KINGDOM LEADERSHIP by Life Network

KINGDOM LEADERSHIP

Life College INSTITUTE OF LEADERSHIP 1

Contributors: Barney P. Phillips, PhD Dale Royce Bernie L. Wade, Jr. Blanca E. Wade, BA

I am grateful for the opportunity to be among those who have read your book: Kingdom Leadership. The book is quite an eye opener, especially for some of us who are serving the Lord within Church denominations. It is true the "Walled mentality Churches" can no more accommodate the plethora of gifts the Lord has gifted His Church - His called out people! And I personally think it is a welcomed move of the Holy Spirit to help accelerate the advancement of the Kingdom of God at local, national and global level. Actually, that is the experience of the Church here in Cameroon and Africa (many young men and women gifted and empowered by the Lord are now breaking away from the old "Church as a building or denomination mentality syndrome" and starting ministries of their own that are greatly impacting the people of God and the unsaved as well. Praise the Lord Jesus! Previously, I was also confused about the difference between the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of Christ. I now know better! Thank you. I think the book should be a must read by all Christians and especially those who are in leadership, if they wish to become Kingdom Leaders (as I have also chosen) rather than remaining just average Church or denominational leaders. Best wishes in Christ Jesus, David C. Ngwa, PHD ICOF Secretary General, Africa Pastor, The Apostolic Church, Cameroon

The Kings Manner A Guide to kings who work for the King of Kings (Jesus Christ).

In the matter of His Majesty, Jesus Christ holds all of the following attributes (titles) and more: King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Almighty, who was and is and is to come. Those who work for His Majesty should carefully consider that their manner, actions and activity are in the best interest of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Those who work for His Majesty should at all times remember that they represent Jesus Christ and not themselves. The work that they do should never be claimed as for them, by them, or be toward their own interests. Rather, the work that one does should always be in deference to the work of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and all credit for accomplishments should be deferred to King Jesus.

Conflicts

As a representative of the King, there may be certain conflicts that arise. It is prudent that one remember to use the utmost of caution in these situations. Conflicts should always carry the same carefulness and expectation as other activities in that one should remember that their own interests and ideas should take second place to the best interests of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. In every matter, in every situation one should consider, WWJD meaning “What Would Jesus Do?” This simply means that prudence dictates that considering how the King of Kings would react or judge a similar situation should take precedence. It is most dangerous to use self righteous conclusions in conducting the Kings business.

This author, after 30 years in the ministry, pauses to reflect on the role and activity of the body of Christ. Much of what passes as the “work of God” is merely the business activity of men who are using religion and the guise of some spiritual context to run a business. Some of these are con men others really think that God needs them and without them the Kingdom would be incomplete. The war stories that I could recall would chill even the most seasoned of followers of Jesus Christ. As I write this I ponder, “What is really important?”. While we focus our time and energies on building new facilities, bigger sanctuaries, larger educational areas, gymnasiums, and the like, ask yourself, ‘how much of this is really about the work of Jesus Christ and his church. There is nothing wrong with new or better buildings. Yet, we must be honest about the motivation for the same.

I have no quarrel with Christians having facilities. But, let’s be real this is often not about church. These are more ‘Christian Country Clubs’. I know churches that have on their campus beauty shops, Starbucks coffee shops, Sub Way sandwich shops, exercise rooms, swimming pools, and many other amenities one would expect from a country club. I am all for using any means necessary to bring people to Christ, but I think we should be clear to draw lines between the activity of the people and the ministry of the body of Jesus Christ.

RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIVILEDGE

There is presently a revolution taking place among those on the leading edge of change in the evangelical church. The result is a transition from a church mindset to a kingdom mindset in which the walls of church buildings are no longer able to contain the raw creative energy of Christ-followers who are committed to preaching and applying the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the world, including its systems and structures. – Joseph Mattera Can you think of any greater privilege than to be called to be a leader in the church of Jesus Christ? The church is his Body, his Bride, the Temple of his Spirit, his Flock, his Army, and his Family.1 When Jesus Christ first surveyed for leadership to oversee His Church he hand-picked a dozen men. These men came from a variety of occupations. None of them were professional clergy. Jesus Christ personally invested time and energy in the training of these chosen men. He chose an applied method for the advancement of His mission and ministry. Then, He sent these men to put into practice what they had been instructed. He sent these out in pairs to apply their training. We now refer to these men as the12 original Apostles. When we speak of leaders as related to the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of Jesus Christ) we are referencing those who have been called and qualified by Jesus Christ as opposed to those called by men, elected by a church body or appointed by a denomination. We recognize that there are three categories of leaders. Those called 1

Biblical Requirements of Leaders. Four must-have traits. Darrell W. Johnson

by God, those called by men, and lastly those appointed by Satan. For example: when someone says they are a pastor, it is evident that they are a pastor. The quandary is; are they a pastor called to the role by the imprimatur of Christ, the dictates of men or the deception of Satan? “The spiritual leader’s task is to move people from where they are to where God wants them to be.” Remember: Others are watching your example (good or bad). Spiritual leadership has been defined as knowing where God wants people to be and taking the initiative to use God’s methods to get them there in reliance on God’s power. The answer to where God wants people to be is in a spiritual condition, in a lifestyle that displays His glory and honor His name.2 To be a leader you must be a reader. What you are reading today you will become in the next few years. This is why reading the Word of God is a must for leaders in Christ’s Church. “Spiritual leadership is using God’s methods to get his people where he wants them in reliance on his power.” The ultimate goal of all leadership in the Kingdom of Heaven is that other people might come to glorify God. Therefore, the goal of leadership is that people come to know God and to glorify him in all that they do. Spiritual leadership is aimed at both changing people and pointing them in the correct direction. To be the kind of leaders we ought to be, we must make it our aim to develop persons rather than dictate plans. You can get people to do what you want, but if they don’t change in their heart, you have not led them spiritually. You have not taken them to where God wants them to be. It is possible to have people do what you want in Church and seem effective. However, without change they will not be Kingdom minded and the most important thing is the Kingdom of Heaven. ”In his book, Building Dynamic Faith, Dr. Jerry Falwell describes how important keeping a journal was in the building of Thomas Road Baptist Church and later Liberty University.” (Thomas Nelson publishers, 2005). What we might imagine a Christ follower or a leader in the Kingdom of Heaven to be is likely very different from the perception of most. Many people believe that the 1st President of the United States, George Washington, was a Christian. Of course this would depend on your definition of a Christian. From our vantage point when we speak

The Marks of a Spiritual Leader. John Piper. January 1995.

of Christian we are talking about someone who is a genuine follower of Jesus Christ. In others words, someone who lives their life as Christ directed those who follow Him. In the case of George Washington, it is imagined that he helped grow the vision and mission of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Mr. George Washington was an active member in several Church organizations or denominations. He also held office in a couple (or more) churches. Yet, there is simply no credible evidence that he followed the instruction of Jesus Christ that one must be born of the water and of the Spirit. This we call the New Birth. Additionally, there is no evidence that George Washington was a Christ follower who advanced the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in any measure directly attributable to the mission that Jesus Christ gave to His followers. The best evidence shows that Mr. Washington was a deist who referred to Providence and was much more focused on the promotion and growth of the Masonic order and the Society of the Cincinnati than he was in the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. No offense is intended to the contribution that George Washington made either as a General or as the President of the United States but this simply points to the perception that people have about who is really a Christ follower and who is merely someone who gives lip service to the cause of Christ. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matthew 15:8 KJV)

14 Questions Christian Leaders Should Ask Themselves3

The story of William Wilberforce fascinates me. Born in 1759, Wilberforce became the youngest member of the House of Commons at just 21. Thanks to the influence of his mentor John Newton, the former slave ship captain and hymn writer of Amazing Grace, Wilberforce’s life changed radically. He became a born-again, devout Christian. Inspired by the Scripture’s teaching on the foundational equality of human beings, he spent his entire life leading the anti-slavery movement in the British Empire. Behind the remarkable legacy of this leader, I discovered the greatest secret to his personal life: His commitment to weekly withdrawals from the wild scramble of public life so that he could engage in worship, connection with a small circle of close friends, and quiet reflection. Today, we live in a world blinded by the intoxication of consumerism. Every day, we are inundated with a litany of to-do lists. There’s simply too much “pursuits” on our plate (albeit all for the “glory” of God).4 Gordon McDonald challenges leaders to ask the following questions to engage our inner conversation. (We have left some space after each question for you to respond. Feel free to use additional paper to capture your thoughts and responses).

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Paul Sohn. February 6, 2015 Paul Sohn. http://paulsohn.org/14-questions-christian-leader-should-ask-themselves/

1) What have been the beautiful moments in which God may have been revealing himself to me? And what have been the evil moments when the worst in me or in the larger world showed itself?

2) What happened this week that needs to be remembered, perhaps recorded in a journal so I can return to it in the future and recall the blessing (or the rebuke) of God? Making such a record is like those monuments and altars God had the Israelites raise up when great things worth remembering had happened.

3) What have my prevailing feelings been (and what are they at the present)? Has there been a preponderance of sadness, of fear, of anger, of emptiness? Or has it been a time where joy and enthusiasm has been the dominant mood. 4) What have been the “blessings,” those acts of grace that have come through others or—as I perceive it—directly from God himself? Can I express praise and appreciation (sometimes even written in a thank-you note or journal)? 5) Have things happened for which I need to accept responsibility, perhaps leading to repentance? Why did they happen? Were they avoidable and how can they be prevented in the future? 6) What have been the thoughts that have been dominating my leader think-time? Noble thoughts? Escapist thoughts that woo me away from more important or challenging issues? Superficial thoughts that lead to nowhere? 7) Is there a possibility that I am living in denial of certain realities? Painful criticism, sloppy work, habitual patterns that are hurting me and others? 9

8) Are there any resentments or ill feelings toward others that remain unaddressed, unforgiven? 9) As a leader visualizing myself in the company of spouse, children, friends, colleagues: am I a pleasant person to be around? Are people challenged, elevated, enthused when I enter the room? As someone has observed, “Some people bring joy wherever they go; others bring joy when they go.” Which am I?

10) What is God trying to say into my life today? Through Scripture? Through other readings? What has he been saying through those in my inner circle of relationships? Through critics? What insights swirl up and out of the deepest parts of my soul? Which of them needs to be repudiated, and which needs to be cultivated? 11) What are the possibilities in the hours ahead? Where might there be ambushes that would challenge character, reputation, well-being?

12) What are the things I might do and say that would make the people in my inner circle feel more loved and appreciated?

13) Am I mindful of the socially awkward, the poor, the suffering, the oppressed in my local world and in the larger world? Am I in tune with appropriate current events in the world and perceiving them through the lens of biblical perspective? 14) What specific steps will I take today to enhance growth as a follower of Jesus?

Question: Which question challenged you most, and how? 10

Unique Realistic Perspectives on Leadership by Dr. Ed Delph

A University Student’s questions to Ed Delph 1. What makes a good leader? I would say it this way…a good leader needs the convictions to keep focused, the creativity to keep relevant, the foundation to keep him/her solid, and the vision or faith to keep soaring. A leader must also be able to lead through others…a team builder…and understand the need to empower others. As a leader/pastor…you don’t minister to people, you minister through people. Another thought I have on leadership that most would not think of is this: An effective leader has to be able to endure pain. Let me say it this way: “My level of leadership is based on my willingness to endure pain in making difficult decisions.” One pastor said that every time your church attendance doubles, 50% of your staff can’t go with you. Whether in business or church leadership, people will come and go. Many can’t endure that kind of pain and yet effective leadership requires this is many cases. Dr. Bernie Wade’s thoughts Love Ed Delph’s ministry and his thoughts on this subject (that is why we included them in this book). Leadership is an art. True leadership is not merely being appointed (or elected) to a position. Sadly, many think that being elected makes you a leader. I wish it were true. Being elected is merely winning a popularity contest. Good leadership comes from more than popularity. Leadership is knowing when to take a stand and when to stand back. As King Solomon rightly said, “there is a time for everything under heaven.” Good leaders have great timing. If you look at the profile of great leaders, in many cases their leadership was not truly appreciated until after their death. Meaning that they took a position that was not popular, but held to their convictions. 2. How have you grown as a leader over your life-time? I have come to understand timing. Timing is as important as what to do and where to go. You can have the best idea ever but if it is released too soon or too late, the great idea will look like a bad idea. I also have grown in understanding the necessity of a 11

good foundation. Right idea plus wrong people or wrong values equal failure. Alfred Sloan once said, “Success does not lie in your ability to adjust to change. Success lies in your ability to anticipate change.” In these dynamic times, times of change, success will happen those who know the times and what to do, who to do it with, how to do it, and when to do it. 3. What mentor has influenced you most and why? I think that I have gained more from author John Maxwell than from any other outside source in the area of leadership. Maxwell’s wisdom and ability to say a lot in a little, along with his successful church leadership experience, have been of great help to me. On a personal basis, I have also been influenced and at times mentored by Alan Platt, the leader of the Doxa Deo church network in Pretoria, South Africa. Alan would have the strongest gift of leadership that I have ever witnessed in all my years of both business and church leadership. His natural leadership, hospitable nature and instinctive sense of direction, vision and timing have been a revelation to me. Alan is also an expert on how to get along with and lead other great leaders. That is the gift of leadership in action. 4. How important is character in leadership? As someone once said, “Vision will grow a business but character will keep you there.” Character determines success that is sustainable. One of the biggest character issues that I see in many leaders is using people as a means to their own end. Many leaders these days are searching for significance and the size of their ministry or business is that source of significance. So, in effect, the way they view themselves is directly proportional to the size of their last church service or monthly statement. Successful leaders have learned how to live from significance rather than for significance, from acceptance rather than for acceptance, etc. In other words, and this is important, a leader cannot lead people if he/she needs people. Leaders who need the adulation of people, who use people to feel good about themselves disqualify themselves from objective decision making. 5. What would be your advice to me as to how I can grow as a leader? Understanding that there a paradoxes in leadership…..the key is knowing what to do in the season that you need to do it. For example, knowing there are times when a leader must serve (Matt 20:25-28) as well as time when a leader must rule (I Tim 5:17). A leader must be confident (Matt 7:29) as well as a leader must be humble (James 4:10). A leader must be a man of action (Gospel of Mark) as well as a leader must be a man of prayer (Luke

18:1). A leader must have a strategy (Luke 14:28-32) as well as a leader must submit to God’s will (Acts 16:1-10).

6. What should I avoid to be a good leader? Letting the fact that you are a leader go to your head, becoming proud and arrogant. Pride precedes the fall. I call it the pride of face, grace and place. Remember, in most cases, the more a leader empowers, the more that leader gains power. The converse is true also. Also, remember that past victory’s can ruin us and past successes can depower us. What was successful yesterday or in another country, may not be successful today or in this country. Finally, become a person of significance rather than a person of success. Madonna is a person of success. Mother Teresa was a person of significance. There is a huge difference between those two women. Many leaders are deceived into becoming successful rather than significant.

Leadership Principles Dr. Barney Phillips Leadership is the privilege to have the responsibility to direct the actions of others in carrying out the purposes of the organization. Leaders must take responsibility and be accountable for both success and failure. No model or system of leadership behaviors can anticipate the circumstances, conditions and situations in which a leader must influence the actions of others. An evaluation of leadership principles is an effective base upon which to build other skills that may be important to success in various fields. I can find no better base of principles then the Bible. It is essential to every organization, church, company and nation, that we have in position leaders at every level who possesses the skills, abilities and attitudes that will enable them to successfully carry out the responsibilities they are faced with. There is no quick way to develop leaders. Leaders must learn throughout their lives—never ceasing as students, never being above gaining new insights or studying innovative procedures or methods—whatever the source. Our Leaders must learn early in their service certain basic qualities and have opportunities to mature in them. We must teach these qualities to our young men and women if they are to 13

develop into able and effective Leaders. In order to skillfully lead in our world today, we must have Leaders who possess, among others, the following essential qualities, which through experience become mastered skills: LOYALTY—above all things, a Leader must be loyal. Disagreement is not necessarily disloyalty. A Leader, who, in the best interest of the organization, disagrees, should be listened to. On the other hand, a Leader who actively participates in or encourages actions that are counter to the good of the organization is disloyal. This person must be expeditiously removed. Their ability to influence and discourage loyal people and other leaders is a contagious disease. In cases where disloyal actions and attitudes cannot be changed, harsh action must be taken to rid ourselves of those among us who see no value in and subvert our vision and purpose. DEPENDABILITY—If a Leader cannot be depended upon in all situations to carry out his roles and responsibilities, relieve him of them. COURAGE—Leaders who lead must have courage. They must be fearless and have the fortitude to carry out assignments given them—the gallantry to accept the risks of leadership. They must not balk at the sight of obstacles, nor must they become bewildered when in the presence of adversity. DESIRE—few people will sustain themselves as leaders without strong personal desire—an inherent Commitment to influencing people, processes and outcomes. Weak is the leader who does not want to be one. We must be careful to avoid placing people into positions of leadership that they have no desire to fulfill. EMPATHY—leaders must develop empathy—an appreciation for and an understanding of the values of others, a sensitivity for other cultures, beliefs and traditions. However, empathy must not be confused with sympathy, which may result in unwise consolation. DECISIVENESS— leaders must learn to be decisive, knowing when to act and when not to act, taking into account all facts bearing on the situation and then responsibly carrying out their leadership role. ANTICIPATION—learning by observation and through instincts sharpened by tested experience, leaders must anticipate thoughts, actions and consequences. Anticipation bears a level of risk to act, when others retreat and turn to the comfort of personal security.

TIMING—essential to all acts of leadership is the timing of recommendations and actions. There is no magic formula for developing a sense of timing. One often gains this leadership skill by applying the lessons learned through failure. Knowing whom you are dealing with, their motives, characters, priorities and ambitions are critical elements even when seeking approval of the simplest recommendation. ACCOUNTABILITY—learning to account for personal actions and those of subordinates is fundamental to leadership. Leaders must never heap praise or lay blame on others for what they themselves achieve or fail to accomplish, no matter how glorious or grave the consequences. RESPONSIBILITY—leaders are only necessary when someone is to be responsible to see that actions are carried out and directions followed. No leader should ever be allowed to continue to serve as a leader who will not accept full responsibility for his actions. CREDIBILITY— leaders must be credible. Their words and actions must be believable to both friends and foe. They must be trusted to have the intelligence and integrity to provide correct information. Leaders lacking in credibility will not gain proper influence and should be removed from positions of responsibility, for they cannot be trusted. TENACITY—the quality of unyielding drive to accomplish assignments is a desirable and essential quality of leadership. The weak persist only when things go their way. The strong persist and pursue through discouragement, deception and even personal abandonment. Tenacity is often the key to achieving difficult assignments or meeting challenging goals. STEWARDSHIP— leaders must have the essential quality of stewardship, a caretaker quality. They must serve in a manner that encourages confidence, trust and loyalty. People are not to be abused; they are to be guided, developed and rewarded for their performance. Disciplinary actions should to reserved as a consequence of last resort and applied only when all other attempts have failed to encourage compliance. Without a flock there can be no shepherd. Without an army there can be no battle captains. Without subordinates there can be no leaders. Leaders are, therefore, caretakers of the interests and well-being of those and the purposes they serve. SELF-CONFIDENCE—proper training and experience develops in leaders a personal feeling of assurance with which to meet the inherent challenges of leadership. Those who portray a lack of self-confidence in their abilities to carry out leadership assignments give signs to those they are leading, peers and superiors that these duties are beyond their capabilities.

COMPETITIVENESS—an essential quality of leadership is an intrinsic desire to win. It is not necessary to win all the time; however, it is necessary to win the important contests. Leaders must understand that the competition inside and outside our nation is strong and not to be taken lightly. A sense of competitive anger drives those who win on the battlefield, in negotiations and in situations of internal strife. A leader without a sense of competitiveness is weak and easily overcome by the slightest challenge.

"YOU'VE GOT TO WANT TO BE IN CHARGE" There is little more unsettling to an organization group church…than being under the leadership of a Leader who shows a lack of commitment in his or her responsibility as a leader. Too often, the leadership of many falls to leaders who lack the ambition, courage and capabilities to be in charge as leaders. Such disinterest and incompetence is manifested in various actions that discourage and bewilders subordinates, thus strengthening the discord, disunity and dysfunction. It is the responsibility of all to choose and follow only those leaders who demonstrate a desire to lead. Such leaders will be of no composite character. They will be as different from one another as one individual is different from another. They will not be laden with all perfection, nor will they possess a flawless character. Committed leaders, those with a zeal for leadership, a willingness to serve, will, however, be distinguishable by their wisdom, sincerity, benevolence, authority and courage. They will have a human quality and a strong commitment to their cause and to that of those they serve. •

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Above all other traits, one who desires to lead must possess a willingness to serve and to accept substantial personal recognition. It’s been said that a person who cannot receive compliments; rarely ever gives compliments. You must have resilience to overcome personal misfortunes, discouragement, rejection and disappointment. You must have the courage, creativity and stamina to focus on accomplishing your responsibilities through the directed, delegated efforts of those you lead. You must be committed to persevere even in the face of opposition and challenge You must not be threatened by capable contemporaries or those under your leadership. Rather, you must be wise in selecting capable captains to achieve those things a leader can attain only through strong subordinates.

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A leader must not let your desire to lead take the form of over eagerness. This would cause failure for many. You must be willing to temper your zeal to lead with preparation, experience and opportunity. Leaders must remember that success in most areas depend largely upon your sustained willingness to work hard. Sweat rules over inspiration! Leaders must be willing to make unrecognized and thankless personal sacrifice for those you serve and those you lead. Spending extraordinary energies and patience to develop others and tending to the needs of those they are leading at times when your own needs go unfulfilled. You must be willing to bypass a festival in your own camp if a situation in another camp requires your presence and attention.

• Leaders must be willing to remain humble and not take on an aura of false pride in your countenance. You must be willing to accept the simple fact that you have flaws and will need to work every day to become a better leader than you were yesterday.

Never accept an office of leadership for which you are not willing to pay the tribute necessary to successfully fulfill its obligations.

Leadership Questions & Answers 1. What are the most important values you demonstrate as a leader? The most important value that I have is my integrity. I demonstrate honesty and trust in all my actions to establish credibility as a leader. By having this conviction behind my words and actions, those who I lead are gain buy in to the direction I take them. 2. How have you gained commitment from your team? I gain commitment from my teams by influencing and persuading them to set specific objectives and also buy into the process. Once they have established cooperation and cohesion, they are on board to attain the goal.

3. How can a leader fail? Tell me about a time when you failed as a leader. A leader can fail when they can’t get their team on board with the goals of the organization. Factors outside of a leader’s control may also lead to failure such as available resources, time constraints, and the economy. 17

In the example you give, make sure that you talk about how dealt with a difficult challenge and how you analyzed the setback. Make sure you explain how to seek honest feedback to ensure that you learned from the failure.

4. What is the difference between a Team leader and a Team manager? A manger is able to handle tasks and responsibilities and ensure that others get their work done. A leader will inspire and motivate their team to achieve their goals. 5. What is your greatest strength? Being able to lead and inspire a team to perform their best and strive to achieve goals. I do this through relationship building, being passionate about the goals, and influencing those around me. 6. What would be your greatest weakness? When I delegate duties to others that I know I can do better myself. However if I don’t delegate, then I could end up with more work than I can handle myself. I’ve taken courses in time management and learned how to effectively delegate tasks to overcome this weakness.

7. How do you get others to accept your ideas? I talk about the benefits of the idea and how to apply it. I would stay open to other thoughts and change my ideas in a way that we can all agree. When you gain buy in from others, you are much more successful in attaining the goals than when you make it mandatory to follow procedure.

8. How would you go about praising a team member in public? I would use a time when we would be gathered in a group, such as a meeting to bring up the praise to the team member. I would recognize their success in front of the group so others could also learn best practices.

9. Are you more effective in a group or one on one basis? I feel that I am more effective in a group because everyone has some special quality that they bring to a group. We can develop our interpersonal skills by helping those in the group who need it as well as learning from those who are successful.

10. How often do you feel it’s necessary to meet with your team? I feel that I should meet with my team at least once a week on a set time and day of the week. Communication among teams is critical and this will give the team an opportunity to get together on a regular basis and talk about their challenges and best practices. Also, when our team reaches a milestone, new project begins, an award or promotion is given, or when there is a challenging situation, I would want to bring the team together. Everyone will get the same message that way and we can celebrate successes or come together in challenging times. 11. Describe a time you took a leadership position when you did not have the title of a leader. In this question, take an example from a situation where you were in a group and took responsibility to delegate to achieve goals. Show how you gained buy in from the other members to follow your lead and the result of your leadership. For instance, in college we were put into groups of four to complete a marketing project. We had to prepare a 15 page paper and 10 minute presentation on a new product that we would introduce to country outside the U.S. I took initiative among the group to lead a discussion on how we should split up the work, when we will meet throughout the semester, and deadlines for each person’s part of the work. Because I was the one to take lead the discussion and had a plan in mind, I gained the buy in of the other members quickly. I took everyone’s e-mail address and created a group email to help us all keep track of our progress and so we could help each other outside of class and our meetings. By the end of the semester, my group achieved a 95% on our project.

12. How would you go about getting cohesion among a team who disagree? I would find common ground between the members who disagree. I would talk about the importance of the overall goal and the implications if we can’t come together to achieve it. We would then work together to come to an agreement that is a win/win for both sides.

13. What sort of leader would your team say that you are? The type that will support them in their goals and success. They would describe me as someone who will clear the way when there are obstacles and always has their back.

14. How do you motivate your team? I find out what motivates them individually so I can speak to how a goal or change is going to benefit them. I ensure that I have the right amount of positive and constructive feedback to help them perform effectively. My actions always match my words so when I speak to my team with conviction, they are on-board with performing their best.

15. How do you set an example to those on your team? I perform my best at everything and ensure that my actions match my words. My team sees that my expectations that are set for them are the same expectations I put on myself.

16. Have you ever been in a mentor to another aspiring leader? How did you go about establishing that relationship? 20

Yes, I treated it much like the relationship that I have with my team. I built a strong working relationship with the person, listened to their goals, gave advice, and my personal experience. I shared my best practices and constantly monitored their progress to celebrate their success and move them in the right direction.

17. What is the most difficult part of being a leader? In some ways, although you are part of group, you are alone. It’s a leader’s responsibility to see the end goal and vision of an organization to lead others towards it. When others do not see it the same way, you have to be the lone voice to bring them back on track.

18. How do you lead through change? As a leader, you have to be the first one to embrace change because if you don’t those around you will quickly see that. After that, I ensure that I can communicate the change with conviction that it’s the right path to adopt .I prepare by ensuring that I can answer any questions that may be asked ,or have the resources to find the answers. I listen to others concerns about the change and help them through the transition.

19. How do you measure success for you as a leader? By the goals that the team achieves. When someone on the team is successful, then it reflects on my leadership.

20. What motivates you to be a leader? I am motivated by my team’s growth and achievement of their professional and personal goals.

21. What is a leader’s best asset? Their ability to motivate and inspire a team of professionals who can work together to achieve the goals of the organization.

22. What do you do when you are unsure about how to achieve the goals of the team? You have to be open to feedback and be willing to ask for help when you are not clear on how to achieve a goal. I would ask my leader first for their feedback on how they believe I should go about achieving the goals. In addition, I would use all the resources available to me to find the best course of action.

23. Are you more comfortable with verbal or written communication? I am comfortable with both, however I feel that verbal communication is more effective. When you speak to someone directly, you will be able to see their body language toward the communication. You are also able to address questions/concerns faster than in written communication.

24. How would you deliver bad news to your team? I would bring them together and state the news. I would explain as much as possible as to why it occurred and what steps we will need to take in the future. I would also open it up to the team to speak about their concerns, answer questions, and share their viewpoints as to how we can avoid a similar situation.

25. Is competition among a team healthy? Why or why not? I believe competition among a team is good as long as it is in good spirit. A team has to have a high level of cohesion among its members to prevent misunderstandings. As a leader, it’s my responsibility to ensure that when there is competition that it is being monitored to ensure its positivity. 22

26. What are the most difficult decisions to make? Its difficult to make the decision to let an employee go. However, if they are not performing the way that they should be, it is the right decision. It is never easy to make a decision that will impact a person’s life.

27. What do you get the most criticism about you on? I have not received criticism on the same area over and over. I’m always open to personal and professional growth and welcome any opportunity to improve. When I receive criticism, I work on improving that aspect and furthering my growth. 28. How would you proceed to reorganize your team? I would look at the overall goals of the organization and match my team’s strengths up with the reorganization.

29. Have you ever been a member of a successful team? What was your role in the success of the team? Use an example of when you were part of a team and demonstrate the leadership skills that you used to pertain to your role.

30. How do you build support for ideas/goals with people who do not report to you and you have no authority over? In situations where I must build support for my ideas with cross-functional teams, I ensure that I communicate my idea clearly and effectively. I listen to their feedback to the idea and I will make amends if they are necessary to build support or improve on the idea. I foster an environment where input is sought and validate my idea by explaining why it’s the best route.

31. How do you go about resolving conflict? I take a mediated approach to conflict. I believe it’s important to listen to both sides and understand where each is coming from. There is usually some common ground among conflict and I start there and build.

32. Name a time when an employee disagreed with your directive and how you handled it? I heard them out to understand why they disagree. I may have to go back and re-explain the directive and reasons for it. I would listen to their feedback and if it is the right thing to do, take it to change the directive. However, if that is not the case I would stick to the facts as to why their commitment is necessary. 33. Who are the most important members of your team? Everyone is equally important. Each person contributes something different to the team and that makes us as a whole stronger.

34. How do you delegate responsibilities to your team? I match up responsibilities with each member’s strengths. If I have a team member who is working on improving an aspect, I will give them the opportunity to take on the task and ensure they have the tools necessary to be successful. I would monitor their progress as well.

35. Name a time when you had to change a decision due to new facts. Pick a situation where you showed that you were open to change and show how you were effectively at changing your decision based on the new facts. For example, I had created new spreadsheet for managers to use at the end of the night to keep track of sales for the day. This spreadsheet was due in an e-mail every morning and helped us see how we were doing on a 24

daily basis. A few months later, our point of sales system allowed us to input this information in a program that would allow managers to input sales for the day. With this new technology, I decided to do away with the spreadsheet and had the managers use the program to capture the information and send it to me.

36. How do you achieve objectives in a fast-paced environment? I ensure that the team knows the objectives and the timeliness that have been set. I place milestones so each member can check in on their progress.

37. Explain a time when you had to make a decision without all the relevant facts. Pick a decision that you would not have all the facts for at the time of the decision. Make sure that you speak about all the different options you had and how you picked the best one out of what you had available. Talk about the results/takeaways. For instance, I had to decide whether our organization was going to be involved in a new marketing campaign that used social media to advertise our products. At this point in time, our company did not have relevant information on how successful our previous social media marketing campaigns were. If we were to proceed, I was going to have dedicate at least one member on my team to its success. It would be time-consuming and if not successful, would take up a lot of productivity time. I decided to take part in the campaign because it was relatively inexpensive and the potential to gather information about best practices when launching them in the future. We ended up with a very successful marketing campaign with measurable results. 38. How do you formulate and present arguments to others?

I look at all sides of an argument first so I know what may come up when I present my position. I base my arguments strictly on facts that are objective.

39. How did you a handle a time when you had to make an unpopular decision? Talk about a decision that you made that was necessary, but not popular with your team. Explain how you communicated the decision, listened to their concern, and stood your ground on the decision.

40. What do you do to remain engaged in a conversation? I actively listen by para-phrasing what others say to me. That ensures that I am on the same page as the other person and keeps me attentive to the conversation. 41. How do you organize projects and tasks? I organize them by what is the most important and time sensitive to complete.

42. Explain a time when you were not able to meet a deadline? Use an example were you were not able to meet a deadline due to outside factors. For instance , there was a big project that my team was working on and I had split up the work among some members and myself. During that time, one member of the team had to leave due to their spouse getting a position in another city. He left at a critical time and I had to re-assign his duties to someone else. I had to get this new person up to speed with the progression of the project and due to this, was not able to complete it on time. We were still able to complete the project a few days after the deadline even with the change in team member.

43. How have you rallied your team in the past in difficult projects/tasks? I communicate my confidence in their ability to complete the project. I ensure that I remove as many obstacles as possible and they have all the tools/answers they need to complete the task. I ensure there’s clear expectations and open communication.

44. How do you encourage the development of your employees? I develop my employees by being a mentor, giving effective performance feedback on a regular basis, and coaching. I take a personal interest in the development of my employees and when they see that I am committed to their growth, they are more motivated.

45. What is the most significant change that you brought to an organization? Provide an example that shows how you demonstrated your vision to make a positive change in the organization. Also, talk about the results of the change. For instance, at my previous organization, the management team came up the ranks and never had formal management training. They did not know how to lead their former peers and were uncomfortable having productivity discussions with their teams. I felt there was a need to train these managers on the skills they would need to be successful. So I made my case to the leadership team on why it is important and provided examples I was seeing. Due to this, all managers go through a rigorous management training program that prepares them for their new role. 46. Have you were developed an innovative solution to a nontraditional problem?

In your example, show how you promote change and innovation. Solutions to unique problems occur when there is a constant information flow in all directions to ensure responsiveness to change. For instance, I was responsible for a sales team in my previous position. A separate production staff handled the orders that my sales team would prepare. This production team had difficulty making the deadlines that my sales team promised their clients. In addition, the product was sometimes not customized to the level the client was looking for. So I decided to change the process that our sales reps put in sales order by having the sales rep communicate with the production team who was responsible for each client’s product. This helped my sales rep create achievable timeliness and a product that was the way the client expects.

47. What is the role that leadership plays to a manager? A leader’s role is to communicate with clarity to the strategic vision to the management team. This vision must be able to be in the form of a clear direction and plans. There should be clear priories, objectives timeliness, accountability, and performance measures. 48. What leadership style do you use? This answer should be based on the type of organization you are joining. You should show that you are able to change your style in different circumstances.

49. How would you go about developing your team? I encourage training courses, soft skills workshops, on the job mentoring, and coaching.

50. Have you ever taken on a job that you were unqualified for?

In your example, show how you are not afraid of taking risks to achieve goals at work. Demonstrate your focus on the job at hand and how it inspired others. For instance, I took on management responsibilities in my previous position to take the place of my manager who had left. I did not have any management experience but I knew that the team was not going to be able to be effective without a leader in place. I may have made a few mistakes, but ultimately was successful in taking on that additional responsibility. The upper level management were impressed by my growth and efforts so they ended up promoting me into that position.

3 Signs You Are Not a Kingdom Leader By David Fitch The potent dangers of ambition, anger, and ego exist for everyone in ministry. 3 signs you're NOT a leader in the Kingdom: ▪ ▪ ▪

you take things TOO personally, you hold onto grudges, And you want leadership TOO much.

I've seen it time and again in my own leadership. Any time I am doing one of these three things I am undercutting the Spirit's work in the midst of a group, I am making it about me, and I am subverting the Kingdom. As a result, I have come to the conclusion that I must consistently test myself and allow others to test me in these 3 areas. Because when I start to indulge in these behaviors (which is inevitable) and let them linger, I not only will be messing myself up royally, I'll be undercutting the reign of Christ – the work 29

of God in our midst – in and through my miss-motivated leadership. So here are some comments on each of these three. 1) TAKING THINGS TOO PERSONALLY A sign that leadership has gone bad is when someone's criticism or even comments threaten your sense of security. Of course this is easier said than done. I think of the many times we must navigate criticism and self examine ourselves before the Spirit. We should never callously ignore criticism. Neither should we take all criticism as being true about me. We would be in perpetual self-examine mode. But leadership in the Kingdom is never "about me." We can't lead from a place where this is "about me." Taking things personally gives off the unmistakable, easily detected vibration that what I am doing is about me and if you don't follow me it will hurt me personally. You can't lead from this place in the Kingdom. Instead, we should be open to criticism and examining it. If it comes from one source, check in with somebody. If we received it from three sources, we begin to trust that this issue has some merits. We intentionally submit this issue for examination to those "with" us, and in so doing we submit it to Christ. We are ready to repent, confess, seek to be faithful, seek to submit, seek to obey, seek to affirm. Each time we grow. WE SHOULD NEVER BE AFRAID OF BEING CALLED ON SOMETHING. WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE READY TO REPENT. If we cannot enter into this process of the community (as is so evident in Eph 4) we cannot grow ourselves, which means we cannot grow with the community, which means we are holding the community back. If we shut ourselves off from criticism, or we narrow the people we are listening to down to our "fans" – the people already on our side – this is a recipe for eventual breakdown. The Spirit works within a community to reveal the truth. If you cannot participate in that process, you isolate yourself from reality. You shut down people from telling you what they really think. You have no gauge. The dynamic of the Spirit in the community is gone. Leaders therefore must always be able to receive any and all criticism that comes their way in vulnerability and humility. If you can't, I consider this a disqualifier for leadership. Eph4:15 Instead speaking truth in love, we will grow up into Him who is the head, that is Christ. Eph 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Therefore: a good question to submit yourself regularly to as a leader in the Kingdom is: Am I taking this too personally? Why? What am I afraid of? What does it look like to submit to others in these cases? 2) HOLDING GRUDGES Holding grudges is another sign that leadership has gone awry. Someone has hurt you? Someone has disagreed with you? And now, weeks later (maybe months?) you are still resenting them? You're inhabiting a mentality that says, "They were not with me, therefore they are against me." Whenever I catch myself in this mentality I need to go to my knees and repent. It is a key indicator that I have assumed that I am in charge of the church (and its future) not Jesus, the Lord of the church. I'm undercutting the Kingdom. Forgiveness, forbearance for all people who disagree with me is a sign I am living in the Kingdom, that I am submitted to Jesus as Lord. So, the first sniff of a grudge is grounds for me being disqualified from leadership in the Kingdom. It happens all the time. I must be called on this and repent. Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Therefore, a good question to submit yourself to regularly (with someone else) is: Am I holding a grudge, resenting someone for something? Why am I holding on to this? What does it look like to forgive, forbear, and submit to Jesus reign in regard to this person? 3) WANTING IT TOO MUCH Am I striving for recognition? Does my sense of identity depend upon being recognized as a leader? This suggests, if I let this mode of operating continue, that I am leading out of warped space, trying to prove something. This will infect everything I do. People will sense that I am leading not out of Kingdom interests, but out of my own. Leadership is a call to service, obedience to God, not one's own ego gratification or even identity. I refuse to lead out of my own sense of identity. I agree that, as God uses us, we will come to know who we are within the realm of God's purposes. But the minute I start striving for some recognition in the body of Christ instead of submitting to the recognition, I am working against the dynamic of the Kingdom. I suggest that a leader in the Kingdom must always be ready and willing to give up leadership, surrender, and only serve at the behest of the body at large. A.W. Tozer said the most dangerous leader in the room is the one who wants leadership. Phil 2:3-5 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Therefore, a good question to submit yourself to is: Am I willing to give up my leadership in this role or has it become too important to my own sense of identity? Am I willing to submit to my co-laborers and ask if it is time for me to resign? Is God still calling me to act in this role in this place? If I cannot do this, and trust God for the future, I suggest I am seriously close to disqualification for leadership in the Kingdom. I am seriously close to operating not out of a place of submission to the King, but out of my own needs for this "job." In Conclusion, these three signs all testify to the singular most important dynamic to unleashing the Spirit in and around our communities: the dynamic of Jesus' rule as Lord and King over the space of His people. We who lead among His people therefore must lead in submission to His rule, always discerning with a group of people in His rule, where he is taking us, what He is doing. To lead out of personal ego and/or control undermines this dynamic. And it turns our ministry into just another social organization based in human organizational processes.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Victory begins with the name of Jesus Christ upon our lips but it is not consummated until the nature of Jesus Christ is in our hearts. – Francis Fragipane5

God came as a physical manifestation to accomplish one major goal: usher in His Everlasting Kingdom; the Kingdom of Heaven (also called the Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Kingdom of our Lord). The terms are interchangeable as they all have the same meaning. It is evident that God first envisioned His Kingdom in Creation. The Kingdom of God is referenced often in the gospels (e.g., Mark 1:15; 10:15; 15:43; Luke 17:20) and other places in the New Testament (e.g., Acts 28:31; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 15:50). The Kingdom of God is synonymous with the Kingdom of Heaven. The concept of the 5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Frangipane

Kingdom of God takes on various shades of meaning in different passages of Scripture.6 Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” The biblical story can be told as a reflection on two Greek words: kyriotes and autonomia. The first kyriotes means ‘lordship’ and refers to God’s right to rule; the second autonomia means ‘living by one’s own laws’ and describes man’s effort to live independently of God. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of the Bible is one of God’s assertions of his Lordship – his ‘right to rule’ – over the entire universe but more specifically over human beings, and of humans’ counter-assertion of their right to live apart from God’s rule. Genesis 3:1-7 describes humankind’s decisive rejection of God’s right to rule and thus the initial expression of human autonomy, while the rest of the Bible describes the disastrous consequences of that action and God’s program of redemption to bring humans back under his acknowledged rule, forgiven and willingly submitting to him.7 Broadly speaking, the Kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over the entire universe. Many passages of Scripture show that God is the undeniable Monarch of all creation: “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). And, as King Nebuchadnezzar declared, “His kingdom is an eternal kingdom” (Daniel 4:3). Every authority that exists has been established by God (Romans 13:1). So, in one sense, the Kingdom of God incorporates everything that is.8 All things belong to Him, yet, some are not obedient to the will of their Sovereign. More narrowly, the Kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. These are the true citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

http://www.icr.org/books/defenders/5485 Terry Chrisope expresses this in Confessing Jesus As Lord (Mentor, 2012) 8 https://www.gotquestions.org/kingdom-of-God.html 7

Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the Kingdom of God as they willingly remove themselves from His Kingdom by refusing to obey His commandments. In contrast, those who acknowledge the Lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts become citizens of the Kingdom of God. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” Philippians 3:20 In this sense, the Kingdom of God is spiritual—Jesus said His Kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). That the Kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere of salvation is evident in John 3:5–7, where Jesus says the kingdom of God must be entered into by being born again. See also 1 Corinthians 6:99. The creation of mankind was culmination of the plan of God. The Creation was the physical manifestation of the Kingdom of God; a special place for mankind. God made Covenant with Adam and Eve as the first caretakers of earth. He gave them dominion over His creation. Unfortunately, our first parents fractured the principles of the Kingdom of God (Heaven) by disobeying His commandments. This disobedience and subsequent lack of repentance lead eventually to the destruction of nearly all mankind in the Deluge (Great Flood)10. KINGDOM COVENANT By definition a covenant is: an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified.11 The whole of Scripture is focused on the Covenant relationship between God and Mankind. Some see the various times that God Covenants with man as different covenants. However, it is apparent that God is committed to making covenant with men. In general, God’s covenant with mankind is the Constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who keep the covenant obtain citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who do not keep the Covenant not only do not become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven but they are candidates for an eternity where they will be judged. After the destruction of nearly all human inhabitants (except the 8 people on the ark), God reiterates His Covenant with those who represented man in the persons of Noah12 9

https://www.gotquestions.org/kingdom-of-God.html http://www.conservapedia.com/Great_Flood 11 http://www.dictionary.com/browse/covenant 12 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah 10

and his family. To these 8 people who are the common ancestors of all the human race God gives specific instruction as to how they are to function in His Kingdom in the form of His covenant with man. This covenant is in force not only to these 8 ancestors but also to all their posterity. In time, God invests the continued promise of His Kingdom like an irrevocable inter vivos13 trust into the person of the faithful forefather Abraham, descendant of Noah. Abraham’s faithful service continues, or some might say, re-established God’s Kingdom, plan and purpose with the added caveat of revealing God’s plan for redeeming mankind from the sin of the forefathers. The patriarchal system began in Abraham is continued and expanded upon through Moses as God thunders His vision and provision to more than 2 million people in a live audience at Mount Sinai in the Arabian desert. This prompts the establishment of a structure that brings the followers of God from a man, to a family, to a tribe and then to a nation. The manifestation of God’s vision is in nations. These prerequisites lead mankind to the natural establishment of God’s Kingdom, but Gods desire was always for greater relationship with His Creation. To accomplish this revelation, God enacts the plan of the ages to provide salvation to mankind by robbing himself in flesh. 1 Timothy 3:16 New King James Version (NKJV) 16 And

without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

God’s plan for the Kingdom of Heaven being restored through Jesus Christ is preannounced through a plethora of Prophets culminating in John the Baptist as the earthly spokesperson for the Kingdom of Heaven. The Prophet proclaimed, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). John understood that all of Mankind and certainly all Jewish people considered themselves part of the Kingdom of Heaven but John delivered a straight forward message that sought for the people to understand

Inter Vivos [Latin, Between the living.] A phrase used to describe a gift that is made during the donor's lifetime.In order for an inter vivos gift to be complete, there must be a clear manifestation of the giver's int ent to release to thedonee the object of the gift, and actual delivery and acceptance by the donee.An inter vivos gift is distinguishable from a giftcausa mortis, which is made in expectation of impending death.

that there are prerequisites for true citizens of the Kingdom. The first of these is repentance. Repent: to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one'slife for the b etter; be penitent.14 Like all Kingdoms, there is a path to citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. Some pretend that there is not such but Jesus addressed this ideology very directly: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber (John 10:1). Repentance is the entry point for those who desire citizenship into the Kingdom of Heaven. Repentance should be understood as a way of life rather than a single act. Those who seek citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven have to be willing to conduct themselves in a way that pleases God. This is an ongoing process. God is focused on being pleased with our ways. Much of Scripture deals with the reward to those that please God: When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7 KJV) Too often in the Western World’s interpretation the idea of repentance from one’s sins is ignored, glossed over or downplayed. Unfortunately, this is a concept developed by people who want to please men rather than please God and is not the pattern of the Kingdom of Heaven. God cares about the way we conduct our lives. What is the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven?

While some believe that the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are referring to different things, it is clear that both phrases are referring to the same thing. Even references to the Kingdom of the Lord are pointed to the same. There are not three Kings or three Kingdoms. There is only one King and one Kingdom as related to the Kingdom of God. The phrase “kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books, while “kingdom of heaven” occurs only 32 times, and only in the Gospel of Matthew.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/repent?s=t

Based on Matthew’s exclusive use of the phrase and the Jewish nature of his Gospel, some interpreters have concluded that Matthew was writing concerning the millennial kingdom while the other New Testament authors were referring to the universal kingdom. However, a closer study of the use of the phrase reveals that this interpretation is in error.15 For example, speaking to the rich young ruler, Christ uses “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” interchangeably. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 19:23). In the very next verse, Christ proclaims, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 24). Jesus makes no distinction between the two terms but seems to consider them synonymous.16 Mark and Luke used “kingdom of God” where Matthew used “kingdom of heaven” frequently in parallel accounts of the same parable Compare Matthew 11:1112 with Luke 7:28; Matthew 13:11with Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10; Matthew 13:24 with Mark 4:26; Matthew 13:31 with Mark 4:30 and Luke 13:18; Matthew 13:33 with Luke 13:20; Matthew 18:3 with Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16; and Matthew 22:2 with Luke 13:29. In each instance, Matthew used the phrase “kingdom of heaven” while Mark and/or Luke used “kingdom of God.” Clearly, the two phrases refer to the same thing.17 We use the terms Kingdom of Heaven, Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Jesus Christ, etc. interchangeably as they are one and the same. The Purpose of the Kingdom

The purpose for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Kingdom of Heaven) is to save the whole of humanity until the name of Jesus Christ is on the lips and his nature in the heart of every man, woman and child. To accomplish this Divine mission, Jesus Christ entrusts His work to His band of faithful followers, his disciples. These faithful citizens of His Kingdom empowered with special dispensation from the Holy Spirit begin what we generally call The New Testament Church. The New Testament Church was a physical manifestation of the Kingdom of God to bring the nations to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Armed with this empowerment the Apostles embark on the greatest journey in history as they stand faithful as the earthly representatives of Jesus Christ. They faithfully followed Christ’s instruction as eye witnesses of the manifestation of God in Christ. Contrary to expectation, the New

https://www.gotquestions.org/kingdom-heaven-God.html Ibid. 17 https://www.gotquestions.org/kingdom-heaven-God.html 16

Testament Church was not a building. In fact, there was not a building that was referred to as a church from the vantage point of Christ followers until about 240 AD.

EKKLESIA

In the New Testament they started with a simple plan to bring the Kingdom of God to men. Scripture records that they went from house to house every day breaking bread The New Testament speaks of a large church in Jerusalem meeting together in a public space (e.g., the outer court of the temple in Acts 2:46) and in smaller groups in houses (e.g., the house of Mary, mother of Mark, in Acts 12:12). This practice must have been carried on in many cities of the Roman Empire.18 Today, we face the same mission as these early Christ followers. Through the continued power of the Holy Spirit we are to accomplish the mission of Jesus Christ to bring whosoever will to Him. In the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible - OT), which was already in existence during the time of Jesus, the word ekklēsía is used over seventy times (one scholar quotes about one hundred times), almost always as a translation of the Hebrew word qāhāl [i] (meaning assembly or congregation). It is quite possible that this was the word that Jesus actually used, but regardless of that possibility, it seems quite apparent that the word ekklēsía had already been applied, by the person(s) who had translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, to the corporate community or assembly of God’s people (Israel), regardless of whether they were formally gathered together or not (Ex. 12:6; 16:3; Lev. 4:13; 8:4; Num. 14:5; Deut. 31:30). The actual Greek word, ekklēsía, as far as we know, was never used in a spiritual or religious context prior to its insertion, or rather, translation, into the Septuagint. It began as a purely secular or political term used to define a group of citizens called out as a legislative assembly to collaborate, strategize and adjudicate in the public affairs of a free state. This is why the term was used in reference to Christ followers of the New Testament as they were the ekklesia of the free state of the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words they were the representative body of the Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. Obviously, the early crafters of the Septuagint (approximately three hundred years before the birth of Christ), as well as the person(s) who translated Matthew’s record – specifically where Jesus makes reference to what He is building – understood the profound similarity or synonymity19, at least in principle or function, between the secular 18

Why and when did Christians start constructing special buildings for worship? Everett Ferguson. Christianity Today. November 2008. Christian History. Ask the Expert. 19 http://www.dictionary.com/browse/synonymity

ekklēsía and the community of God’s people. Understanding this parallel is what gives us great insight into the concept Jesus was seeking to convey. There is no indication here of a group of self autonomous people who erect a building, call themselves a church and answer only to themselves or some self appointed ecclesiastical body. Rather this was one group of people united in their being Christ followers. The word ekklēsía is a compound word made up of the Greek words ek (out of) and kaléō (to call). It can literally be translated as “the called out” or “to call out”. This is the most basic and foundational definition of the word as it is applied to a congress, congregation or assembly, both in the singular (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23) and the plural (2 Cor. 11:28; Rev. 1:11). Unfortunately, of the 115 occurrences of this word ekklēsía in the New Testament, the vast majority of the time it was translated as “church” or “churches” by the translators of our King James Version (KJV) and other subsequent translations. I say “unfortunate” because the word “church” is clearly not an accurate translation of the word ekklēsía, since the overwhelming evidence points to it having derived from another Greek word or phrase, possibly kyriakon or kuriakê oikia meaning “the Lord’s house” or “house of the Lord” which refers more to an actual building than a body of people. It is evident that Christ was not referencing a building. His focus was clearly on putting His spirit into people; not into buildings. Christ came to redirect His Kingdom not to establish a network of edifices around the world. There are numerous articles and dissertations published on the internet explaining why the word “church” was used instead of a more accurate term like “assembly” or “congregation”. It is said that the translators of the King James Version were bound to certain rules or conditions imposed upon them by King James. One of these conditions was that old ecclesiastical words that had become popular during the Middle Ages and were traditional terms in established religious institutions be maintained (e.g. church, bishop, deacon, etc.). Be that as it may, the word “church” in our present day carries so much religious baggage, misunderstanding and incorrect application from centuries of misuse that we would do well to completely jettison the term in favor of more accurate and intelligent vocabulary. Listening to the terminology that some people use when talking about the Lord's church reveals that either these people do not understand what the church is or that they are not very careful about the language they use. The church is very important in the lives of God's people and we need to understand what the Bible teaches about this matter. There are some things that need to be clarified regarding the church of Christ. "Our" Church. Often people say "my church" or "our church." I think I know what these people mean, but I also know what they said. We need to understand clearly that the church belongs to Christ, not to those who make it up. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, "I 40

will build my church . . . ." Paul tells us that Jesus purchased the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25). In Romans 16:16 we read of "the churches of Christ." We belong to the Lord's church, but the church does not belong to us!

TERMINOLOGY

We need to comprehend that there is a plethora of concepts that people use to describe the church that are not in keeping with the original concept. “The Church as a building” The church is not the building. "Church" is from the Greek word ekklesia which means the called out one, in this case those called out of sin to live in righteousness. The church then is made up of people we have generally referred to as Christians. The church is a spiritual body. It is degrading to ourselves and demonstrates our lack of carefulness when we say the meeting house is the church. "Going to church" Again, this is another misuse of the word church that is used frequently. On Sundays, Wednesdays, and other special times we come to worship or to Bible study, but we do not "come to church." The church is not a worship service or a Bible study, the church is Christians who have obeyed Christ. We come to the building to be with the church but we do not "come to church." A Denominational Designation as the Church "I am church of Christ." This statement portrays that the New Testament church is a denominational body. This may be not only the worst use but the most divisive. Many ugly battles have been waged between those who claim Christ based on denominational differences. When someone asks us what we are religiously, it is incorrect to say, "I am church of Christ." The correct response would be that we are followers of Jesus Christ (the proper use of the term “Christians” or members of the church of Christ. The church of Christ revealed in the New Testament is not a denominational body. The New Testament speaks of only one church. This is the church that Jesus established and that wears His name and respects His authority. There is no other. The Bible says nothing about denominations of churches. Hence, when we speak of our membership in 41

the church we need to make it clear that we are Christ followers, members of the body of Christ, not that we are "church of Christ", or “Baptist”, “Pentecostal” or any other division made by men. Church headquarters Some people ask where is our "church headquarters?" Nowhere in the Bible do we find the church organized with a central rule-making body other than the Apostles and Elders in answer to the Holy Spirit. This group of Spirit led leaders (Apostles and Elders) was the ‘headquarters of the New Testament followers of Jesus Christ. The church has only one head - Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:22, 23). Men have created a plethora of denominations. There are more than 9000 denominations, just among Protestants. All of these claiming they (often they alone) represent Jesus Christ.20 Each of these denominations generally has a headquarters of some kind. Unfortunately, all of this is the work of men and not the work of the Holy Spirit. Followers of Jesus Christ, wherever they might be, make up the body of Christ with Christ as the head over the body. Then according to the New Testament, the church is organized on the local level, i.e. Christians meeting together in a particular locality, thus "the church of Corinth" (1 Cor. 1:2). Each local congregation is to have its own elders (Acts 14:23) and deacons (Phil. 1:1). Each local congregation is independent of any other local church in work and worship, and independent of any governing body or centralized control with an active five-fold ministry to give direction to the body. This is the New Testament pattern for church organization. We must let the church be what God designed it to be - nothing more or less. It is sad that the word "church" has been misused. This misuse has caused many people to misunderstand that the true church is the people of the Kingdom of Heaven. We need to be careful when talking about the church of our Lord. The church is a precious institution and our language should reflect that we understand how important the church is.21 What is the Church? "Congregation is the appropriate translation of the Greek word Ekklesia, which means a group of people who have gathered for some particular purpose." Although often 20

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/scottericalt/we-need-to-stop-saying-that-there-are-33000-protestantdenominations 21 Guardian of Truth. “Church” Clarification. David Holder. XXVII: 3, p. 84. February 3, 1983

translated church, no Greek word meaning church is used in the Greek New Testament. Another Greek word sometimes translated church is in Job 2:2 ... Sunagoga, now written Synagogue in English. Sunagoga means an assembly or gathering of people so it is also not appropriate to refer to it as a building if that is the meaning behind the translated word Church. Some have mistakenly decided that we don’t need the church. This misplaced idea comes from the many and varied abuses that local churches and denominations of churches have heaped on the unsuspecting congregants and others. The church in its proper place is the embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven. What many generally refer to as church operates like a country club with strange religious customs. The church as a religious social club is not what either Christ or His followers in the New Testament Church envisioned. The vision of Jesus Christ could only be manifest in His Kingdom. The Kingdom concept was born in the heart of man, placed there by his Creator as the purpose for which he was created. Jesus, John the Baptist, and the apostles went about proclaiming the kingdom–not the church (read Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 10:7; Acts 28:30-31). Although the church is in the Kingdom of Heaven, it is not the entire kingdom. “Kingdom” denotes the rule of God over the whole cosmos, not just a single entity on the earth. In spite of this, most preaching today has as its goal to get people to make a weekly two-hour commitment to come to a building on Sundays and to give tithes to support that building! This is because a spirit of religion has captivated the church and blinded the minds of church leaders, so that we now have a very limiting church mindset instead of a Kingdom perspective. The negative results of this cannot be overstated. In essence, a Kingdom mindset regards Christianity as a biblical world and life view centered on Jesus Christ who is Lord of all creation. This has vast political, economic, and sociological implications! Those with a church mindset view Jesus merely as the King of the church, not the King of all earthly secular kings,22 and Lord of all creation. KINGDOMS

There are certain characteristics common to all kingdoms including the Kingdom of God Without doubt, Satan copied the pattern of God in co-opting men to rebel against God and create their own kingdoms and kingships.

Contrasting a Kingdom Mindset with a Church Mindset. Joseph Mattera. November 11, 2010

Here are some of the characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven. You will notice that there are similar in earthly kingdoms. All kingdoms have: a. A King and Lord b. Territory (domain) c. A Constitution (the royal covenant) d. Citizens (a community of subjects). e. The Law (acceptable principles). f. Privileges (rights and benefits). g. A Code of Ethics (acceptable lifestyles and conduct). h. An Army (security). i. A Commonwealth (economic security). j. A Social Culture (protocol and procedures). a. The King is the embodiment of the kingdom, representing its glory and nature. Authority flows from the king and the word of the king is supreme. By definition the king is the male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth.23 Historical kings had complete domain and made all government decisions. Kings were solely responsible for the well-being of their kingdoms. Although they had a court with whom they consort on occasion, the king held the ultimate power and little could be done or said to question his authority.24 The idea that Jesus is the King is based on His rightful role as inheritor of all things in heaven and earth. As King of Kings, all kings (earthly) are subject to His pre-eminence!25 Every kingdom must have a king, but it is also true that every king is automatically a "lord". It is this quality of lordship that distinguishes a king from a president, a prime minister, a mayor or a governor. In fact, a king's lordship makes him different from any other kind of human leader. Lordship makes the king unique. The most common word in scripture is the word "lord". Keep in mind that this word does not exist in a democracy, socialist society or a republic except for the word landlord, in reference to the one who owns and rents land to others. Landlord is the only common remnant of kingdoms in modern government and Western societies; but this concept of lord is one of the fundamental principles of a kingdom. 23https://www.google.com/search?q=deluge&oq=deluge&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.1985j0j7&sourceid=chro

me&ie=UTF-8#q=what+is+a+king?& 24 https://www.reference.com/government-politics/role-king-a528344259c99016 25https://www.google.com/search?q=deluge&oq=deluge&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.1985j0j7&sourceid=chro me&ie=UTF-8#q=define+preeminence&*

A king's sovereignty is absolute. He isn't voted into or out of office or power. His sovereignty is by birthright--or should I say a right of birth. The same is true of a king's lordship. All kings are automatically lords. Keep this in mind--a king relates to dominion, while a lord relates to domain. The word dominion refers to the king's authority--his power. The word domain refers to the territory, the property, the geographical area over which his authority extends. A king exercises his authority over a specific geographical area. Keep in mind what I mentioned... A dominion refers to a king's authority and a domain refers to his geographical territory.26 The most important thing to notice is that a kingdom exists because Jesus is the King. He is the Messiah, the Savior promised by God in the Old Testament (1:22-23; 2:6; Is. 7:14; Mic. 5:2). He is not only Israel’s King, but the international Christ for all the nations and the King of all Gentiles by Promise given to the Abraham. Abraham’s very name means “Father of the Gentiles”. Neither shall thy name any longer be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many Gentiles have I made thee. (Jubilee Bible 2000). Remember: to herald birth of the Rightful King, magi came to Herod, asking where they could find the King of the Jews (2:2). At the end of His life, Pilate asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He affirmed that He was (27:11-12), and Pilate sanctioned His crucifixion on that basis (27:37).27 Scripture leaves no doubt where Jesus stood on the subject. JESUS HOLDS ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND EARTH! (Mathew 28:18) A Lord is someone with authority, control, or power over others; to say that someone is “lord” is to consider that person a master or ruler of some kind. In Jesus’ day the word lord was often used as a title of respect toward earthly authorities; when the leper called Jesus “Lord” in Matthew 8:2, he was showing Jesus respect as a healer and teacher (see also Matthew 8:25 and 15:25).28 However, after the resurrection, the title “Lord,” as applied to Jesus, became much more than a title of honor or respect. Saying, “Jesus is Lord,” became a way of declaring Jesus’ deity. It began with Thomas’ exclamation when Jesus appeared to the disciples after His resurrection: “Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28). From then on, the apostles’ message was that Jesus is Lord, meaning “Jesus is God.”29 26

What is a Kingdom? W. R. Luchie. Copyright 2012 Kingdom Citizens, 2435 E. North St Ste 1108-327, Greenville SC 29615 27 https://bible.org/node/10982 28 https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-is-Lord.html 29 https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-is-Lord.html

Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost contained that theme: “Let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). Later, in Cornelius’s house, Peter declared that Jesus is “Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). Note how in Romans 10:9 Jesus’ lordship is linked to His resurrection: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. The statement “Jesus is Lord” means that Jesus is God. Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). He is Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5). He is “our only Sovereign and Lord” (Jude 1:4). He is, in fact, the Lord of Lords (Revelation 17:14). Jesus referred to Himself as “Lord” many times (e.g., Luke 19:31; John 13:13). And when we compare the Old Testament with the New, we find several times when the “LORD” (YHWH) of the Hebrew Bible is equated with the “Lord Jesus” by the apostles. For example, Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good,” and that passage is alluded to in 1 Peter 2:3, except there Jesus is the “Lord” who is good. Isaiah 8:13 says that “the LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy”; in 1 Peter 3:15 we are commanded, “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy” (ESV). A person who says, “Jesus is Lord,” with a full understanding of what that means (Jesus is God and has supreme authority over all things) has been divinely enlightened: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). Faith in the Lord Jesus is required for salvation (Acts 16:31). Jesus is Lord. It’s the truth, whether or not people acknowledge the fact. He is more than the Messiah, more than the Savior; He is the Lord of all. Someday, all will submit to that truth: “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11).”30 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world in the things that have been made (Romans 1:20). Vesture (Robe, garments) Kings wear particular vesture. To imagine a king without a robe or similar garments would be odd. Not that kings always wear robes but that they always have robes. Robes are symbols. The reference to robes in scripture is definitely symbolic. The 30

https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-is-Lord.html

common conception of a king or queen is of someone dressed in ceremonial robes and wearing a crown. They did often pose in such garb for official portraits, which is how the conception arose, but of course they didn't wear them all the time. It would have been impractical. Yet, when we think of a king in this manner we know that their vestures have significant representation. However, the notion that there is a specific form of dress for specific important occasions still exists. That's why brides wear wedding gowns, why so me people wear black or white tie on various occasions, why the Queen wears robes and a crown when she opens Parliament each year. These forms of dress make a nod to the importance of a given event or ritual. Our idea of ceremonial "royal" dress comes from the distant past, from the way medieval kings and queens and even ordinary people dressed (back then, everyone wore mantles of one sort or another just to keep warm or protect their clothes when out and about, and obviously they were much fancier on special occasions) and it's retained simply for reasons of tradition and continuity, which are important concepts when it comes to monarchies.31 When God communicated to the Prophets of old He often used symbols that they would understand to communicate His message. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1 Amplified Kings of old wore elaborate robes to signify their majesty and authority. The longer the train (the back hem of the robe), the more powerful the king. After a king defeated an army in battle, he would cut off a portion of the defeated king's robe and have it sewn onto the train of his robe. Hence, the longer a King's robe, the more victories he had won! And the more authority he possessed! The Robe of our King, Jesus Christ, is foreshadowed in this verse as having conquered all: death, hell and the grave. The Lord sitting on the throne, high and lifted up The Sovereign Master The Sovereign King Seated on the throne high above all. b. The Territory is the domain over which the king exercises total authority. The territory and its resources and people are all personal property of the king. The king by right owns all and, therefore, is considered lord over all. Keep in mind, the word Lord denotes ownership by right. The idea of a lord (even today) is one who owns land. In Scotland those who own land have the right to be called Laird (Lord). 31

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120410093429AAbHJRD

In the case of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, there is no place in Heaven or Earth where Jesus Christ is not Sovereign (King). Neither is there a realm, natural or spiritual where Jesus Christ does not have domain. Lord is only given to one who is sovereign owner. This is why the Scripture declares in Psalm 24:1 "The Earth is the Lord's and all it's fullness, the world and these who dwell therein." In 2 Timothy 2:12 we read, "If we endure, we will also reign with Him…" In the book of Revelation we read we will be "priests of God and of Christ" and we will "reign with him for a thousand years" …"over the nations" (Rev. 20:6; 2:26). "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7). "Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One…" (Daniel 7:27). c. The Constitution is the covenant of a king with his citizenry and expresses the mind and will of the king for his citizens and the kingdom. The constitution is the documented words of the king. The Bible contains the constitution of the Kingdom of God, which details his will and mind for his citizens. The emphasis on the Covenant God makes with Mankind is the key message of the entire Bible. This Covenant appears to be different but rather it is just administered differently. This ranges from God’s Covenant with the first couple (Adam and Eve), to the Covenant God made with Abraham, to the New Covenant (Testament). God’s Covenant with Man is the living Constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus did not only present himself as Savior and Healer, but also as Law Giver, Commander and King of the country he rules, the Kingdom of Heaven. Today, we would call the sum total of foundational laws of a country its constitution. This is the law about which the Apostle Paul says: I am under the Law of Christ (1 Cor 9:21). This regal legal code does not just consist of laws like love God! Love your neighbor!, but also contains laws like Do not hoard! Do not swear! Love your enemies! Beware of theologians!32

http://simsonmedia.com/shop/the-constitution-of-the-kingdom-poster-a1/

The Bible says this Kingdom of God is a real kingdom with covenant rights for its citizens (a constitution), statues, laws and a Kingdom Government with Jesus Christ and the only King. And the bible says this government, led by the return of Christ the King and His true disciples (those who obey Christ), will rule over all the nations on earth for a thousand years. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,” (Revelation 11:15).33 Some think this 1000 years reference is literal. However, the reference is pointing to the eternal nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lord shall reign to eternity, yea, for ever and ever: (Ps.10:16). d. The Citizenry is the people that live under the rule of the king. Citizenship in a kingdom is not a right, but a privilege, and is a result of the king's choice. The benefits and privileges of a kingdom are only accessible to citizens and therefore the favor of the king is always a privilege. Once one becomes a citizen of the kingdom, all the rights of citizenship are at the citizen's pleasure. The king is obligated to care for and protect all of his citizens; and their welfare is a reflection on the king himself. The number one goal of a citizen in a kingdom is to be subject to the king, seeking only to remain in rightstanding with him. This is called righteousness. This is why Jesus said the priority of all men is to seek His Kingdom. (Matthew 6:33). "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22.) According to the Bible, Jesus Christ is the King (Lord) of the Kingdom of God. In the vision of Revelation God impresses upon John both His Kingship and His role as Keeper of the Covenant. “On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:16). The Revelation of Jesus Christ given to Apostle John was to leave no doubt about the rightful King. Why the name written on the thigh? In our culture, taking an oath usually involves raising the right hand or placing a hand over the heart or on a Bible. In ancient Hebrew culture, we find something a little different. Genesis 24:9 describes a practice that involved Abraham’s servant swearing to obey his master’s command to find a wife 33

http://abadvisors.com/citizenship-in-the-kingdom-of-god-part-i-the-kingdom-its-government-andyou/?doing_wp_cron=1492390469.2121350765228271484375

for Isaac: “So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.” In Genesis 47:29, Jacob makes his son Joseph swear to bury him in Canaan, not Egypt. The same ritual is observed: Joseph is required to put his hand under Jacob’s thigh as he makes the promise. It seems strange to us, but placing one’s hand under someone else’s thigh had a symbolic purpose. In both cases, the request is made by a patriarch nearing death. Also, both oaths deal with family matters. In the case of Abraham and Jacob, the family was blessed by God Himself (Genesis 15:5; 28:14). To Rabbi Ibn Ezra, the phrase “under the thigh” means literally that. For someone to allow his hand to be sat on was a sign of submission to authority. If this is the symbolism, then Joseph was showing his obedience to his father by placing his hand under Jacob’s thigh. Abraham’s servant kept his oath. He not only obeyed Abraham’s instructions, but he also prayed to Abraham’s God for help. In the end, God miraculously provided Rebekah as the choice for Isaac’s wife (Genesis 24). In the New Testament, believers are taught not to make oaths, but rather to let their “yes” mean “yes” and “no” mean “no” (James 5:12). That is, we should consider all our words to have the weight of an oath. Others should be able to trust our words without requiring an oath. In any case, the thigh is representative of covenant. In the vision of John the Revelator the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has the inscription on His thigh showing that He is the only keeper of the Covenant. When you receive Christ into your life as savior and Lord, repent of your sins, are buried in baptism and receive His Spirit you are “born again.” That is, you are born into the family of God “a chosen people.” As such, you are a citizen of the Kingdom of God, “a holy nation!” “In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again’” (John 3:3). Born of the water and of the Spirit (Acts Chapter 2). A citizen is "one owing allegiance to and entitled to protection from a government." The Christian is a citizen of two governments. He is a citizen of the temporal government under which he lives. You are I are citizens of the United States and as such we owe allegiance to that government and are entitled to its protection and care. A citizen of the United States is entitled to and assured of the protection of his government regardless of where he is. This fact is graphically illustrated in the case of Angus Ward, a citizen of the United States, who sometime ago, was released by the Chinese Communists after being held prisoner for about a year. The resources of our government brought pressure to bear until he was finally given his freedom.

The Christian is also a citizen of divine government. "For our citizenship is in heaven." (Phil. 3:20 ARV) The church is the kingdom of God on earth, and members of the church are citizens of the kingdom. e. The Law constitutes the standards and principles established by the king himself, by which his kingdom will function and be administered. The Kingdom of Heaven - like any nation today - cannot function without laws. There must be a standard of conduct for subjects and citizens to follow, or chaos and anarchy would result. Following the laws of a kingdom or nation does not grant a person citizenship - that is not the purpose of law. Law is simply a guide for people to follow to ensure cohesion, agreement, and peace in civil and interpersonal relationships. Without an understood standard, enforced by a sovereign ruler, everyone would act according to his own whim or desire, and nothing good or worthwhile would be produced (Judges 21:25).34 The laws of a kingdom are to be obeyed by all, including foreigners residing in it. The laws of the kingdom are the way by which one is guaranteed access to the benefits of the king and the kingdom. Violations of kingdom law place one at odds with the king and thus interrupt the favorable position one enjoys with the king. The laws in a kingdom cannot be changed by the citizens, nor are they subject to a citizen referendum or debate. Simply put, the word of the King is law in his kingdom. Rebellion against the law is rebellion against the king. King David understood this principle of the royal word when he stated, in Psalm 138:2-3 I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name. 3) In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. The Kingdom of God is no different. God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33). His Kingdom will be peaceful and orderly because everyone who will enter into it will have voluntarily submitted himself to the law - the commandments - of God. God will not have anyone in His Kingdom who demonstrates, by the pattern of his life, that he will not obey Him (Matthew 7:21-23; Hebrews 10:26-31). Revelation 12:17 describes the saints as those "who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."35 A Pharisee once asked Jesus, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" (Matthew 22:36). His response shows that the intent behind God's law is love love toward God, and love toward fellow man:

34 35

http://www.truegospel.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Basics.tour/ID/6/What-are-Laws-of-Kingdom.htm Ibid.

Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40). These two statements - loving God and loving neighbor as oneself - encapsulate the first four and the last six commandments respectively. The commandments merely define further how to love God and love man. We love God in general by placing Him first, by not adopting physical aids in worshipping Him, by not bearing His name in vain, and by keeping the Sabbath holy (Jesus Christ being the Sabbath). The key to understanding how Jesus is our Sabbath rest is the Hebrew word sabat, which means "to rest or stop or cease from work." The origin of the Sabbath goes back to Creation. After creating the heavens and the earth in six days, God "rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made" (Genesis 2:2). This doesn’t mean that God was tired and needed a rest. We know that God is omnipotent, literally "allpowerful." He has all the power in the universe, He never tires, and His most arduous expenditure of energy does not diminish His power one bit. So, what does it mean that God rested on the seventh day? Simply that He stopped what He was doing. He ceased from His labors. This is important in understanding the establishment of the Sabbath day and the role of Christ as our Sabbath rest.36 The various elements of the Sabbath symbolized the coming of the Messiah, who would provide a permanent rest for His people. Once again the example of resting from our labors comes into play. With the establishment of the Old Testament Law, the Jews were constantly "laboring" to make themselves acceptable to God. Their labors included trying to obey a myriad of do’s and don’ts of the ceremonial law, the Temple law, the civil law, etc. Of course they couldn’t possibly keep all those laws, so God provided an array of sin offerings and sacrifices so they could come to Him for forgiveness and restore fellowship with Him, but only temporarily. Just as they began their physical labors after a one-day rest, so, too, did they have to continue to offer sacrifices. Hebrews 10:1 tells us that the law "can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship." But these sacrifices were offered in anticipation of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross, who "after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right of God" (Hebrews 10:12). Just as He rested after performing the ultimate sacrifice, He sat down and rested—ceased from His labor of atonement because there was nothing more to be done, ever. Because of what He did, we no longer have to 36

https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Sabbath.html

"labor" in law-keeping in order to be justified in the sight of God. Jesus was sent so that we might rest in God and in what He has provided.37 Another element of the Sabbath day rest which God instituted as a foreshadowing of our complete rest in Christ is that He blessed it, sanctified it, and made it holy. Here again we see the symbol of Christ as our Sabbath rest—the holy, perfect Son of God who sanctifies and makes holy all who believe in Him. God sanctified Christ, just as He sanctified the Sabbath day, and sent Him into the world (John 10:36) to be our sacrifice for sin. In Him we find complete rest from the labors of our self-effort, because He alone is holy and righteous. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). We can now cease from our spiritual labors and rest in Him, not just one day a week, but always. 38 We love man, in general, by honoring our parents, not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing, not lying, and not coveting. When Jesus Christ came, He revealed the spirit - the intent - of His law. He showed that the sixth commandment extends much further than merely prohibiting the taking of human life, but covers even hating (Matthew 5:21-22). Similarly, the intent behind the seventh commandment is to stop adultery at its source: the heart (Matthew 5:27-28). Following God's commandments in both their letter and spirit ensures the best quality of life for everyone. When Jesus was asked what one must do to have eternal life, His response was simple: "If you want to enter into [eternal] life, keep the commandments" (Matthew 19:17). To reinforce this, in His last words to the disciples before His arrest and crucifixion, He had much to say about keeping God's commandments. He was giving them (and us) instruction that would not be absolved by His death: "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15) "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." (verse 21) "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me." (verses 23-24)

37 38

Ibid. Ibid.

The apostle James calls the Ten Commandments "the royal law" - meaning that it came from a King, and is worthy of His Kingdom: If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. (James 2:8-12) While a man cannot earn entrance into God's Kingdom - that is a gift that God must bestow (Ephesians 2:8) - it is plain from Scripture that willful rebellion against God's standard of righteousness will keep a man out of the Kingdom: Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you. .. that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21) I Corinthians 6:9-10 includes homosexuals (catamites), sodomites, thieves, coveters, and extortionists in the list of those who will be barred from entering the Kingdom of God. Revelation 21:8 mentions that the cowardly, the unbelieving, and the abominable will not live eternally. Revelation 22:15 adds "whoever loves and practices a lie." These examples show that there is a standard of conduct by which God expects the heirs to His Kingdom to live. After all, eternal life is more than just length of days - living forever would be a terrible curse if there were not also quality of life to match it. Our Savior tells us what He means by eternal life: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). He defines eternal life as "to know God." "Know" suggests a close intimacy, just as a husband and wife are intimate in marriage (Genesis 4:1). It indicates experiential knowledge, not theoretical. In Amos 5:4, God exclaims, "Seek Me and live!" He is saying, "Turn to Me and My way of life; seek to know Me," not "Search for Me." He is saying, "Seek to know Me by living the same way I do." That is how experiential knowledge of Him becomes an intimate knowing of Him. We know Him, in large part, by living the same law of love that He lives by. f. The Privileges are the benefits the king lavishes on his faithful citizens. Certainly, 54

Scripture is filled with the promises of benefits to those who are part of the Kingdom of Heaven. “These are those in whom the King delights!” This aspect of kingdom is very different from other forms of government. In a kingdom, citizenship is always desired by the people because, once you are in the kingdom, the king is personally responsible for you and your needs. In addition, because the king owns everything within his kingdom, he can give to any citizen any or all of his wealth as he desires. In the time of Esther, the King offered her anything, up to half of his kingdom! The Kingdom of Heaven has privileges that no earthly kingdom could ever offer. “Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years,” (Revelations 20:6). The promise here is one of eternal life. Only Citizens in the Kingdom of Heaven have the privilege of eternal life. The number 1000 as used in this Scripture is a representative number of forever or eternal life. Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven can sum up their privileges under two headings: A. God has spoken to us from heaven through the blood of Jesus Christ. “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven” (12:25). First, to clarify an interpretive matter, some argue that there are two speakers here: Moses, who warned Israel on earth; and, God, who warns us now from heaven. Since verse 26 indicates that the same voice that shook the earth then is the voice that speaks now, leaving God as the only speaker in both instances. So the contrast is not between Moses’ voice and God’s voice, but rather between God speaking on earth at Mount Sinai then and His speaking from heaven now. The author begins the Book of Hebrews, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son” (1:1-2). God’s Son is His supreme and final way of speaking to us. But, in particular, God has spoken to us through the blood of His Son, “which speaks better than the blood of Abel” (12:24). When the Jews heard God’s voice thunder at Sinai, they were so terrified that they “begged that no further word be spoken to them” (12:19). The same Greek word used in that verse (“begged”) is used in verse 25 (“refuse”). The Jews’ request at Sinai is a 55

parable of their hardness of heart toward God that led to their ingratitude and disobedience in the wilderness.39 They begged not to hear any more of God’s voice. But now, God has spoken in a greater way, through His Son, and even more through the blood of His Son. “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking” now! The word translated “refuse” is used in Luke 14:18, 19, in the parable of the slighted dinner invitation. The man made great preparation and sent out invitations to come to his dinner party, but he received lame excuses in response: “I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.” “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.” God’s invitation in the gospel, to forgive all your sins and to give you eternal life, if you will respond, is the greatest invitation in the world! What more could He do than to send His own Son and shed His innocent blood as the penalty for every sinner who will believe in Him? Since the gospel is the greatest privilege imaginable, to refuse it is the greatest sin imaginable! We who have received God’s gift in the gospel should count it as our greatest possession, far above anything this world has to offer! B. God gives us a Kingdom which cannot be shaken. “But of the Son He says, ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.’” There are several things to note about this kingdom. First, we have already received it, and yet it is still to come in its fullness. “Receive” is a present participle, implying that we are in the process of receiving this kingdom. We have already come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, and the heavenly Jerusalem. It is a gift that God freely bestows on all that believe. In 12:28 he says that it is “a kingdom which cannot be shaken.” This means that it will outlast all earthly kingdoms. Because it is God’s kingdom, it will remain, not just for 1000 earth years, but “forever and ever” (1:8). Every earthly kingdom that has been established has eventually fallen to other, more powerful, kingdoms. The history of the world is that of the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms. Men such as Alexander the Great have devoted their lives to establishing these kingdoms, only to die and have their kingdoms broken up. The only kingdom that will endure is the kingdom of God. We are privileged to be members of this kingdom by His grace. Even if we are persecuted to death, God’s eternal kingdom cannot be shaken, and we are heirs of it through faith in Christ.

Philip Hughes, A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews [Eerdmans], p. 556

So, God has given us great privileges. As we saw in our last study, we should not forget these great privileges that we inherit in Christ, so that we do not let them go for the world’s bowl of stew, as Esau did. But there is a second major theme in our text: When God spoke at Mount Sinai, the earth shook violently (Exod. 19:18). The author of Hebrews refers to that event (12:26), but then alludes to a prophecy from Haggai 2:6, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” Some argue that this refers exclusively to the spiritual events during the first coming of Christ, in which the Jewish rituals and outward religion were shaken and the spiritual kingdom of the church was established. While there may be an initial fulfillment of the prophecy in Christ’s first coming, I agree with those who understand the final fulfillment of this prophecy to relate to Christ’s second coming, when all of the kingdoms of this world will be shaken into oblivion. After reporting his vision of a great earthquake (Rev. 11:13), John goes on to say, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15). God’s shaking of the earth and heaven is a frequent image in the Bible to refer to the final judgment in the day of the Lord. In Isaiah 13:13, the Lord says, “Therefore I will make the heavens tremble and the earth will be shaken from its place at the fury of the Lord of hosts in the day of His burning anger.” Isaiah 24:18-21 prophesies. Then it will be that he who flees the report of disaster will fall into the pit, and he who climbs out of the pit will be caught in the snare; for the windows above are opened, and the foundations of the earth shake. The earth is broken asunder, the earth is split through, and the earth is shaken violently. The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard and it totters like a shack, for its transgression is heavy upon it, and it will fall, never to rise again. So it will happen in that day, that the Lord will punish the host of heaven on high, and the kings of the earth on earth. Revelation 6:12-17 reports, I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

GOD IS GREAT BECAUSE HE IS A CONSUMING FIRE. Deuteronomy 4:23-24. Moses warned Israel in verse 23 to watch themselves, so that they would not forget God’s covenant and fall into idolatry. Then he added, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Like the earthquake, the image of fire is a frequent picture of God’s powerful judgment. In Isaiah 33:14, the prophet writes, “Sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling has seized the godless. Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?” He also says of those who have transgressed against God, “For their worm will not die and their fire will not be quenched” (Isa. 66:24). Jesus cited that verse as a description of hell (Mark 9:48). In a similar way, the prophet Zephaniah writes (1:18), “Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the Lord’s wrath; and all the earth will be devoured in the fire of His jealousy, for He will make a complete end, indeed a terrifying one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.” In Zephaniah 3:8, the Lord says that He will assemble the kingdoms, “To pour out on them My indignation, all My burning anger; for all the earth will be devoured by the fire of My zeal.” John the Baptist said of Jesus (Luke 3:17), “His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Some try to dodge the implication of these verses by saying that the God of the Old Testament was a God of judgment, but the God of the New Testament is a God of mercy. But He is one and the same God! The author of Hebrews calls the God who is a consuming fire, “our God.” The God of Sinai is the same as the God of Zion. Peter tells us (2 Pet. 3:9) that God “is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” But keep reading! In the next verse (3:10) he continues, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” These things are a merciful warning for unbelievers (Heb. 12:25), but for we who believe, they are a promise (Heb. 12:26), because they usher in the “new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13). Thus God has given us great privileges. Everything hinges on knowing who God is and what He has done for us by His grace in Christ. He has given us great privileges, by speaking to us from heaven through Jesus’ blood, and by giving us a kingdom that 58

cannot be shaken. He is the great God, whose voice will shake both earth and heaven. He is a consuming fire. So we have great responsibilities: we should take heed to serve Him with obedient, grateful, and reverent hearts.40 g. A Code of Ethics is the acceptable conduct of the citizens in the kingdom and their representation of the kingdom. This code includes moral standards, social relationships, personal conduct, attitude, attire and manner of life. God is very concerned about our manner and ways. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:8 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:17 To expect that ‘anything goes’ in the Kingdom of Heaven or that Grace covers those who have not repented of their sins is error. We realize that the message of Grace alone is the message that many have popularized. However, Grace is a privilege of those who are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who are not citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven have no right to expect to be covered by Grace. h. The Army is the kingdom's system of securing its territory and protecting its citizens. It is important to understand that in a kingdom the citizens do not fight in the army, but enjoy the protection of the army. This is why, in the kingdom of God, the angels are called the host of heaven. The word host means army and identifies the angels as the military component of the Kingdom of Heaven. This kingdom concept presents a challenge to our religious thinking of the church as an army. A careful study of the biblical constitution of the Word will show that the church, as Jesus established it, is not identified as an army but rather a citizenship, a family of sons, and a nation. “The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?” (v. 11). - Joel 2:1–11 2Ti 2:3-4 "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 40

Steven J. Cole. Steve has been the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship since May, 1992. From 1977-1992 he pastored Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. PUBLISHED May 28th 2013

I. Why an Army? A. Because we are at war 1. The battle lines were drawn long ago. 2. There is a battle being waged for the souls of men and women…boys and girls. 3. We have been chosen to bring the message of freedom to people who are bound by sin. That message is the only way for people to be set free. Jesus Christ is the Truth… He and He alone can bring true freedom. B. Our enemy is real 1. He has many names. Re 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, Re 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. Psalm 78:49 He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, indignation and trouble; by sending angels of destruction among them. Psalm 103:20-21 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word. 21) Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Matthew 13:40-42 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41) The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend and those who practice lawlessness. 42) and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. i. A Commonwealth is the economic system of a wealth which guarantees each citizen equal access to financial security. In a kingdom, the term commonwealth is used because the king's desire is that all his citizens share and benefit from the wealth of the kingdom. The kingdom's glory is in the happiness and health of its citizens. Consider carefully the word of the King of the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ: Luke 12-22-23 Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23) Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing."

Luke 12-31-32 But seek the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. 32) Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22.)

14 CONTRASTS BETWEEN A KINGDOM AND A WORLDLY VIEW OF MONEY - Joseph Mattera There has been much written regarding what the bible teaches about prosperity, wealth and stewardship. In spite of the vast amount of material on this subject, many believers are still struggling in regards to having a biblical mindset regarding their resources. In regards to the Kingdom, Scripture is replete with examples of how God’s sovereign economy transcends the natural worldly economy; for example, during the plague of darkness in Egypt there was always light in Goshen where the Jews lived (Exodus 10:21-23). God told Jeremiah that His people would continue to bear fruit even in a time of famine (See Jeremiah 17:8). Also, we see in scripture how God supernaturally ordered circumstances to provide financial needs to those serving Him (Matthew 17:27). However, just because somebody is a Christian, doesn’t mean that they are automatically walking in a Kingdom economy; if we want to walk in God’s blessing, we are required to walk in the ways of His Kingdom economy. The following are fourteen contrasts between the Kingdom and a worldly view of finances: 61

1- In the Kingdom, we release and receive/in the world, we hoard and accumulate If we understand the nature of God, we realize how generous He is! This knowledge of God comes when we study the Scriptures, which re-orientates our thinking so that we have a Hebraic worldview when reading the bible. That being said, it is God’s nature to bless people back when they give to Him. (This can come in many ways not just in terms of finances.) This is why the Apostle Paul said that when the Philippian church gave to His apostolic work, he described it as “giving and receiving” not just giving (Phil4: 15); also, we see how God blessed the poverty-stricken widow who fed Elijah (1 Kings 17). Jesus reiterated God’s generosity when He said that if we give it shall be given back to us (Luke 6:38). Proverbs teaches us that whoever waters will be watered in return, and the person who scatters will increase all the more (Proverbs 11:24-26). Conversely, the worldly mindset has no objective other than self fulfillment, which results in people hoarding and accumulating wealth for themselves; Jesus called such people fools (Luke 12:13-21). Instead of hoarding for oneself, Jesus taught us to seek our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19,20). 2-In the Kingdom, we hear from God regarding finances/ in the world we do what we want with our finances In 1 Kings 17, the poor widow recognized the voice of God through Elijah the prophet when he told her to give him her last meal. This did not make sense in the natural; however, because she obeyed the Lord she never again ran out of food for her family. In the worldly mindset, we do not attempt to hear from God regarding our finances but operate totally in a natural mindset that benefits our interests alone. 3- In the Kingdom, we honor God with the first of our increase/ in the world we honor ourselves first with our money In Scripture, we see how God equates honoring Him through giving Him the first fruits or the first ten percent of our financial increase (Proverbs 3:9,10). In the worldly mindset, the priority we have is to put our own needs first in everything we do (Phil3: 18,19). 4- In the Kingdom, we trust God to order our financial circumstances / in the world we position ourselves to order our circumstances In Luke 6:38, Jesus said that when we give … “men will give to us” which means that God will order the circumstances of our life involving the people we meet to ensure that He blesses us back through them. With the worldly mindset, it’s all about depending upon our ability to position ourselves with others for financial gain. 5- In the Kingdom, we walk in divine favor / in the world, we carry favor

Since the Lord owns a cattle on a thousand hills and the whole earth is His (Psalms 50 and 24) then, tapping into His favor releases all the resources we would ever need in this world; with a worldly mindset, it’s all about winning friends and influencing people to satisfy our own financial agenda. 6-In the Kingdom, we utilize our wealth /in the world, we accumulate our wealth Jesus made it clear that God expects us to utilize our finances in His parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-29). God expects everything He has given us to be invested properly so that He can multiply it for the advancement of His Kingdom. With a worldly mindset, even when our finances are invested to multiply it is primarily to accumulate more finances for our own interests. 7- In the Kingdom, we operate in faith /in the world, we react out of fear God allows financial mountains to challenges us so that we can learn to move them by faith (Mark 11:23). Christ followers are called to live by faith and not by sight (2 Cor.5: 7). Those with a worldly mindset usually react to challenging circumstances in fear which causes them to respond in ways that usually do not honor God. Scripture says that there is no fear in love, so the person who operates in fear cannot at the same time walk in faith (1 John 4:18). 8- In the Kingdom, God multiplies what we have/ in the world, we leverage what we have Jesus demonstrated that God requires we surrender to Him the little we have first before He can bless it and multiply it (Matthew 14:21). In the worldly mindset, we are taught to depend on our ability to leverage our finances, manipulate people and control circumstances, so that we can experience an increase. 9- In the Kingdom, we are problem solvers/ in the world, we are complainers The word of God teaches us that sound wisdom, discretion, prudence, understanding and power resides with God, which can result in financial increase and influence (Proverbs 8:12-18). Wisdom is developed when we use our knowledge to solve problems. The greater the problem we solve, the more influence and wealth we can access. Being a problem solver is a key to walking in God’s Kingdom economy; those with a worldly mindset are taught to worry, fear and complain about their challenges which keeps them greatly limited the rest of their life. 10- In the Kingdom our source is God /in the world, our source is man Paul said in Philippians 4:19 that our God provides all of our needs according to His riches in glory; Jeremiah 17 teaches us that the person whose trust is in the Lord will prosper even during a famine; contra wise, those with a worldly mindset only have faith 63

when their natural means of financial support is flowing; if ever that natural flow is stopped, then they get discouraged and fall into fear. This illustrates that their faith was never initially in God. 11-In the Kingdom, we are content / in the world, we are ever striving for more In the Kingdom, we learn that contentment has nothing to do with how much money or possessions we have; we have learned to be content when we have much or when we suffer with little (Phil.4: 11,12). In the world, the more we have the more we crave; we are never satisfied with possessions because only God can fill the longing of our soul (Luke 12:15). 12-In the Kingdom, we are stewards of His wealth/ in the world, we represent our own interests In the Kingdom, we function as “God’s treasurers” and His stewards (Phil 3:7,8; 1 Cor. 4:1,2). Nothing we have is our own, God has only lent us our talents, gifts, abilities and possessions so that we can promote His will on the earth. Those with a worldly mindset believe that they represent only themselves and that they have a right to use their finances anyway they desire. 13-In the Kingdom, wealth is primarily to confirm His covenant /in the world, wealth is focused on satisfying one’s own objectives God told Moses that He has given us power to create wealth so that we can confirm His covenant on the earth (Deut.8: 18). Although God blesses some people with nice cars, homes and other amenities, the primary reason for wealth is to spread His word on the earth. Of course, those with a worldly mindset believe that they earned the right to use their wealth any way they desire (within legal means). 14-In the Kingdom, wealth is always cooperating / in the world, wealth is individualistic Finally, those with a Kingdom mindset know that wealth and finances is all about seeking first His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33). Since the Kingdom of God is primarily represented on the earth through His church, we are called to support the ministry of Christ in His Body. This should cause Christ followers to function and flow financially in a way that prioritizes the financial support of their local congregation; God’s plan A, B and C is the local church! All influence in the marketplace should emanate out of the matrix of a (New Testament) church. Those with a worldly mindset think only in terms of financing their individual vocation and calling; however, it is impossible for an individual believer to function apart from His Body as we see in the epistles of Paul (read 1 Corinthians 12).

j. The Social Culture is the environment created by the life and manners of the king and his citizens. This is the cultural aspect that separates and distinguishes the kingdom from all others around it. It is the culture that expresses the nature of the king, through the lifestyle of his citizens. This distinction in kingdom culture is evident in the words of the Lord Jesus, when He repeatedly said in the book of Matthew "you have heard that it was said... but I tell you." (Matthew 5:21-22) and again "it shall not be so among you" (Matthew 20:26). Kingdom social culture is supposed to be evident in our daily activities and encounters. Remember that kings personally own the physical domain over which they reign. That makes them not only kings but also lords. Kings and property go together! The social culture of the Kingdom of Heaven is embodied in Christ’s followers. As such we must have:

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A Spirit-led lifestyle developed through regular worship, Bible reading, fasting, prayer, obeying Scriptures, and waiting upon God for “prophetic” insight in all matters. This is a life that should first be modeled by others so that we can learn and then we must become the model so that others might observe. This is Spiritual son-ship. Spiritual fathers must so live their lives that their sons in the Gospel will repeat the method.

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A lifestyle of integrity, both in public and private. We cannot operate in duplicity. We must let our nays be nay and yeas be yea. "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes ' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.” (Matthew 5:37 NASV)

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A lifestyle that expresses God’s unconditional love in word and deed toward all people. The Kingdom of Heaven must have a great expression of love both for those in the Kingdom of Heaven and for those who are not part of the God’s eternal Kingdom. Jesus knew that relationships are the most valuable asset that we have, but at times the most difficult to maintain. That’s why in John 13:34 Jesus taught, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Then He added, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (verse 35).41

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Building strong and fulfilling relationships as a priority in carrying out the work of ministry. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ

https://www.gotquestions.org/love-one-another.html

Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8). “The example of our Lord Jesus Christ is set before us. We must resemble him in his life, if we would have the benefit of his death. Notice the two natures of Christ; his Divine nature, and human nature. Who being in the form of God, partaking the Divine nature, as the eternal and only-begotten Son of God, John 1:1, had not thought it a robbery to be equal with God, and to receive Divine worship from men. His human nature; herein he became like us in all things except sin. Thus, of his own will, he stooped from the glory he had with the Father before the world was.42 Christ's two states, of humiliation and exaltation, are noticed. Christ not only took upon him the likeness and fashion, or form of a man, but of one in a low state; not appearing in splendor. His whole life was a life of poverty and suffering. But the lowest step was his dying the death of the cross, the death of a malefactor and a slave; exposed to public hatred and scorn. The exaltation was of Christ's human nature, in union with the Divine. At the name of Jesus, not the mere sound of the word, but the authority of Jesus, all should pay solemn homage. It is to the glory of God the Father, to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord; for it is his will, that all men should honor the Son as they honor the Father.”43

42 43

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The importance and priority of the local Church in God’s plan and the oneness of the global Church of Christ. The Church as it was intended in God’s plan is the people of that region or community. It is not limited by walls, buildings, denominations, or any other man-made division. The Church is part of the Kingdom of Heaven and is only relevant as it represents the Kingdom of Heaven and holds to the nature, purpose and directives of Jesus Christ. Regardless of what they claim, a group of people that do not believe those things that Christ taught, but have inserted their own rules, laws or revisions superseding the Law of the Kingdom of Heaven are not followers of Jesus Christ nor are they part of the Kingdom of Heaven.

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The importance and priority of the family in fulfilling God’s plan for all humanity. The family is supposed to provide the physical, emotional, social, economic, and

Matthew Henry Commentary. Philippians 2:5-11. Matthew Henry Commentary. Philippians 2:5-11.

spiritual needs of its members so that they can become productive and useful for God and His work in the earth. Every Christian family should realize early after its formation—or even before— that it has a special calling from God to fulfill the prophecy as children of Abraham through Christ to “bless all the other families of the earth.” God promised Abraham, “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed…” (Genesis 12:3), a direct prophecy that Abraham’s chief contribution to the world would come through the Person of Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly teaches that believers are the children of Abraham today through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 2:29; 4:13; Galatians 3:29), so this prophecy and responsibility to “bless” the world applies to us today. Christian couples have this calling upon their lives first as individuals but also as a family unit. The whole family—both parents and all the children God wants them to produce—must find out and fulfill their specific calling together, purposefully living every moment of their lives with this calling in mind, always aware that they have no other reason for their existence.44 •

The imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ — we are committed to work in the most time-effective way, warning and ministering to all, until the day of His appearing.

Depiction of an Apostolic Center As a Kingdom, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ has specific purpose and function. We explain this as an Apostolic Center. The name being not nearly as important as the concept. It may well be that some organization that calls itself a church is fulfilling the function of an Apostolic Center. Ideally, every church would strive to operate in the manner that we see as Apostolic. An Apostolic Center is a method for the replication of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in an area or region. The Apostolic Center is led by an Apostolic team. In the perfect application this team would have Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists helping to achieve the vision of the regional Apostolic Center. Consider an Apostolic Center like the Embassy of a Nation [Kingdom]. Apostolic from the standpoint of being led by an Apostle and focused on the same mission, message and method of the New Testament Apostles to whom Jesus Christ trusted His nascent 44

http://christianchallengeministries.org/The_Christian_Family_from_a_Holiness_Perspective/God's_Purpose_for_ the_Family

Church. A Center in that it functions as a place of influence, action, force, etc.45 for the coordinated efforts of various ministers, ministries and fellow Christ followers who proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. The Apostolic Center does not consider itself to have ‘arrived’. In other words, it does not operate in a manner that supposes that they alone have all the answer or are the entire Kingdom unto themselves. Rather, the Apostolic Center realizes that they are an imperative means of empowering those who are Christ followers. The Apostolic Center is not a franchise answering to a denominational headquarters. Rather, the Apostolic Center is directed by a five-fold ministry team with a functioning Bishopric or Apostle seeking God for direction specific to that Regions Apostolic Center. In practical application an Apostolic Center operates much like a Jesus focused university46 in the area of training and equipping. The Apostolic Center focuses on: •

Directing people to their purpose and their destination in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

•

Bible based training (as opposed to religious training that does not have the Bible as its basis). I. E. training through religious groups like the Presbyterian Church USA that openly opposes the Bible in their support of homosexuals in the ministry and homosexual marriage is not Bible based training.

•

Practical application of the training. Students must have a ‘hands on’ based training where they are taught to apply that which they are learning. Education with Application. Education without application holds no value.

•

Teach to Minister o Expect physical participation o Jesus taught by doing…

•

Put the training to work. Students will work with a seasoned minister until they are comfortable using the training. I. E. Like Elisha with Elijah. Apostle Paul summed this up as “Follow me as I follow Christ”. In other words, submit to spiritual son-ship until they themselves are spiritually ready to father others.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/center The use of University here is not speaking to have a literal university as much as the idea of a learning center that provides teaching, research, training, etc. Having the imprimatur to confer degrees through a college like Life College is an added bonus but not the sole point or focus of an academic center. 46

•

Correct application of the gifts Mark 16:18

•

Proper training and application of Five-fold Ministry. I Cor. 12:28 o Government - Apostle o Direction - Prophet o Establishment – Teacher o Helps – Pastors, Evangelists

The fivefold ministry is like the faculty of the university. Professors, teachers, instructors who equip the Body of Christ preparing them to minister to the world. Rome gave us many things. In 380 AD Theodius of Rome gave us the one man ruler as head of the church. As a result we have replaced the High Priest of the Old Testament as the Pastor in the new. The helps (mentioned by Apostle Paul) I Corinthians 12:28, which are pastors and evangelist have usurped the New Testament model replacing government (apostle), direction (prophet) and establishment (teacher). In the Apostolic Center the fivefold ministry is to guide the Body of Jesus Christ toward transformation. Like a university there can and will, of necessity be differences of administration and different focuses. One Apostolic Center might be more focused on Children’s ministry while another may be focused on street ministry and yet another might have church planting, growth and marketing as its focus. The commonality will be in that all three realize that the goal is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and his righteousness. Charles Finney was focused on how many could be sent? In like manner the Apostolic Center is not concerned about how many are coming as much as how many have been sent? You can‘t give unless you receive and you can’t receive unless you are giving. There also should be many similarities in Apostolic Centers. The practical implementation of all Apostolic Center should definitely include some mission to children. For too long children have been regulated to dumbed down versions of the Gospel rather than teaching them to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Children are taught Church rather than teaching them the Kingdom of Heaven. As a result, they stay in Church thinking that is the final answer rather than understanding that the Church is purely part of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Children should be taught the key events of Scripture like Creation the flood, etc. However, more importantly is that they understand the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the impact of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ on the world.

Likewise, new converts, as spiritual children, should be taught the Kingdom of Heaven. Converting them to church is not the right focus. Rather, new converts should be taught the transforming power of Jesus Christ and the purpose of the Kingdom of Heaven. Like in our example where the Church serves like as the transmission for the automobile. There is a place for a Sunday School type environment but this is not a babysitting mode, romper room or mere entertainment. Children and New Converts should be taught the Word of God in the same manner where practical training and application are implemented. They should be taught so that they can also teach others. In describing an Apostolic Center as a university, we are not talking about a building or group of buildings. This is not a building program. Having a building or buildings can certainly bring benefit, but is not necessary. The Apostles accomplished their mission without building any buildings. Rather, they used places and buildings that were available to them. We find that they met in the temple courts and in private buildings (primarily homes). One of their meetings places was outdoors: Solomon’s Colonnade (Solomon’s Porch). See Acts 5:12. “Solomon’s Porch was the name of two porches associated with the temple in Jerusalem. The original temple, constructed by King Solomon, is described in 1 Kings: “As for the house which King Solomon built for the LORD, its length was sixty cubits [90 feet] and its width twenty cubits [30 feet] and its height thirty cubits [45 feet]. The porch in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits [30 feet] in length, corresponding to the width of the house, and its depth along the front of the house was ten cubits [15 feet]” (1 Kings 6:2–3, NASB). The reconstructed temple was later modified by King Herod, and it included an area also known as Solomon’s Porch (Acts 5:12, KJV), Solomon’s Portico (ESV), or Solomon’s Colonnade (NIV). This structure was on the east side of the temple and was covered with a roof, thus providing more protection from the weather than the temple courtyards. Passing west through Solomon’s Porch (toward the temple) would place one in the Court of the Gentiles. The Jewish historian Josephus describes Solomon’s Porch this way: “There was a porch without the temple, overlooking a deep valley, supported by walls of four hundred cubits, made of four square stone, very white; the length of each stone was twenty cubits, and the breadth six; the work of king Solomon, who first founded the whole temple” (Antiquities l. 20. c. 8. sect. 7).47

https://www.gotquestions.org/Solomon-Porch.html

The obvious reason that the leaders of the early Church used Solomon’s Porch was that this covered area would provide shade from the sun and shelter from more inclement weather. At the same time it was in a public area where they could meet and not be seen as secretive or hiding anything from the Government officials. Then as now, central to the day to day activity of the Apostolic Center is fellowship. Simply meeting with fellow Christ followers, for corporate prayer, having meals together (breaking bread), meeting for coffee, enjoying various activities, etc., are all part of the vision of an Apostolic Center. Remember, the Jerusalem Church was a nation under enemy occupation. The Roman Government controlled Jerusalem. Foreign armies roamed the streets. Assembly was strictly controlled. These first followers of Jesus Christ utilized everyday life in the implementation of their Apostolic Center turning even breakfast, lunch and dinner into real opportunities for teaching, implementation, practical application and training. Central to all of these activities was the teachings of the Apostles. This was the practical training that was needed to empower a mass of believers. They used every opportunity as a teaching moment (Acts 5:42). In the New Testament they were so focused on their mission that we find them, “selling their possessions and goods” and bringing them to the feet of the Apostles. These were shared with anyone who was in need. This 100 percent commitment showed their willingness to include their neighbors bringing a level of giving to these Christ followers that was only dreamed of in the Old Testament model. The practical training of these faithful people to give ten percent and offerings of everything led these Jerusalem Christ followers to give EVERYTHING, 100%, to the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. This people who had been taught to give since they were children, once empowered by the Holy Spirit gave all. In the Old Testament they learned to tithe. So they queried, “How much of my money am I going to give to God.” Once empowered by the Holy Spirit (New Testament) they counted no possession as their own. They gave it all. So, in the New Testament this transcended into “How much am I going to keep?” The power of transformation by the Holy Spirit becomes vividly evident in these early examples. “With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”48

Acts. Chapter 2. Verses 45-47. Berean Study Bible.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS BIGGER THAN THE CHURCH The Kingdom of Heaven cannot, must not, ever be controlled by a church, or denomination or similar. When the local church or a church denomination or similar is in control by default they minimize the imprimatur of the Kingdom of God in favor of the will of the people. The ministry of the local church has no authority to change the will of the King of Kings. If they change the message in favor of the will of the people (and they have), then they no longer represent the Kingdom of God, but rather represent the Kingdoms of this world. The Kingdom is bigger than the Church. More to the point, the Church is only a portion of the Kingdom of Heaven. Like an Embassy represents a Kingdom (Nation) a church in the proper setting represents the Kingdom of Heaven. The church is not the Kingdom of Heaven but merely a representative portion. As such a church does not exist because of a franchise endorsement of some denomination. A church has to represent the King of Kings. “The Creator’s will from the beginning (Genesis) was for man to fill the Earth and for HE HIMSELF to dwell intimately with His creation literally establishing the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth (AS IT IS IN HEAVEN). Creation administrated and governed through man out of his intimate RELATIONSHIP and FELLOWSHIP with his Creator. Adam derailed the progression and progress of the original vision. Yahshua (Jesus) came as the “Second Adam” to redeem CREATION, BEGINNING WITH MAN. Redemption was about REDEEMING THE ORIGINAL PLAN FOR MAN and ALL OF CREATION and thus put the train back on the rails. Then he established a pattern of Government that would gather those that chose to be redeemed citizens of The Kingdom of Heaven and equip them as the advancing “Army” of God and His Kingdom. A government exists to guide and protect its citizens from enemies EXTERNAL and INTERNAL; an army is developed by the government to keep that citizenship and their territory safe from external attacks and to RAZE the ENEMY and take new territory. So as the government of God gathers in the citizens of the Kingdom what does the “Army” of the look like? IT LOOKS LIKE ONE NEW MAN!”49 “Too many followers of Jesus Christ put the work of God into a box called the church with its services and programs. There is an old myth that claims that a goldfish will only 49

Apostolic Teaching Fathers. Gene Mansfield. March 5, 2017

grow to the size of his tank. What may not apply to goldfish definitely applies to people. People will only grow to the size of the vision that frames their lives.”50 Some have framed this discussion as Church vs. Kingdom. That is the wrong equation. The Church is not divergent to or in competition with the Kingdom. To frame the Kingdom in this manner is like imagining an automobile vs. a transmission. Automobiles need transmissions. Yet, even without transmissions they would still technically be automobiles. Likewise, the Kingdom needs Church. Yet, there is still the Kingdom of Jesus Christ without the Church. However, without the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, Church is irrelevant. Kingdoms have structure. Natural kingdoms have embassies staffed with persons who are generally headed by an ambassador. The ambassador is the formal representative of the kingdom. He is tasked with representing that kingdom’s mission, interest and culture. In like manner, a church should function as an embassy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. As such the local church should represent the message and mission of Jesus Christ. Never, should the local church represent its own kingdom, focus or agenda. The leadership of the local church should emulate Jesus Christ and function as ambassadors of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul understood his role as an ambassador of Jesus Christ. The very concept of an Apostle embodies the ambassador role. Apostle: “Envoy, ambassador, or messenger commissioned to carry out the instructions of the commissioning agent.”51 Josephus employs the word Apostle (Antiquities17.11.1) in the classical sense of an embassy. Epictetus (Discourse 3.22) speaks of the ideal Cynic teacher as one "sent by Zeus" to be a messenger of the gods and an "overseer" of human affairs. 52 The Septuagint uses apostello [ajpostevllw] or exapostello [ejxapostevllw] some seven hundred times to translate the Hebrew salah [j;l'v] ("stretch out, " "send"). More than the act of sending, this word includes the idea of the authorization of a messenger. The noun apostolos [ajpovstolo"] is found only in 1ki 14:6, where the commissioning and empowering of the prophet are clearly in mind. Thus, the Septuagint uses the apostello [ajpostevllw] word-group to denote the authorization of an individual to fulfill a particular function, with emphasis on the one who sends, not on the one who is sent. The noun apostolos [ajpovstolo"] appears seventy-nine times in the New 50

The Church vs. the Kingdom.. Jim Botts. http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/apostle/ 5252 Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Apostle 51

Testament (ten in the Gospels; twenty-eight in Acts; thirty-eight in the Epistles; and three in Revelation). The majority of these occurrences are found in Luke-Acts (thirtyfour) and in the Pauline epistles (thirty-four), and refer to those appointed by Christ for a special function in the church. Their unique place is based not only on having witnessed the resurrection, but also on having been commissioned and empowered by the resurrected Lord to proclaim the gospel to all nations.53 In earlier classical Greek there was a distinction between an aggelos or messenger and an apostolos, who was not a mere messenger, but a delegate or representative of the person who sent him.54 From the American point of view the closest natural person we have to this would be an Ambassador. Like the United States Ambassador to the United Nations who is the Nation’s top diplomat. This person speaks on behalf of the President of the United States who is elected by the people of the United States. Apostle Paul summed up in Eph. 3:8-12 His “administration of his apostleship”: “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and an to make all see what is the “fellowship (stewardship) of the mystery”, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly realms THROUGH THE CHURCH, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” Jesus was the first Person to utter the word, “church.” Yet, He framed His ministry in terms of God’s Kingdom breaking into our world, not in a church building. Just look at how Jesus introduced His ministry: Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15 ESV Jesus framed His ministry in terms of the Kingdom of God, not the church. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not downing, dissing, or dismissing the church. The church is the Bride of Jesus (and we should love her – Eph 5:25), the church is the Body of Christ (and we should build it up – Eph 4:11-12). Yet, it was Jesus who framed the gospel as good news about a new reality (God’s Kingdom) through the presence of a new King (Jesus).

53 54

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Apostle International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Apostle

The Church has to be part of the Kingdom in order to bring real change to society. Church without Kingdom creates religious country clubs filled with self righteous people who generally give lip service to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ but rather see their Church as the epitome of that vision rather than a step toward bringing the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to the earth. PEOPLE ARE ROAMING FROM CHURCH TO CHURCH LOOKING FOR THE CHURCH.

In most regions there are vast amounts of persons who go from one church to another. Most of these would explain that they are looking for a church. What these seemingly well intentioned people are expounding is their desire to find a place where they feel comfortable. Frankly, most of these persons are offended (for various reasons) and rather than try to resolve the offense they leave one place seeking another. Sadly, these fail to recognize that there is only the Kingdom of Heaven and if they were in a church that was truly part of the Kingdom of Heaven then their leaving will accomplish nothing. The Kingdom of Heaven is not a matter of location or geography. Unfortunately, these persons fail to realize that Church should lead them to the Kingdom of Heaven rather than be a social club with religious leanings. Regrettably, even among the most well intentioned, church has become about attracting numbers and entertaining them rather than pointing them to the Kingdom of Heaven. Those called to lead the Kingdom of Heaven are responsible for this denigration. Rather than focus on Kingdom values, we have allowed the ways of men to infiltrate the Kingdom of Heaven and the end result is we have created churches that have the similitude of the Kingdom but lack the true anointing of the Holy Spirit. As a result leaders talk about revival and spiritual awakening but at best only get physical growth and a growing disconnection from the power of the Holy Spirit. Like King Saul, to appease the lack of the power of the Holy Spirit we have implemented an ever growing focus on music. Nowhere in the pages of Holy Writ are we called to church. We are called to release the Kingdom of Heaven in the earth. It may be that some of these persons are really seeking the Kingdom of Heaven. However, going from one place that calls itself a church to another will not help them find the Kingdom of Heaven. The angels appropriately asked, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” Too often good people are led to seek the Kingdom of Heaven among man made institutions. Jesus foretold these ministrations,

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Matthew 23:15 KJV) An apostolic center represents a renewed model of kingdom authority. It provides a structure for advancing God's kingdom culture to every sphere of influence in society and to every nation. It carries a fresh vision of how the Church is delivering the gospel to a world that has become a global community. The Church should continue to engage the culture in a way that produces the Kingdom of Heaven. This is transformation. Typically a local church focuses on growing the individual members of the church and providing outreach to the surrounding community. An apostolic center focuses on equipping, launching and empowering the church to fulfill its destiny of advancing God's Kingdom, even if it is outside the local community. The emphasis in the local church is solely on fellowship and personal ties between members, while the members of an apostolic center share a common vision for social transformation and their personal role in promoting that transformation. The Kingdom mindset is focused on transformation. Those in the Kingdom of Heaven are involved. There are no spectators in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Kingdom questions are Why is it not? Or Why not? Kingdom minded people understand that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is eternal. The church today, conducts most, if not all of its activities within the cultural sphere of religion and instructs members how to support the church and its mission. The apostolic center targets all five pillars of culture (Business, Government, Church, Education, and Media (which includes arts and entertainment). Apostolic centers equip members to fulfill their God-given destiny in all these areas. Often, the local church has people operating in the offices of pastor or teacher, and possibly evangelist. The apostolic center has the five-fold ministry in full operation: apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. The Apostolic Center is led by the set man of the ministry and the apostolic team of fivefold ministers. The set man of the ministry is the one that God has given the vision for that work. Generally, this is an Apostle because that is the function: Government. The Apostle sets how that Apostolic Center is to function. As we have covered, the Prophet brings direction and the Teacher brings establishment to the Apostolic Center. Pastors are then able to nurture and Evangelists are positioned to encourage. This is the application of the fivefold ministry to the Body of Christ. 76

Apostolic centers are hubs for an apostolic network of churches that may cover a region, a nation or even the entire world. The network is relational, built on Spirit-led connections between apostolic leaders. Meetings among Christ followers should manifest the currency of the Kingdom of Heaven. When two or three believers come together Heaven shows up and shows out. When Christ followers unite there is healing, deliverance and more!

Transformation) vs. reformation A common question for churches is how many are coming? In other words, how many attend, show up or are members? In contrast Apostolic Centers are focused on sending. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ of necessity must have those who are sent. “Go into the hi-ways and byways and compel them to come.” Apostolic Centers are focused on equipping people to fulfill this mission. The question may be “How many have you sent? Or, “How many have you equipped?” Of even more importance to the Apostolic Center is how many of those being trained are themselves training and equipping others. In some church constructs this approach might be seen as a challenge to the structure of their church. In the Kingdom approach the ability of Christ followers to reproduce themselves is paramount to the mission. In order for the Kingdom of God (Heaven) to be properly manifested we must have transformation. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The Challenge ➢ We must challenge the theology of churches, denominations etc., no matter how large their attendance. The Word of God is often not what we think or want. In our modern culture what claims to representative Christ and His Kingdom often looks nothing like what God has intended. ➢ We must distance ourselves from the culture of the world but not from reaching those who are trapped in the rudiments of this world. Like the Children of Israel who could not worship their God in Egypt but had to go out of Egypt to worship. They had picked up too much of the ways of the Egyptians. Those who must lead the people of God have picked up too much of the ways of the world so that 77

we have created a church (as we know it) that is mixed up and confused. God is shaking everything until the only thing that remains is His Kingdom. ➢ People need to understand that God is really bigger, greater, more powerful than anything we can thing or imagine. That what God has done before, He can and will do today. ➢ We must challenge the manifest works of the Devil with the authority and power of Jesus Christ. We have to show that the Kingdom of Jesus Christ has power over the Devil! We must not deny the existence of the Enemy. Likewise we must teach that Satan is Defeated and if they live in the Kingdom of Heaven, if Jesus is truly our King then nothing the world or Satan conjure can change our eternal destiny! ➢ We must equip (teach) the people that they have victory in Jesus. They do not have to live in their sins, but can be delivered from their sins! ➢ People have to be willing to pay the price to live for Jesus! People need to realize that God does hear their prayer and He will make the difference if they will spend time alone with God. This pattern of life will change their lives and cause them to recognize the power of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the anointing. This anointing will cause them to impact other people releasing the power of Jesus Christ in the earth. ➢ We must learn the ways, principles of God and call people to repent and live as the King has demanded. CONTRASTING KINGDOM AND CHURCH

Do not miss this key point.

Church is not in contrast to church as some imagine. Church operating in the proper function is an important part of the Kingdom of God. However, church like we often see it (especially in the Western culture) is enmity with the Kingdom of Heaven. The reason for this is that the church often becomes self autonomous and operates like a social club rather than an embassy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Normally it is a good thing to not have to rely on and depend upon others. Usually it is good to have a fair degree of autonomy. We expect of every baby and toddler that they will eventually grow up to be self-sufficient in so many ways – able to feed and clothe themselves, able to support themselves, and able to be independent and selffunctioning adults. But in the biblical and spiritual sense, autonomy means something 78

quite different: it is not a virtue at all, but a horrendous sin. The biblical worldview posits a God who is there, who has created all things, and expects of his moral creatures a loyalty, dependency and obedience at all times.55 Webster defines autonomy as, “the fact or condition or being autonomous; selfgovernment; independence; any state that governs itself.” Autonomy then, as the Christian worldview would understand it, is the sinful desire on the part of man to act, think, and behave in a way that is self-governing. We decide how we will conduct our lives, not Scripture. ▪ Kingdom leaders have a biblical worldview that encompasses all of life. Our autonomy is surrendered to Jesus Christ. Church leaders often have a semiGnostic Greek view of Scripture that regards only spiritual things as important and very often project their independence, autonomy, etc. ▪ Kingdom leaders know that the earth is the Lord’s and not the devil’s (Psalm 24)! They know that the Word became flesh. Thus, the material world is also sacred and something to be cultivated (Genesis 2:15). ▪ Church leaders are only concerned with spiritual things like prayer, healing, the gifts and fruit of the Spirit, etc., which is not terrible. However, these spiritual things are only really effective if they are applied to our walk with God and its concomitant love of neighbor as salt and light. ▪ Kingdom leaders desire to interweave the principles of God’s Word into every fabric of culture so every nation and city favors following Christ and bases civic laws on biblical precepts. ▪ Most Church leaders are not overly concerned with politics and economics but with adding new converts who, without a biblical worldview, will only perpetuate humanistic ungodly systems with their partial “spiritual” gospel. These will, as Scripture says, embrace a form of Godliness but deny the power of the Holy Spirit (II Timothy 3:5). ▪ Kingdom leaders teach the church to embrace their secular communities before they experience conversion and offer transformation to the unbelieving and unconverted. Church leaders embrace people into their faith communities only after they meet the predetermined criteria of their church’s membership. ▪ Kingdom leaders regard their cities and communities as gifts to the church and to the people who live in them. They embrace their communities in humility and send their members into their communities as servant leaders bringing transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit. The servant leaders of the Kingdom of Heaven will be the greatest problem solvers of the most challenging human needs.

https://billmuehlenberg.com/2014/04/10/the-grievous-sin-of-autonomy/

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Church leaders only embrace individuals in their communities after they have professed faith in Christ (at best) or agree to meet the church’s financial requirements. Thus, they insulate and isolate themselves and their churches from the felt needs of their communities, yet are joyful as long as their churches are growing and their bills are paid. Kingdom leaders turn the world upside down (Acts 17:1-7). Church leaders restructure their local churches.56

In Acts 17 it was said, when the apostles came into a community, that ‘those who turned the world upside down have come here also.’ Nowadays the typical church mindset is only concerned with what happens within the four walls of the church building. There are many churches that, if they closed down, the local community boards, police stations, and political leaders would barely notice they were gone! ▪

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Kingdom leaders articulate Christ as Lord over every culture. Church leaders preach Christ as only the head of the church or even more narrowly as head of their denomination or movement. Kingdom leaders recognize Jesus’ place as King of every secular king. This has vast cultural and political implications, and pressures the church to engage the secular arena. Those with a church mindset only preach Christ as the head of the church and neglect Jesus’ function as King over the unredeemed world! Kingdom leaders shepherd whole communities. Church leaders shepherd only their church congregations. Kingdom leaders understand they are called to communities, not only to local churches. Hence, they see themselves as chaplains and spiritual leaders of regions. This is the sense of a Regional Apostolic Center. Church leaders feel no responsibility to their communities because they feel committed only to those who attend their Sunday services or those who financially support their church. These types of churches hold their denominational dictates higher than the Word of God. Kingdom leaders attempt to exorcise demons out of ungodly social systems. Church leaders may cast devils out of individual people, but even that is rare as the message of most churches is to please the people and appease the demons. Kingdom leaders understand that Jesus came to redeem systemic sin, not just individual sin (read Colossians 1:20). Church leaders only feel called to deal with individual evil and then only sometimes. Thus, they interpret passages such as Luke 4:18 as dealing with the individual poor and oppressed, neglecting the systemic reference from which it came. (Read Isaiah 61:1-4 to see that Luke 4:18 concerns redeeming and restoring desolate cities, not just individuals in need.)

Joseph Materra. http://josephmattera.org/contrasting-a-kingdom-mindset-with-a-church-mindset

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Kingdom leaders pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Church leaders pray for revival in their churches expecting that revival will bring in more people who will pay more tithes and offerings.57

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11) teaches us to pray that God’s will be done and His Kingdom would come on earth. Thus, kingdom leaders have as their prayer focus the Kingdom being manifest on the earth. Many churches are designed to develop a man made kingdom here on earth with the only real emphasis on the Kingdom of Heaven being for personal increase. Leaders with a church mindset are content with only the signs of the Kingdom (healing and deliverance of individuals as found in Matthew 12:28 and Hebrews 2:1-3) and focus on ‘prophecy’ that speaks well to the people instead of striving for a manifestation of the Kingdom in their cities that impacts the quality of life politically and economically (Isaiah 61:3-4). ▪

Kingdom leaders believe for the gospel to economically lift whole communities. Church leaders believe for greater tithes and offerings to support their building projects and programs.

What should the Kingdom look like? Like a natural kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven may be encountered in many facets of life. The most visible to the public is what we generally call church. However, every place that calls itself a church is not a church as related to the Kingdom of Heaven. Every place that calls itself a church is likely a church, but churches can be designated in at least 3 categories: ➢ those ordained by God as embassies of the Kingdom of Heaven ➢ those procured by men to build man made kingdoms, and ➢ Those designated by Satan to build his kingdom. Many churches claim Christ but offer tenets that are contrary to the Kingdom of Heaven. Every day in the world some group claims to be the true representative of the people in that Kingdom. These revolutionaries generally overthrow, or attempt to overthrow the existing Kingdom to establish their new Kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven is not like these natural kingdoms. The Kingdom of Heaven cannot be overthrown by natural means. 57

Joseph Materra. http://josephmattera.org/contrasting-a-kingdom-mindset-with-a-church-mindset

The Kingdom of Heaven might well be encountered in unlikely place such as a healing room or even a doctor’s office. This setting will offer Kingdom delivered in areas of healing, counseling, nutrition, prayer etc. Kingdom oriented people understand that God is the healer. Healing can come solely by divine like the woman with the issue of blood in Scripture or by design such as help with nutrition.

Here are 4 areas for Kingdom Leaders to focus: 1. That Others Will Glorify God The ultimate goal of all spiritual leadership is that other people might come to glorify God; that is, might so feel and think and act as to magnify the true character of God. According to Matthew 5:14–16, one of the crucial means by which a Christian leader brings other people to glorify God is by being a person who loves both friend and foe. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” This text shows that there is an attitude and lifestyle that is so distinctive that when it appears in the arena of fallen humanity, it gives valid evidence that there is a God and that he is a gloriously trustworthy heavenly Father. When the reality of God’s promises to take care of us and to work everything together for our good grips our hearts so that we do not fall prey to greed or fear or vainglory but rather manifest a contentment and a love and a freedom for other people, then the world will have to admit that the one who gives us hope and freedom must be real and glorious. 2. Love Both Friend and Foe by Trusting in God and Hoping in His Promises But how shall we attain to a love that is strong enough to bless and pray for its enemies? The answer given in Scripture (and this is the second level in the inner circle) is that trust in God and hope in his promises leads to love. Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” That is, when we have strong faith in the goodness of God, it inevitably works itself out in love. Colossians 1:4–5 says, “We heard of your faith in 82

Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.” “Trust in God and hope in his promises give us the strength to love others — even our enemies.” In other words, when our hope is strong, we are freed from fears and cares that prevent the free exercises of love. Therefore, a spiritual leader must be a person who has strong confidence in the sovereign goodness of God to work everything together for his good. Otherwise, he will inevitably fall into the trap of manipulating circumstances and exploiting people in order to secure for himself a happy future which he is not certain God will provide. 3. Meditate on and Pray over His Word But how shall we sinners come to have this kind of confidence in God? Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” And Psalm 119:18 says, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” These two texts together show us that faith in God is rooted in God’s word. When we hear God’s word, especially the preaching of Christ in whom all the promises of God have their Yes (2 Corinthians 1:20), we are moved to trust him — but this does not happen automatically. We must pray that our eyes be open to the true significance of the word of God in Scripture. So, the spiritual leader must be a person who meditates on the word of God and who prays for spiritual illumination. Otherwise, his faith will grow weak and his love will languish and no one will be moved to glorify God because of him. 4. Acknowledge Your Helplessness We must ask how a person comes to be willing to spend time with and be open to the word of God. The answer seems to be that we must acknowledge our helplessness. All true spiritual leadership has its roots in desperation. Jesus commended the man who said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Jesus said of his own ministry, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). This means that the beginning of spiritual leadership must be in the acknowledgement that we are the sick who need a physician. Once we are humbled to that point, we will be opened to reading the doctor’s prescription in the word. And as we read the wonderful promises that are there for those of us who trust the doctor, our faith will grow strong and our hope will become solid. And when our faith is strong and our hope is solid, all the barriers to love, like greed and 83

fear, will be swept away. When we become the kind of people who can risk our lives, even for our enemies, and who don’t hold grudges and who devote our energies to do others good rather than seeking our own aggrandizement, then people will see and give glory to our Father in heaven. “To lead effectively, you must be out ahead of your people in Bible study and prayer.” The implication of this inner circle of leadership is that, in order to lead, you have to be out ahead of your people in Bible study and prayer. I think there will be no successful spiritual leadership without extended seasons of prayer and meditation on the Scriptures. Spiritual leaders ought to rise early in order to meet God before they meet anybody else. They will probably want to keep a journal of insights and ideas as they read the word and pray. They will want to read books about prayer (for example, the eight books by E.M. Bounds). They will want to take a periodic half-day retreat with a Bible and a notebook and a hymnbook and be alone with God. If you want to be a great leader of people, you have to get away from people to be with God. Hudson Taylor’s Example Dr. Howard Taylor, in Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret (234–235), describes an experience that he had traveling with his father, Hudson Taylor, through China. He writes, it was not easy for Mr. Taylor in his changeful life, to make time for prayer and Bible study, but he knew that it was vital. Well do the writers remember traveling with him month after month in northern China, by cart and wheelbarrow, with the poorest of inns at night. Often with only one large room for coolies and travelers alike, they would screen off a corner for their father and another for themselves, with curtains of some sort; and then after sleep at last had brought a measure of quiet they would hear a match struck and seek the flicker of candlelight which told that Mr. Taylor, however weary, was pouring over the little Bible in two volumes always at hand. From two to four a.m. was the time he usually gave to prayer; the time when he could be most sure of being undisturbed to wait upon God. That flicker of candlelight has meant more to them than all they have read or heard on secret prayer; it meant reality, not preaching but practice. The hardest part of the missionary career, Mr. Taylor found, is to maintain regular, prayerful Bible study. “Satan will always find you something to do,” he would say, “when you ought to be occupied about that, if it is only arranging a window blind.”

George Mueller’s Example George Mueller is noteworthy for his great faith in the work of his orphanages. In his autobiography he has a section entitled, “How to Be Constantly Happy in the Lord.” He complains how for years he used to try to pray early in the morning and found that his mind wandered again and again. Then he made a discovery. He records it like this: The point is this: I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished. . . . Before this time my practice had been at least for ten years previously as a habitual thing to give myself to prayer after having dressed in the morning. Now I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the word of God and to meditation on it, that thus my heart might be comforted, encouraged, warned, reproved, instructed; and that thus, while meditating, my heart might be brought into experimental communion with the Lord. I began, therefore, to meditate on the New Testament from the beginning early in the morning. The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord’s blessing upon his precious word, was to begin to meditate on the word of God, searching as it were into every verse to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the word; not for the sake of preaching on what I had meditated upon; but for the sake of obtaining food for my soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this, that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer. When thus I have been for a while making confession or intercession or supplication or have given thanks, I go on to the next words or verse, turning all, as I go on, into prayer for myself or others, as the word may lead to it; but still continually keeping before me that food for my soul as the object of my meditation. The result of this is that there is always a good deal of confession, thanksgiving, supplication, or intercession mingled with my meditation and that my inner man almost invariably is almost sensibly nourished and strengthened and that by breakfast time, with rare exceptions, I am in a peaceful if not a happy state of heart. 85

Mueller: “The first thing the child of God has to do morning by morning is to obtain food for the inner man.” “Careful and rigorous thought is not contrary to a reliance on prayer and divine revelation.” Leaders should, much like a medical professional, consider diagnose the challenge (this with prayer and fasting and treat accordingly. The 500 hundred pound man who is having troubling dreams could be identified with some spiritual challenge. However, it is much more likely that it is a physical one. Much of the church is wallowing in spiritual lethargy. This is identified as listless and tired living more about themselves. This is the number one reason that people are not involved in the Kingdom of Heaven as Kingdom involvement is much more than church membership. We help people by praying for them. David went from being a shepherd boy to a giant killer to King of Israel.