Greg Crawford

Category: The Kingdom of God

  • Hubs, Centers, Prayer Centers, Revival Centers

    This morning, I woke up and the Lord told me to write about kingdom centers, hubs, revival hubs, prayer hubs etc. I have written on this many times and even have a book on it many use as a handbook. All of these are titles for expressions of ministries outside of a typical church setting. Churches are places of nurturing for life. These centers are more for the advancement of Kingdom causes. Most offer more than a church can offer as well. In the 1970’s these were called parachurch ministries, meaning they stood alongside churches and did what churches refused to do, but more like what they couldn’t do or did not have the capability to do.

    I started ministry with a church expression. That really was all there was in the 1990’s. If you were called to fulltime ministry, then you went this path. But after seeing the conflict in my people and coming to my own realization of my true call of apostle, I resigned from the church I started and told the people we were going to become an Apostolic Kingdom Center. Our current center has stood the test of time, first as a regional center in a corner of our state and now with a state wide call in the center of the state at the capital.

    We started out as a center in 1995. At that time there was no center in my state of Iowa and few in the United States. I was persecuted by people, churches distanced themselves, people thought we were starting a spin off cult. I paid a high price to work through what I knew God wanted to do. But there were people who came. We started a accredited school, traveled our state doing meetings and helped places and people who had struggled with real answers. We invested into many cities and towns. We helped with church splits, churches dissolving and a host of issues. At the same time we were pressing for an awakening to come forth. But many rejected the apostolic and the center we had established.

    I began traveling the United States speaking at conferences and finding others with this same heart. Over the years this has led me helping probably no less that 30-40 people start centers and give words to what they had in their heart. Some started Bbile schools as well for training. We helped with that as well, having an accredited school at one time. Today as I travel and speak I literally spend time talking to someone at every conference desiring to start a center or hub for their region. Some contact me later to discuss things in detail. This is the history I have to speak to the following.

    So here is a description of Kingdom Centers, Hubs, Revival Hubs, Prayer Hubs or whatever title might be used. I’ll just call them Hubs since this is the current word being thrown around.  Hubs first should have a large vision that encompasses all the other visions of those attending. Unlike a church you go to serve the vision of the church, a hub has a vison for the person who attend. The vision of the hub is large enough to encompass all the other visions people carry into the hub. Hubs are looking to see how to release the hidden potential in a person. Some offer opportunities that cannot be found in a local church.

    Centers all carry certain dynamics. These are just a few.

    1. Deep kingdom teaching with generally a set teacher or a series of teachers. This comes many times by a school of ministry being formed from the teaching grace. Some have leadership training. Life skills and worship team development. Others may be focused on a specific area of culture. But all have teaching, and it is not just regular teaching of foundations. It is a kingdom focused revelatory teaching. This sets the hub as the standard.
    2. Solid doctrine. Teaching is paramount but solid doctrine is more. Of all the things the early church fathers were concerned about was solid doctrine. The second generation of apostles were constantly fighting for authenticity. By the third-generation men were drawing people to themselves by words that sounded good but had mixture. You will find no mixture in a Hub. There is great focus upon a solidness in what is taught as it will be reproduced over and over.
    3. Activation. If you are teaching, then you also need activation into what has been taught. This is making things have a certain reality that moves from concepts to practical application. Hubs look at each person as having  a place to be productive. There are not consumers but investors.
    4. Opportunity. To activate there must be opportunity. With opportunity comes privilege. A hub creates opportunities of activation and responsibility. This generally comes through the activation of the dreams of the people. Their vision gets empowered, and the hub begins to branch outward in ministry.
    5. Empowerment is by seeing the value in each person and who they can become. It is having a vision for them as an individual and also in a corporate body. It is believing in the person and knowing them.
    6. Grace Dynamics. This is seen as all five graces of Ephesians 4 are seen to some degree or another. This mix causes a balanced approach and forms a true kingdom community of believers whose hearts are knit in love and concern. These graces are the catalyst to a creative atmosphere as well.

    These are just a few of the ways Hubs operate. But most churches see them as competitive to their own vision, culture and community. Hubs are formed to bring and do what most churches may not have capacity for. Churches have boundaries to protect their culture. Hubs have boundaries to protect doctrine and truths. Some churches act like Hubs and probably will develop into them. I have helped many make this transition, to help them realize the struggles that come. Many times, you lose people due to the standard being raised. Commitment to a Hub and possibly a church also occurs. People become conflicted. Money is indeed another problem as most give to an institution than a Hub. Most Hubs fail due to lack of finances.

    Many times, people who attend Hubs have no real church home and become the core group of a center. This will help with some of the problems and may create others. Why did they not fit in a local church. Are there areas in their life needing to be addressed? Possibly. Sometimes they come thinking it is a place they will shine or stand out.

    Hubs each seem to have a specific assignment, and many have personal preferences of styles of worship, certain causes people rally around and maybe even a prayer focus. I don’t look at these as hubs because the vision is too singular and not all inclusive. Hubs are aware of all cultural issues and are looking at ways to shift or affect the culture. They are not looking for easing the problem but finding the root issues and addressing them. They encompass all the concerns and causes but hold them balance. The word and kingdom are foremost focus with Christ as the one orchestrating.

    Many look at the church in Antioch as a model of a center or hub. But the real Kingdom center was Ephesus. Antioch was a culture crossroads and was filled with idolatry. It was actually a demonic center. Paul taught there and established a solid group of kingdom people. But Ephesus influenced Rome with its idolatry. Ephesus was also a place of cultural influence but was a crossroads to the rest of the known world. From Ephesus Paul would branch out and spread the kingdom.

    Hubs should have an apostle overseeing them. All should be apostolic but that does not mean that an apostle is resident. It means they have come under an apostles grace a set apostle carries. That is key because apostles have been given authority to them within regions, territories states and even nations. They carry a certain grace pertaining to their assignment. Regions have graces to draw on that hold the answers people and leaders need. To deny this grace is to deny Christ set order.  Myself I know I carry certain graces, one being an advancing grace. I also carry an atmosphere shifting grace. This grace brings the Spirit of Understanding as well. These are just a few. These dynamics are what cause expansions for those who engage and embrace it. If people don’t the grace is still present, just inactive or not to fullness.

    Hubs are started not by a need for them, nor are they started because of being offended at churches. They are not started because of opportunity, nor because you cannot find a place to minister. They are God ordained and spiritually confirmed by other leaders. Most require the apostles active grace to even begin properly on solid doctrinal foundations. Of the dozens and dozens of hubs and centers I have seen and helped the ones who made it were truly ordained by God. The others seemed to fade away over time. It takes a pioneering spirit, a building anointing, a prophetic visionary type person. It requires great faith as well. Hubs and centers become great places of resources to a region, especially in spiritual activity, equipping and teaching. They extend these activities into other regions as well.

    What I have experienced is many times church leaders don’t want to embrace what hubs and centers have to offer. It can reveal lack in their own ministries and the fear of losing people seems to keep them at a distance. Yet what centers and hubs offer is a great resource to make the role of pastor easier because people have been matured. Centers and hubs maintain high standards and are places of doctrinal security. Especially if they have a ministry school, they realize what is taught will be reproduced over and over. They don’t want more error being taught so doctrinal standards are maintained. If centers and hubs were embraced, the whole Body of Christ will be better off. It becomes the training ground for future leaders.

  • Why Revival Isn’t Enough: The Power of Awakening in The Faith

    Today we see three words being used at times almost interchangeable. Awakening, revival and reformation. Lately reformation seems to not be as dominant as it once was. All three are very different in both outcomes and what we are talking about. We really need to understand our terminology better. Perhaps it’s due to the loss of our vocabulary over time. At the time of Shakespeare, the vocabulary used daily was 54,000 words. Todays modern culture it is reduced to 3,000 words. Because of this we lump words together to have a similar meaning.

    The terminology we use causes us to not be on the same page as well. A revival many times has a great stirring of emotions to stir up the loss of passion for the Lord. Really it is saying we have lost our first love. Many revivals also have a heightened time of the gifts of the spirit moving as well. But these should be normal Christian life. When we look historically, we see locations where past revivals occurred are historically actually worse 100 years later than at the time before the revival. This is due to the fact of outward influences that caused the revival have been removed. So, there isn’t anything to build upon. Revival means to return to a former state of being or to revive such as to raise from the dead.  That is a sad state of affairs to say we need a revival. It means we have lost the life we once had and need to return to it. We should never get ourselves into such a place.

    Awakening is an internal moment an individual has that forever changes them. It means to get out of sleep, or to come alive to a new understanding. It affects how we see God in life and affects our perspectives, what we put effort and energy into and affects the people around us. If enough people experience awakening, we call it a great or mega awakening meaning enough individual people being awakened during a set time has reached a mass affect upon culture. This is when bars are closed, and people’s lifestyles are changed for the better. It becomes a cultural shift. Many of the past revivals were awakenings that occurred. These caused cultural reformation and realignment. Revival generally touches a smaller group, while great awakening touches the masses. Awakening being internal has a lasting effect and carries a foundation to build upon.

    Do we see patterns of revival or awakening in scripture? We really don’t see revival. What we do see is an ongoing awakening. Even when things seemed stagnated or at a pause, another moment of seeking God produced a new insight in what to do, an awakening to a new dimension of faith unfolded.  The church actually moved from one awakening to the next progressively. New revealing of truth happened and new experiences because of that revealing unfolded. It was going from glory to glory. This happens every time we read the word of God, and something is highlighted to us by the Holy spirit. We are awakened to another dimension of God we never knew. We constantly experience awakening on a daily or weekly basis.

    The early apostles were very adamant to maintain authenticity to the original awakening truths. We see this in Acts 4 where they continued steadfast in the apostle’s doctrine. There are several written works concerning these truths and maintaining them. Polycarp, who was a disciple of Apostle John was one who tried to maintain what was most important that John and told him. He was eventually burned alive, and the flames did not consume him, so they drove a stake through his heart. Ignatius was another disciple of John who also maintained the integrity of the original truths. Both of these men made sure the apostle’s doctrine was documented correctly. Even in this second-generation of apostle’s people were already beginning to shift the scriptural understanding. By the third generation a battle with men’s influences was beginning, trying to bring men’s opinions into true spiritual faith and taint it. These times of sightly drifting from truth had an effect. It began a realization over time of missing something that had once been. This was the beginning of the modern-day revival mindset we have today. In all honestly it seems what we do as revivals today is actually “living faith outside the walls” more than finding what was lost. Revivals as we now know is really a new thing started in the 1700’s. They believed men had lost faith in God and focus on God was lacking terribly. They held meetings specific for people to either renew faith or experience it for the first time. Really it was more of an awakening than a revival.

    When it comes to revival or awakening, I am more concerned about the fruit that is being produced. I am looking at 2 things in this. One does the outcome last and can I taste Christ within it. Second does it have the seeds to reproduced Christ, so he is multiplied. Does it have the longevity and legacy the early fathers were looking for in people’s lives? These things are kingdom minded and advancing.

     Am I against revivals? I see it as something we should say we will work towards to not being needed. Our mindset should be that it is revealing something more detrimental than a fix to our current situation. Should our focus be on the church? Yes, to make sure it is in constant awakening. This requires an ongoing kingdom revelation to be allowed to flow. We must challenge people to pursue growth and their own disciplines.  Do I think we need to change our terminology? Absolutely.  We will, once we see ourselves different because we see constant awakening occurring in our own lives.

  • Defining Biblical Church

    Today we have many different concepts of church. We have the biblical definition of the ecclesia. We then have differing opinions of the original Greek word. We then have denominationalism and the 45,000 flavors and branches and splintering’s. Yes, you read right 45,000. Then we have the moral mixture of LGBT etc. We then have the different tags of seeker friendly, hyper grace, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Kingdom, Apostolic etc. As we look at each of these how do we really know if it is a church by Gods standards. After all that is what really counts.

    In each of these can be found a measure of truth. Some are closer to full truth than others. Some have mixed truth with personal preferences. Others have a mixture of truth and man-made doctrines. Still others just have manmade structures. An unbeliever is becoming increasingly confused about what to believe as we keep allowing cultural influences to define what we believe. We are close to going over the edge of just having an open believe system.

    Part of this is due to no apostolic bible-based accountability. Another part is secondhand truth due to a busy society that demands more time than we have, so our pursuit of studying Gods truths is secondary. It also is due to so many translations of the bible which have moved from word to word to thought to thought to paraphrased and finally opinion.

    So, I want to endeavor to give you what the Holy Spirit said to me on this. I have tried to define the church we see or should see many times. I see the unbalance and not conformity of one new man in the body of Christ as well. I start the journey looking at the original intentions of God in the church birthed at Pentecost. The first church everyone was truly born again, truly water baptized and received the mind of Christ, truly was filled with the spirit. This way they saw the kingdom John 3.3 and entered the kingdom John 3.5. These three things were foundational and authentic. They also brought union with Christ and formed one body around the understanding of these truths and the experiences these truths brought. No one in the early church had a belief of not being spirit filled.

    Just because the name church is on the name and the IRS papers are filed does not automatically make something Bible based. It does make them recognized as a religious organization or institute. I believe this definition would cover the majority of what we see with signage and religious rituals and practices. The question I have is do we think Jesus and the early apostles would approve the current definitions of church?

    Many people are in pre-new birth, seeking and practicing religion, but not placed in the true one body. Religion binds the individual to a hopelessness of sin. “The Faith” frees the person into a kingdom destiny and purpose. What seems to go on is people deciding what is the best fit for what they belief vs being fit by how God would fit them in. The early apostles would die for “The faith”. Wonder how many leaders of religion and faith are willing to die for what they believe? Maybe that sorts some things out as well.

    The church today is like the church of Thyatira in Rev. 2:18. We have done many things and have kept people busy doing things. Works, charity, service, faith and patience are all listed in the Rev. 2:19. But works is listed twice. We have gotten caught up in the activity of ministry. The superstardom of ministry. We have allowed Jezebel, which is a spirit, room in our activities. We have created false prophets and even false ministries. We have not solid doctrine V.24. But I think most of us can sort out what is wrong. But can we find answers that are correct or give better definition?

    1 Corinthians 12:12 — 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

    The Christ is the Head and we are the members of one Body. Christ does not join himself to a harlot, or a prostitute. He joins himself with those who have been redeemed. The body is not all who say they are even Christian. The body is all those born again and have started the journey of salvation, walked away from sin, and embraced the provision of the finished work of the cross. This defines the activity of redemption that leads to the infilling of the spirit. These two are the beginning definition of the church or ecclesia as we know it. As we remove church from our vocabulary of what we currently say is church and say Body of Christ it becomes even more evident of how God may view what He is building. His goal is to build a body into a governing dimension he called ecclesia. Now we have a third definition.

    Ephesians 4:1–7 — 1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

    The Holy Spirits focus is not just on the individual as separated from others but as connected to the whole corporate one new man being created. The Holy spirits role is to build “One New Man”. The Holy Spirit knows this will be the full expression of Christ. This new man is created in holiness, because of the process of redemption and Holy spirit infilling and activity. This is not embracing any and all belief systems for the sake of unity. Unity is no concern to God but union with Christ. This is the fourth definition, who is reflecting union with Christ and reflecting his image, and not a tainted image of our preferences or own belief system.

    Ephesians 1:23 — 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

    His body is the expression of his fulness. This fullness fills each other as we gather. The whole connected body that is filled to full with Holy Spirit is “The church” and there is no other church. So, what Holy Spirit showed me is the biblical definition of church is:

    A redeemed body that is reflecting and evolving, regenerating and reproducing the very image of Christ not just each individually but corporately. This is done by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit forming the exact image of Christ individually for a corporate expression. Once that image is formed, they become an ecclesia that is ruling and reigning. This is the only church that God recognizes, which is first a living Body filled with the life of God according to biblical president and truth. The Holy Spirit first introduces Christ into the believer, and in so doing He is forming in all who believe one Christ, constituting one Body, and that is the Church as in the New Testament. It must be redeemed, it must be filled with Holy Spirit, it must come into governing, it must reflect Christ image.

    You see it not the things you do…. It is the reflection of Christ and the Holy spirits activity. Without these you are apostate. It is the battle between Freedom verses Religion and Life verse Ritual.

  • Pressing Forward

    Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

    Many times, as leaders the desire to quit comes upon us. Recently several national leaders have been exposed for immorality and have stepped down from ministry. Some are resigning from ministry as they are sighting things that occurred decades ago in their lives. But if true repentance occurred, does it take such a drastic move as to resign now? Or as leaders are they just tired of the battles? Are they ready to step away and don’t know how? I makes me wonder, even though it maybe self-exposing, there is a “I just don’t care anymore attitude” and this is a way out ?

    Every leader faces the moments of quitting. Looking at the cost and weighing the fruitfulness. Even if things are fruitful is there appreciation for the sacrifices that have been given? If appreciation is there, are the results too small to justify all that is required. I’ve been there many times. Early in the ministry my wife was the admin for our school and ministry. We went through seasons of going to each other’s offices and resigning. It became a joke between us but had some truth to it. There are several moments in ministry they have actually documented when a decision of going forward or walking away occurs. At 5 years the first zeal and excitement of ministry is fading and reality sets in. At 15 years the mundane is setting in. 25-30 years the toil of ministry is now wearing ministry leaders down. The percentages are extremely high (90% or so) of ministry leaders walking away at these time factors. What happens is we lose strength of youth and the wisdom and experience of the aged. The problem is separating ministry from personal walk, even though they overlap. The ministry is the assignment of God and not the actual life of the leader. Your private life is separate from ministry life and over time the boundaries become blurred.

    What I feel is the primary reason leaders get discouraged is they become the only one working the original vision gave. A leader can get discouraged as the product they are trying to finish (people) is constantly eluding them and unwilling to change or to work the vision. A certain complacency sets in during the absence of true excitement, and a natural routine emerges. It is inevitable that when there is no breakthrough the mundane becomes the norm and the heart loses hope. Many see Jeremiah this way as the weeping prophet. If anyone fought quitting it was him. He prophesied and did not see his words heeded or come to pass. He even was instructed by God to buy land knowing he to would come under the judgment of God by doing so. Yet to me he is the greatest example of hope. His hope was God would turn all things, even if he didn’t see the final result. He knew his effort would have an impact. If we all could just see our efforts this way. It’s having eternal vision.

    If you need the satisfaction at the end of the day like a typical builder of a home, or a painter etc. of a finished product to feel accomplished then ministry is maybe not a good fit for you. The product is in process, it just never reaches the point of finished. The results may be unfolding but at a slow pace.

    Every leader comes to a point of decision in the journey of the vision. Is the original vision from the Lord still a viable vision for the moment of time I’m living in? The answer is yes! The vison does not change but the players and workers might. The vision doesn’t change but the mission and steps of fulfillment may need adjusted.

    Habakkuk 2:3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

    Waiting is what gets hard. Its hard to stay focused and stay in faith. But true faith is from the point of receiving vision to the point of its completion. During this time, all manner of things will come to derail faith. But the promise is it will not just come to pass but “surely come to pass”.

    But in the waiting many things are being perfected. Faith is the main thing getting perfected because all the others are flowing from this maintained action. Revelation comes and is released. Hearts are dealt with. Motives are exposed and tested. Commitments and willingness to sacrifice also comes into play. A long list of things that matures the body carrying vision and the leader presenting vision. Sometimes there is disobedience that slows the vision’s actions. But sometimes there is great obedience that accelerates it.

    A vision does not have to come to pass to be important. What is important is the journey the vision takes you on. The journey I have been on has been rewarding at times and others times challenging, even to the point of wanting to walk away. But the vision is still there beckoning. And along with the vision is a grace to fulfill it. If you quit and walk away, you come out from under the grace that is resting on your life in that area. That goes for a leader, and for those sent and placed by God to fulfill vision.

    If you feel like quitting today stop and evaluate your personal journey not the fulfillment of what you set out to do. What was formed in you that could not be formed any other way? What revelations did you gain and who did you meet in this pathway? A fulfilled vision is a moment of success. A person changed is a lifetime of re-living a victorious pursuit. Once you separate the assignment from your personal walk you then can appreciate your personal relationship with God even more. This is what has been happening to me over the last 2 years. I’m amazed at what has occurred in the ministry but still feel disappointed as well. But in my personal life I’m just simply amazed. I am thankful to see my grandchildren raised in a Godly atmosphere and seeing them have encounters. I am thankful for my health. I’m thankful for the journey and amazed at who I have met, places I have been and things I have seen. I have seen every miracle in the bible. Storms standing still and being subject to our command. Witches crying out for salvation. Limbs growing, eyes opening, deaf hearing and the dead raised. I have seen portals of hell closed and curses over land and people not just broken but reversed. I have experienced God in many ways people would love to have opportunity, but I not only got opportunity, it went way beyond that. My final thoughts lately are I may not have fulfilled the vision, I may not show the success by which some judge, but God has been successful in my life having His way!

  • Fullness of Christ

    I’m wanting to take a moment and write on the theme from our last conference “Pursuing the Fullness”. I never really taught, due to the flow of the conference, so I decided to briefly touch on some things from my notes I had prepared. I want to start with some background of the book of Colossians. Paul writes to the church because the environment they are in is full of Gnostics. They believed in different lengths of time called eons and divided power into these time segments. They were saying Christ had his time of power and that power no longer existed as he has passed. They were trying to lessen his spiritual position making him equal to deities they worshiped in times past. As Gnostics they worship a huge number of deities. It was a type of demonic worship of Christ. Paul opens the book talking about the supremacy of Christ and how he is above all principalities and powers and is the supreme creator whose power and fullness has always been. He was separating hm away form Gnostic theology.  Paul states in Colossians 1:16 -17

    1. By him all things were created
    2. All things are created for him.
    3. He was before all things.
    4. By Him they consist or are held together
    5. V.18 he has preeminence — or holds first place amongst all suprem or the supreme being.

    Paul states that Christ power from the Godhead is the total of all lengths of time. Fullness is directly connected to eternity which has no time as we know it. He brings the point out that fullness of Christ is not dependent upon time but upon decisions. It is all available in fullness at any moment.

    Fullness has a focus of eternity, and all eternity holds. Eternity is impacting all things because all things are held by and are part of eternity. Within eternity is fullness or completeness. God sent His Son so that we could partake of heaven’s fullness and all that it offers. When we step into eternal things, we are stepping into a grand fullness of God. All that He has and things we don’t even know exist, are now available. The impossible becomes normal and what we need is already done and finished. We are finding an ancient path that many others have found. That path is that when we step into fullness in Christ we hit overflow of heaven or eternity upon the earth.

    Colossians 1:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

    Paul uses the word “Filled” for how he is praying for them. Filled here is the Greek word pleroo which is a verb means to cause something to be filled. His desire is for them to be filled with knowledge of His will concerning the sovereignty and power of Christ.

    Colossians 1:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

    Then in Verse 19 he uses a different word coming from filled, fullness. Fullness is slightly different in the Greek – pleroa which is a noun meaning to fill up completely. He said this completeness is dwelling or established and settled in Christ. This word is the end result of pleroo or the action of filling. In other words, Christ has attained this fullness already.

    Paul states: He was Head of all principality and power in the sense that He was the Son of God’s love, and that He was one eternally with God in the Godhead. The fullness of the Godhead was in Him in bodily form. This means not only is Christ present in us but also the Holy Spirit and the Father.

    Colossians 2:6–10 (KJV 1900) — 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

    Paul then uses both words for fullness again. Pleroma of the Godhead. Meaning complete fullness. It means that there is no longer a need for filling because it has reached full capacity, so the action is no longer needed. Then he says we are complete in him. Complete is pleroo is a verb meaning an action is happening. It means accomplishment, bring to realization, to perform, to render perfect. We are lacking nothing because of this fullness is in us. If Christ is in us then the fullness he is, is also within us. If Christ is in us the deity of God is living in us!

    Paul talks of the fullness as he talks of the Godhead in Colossians as he explains the sovereignty and fullness of Christ.

    Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

    Godhead in these verses is the word Theotes denoting the deity of Christ. It describes the sum total of deity and the fullness that is no longer needing added to but already has attained. It describes to the highest degree of what is available as we see Paul writing about Jesus being above all things. It really is a state of being. So as the Godhead was resident in Christ so was the state of being of the deity. Then as Christ is in us the power to sustain the state of being is also present. 

    The Greek word for Godhead is theotes, which is very similar to the Greek word theiotes used in Romans 1:20 for divine characteristics with only a one-letter difference. Now this becomes important as we read the following verse.

    Romans 1:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

    Here the word Godhead is Theiotes which denotes the divine characteristics manifested through the created things. His divine character, not His deity, created all things. That same creative nature is resident within us, the nature of Christ. This aspect of divine nature is the activity of fullness or the act of measure upon measure happening until fullness is attained. We see this in creation and is ongoing today. Some aspects of creation have reached fullness and others are still moving towards it. This is the power of then nature or Dunamis, Paul talks of working in us.

    But also in Christ is the deity of God, the fullness and completeness of a finished work. As Christ was upon the earth the finished work of God or fullness of the deity had come to the earth. That portion is also within us. When we received Christ, we received his fullness. As we live our life in Him, we are unlocking measures leading us to fullness. This is indeed the greatest mystery we have that is unfolding in our lives.

    Ephesians 4:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

    The role of five-fold graces is to bring the body of Christ to fullness. But fullness comes in measures. But many never reach this fullness because they have settled for measure. When wereceived or accepted Christ, we didn’t just accept provision for sin. Nor did we accept an eternal destination, or even sonship, inheritance, or holy spirit activity. Though these things are true there is still more. We accepted HIS FULLNESS!

    Fullness is Gods ending concerning anything! But we seldom pursue the ending, we settled for the relief. We can stop at false finish lines or false fullness. It’s really stopping at a measure and not fullness.

    • Many stop at conversion.
    • Some stop at knowledge.
    • Some become content with how their life has changed.
    • Many stop at traditions.
    • Many stop at truth or portions of truth.
    • Many stop at an experience in God.

    Many of these stopping points are moments or moves in God and become a false finish line that is constantly being resurrected. The fullness of God is a result of discipleship by God’s Holy Spirit that produces a transformational anointing. That transformation is taking a measure (metron=limited portion of Christ’s nature) into the fullness (pleroma=the totality of divine powers at work in the transformation of a believer). We are progressively trained, equipped, and maturing in the nature and character of Christ while on this earth through discipleship and impartation of grace coming from the 5 gifts of Ephesians 4. Paul alludes to this operation at the end of Ephesians 1.

    Fullness is not our future, but it shapes our future. The outworking of the degree of our fullness is the fruitfulness of ministry we will accomplish. Fullness can be described as our present level of living in the presence of the Lord, as we live in obedience to His voice and his written word. We need to allow the function of the five-fold graces to operate under a different paradigm that we currently have. This is a current weakness in the Apostolic and Prophetic graces. We still have dysfunction of operations because we are trying to fit apostles and prophets into current ecclesiastical structures. Still building in traditional approaches and not through true apostolic and fathering grace. Apostolic is the release of the creative forces of the fullness to make the shifts required in culture. Our current context and focuses upon apostolic structures does not bring or mature the body into the fullness we need.

    But God manifest when we decide to pursue the next measure of fullness he wants to bring. We keep in motion from measure to fullness and from glory to glory. So, the key to living in fullness is to never settle for the current measure or level of fullness that we are experiencing, but we must move with God each time he moves in our lives. We need to contend for the fullness that rest in Christ.  

    John 1:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

  • The Burden of the Lord

    This blog could be the most important blog I have ever written. I am always looking for keys and challenges to present before the body of Christ. Many want the dynamics of the church in Acts but don’t know the mindsets they had, nor the seriousness of purpose. They did not live compartmentalized lives but lived their faith and then inserted life into it.

    What I see is today’s body is so fixated on themselves and their needs getting fulfilled week after week in meetings. We have made a self-perpetuating focus on ourselves with not much focus on the kingdom work at hand of creating image barriers. We have causes and programs associated with them. We pray and maybe even act upon so many moral and social convictions and yet seem to see such hard-faced battles with some results and maybe low to no results. What is missing? The answer is a God-sent burden.

    The early church had a very intense burden they carried for the work of God to advance. They had a burden for souls. This burden was so much part of their faith walk, that they only acted upon what they were burdened for. Today’s church has causes without burden, prayer with no burden, and programs with no burden. In all honesty, I see we don’t have much of a burden for anything. If we did much of what we do would have a huge impact.

    What you’re burdened with is what you will invest yourself into. It is what you will give time, resources, and even your heart. Without this burden, we are not aware of the spiritual climates and conditions around us. We also miss opportunities each day because we are not tuned in to the spirit realm, which is another thing a true burden from God will do, get us focused.

    I’m not talking about your pet projects or your passions. I’m talking about an apostolic burden, or a burden sent by God to send you out from it. I’m talking about something that you cannot accomplish unless there is a dependency upon God. A true burden will be an activator of true faith. It will reveal God’s righteousness and create His justice.

    Paul was burdened for the church:

    2 Corinthians 11:28 (KJV 1900) — 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

    The word “comes upon” means something clearly identified, anxiety, pressure and concern, responsibility, oversight. He was not pushing off the burden God had assigned him.

    Paul was burdened for his kinsmen:

    Romans 9:1–5 (KJV 1900) — 1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

    Paul was a Roman and wished other Romans would come to salvation.

    Paul was burdened for Israel:”

    Romans 10:1–4 (KJV 1900) — 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

    Paul was burdened for fullness to come:

    Colossians 4:12–13 (KJV 1900) — 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

    A burden will take you from secondhand knowledge to firsthand experience. A vision that has no burden attached is a religious structure. Just like a call with no burden has no destination. When you answer the call, you are accepting and answering the burden of God. But when burden is acted on it will also release Grace … the ability of God to create change. Many times, a burdened prayer will receive a quick result. It is because the burden activates grace for change.

    Galatians 6:1–5 (KJV 1900) — 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

    These verses seem to be double-minded. But if we look at the word meanings we see a different thought is being given. Bearing each other’s burdens is to help carry the load a person is under. The definition of burden in verse 2 means there is too heavy, crushing, loads (barē)—more than a man could carry without help.

    But Paul then says something in verse 5 that seems contradictory. We are to bear our own burdens. This second burden is “phortion”: It is used to designate the pack usually carried by a marching soldier. It is the “burden” Jesus assigns to His followers (Matt. 11:30). It comes from the word meaning of carrying the ship’s cargo, which is tied to an apostolic work. (An apostle was also the commander of a fleet of ships.) A further definition likens it to a soldier carrying what the commander or apostle saw as necessary or valuable for the mission. When we help each other carry the first burden it enables each person to carry the second burden. It is not taking care of the first for our relief. It is helping with the first so we can be effective in service with the second burden.

    The burden will release God’s glory as well. As we look back on every great outpouring it was started by prayer. But it wasn’t just prayer it was burdened prayer. There is something about giving ourselves to the burden that releases the Glory of God connected to it. The greater the burden the greater the glory. Deep travail is the revealing of someone beginning to be caught in the burden.

    Burdens are not man-made nor even man inspired but are given by God to bring glory to His name. They are heaven-sent and are part of a corporate plan for the Body of Christ. In this hour God is looking to and foe to see who will carry His burden that will release grace, create change, remove injustice, and let His name be glorified.

  • Light of Genesis

    The following is from my book “Return to Eden” available on amazon and Kindle.

    …….Both of these lights are called great. But He said one was greater light. The word great means large in magnitude and extent. But what is interesting is these lights were set to rule. Light has a rulership. The word rule means to have dominion. Now at first glance, we would assume the greater light of day would be the sun, and the lesser light would be darkness. But he also speaks of making the stars. He does not say the lesser light is void of light but is lesser. The lesser means younger, smaller, or less important. What is important is that both lights are ruling, one rules the day and one the night. Both have dominion. This began the rule or reign of light. It was set in motion that light would always rule, and the lesser light would always submit to the greater light. This is further explained in the following verse.

    Psalm 136:7–9 (KJV 1900) — 7 To him that made great lights: For his mercy endureth for ever: 8 The sun to rule by day: For his mercy endureth for ever: 9 The moon and stars to rule by night: For his mercy endureth for ever.

    The earth is ruled by something in Heaven and is always under its rule which is light, be it greater or lesser. This light rules all creation in the heavens. Now we all know that what is lesser is always submitted to what is greater. So, what is void of light submits to the smallest light. The smallest light is swallowed up in ever-increasing brighter light. It is progressive submission to what has the ultimate rule.

    Matthew 13:43 (KJV 1900) — 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

    The Garden was a place for the righteous. It was also a place to rule from. The original design was for us to “shine forth” as the sun or the greater light. That all other lights would be submitted to this light, the light of righteousness. The word shine in the original definition is made up of two words. Ek Lamp0. Ek means the origin point at which actions proceed and Lampo to give light, to radiant brilliance or to give light, something attractive and richly colorful. Again, this light is from the origins of the same light of creation shining upon Eden, the place of the righteous. This ruling light is directly connected to our righteousness and also to creation and the Garden of Eden being set aside for the righteous or for the shining lights. That light is Christ and the Father.

    We are an extension of that original light. The Bible says that light is dwelling in us and that “light” is Christ and he is the light of all men. He is the supreme light, the greater and greatest light which means all other lights have to come under His lordship. Even a sinner has a degree of light. It’s just that darkness is crowding or overshadowing the light within. When we come with greater light, the darkness has to submit to our light and the light of Christ begins to penetrate the heart of the sinner. Our light encourages and engages the light within the person and empowers them to step into greater light. Eventually, that light grows and pushes the darkness out and the person makes a conversion to allow the rule of greater light to take place.

    This transformational process is present in natural light. It’s amazing that even natural light has such power of transformation. Natural sunlight hits our bodies and takes what is dormant in us and transforms it into Vitamin D. Sunlight doesn’t carry vitamin D as we think but has the power to produce or make it. This same sunlight also can touch a plant and allow photosynthesis to occur. Taking different elements and bringing life from them. If God can transform our natural bodies and all plant life with the light he created we call the sun. He can also transform our spiritual bodies and all life around us with the SON. 

  • Ways of God

    This is an excerpt from my book “Return to Eden”

    Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater : 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

    This has two things to pull out that helps to unfold the understanding of the mind of Christ. The two words are thoughts and ways. The word ‘thoughts’ is defined as a device or plan that is being calculated and it is intentional and inventive. It comes from a root word which means to esteem value and to imagine. It actually holds three meanings. The first is a general thought such as most of us understand the Word of God. It is deductive reasoning and understanding the words that we are reading. The second meaning is how we process and come to conclusion of what a person’s heart is. It is focused upon the heart of God towards us. The third meaning is the ability to be a skilled craftsman that is seeking a result. It is the overall understanding of the intention of God concerning what we are focused upon in front of us.

    The word ‘ways’ means a road, journey, correction, and a manner of life. The root word which means to lead or guide, to tread upon, to tread down or to march forward. It is focused upon a meaning to set foot on territories and regions and the journey, as if you are on a main highway that is taking you to a destination. It means the actions of men whether they are righteous or unrighteous.

    To know God’s thoughts, we must be able to hear His voice transferring His intentions. To know His ways, we must know the beginning, middle and end of a thing. Words we are hearing should complete a picture and not be an extension of our personal preferences or lack of understanding. We are clearly hearing and clearly seeing the hand of God at work even though it may not appear the way we want it to appear. There is a destination, but the journey may not be the way we wanted it to be. But God’s thoughts and ways always complete cycles of life. Because God thinks in circular, there is always a finish line and a bringing of something to completeness. The highway we are on always brings us to the beginning point or the origins that God has for us. God thinks multidimensional. Look at it like this, that God’s Word is His thoughts but sending forth His Word to accomplish, are His ways.

    Psalm 23:3-43 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

    The circular motion of how God does things is found throughout the Bible. In this verse, that we have quoted many times, the word ‘paths’ means a track or course a circle or something that is round. The circle or the course of righteousness is always connecting to itself. We see Moses returning to Egypt to return to the Promised Land, a circular motion. We see Israel wandering around in circles for years before entering the Promised Land. When they entered the Promised Land, they went in circles around Jericho. Everything that God does is a circular motion. And He is more concerned about us completing the journey, than the hardships we might have along the way. This is the mind of God.

    We can see this pattern very clearly as we look at the Old Testament holistically and the New Testament holistically. In the Garden of Eden, there was a tree of life. And man has been given a position of authority over the earth and all creation. At the end of the Book of Revelation, it speaks of the tree of life once again and man having that position restored. We are actually beginning to run the Old Testament in a backward sense or circular sense back to the beginning of the original intention in the Garden of Eden. We also see this in the New Testament in the Book of Acts. The Early Church experienced an outpouring and then the apostles came into the scene to manage the outpouring and the Church was birthed into the earth. Today the Church that is born into the earth, is coming more into an apostolic governing of the Kingdom so we can have one final large outpouring upon the face of the earth. These circular patterns are seen throughout the scriptures and throughout people’s lives. These are the ways and thoughts of God.

    We get caught up looking at the valley, or low points in our life, and not the circle that God is doing in our life. We walk the linear path and try to interpret in a single dimension. We believe the valley could possibly be part of our destination when in reality, it is something we are going through that takes us to the destination. The cycle of God’s paths is actually a cycle of seasons in our life. God is thinking in times and seasons and not events. Each season has thoughts of God that we need to find and embrace for the next season that is coming upon us. Most of the time we think in the present, while God is thinking in the future. We think revival, He thinks harvest. We think Upper Room outpouring, He thinks marketplace ministry. We think reformation, He thinks awakening. God’s thoughts are not so much on right now but on the next step!


    Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD . 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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    God says His thoughts are higher. The word ‘higher’ means to be high and exalted, to be made higher, dignity, majesty, an elevated position. It is that is beyond general thinking. In order for us to engage into this, we must be in the spirit and have a revelation from the Holy Spirit of how God is thinking concerning a matter. There are many questions that we have like why was that person’s life taken at a young age? Or why was that person going through all that suffering? We try to explain it away based on promises because we don’t understand the ways and thoughts of God are higher than our ways and thoughts. Perhaps the person that dies a premature death is the closest they will ever be to God, and God knows that because He has foreknowledge. Perhaps in their death, they will reach more people than how they would have lived their whole life. Perhaps the person with sickness or suffering that seems to be upon their life has created opportunities for them to minister the love of God or even the hope of God to others in the same predicament. We must be looking beyond what we see to understand the mind of God concerning the matters at hand. What is He creating that I cannot see? How is He dealing in a person’s heart that is creating the nature of Christ within him?


    Isaiah 2:2-3 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

    Looking at this verse that is at the beginning of Isaiah, we see that it is God’s desire to teach us His ways and also to walk in His paths. The word ‘walk’ means to proceed, to live and die, to lead and carry, and cause to walk in the manner of life. God always starts in our life with His intentions and ends with His intentions as well. It is simply a decision on our part if we will go up to the mountain and be taught His ways and walk in His paths. As we do, we end up having the mind of God or the mind of Christ concerning life. To know the mind of God requires intimacy with God.

  • Protocols

    I want to briefly touch on protocols. The spirit realm operates based on rank and protocol. Rank is attained by promotion based on stewardship of the call. Protocol is based on understanding spiritual law and principles at work and how to engage them. Even demonic forces understand these protocols and principles, perhaps more than most believers. The same spiritual laws of approach and engagement, they must also follow. Many times, the enemy does not seem to give way and it is because they test us to see if we truly know the principle or protocol. Sometimes we might be violating a principle by implementing it wrong or for the wrong motive. When we violate spiritual protocol, we may not get the desired results and may have results we were not intending.

    Here is the definition of a protocol:

    Protocol = the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions. The original draft of a diplomatic document, especially of the terms of a treaty agreed to in conference and signed by the parties.

    It is really an official agreement of how things are to be done governmentally. Men were given protocols that we read right past and do not recognize. God told Moses: Take off your shoes for this is Holy Ground… a protocol. Jesus said, ‘when you pray believe and you will receive ‘…. a protocol. David said ‘who can ascend but he who has clean hands and a pure heart’… a protocol. What Jesus did was reset the true protocols in place again, erasing the laws men had created to control and bring grace to understand how the spiritual realms work. Jesus’ whole life was a model of engagement of protocols for every need of mankind. 

    There are protocols in the Body of Christ, especially how we gather in our own individual church houses. We have protocols of how things are to be done in a service. We also have protocols of how we assign leaders and how we receive prophetic words, and how they are to be delivered. We have protocols concerning involvement in the worship team and protocols how we do altar ministry. We expect those to be followed to be able to have the desired results. The protocols of the spiritual realm in heaven are no different. They are a guiding outline that God himself has determined would not be violated. These protocols have been given to maintain order, set boundaries, and to allow freedom to be walked out in the midst of the atmosphere these protocols have created.

    1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

    ‘Order’ here means an arrangement, a fixed succession, observing a fixed time, observing a fixed orderly condition, the rank you hold in civic affairs. It comes from a root word meaning a certain order, a certain arrangement, something assigned, placed, and appointed. Something that has mutual agreement. Paul was saying it was not just a casual thing of having an order but actually had substance to why it exists and the outcome it could produce. Paul was telling the Corinthians that there was a way of doing things. It also refers to the unseen that there is an incorrect way of doing things. We can see this brought out as he addressed the Corinthian Church in how they did certain things.

    There are protocols that cover almost all areas of life and godliness. There are protocols for how we have relationships with each other and should be conducting ourselves in honor, one towards another. The Bible in Matthew 18, very clearly spells out a protocol for correction and addressing issues in the Body of Christ. This one is seldom seen and even understood. There are protocols of how we are to teach and instruct and to build and develop people. There are protocols of how to deal with demonic forces and powers. There are protocols on how to administrate healing and deliverance to people’s lives. And yes, there are protocols of how to access eternal realms and the heavenly realms themselves. Some of these are interactions upon Earth. Some are interactions in corporate gatherings. Some are interactions in spiritual plains or dimensions.

    Demonic forces recognize authority and observe protocols as well. They are “subject” to protocols. The protocol that they are subject to is the Name of Jesus. The second one is our faith and our understanding of the principles and protocols of God found in His Word. The third one is our position that we have been given and the assignment that we have on the Earth. They are all things that Adam had in the Garden of Eden. Then when the Last Adam came, He restored our authority to not just engage in some spiritual promises, but to understand the spiritual protocols and principles by which all things must submit. The deeper you go in your understanding that the spiritual realm is more real than the realm of the earth, you come to a conclusion about what your authority really is and how far reaching it can go. You also will discover for yourself how the spiritual realms operate and the protocols that exist.

  • Vision of Declaration of Independence

    John 6:63 (KJV 1900) — 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

    Before I get into the vision let use this as a teaching moment. There is an activity of the spirit that causes life to come to us. It is God himself speaking directly to us. Our role is to eliminate the areas of flesh that blocks the flow or clouds what we hear. It starts with us walking in the spirit. Gal 5:16-17. He says walk in the spirit. The word walk means to regulate your life and to conduct yourself in opportunities. The word spirit means the nature of God. It is realizing that I am in union with Christ. It is not my spirit and His spirit but actually I am one in spirit. Because We are joined unison and I have yielded to this, I automatically am walking in the spirit with His nature present in me. As I have said many times it is being spiritually aware in the moments of life. Having your spiritual senses heightened to hear, speak, know and feel Gods heart in every circumstance.

    This begins to form a unique spiritual experience. We are to pray in the spirit. This is prayer that is done in union with Christ praying out of us. Praying with the spirit and praying in the spirit is different. It is knowing what to pray and maybe more important “why” we pray. When we know the why we have moved from the tree of knowledge (what) to the tree of life (why).

    What does it mean to be in the spirit? In the Spirit is being in 2 realms simultaneously or at the same time! The earth realm (which is not the flesh, which is will, emotions etc.) and the heavenly realms (both second and third heaven) which are spiritual dimensions. This is the only time we will ever live in 2 realms of God at one time. While we are upon the earth!  Being in the spirit is a state of being more than an action. It is taking our places as sons and daughters of God being seated in heavenly places.  It is the union of your spirit with Gods nature and His nature is controlling your spirit, and your spirit controlling your flesh.

    Revelation 1:10 (KJV 1900) — 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

    John heard something from the spiritual realm. Then john saw the voice he heard Rev 1.12. John was in a spiritual realm, a spiritual state, a union with the Holy Spirit and the Son. From simply being in the spirit the entire book of revelation unfolds for John. This is a threshold we need to step through. It needs to be more than I’m praying in tongues or if “feel” Gods presence. It is a spiritual realm to enter. Once we cross the invisible doorway, He will show us things that must be. We are in great need in this hour to know the times and seasons and to know what we need to do to pull the future into the now.

    1 Thessalonians 2:12 (KJV 1900) — 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

    Walking in the spirit is walking in kingdom realms as well. Kingdom and glory are always together. Kingdom can be translated as realm and glory as honor. So, this verse could read to walk worthy of God in the realms and honor we have access into. Recently I had a vision while being in the spirit. This is what I saw:

    I saw in a vision, a great scroll spread upon the alters of heaven. And at the top of this scroll was written Declaration of Independence. The Lord spoke and said to me, “Has my church declared its independence from the world?” I saw the scroll and all that was written on it.  The heading “Declaration of Independence” and when I looked under the page was blank.  I sensed a reason that nothing was there, and it wasn’t hidden from me. And I saw the golden flames of Gods fire leaping and the fire was speaking, “who has separated themselves to the KING?” Then I saw the silver fires of God that carry the redemption of man. They were the container for the golden fire. It was as if the silver fire at the base was a solid basin to hold the oil for the flames, yet as you went up the basin it became liquid and then fire. The silver fire was a large basin. And in the center of the basin was the golden flame. In the midst of the redemption fire of silver was the golden fire of the king’s flame. And I saw the golden flame illuminating the alter of the lord while the silver flame illuminated the pathways and what would be the floor area around it.  The redemptive ways of God enabled me to draw close to the alter to see the scroll and its words. The Lord said, “you mourn for a nation but who mourns for the harvest?”  The questions where penetrating not just my heart but the atmospheres of the earth. Then I saw the scroll again laying open with the blank page except for the heading Declaration of Independence. The Lord said, “Who will sign their name to break free into the fullness of my freedom?” I now knew the page was blank for many to sign. There was room for the multitudes. Then I saw the “waiting of the Lord.” A time went by and then it came to full. The Lord rolled the scroll up and sealed it with a great sealed. The words on the outside appeared, “The sealed of the signed”. The Lord put the scroll upon the shelves within a great hall in heaven. It was if it would never be opened for all in heaven and earth knew who had signed the great scroll. He then turned and said to me, “Now it is finished.”

    As I finished writing this, I felt undone in conclusion. I was going to stop at the end of vision. But I had a very dark dream in the night. I won’t go into details but give a general overview. I saw the darkness people were locked in. I was taken down a dark corridor to a large courtyard pit with all the different types of demonic shops offering all kinds of demonic bondages. I saw not just shops, but deep tunnels leading into nothing but darkness. These had gatekeepers who would not allow anyone into these portals unless they had certain approval. In the courtyard there were ones who were calling to those who came to see what darkness they should enter. They were selling their wares. I had to fight a succubus demon off to leave the area.

    The Lord spoke to me and said, “These are also part of the great harvest, but who is free to go to these places?” He told me this was the conclusion to this blog I was seeking. He then said, “unless your truly free and have declared it by walking in it you can not lead others to freedom.” Have you signed your Declaration of Independence? Will you be one to go into darkness and break the chains of bondage?