desired to see happen occurred after he was dead.
What Luther saw was the social issues of the day needing to be addressed, and he knew they had to be addressed through the religious structure that was present. Not only did he point out where doctrine was flawed, but also the interpretation of that doctrine. Today we see the state the church is in, and for the most part what all are complaining about is how the church is functioning. Much like Martin Luther’s day the function is coming out of the wrong doctrine being expressed. I believe we are coming to the point of saying seeing some radical voices standing up addressing the issues within own camp first before we truly see Reformation in society. I believe we will need to see some churches closed and maybe even denounced publicly as they are more cultic in nature than biblical based. For other churches they will have to shift out of man-made traditions that have been established for years and more of a kingdom expression that frees the people in their function.
Today Reformation Day is still a national holiday five states in Germany. In these locations, banks, stores, schools, and business are closed. It is actually called all Saints day and many churches celebrate Reformation Sunday following October 31. It is a day to remember the state from which we came from and the price that was paid so others could experience freedom to a larger degree. This is setting back in order the things that had been misplaced and privately interpreted, to a more pure correct doctrine. It also established a level field that all are sinners and all suffer the same consequences of their sin.
The challenge before many of us in this hour is to go deeper in the Lord. The urgency we feel in our Spirits is His urgency upon our life. What is setting upon us is more than just another good meeting, or another blessing. It is a history changing course being set in our hearts first so it will manifest out of our lives. It’s the game changer, the final play, the desire of all nations! For some they have no idea what I’m talking about . As I have recently looked over many of my notes of the revelation God has given me over the last few years, a few things stand out as must be, and needed to be fully grasped. In each of these areas I have done in-depth teaching and many of them I have series developed. Following is just a couple thoughts out of hours of teaching in each area. What I’m trying to do is show a pattern that God brings revelation that is connected in purpose and has a final result. For many of us we hear revelation and it is all we can do to absorb that certain truth. Is entirely different to see the connecting of many revelations is many true’s in a preset purpose in God. Following is some of the truth the Lord is given me and how I see them connected.
Ascending the Mountain – The Purpose
The revelation of building Gods house and ascending the mountain of the Lord. Issiah 2:2-3. We have begun a process within this grace we steward of knowing his ways, (transitions of God) and walking in his paths (transformations of God). Without us understanding these two things many people abandon the process of God’s grace coming into their life to create the change that would enable them to ascend the mountain for greater revelation. God’s ways are indeed higher than our ways, and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. For most people you cannot even have a discussion of how God’s ways are or how his paths unfold. For many it seems a mystery, and for others the lack of understanding the depth of the vastness of God and God’s true concern over lives keeps us from embracing the process of ascending the mountain. I was recently given the word that my time in the Valley have now ended, and the Valley was now full. The Lord would take me up the mountain again to ascend before him as the Lord was taking me to the place of Mamre. Mamre means place of vision and seeing. Is also the place of Hebron, the place where alliances are formed. These two dynamics have both the ways and paths of God in them. They will have transitions and transformations. Let us create alliances with each other in the place of vision and seeing as we are upon the top of the mountain of the Lord.
Holiness – The Requirement
The almost non-talked about topic but yet is key to see God truly. Without holiness no man will see God. Holiness is a separation in the setting apart from the things of the world so God can use us more fully. Holiness is a dedication. It is a lifestyle. Is the way we conduct ourselves both in private and in public. This consecration is a consecration of the heart, then the mind, the body. Let us truly see the consecration in each other’s lives let us allow that dedication to draw us together having one heart and one purpose.
Melchesidec – The Positioning
In this hour of the Lord is trying to rise up mature sons and daughters. The maturity level will be a reflection of his heart upon the Earth and just how far the Lord can do a great work within a person. They will be the ones that will indeed steward the second heaven and inner the third heaven to give fresh revelation and visions from the Lord that will change the outcome of things upon the Earth. They will move with signs and wonders and with great power and authority that will cause demonic forces to even quake. It is a priesthood that is always existed but has been hidden. Right now the hiding of this priesthood is occurring, as God is forming from the inside out. When the process is complete in the individuals the outward signs will show the hidden work completed. This positioning with the Lord will enable these Melchizedek priesthood know the times and seasons and what the Lord wants to do with, and in those moments. Let us truly take our position as mature sons and daughters so we know the times and seasons and God can flow through us with great signs and wonders.
Stewarding Grace – The Authority
Stewarding the second heaven and engaging the revelatory realm is needed in this hour. The grace Paul administrated that released others or could hold others in the processes of God until change truly occurred. Some in this hour are in these processes of grace, as some maybe unknowingly have stewarded grace over their lives. I have lived in this place as my heart was right before the Lord and my motive pure. I saw God move so deep in what I released over individuals it was scary to see the outcome and your awareness of what you were doing carried great responsibility. This went so far in one case I asked God to take a major cult leaders life through imprecatory prayer and the man was dead in 24 hours. I could feel the weight of what my faith was holding to happen. There’s an apostolic grace that is released in this hour to understand the deeper things of God. God is not concerned that all would be convinced to come into this time, but God is looking for those who have a hunger for him and a desire to see his kingdom come forth upon the Earth. God’s long-suffering enables him to endure when so many turn their back and turn away from what he is offering. God’s foreknowledge allows him to know that there will be a few and a remnant that will embrace what he is willing to give. As we move from understanding the graces more than just something that saved us, or keeps us, or as a favor with God, but is truly something God gives to us not just to bless us but that we would partner with him in stewarding change upon the Earth. Let us take our rightful position of authority and rightfully steward grace that creates change.
Four Breaths and Seven Glories – The Encounter
We are now beginning to enter the breaths of God coming upon the Earth and into his people. These breaths found in Ezekiel will bring the life that so many are desiring. As a trumpet sounds with a certain breath, there is a certain breath and sound now going forth upon the Earth. Each breath that is released will move and shift the glory of God from one place to another. We are right now at the first breath moving us from the place of captivity into a new place in the Lord. This first breath will reveal the glory that we have not yet seen upon the church. I believe each of the seven glories that we see in Ezekiel and the movement of them is directly related to the Isaiah 11 seven fold graces of Christ. The graces enable us to have the change needed, but the breath is what brings the change. Right now many have experienced a force breath and even the second. They have seen the glory of God a new ways that was only setting present over us even in our captivity. This is the eyes of our understanding being opened and the beginning of spiritual awakening occurring. These encounters with the breath of God will empower us and invigorate us in ways we have not yet experienced. All God does this for his glory to be revealed in and around us. In this hour let us breathe in deeply the press of God and see his glory move us and take us from one place to.
Graces of Isaiah 11: 1-3 – The Enablement
Just as the breath of God brings new life, the seven fold spirits of the lord are actually graces of God to come upon our lives create change. We read Isaiah 11 we look at it is the sevenfold nature of Christ, when in reality it says the sevenfold Spirit of the Lord. As we look more in-depth we can see that these are actually graces or divine enablement to come upon people to do the work of God upon the Earth. The spirit of understanding being the multiplier of all other graces. The spirit of actually means the breath of God. We begin to read each of these we see it is the breath of the Lord, the breath of understanding, the breath of the fear of the Lord, etc. etc. Without understanding we see that these are not just the nature of God that we tried to attain but is the very breath of life of God that we’ve allowed to come upon us and flow through us. The outcome of that is a special grace that we rest in and move out of. The spirit of the Lord, and the spirit of the fear of the Lord, are the beginning and the alpha and Omega. All other graces fall between these two things. As Paul said he has learned to steward grace, let us learn to steward these graces as the breath of God is come upon us.
A New Birth of Freedom – The Outcome
All of these as a collective are leading us to a great awakening. It is leading us to A new birth of freedom. The church is currently bound by religious structures that don’t produce life but law and the unbeliever is longing to be free from the bondage and corruption of the world. Our nation as a whole is crying out for new leadership and new government. What we’re actually crying out for is a new birth of freedom to occur within our nation once again. Our first birth of freedom is nation came out of our religious values and beliefs. We fought for those believe stood up and had a great voice that the entire world recognized. Today we must once again be that voice and take our position of standing up. All the things the Lord has been showing me over the last few years are things to enable us to do this with great impact. My fear is that many have heard only portions of revelation and not full. Many are trying to attain things on old patterns. Pattern that God is bringing in this hour is a fresh pattern. It is something that will touch both the believers with in the current structures and the unbelievers as well. The underlying thing you can here in almost any heart and in any statement in this hour is I desire to be free. The problem is we have not model that were voiced it in the way that we should. Let us be the voice to proclaim a new birth of freedom both within the church and outside its walls.
With the election coming upon us what are we truly voting for and do we understand the role a president plays to a nation? Here are some examples we might not have thought about.
First he is our head of state. This means he is an example and representation of our nation and its people to other nations. A president’s role is a role of example and reflection. Their live reveals the nature, morality, and values of a people. This is done on how a president conducts themselves publicly and how they value the interpretation others see in them. They are a role model to their people and an inspiration to aspire to.
Second they are the chief executive. They are the boss for all governmental employees. They are to establish policies of how government employees conduct themselves with foreign governments and are responsible for the safety and welfare of all government employees. This includes international ambassadors and embassies The president is also responsible for how government employees treat and interact with the people of the nation.. They’re responsible for how the government conducts its business as a representation of the people, and with the people’s best interest at the forefront of all decisions. They choose the officials and advisers to help run the executive branch of the government. They make sure law is upheld by judges being dictated by constitution and not party affiliation, interest groups or preferences of private interpretation. Every president will appoint roughly 850 judges in all areas of power from supreme court down to district courts. As chief executive he is responsible for the government’s budget and the financial decisions he has made.
The president is also the chief diplomat. He oversees and sets foreign policies of the United States. He also is to understand foreign policies of other nations and knows how best to respond to the policies of other nations. He establishes what is to be said by the representatives through ambassadors in foreign embassies representing the United States. He is only to make decisions in the best interest of ensuring that the current policies of the United States and its freedoms is upheld, and does not put his own personal interest or policies in place.
The president is also the Commander-in-Chief of all the armed forces of the United States. The armed forces is in place to protect our freedom and maintain our culture. As Commander-in-Chief is the final one responsible for all military decisions, mistakes, and victories. If there is military failure the Commander-in-Chief is the one who ultimately is to blame. He is to know all that is going on under his command is not exempt from not knowing as the ability to have full understanding is in place for him as Commander-in-Chief. He is to inspect and maintain our Armed Forces in a readiness to defend our nation, its Constitution, and his freedoms.
The president is also the chief legislator. Congress makes the laws of our nation but the Constitution gives the president power to influence Congress and its lawmaking ability. Since the president holds so many different places of influence and understanding within our nation he has the ability to veto new bills and laws that are not in favor of the People’s rights were not representative of the people’s wishes. As a chief legislator he addresses Congress and gives a state of the union address so Congress has a greater understanding of the course of the nation and events it may be experiencing. This is to help the Congress create laws or maintain the laws for the welfare of the people.
These are the main descriptions that we can find almost anywhere about what our president is to do and how he is to act. An underlying belief since our nation was founded as a Christian nation is that our president would represent a standard of morality and honesty as well. I like what Jim Hodges told me his wife Jeanne said, “We are really voting for a real father of our nation”. If we take that statement it means as president he has the best interest in all actions for his family, the citizens. He will look towards their future and building opportunity for them. He will not put them in a place of jeopardy, but will sacrifice to see them fulfill a destiny upon the earth. A father does not leave indebtedness to their kids but an inheritance. A father protects them at all cost and ensures ample provision is made to do so. A father tries and relieves current stresses by not creating new ones. A father will listen to all sides before making decisions. These were things our “founding Fathers” did as they looked at the nation as their family, so could they pledge their fortunes, their lives and sacred honors. To me this defines a leader, the one who sets their well being aside for the sake of others. I can say this will humility that this is what I have done repeatedly in the ministry. The complications it brings, the financial limitations it brings and the burdens you carry that others are not aware is the seasoning to be a father, and a farther to a nation. As we have heard it said so many times, the same courage it took to birth this nation is the same courage now required to save it. This courage only comes by value, valuing people over agendas, valuing principle over accolades and valuing God over systems.
Greg Crawford 