KINGDOM Life Winter 2012 by Titus Mathew

K GDOM

The Salubrious Experience | Rock Bottom | Dominion Destiny

LIFE

International Magazine for Kingdom Living

kingdomlifemag.com

Kingdom Influencing the

World's Most Popular Sport

Exclusive Interview with Major League Soccer Star Steve Zakuani of the Seattle Sounders FC

2012:

A New Year to Rediscover the Oldest Priority Myles Munroe

The Search for Utopia

OCCUPY EARTH: A Contrast to the Religious Evacuation Plan

WINTER 2012

NATIONS VISION GLOBAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

ENVISIONING LEADERS, TRANSFORMING NATIONS

ямБnd out more @ www.nationsvision.org

CONTENTS WINTER 2012

On The Cover

STEVE ZAKUANI Exclusive Interview with Major League Soccer Star Steve Zakuani

The Features 16 2 012: A NEW YEAR TO REDISCOVER THE OLDEST PRIORITY By Dr. Myles Munroe

22 YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE By Jonathan Shibley

32 OCCUPY EARTH

A Contrast to the Religious Evacuation Plan By Titus Mathew

36 THE SEARCH FOR UTOPIA By Dr. Myles Munroe

40 CAN YOUR FOUNDATION WEATHER THE STORMS? Kingdom Response to Crisis By Trista Sue Kragh

44 THE SALUBRIOUS EXPERIENCE Health and Hormonal Aging By Dr. Cris Enruquez

48 MARRIAGE & RELATIONSHIPS by Ruth Munroe

52 TRAIN UP A CHILD

Preserving the Future of the Kingdom By Dave Burrows

66 The Features

56 EQUIPPING TOOLS FOR LEADERS The Getting Equipped™ Series By Joe & Jo Hughes

60 THE PRINCIPLE OF YEAST Power of Kingdom Influence By Dr. Pepe Ramnath

66 GOD’S REAL ESTATE AGENTS By Dr. Rick Kendall

68 ROCK BOTTOM

The Catapult to Self Discovery By Roberto Hernandez

72 THE POWER OF KINGDOM INTERVENTION By Raymond Eneas

76 DOMINION DESTINY By Glenn Bleakney

78 SUMMIT REPORT 80 KINGDOM GLOBAL REPORT 82 AFTERWORD

By Dr. Myles Munroe

ASK

Dr. Myles

Issue

WINTER 2012

International Magazine for Kingdom Living

ISSUES/YEAR

VISION STATEMENT To be the most resourceful magazine on the subject of the Kingdom, it’s understanding and its application

Annual Subscription USA

MISSION STATEMENT To rediscover the original culture of mankind

PUBLISHING Publisher & Editorial Director Titus Mathew Editor-in-Chief Dr. Myles Munroe Executive Editor Trista Sue Kragh Associate Editor Christine Tracy Copy Editor Achie McEachern PRODUCTION Creative Director David Pilcher Graphic Design The Winn Group Web Design Paulo Camacho Web Strategy Gustavo Hernando II Social Media Abraham Thomas Advertising Roberto Hernandez Cover Photo Credit: Seattle Sounders FC PUBLICATION TO SUBSCRIBE www.kingdomlifemag.com/subscribe or Email: subscribe@kingdomlifemag.com How to reach us:

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KINGDOM LIFE (ISSN 2162-3902) is published quarterly (4 issues) for $11.95 per year by REGENZ Media, LLC., 5000 Eldorado Pkwy, Suite 150, Frisco, TX 75033; (214) 550-1602. Periodical postage paid at Frisco, TX and additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA. Reproductions in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. © 2011 REGENZ Media. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to KINGDOM Life, P.O. Box 2505, Frisco, TX 75034-0046

FROM THE PUBLISHER Welcome to the second edition of KINGDOM Life Magazine! After a great launch with our Premiere edition this Fall, we are off and running and reaching out to a global audience with the message of the Kingdom. We are receiving letters and emails from readers saying how truly thrilled they are to see this new magazine and the depth of its content. We have expanded our reach across the nation and to countries around the globe both in print and through our online edition. Print copies of KINGDOM Life are now in over 25 nations of the world, and growing! Each month we are adding new international distributors and expanding our global reach. This response is due to the hunger for the message of the Kingdom around the world and we are fortunate to be one of the conduits to facilitate it. A New Year always brings fresh optimism and anticipation. The number 12 represents completion, maturity and fullness. With the New Year in perspective, Dr. Myles Munroe brings us a powerful and thought provoking article, 2012: A New Year to Rediscover the Oldest Priority. His second article The Search for Utopia examines the human quest for meaning and fulfillment. “Ask Dr. Myles” will continue to be one of our regular columns where he will answer specific questions to Kingdom related topics. They are randomly selected from those who submitted questions to us via email or by postings on our Facebook page. If you have a question that you would like Dr. Myles to answer, send an email to editor@ kingdomlifemag.com. If we select your question to be answered, it will be featured in one of the future issues. Also, Pastor Ruth Munroe joins us in this issue with an article on Marriage and Relationship that provides a Kingdom perspective to our most important relationships. With the second issue, we have added new features and built on some of the ones we had in our first edition. This issue is rich with content that will help you gain better understanding of how to live in the Kingdom and apply those principles to daily life. Our goal is to address all areas of living with a Kingdom perspective. This edition covers health, parenting, business, influence, purpose and many others. Our cover story is an exciting interview with a professional soccer player, Steve Zakuani, of the Seattle Sounders. This amazing young man is blazing a trail in the soccer world not only with his athletic skills but also by being an agent of change to influence the world of sports with his organization, Kingdom Hope. In this time of economic uncertainty it is critical to know how solid a foundation you have. Trista Sue engages us with her thoughtful insight on how to weather storms in these turbulent times, and what the Kingdom response to crisis should be. Once again this issue is the result of a great team effort. We welcomed several new team members, (Gustavo, Achie, Abraham and Roberto) as well as a new graphic design team, The Winn Group. A special thanks to Achie McEachern, our new Copy Editor for a great job, who hit the ground running with her careful attention to details. Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments and suggestions as we continue to grow this publication to reach the global audience with the Kingdom message. I would love to hear your feedback. You can write to me at my email address below. Visit our website (www.kingdomlifemag.com), for updated information about the magazine. To see new postings and developments, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@kingdomlifemag) and “like” our Facebook Page at www. facebook.com/kingdomlifemag. Lastly, if you haven’t subscribed to the print edition, I encourage you to do so. You can find information about subscriptions on our website. Best wishes for the New Year as you continue to Advance the Kingdom around the world.

Titus Mathew Publisher & Editorial Director titus@kingdomlifemag.com Twitter @kingdomlifemag

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR I am so grateful for the success of the premier issue of KINGDOM Life Magazine. We are spreading the message of the Kingdom of God in over 25 nations! My appreciation goes out to all who have supported the fruit of our labor. One thing I have realized this year is that it is impossible to succeed without community. There is no such thing as a ‘self-made man.’ It takes a team to complete a project and transform a vision into a reality; as well as people to consume the product you are producing. You are only as healthy as the community that you came from. Not everyone is fortunate to come from a balanced community, therefore some of us had to find, or create our own. Everyone is looking for a community to be accepted in because it is a fundamental place to find your value. Some people find it in the gym, or some other hobby, because they couldn’t find a healthy community in the church. According to the Bible, God’s form of rebuke is putting one out of the community. Isolation is what He considers punishment for sin. This is what happens when someone is locked up in jail. They have not behaved to the level that is acceptable for society, thus they are removed from it completely. When someone is compromising their values they must be confronted for the sake of the community. We see this happening a number of times in both the Old and New Testaments. It can be difficult for Americans to comprehend the importance of community because the foundation of our nation is built on individual freedom. I had to change my mentality when I realized that God is more concerned about the community as a whole, rather than the individual. We must mourn with those who mourn, and rejoice with those who have cause to rejoice. We don’t have a true Kingdom mind-set when we are jealous or resentful when someone is promoted or blessed by God. The Bible even teaches that we must carry each other’s burdens! (See Galatians 6:2) A Kingdom community will reflect the same nature and characteristics of God. They will not have the same attitudes or values the world has. Instead, they will be a picture of character, joy, happiness and peace on the earth, regardless of the circumstances, as a testimony for the world to see. Even our response to adversity must be different than the world. If you have not found a Kingdom community to connect with in your city, create your own! “May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples.” (Genesis 28:3)

Trista Sue Kragh Executive Editor

Celebrating the launch of

Magazine KINGDOM Life Magazine was launched in the United States and internationally earlier this fall. Kicking off with the global launch in Nassau, Bahamas - the KLM team continued the promotional events at several key conferences and venues across the nation. KINGDOM Life was represented at Word Explosion conference in Tulsa, OK, followed by an event at Oral Roberts University. In September, KLM was one of the sponsors at CONNEXT 2011 (South Asian Leadership Conference) in Dallas, TX. In October, KINGDOM Life was featured at the CAP Conference in Miami, FL. In November, the team traveled to Nassau, Bahamas for the 2011 Global Leadership Summit and finished the year strong by representation at the global Call2All event in Long Beach, California in December.

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KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

Norway Papua New Guinea Philippines South Africa Sri Lanka Suriname Sweden Switzerland The Netherlands Trinidad & Tobago United Kingdom United States

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If you are interested in becoming an International distributor, or a regional representative in the US, please contact the publisher at titus@kingdomlifemag.com. Availability is limited for exclusive territories.

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LIVING Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Priority Assignment

2012: A NEW YEAR

To Rediscover The Oldest Priority BY

DR. MYLES MUNROE

REDISCOVERING THE PRIORITY Moving into a new year is like turning a page in history and destiny hands you a new pen to write the future you desire for your life. The number 12 is symbolic for “completion” or “perfection.” Therefore 2012 gives us a sense of arriving at a place of conclusion and finality in our lives. I believe this is the year when mankind must rediscover and embrace the most important “complete idea” ever given.

KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

LIVING God’s Priority Assignment A new year also makes us aware of the passage of the most important element in our lives: time. The key to success in this New Year is to maximize an effective use of our time.

Priority can be defined as:

The only way to effectively manage your time on earth is to understand the principle and power of priority.

- Establishing the most important thing

- The principal thing - Putting first things first

- Primary focus - Placing in order of importance

added to you.” This declaration by Jesus also suggests that there must be something about the Kingdom that all of mankind missed and misunderstood. If everything we pursue and strive after to live and survive is found in the Kingdom, then we have been misguided, and perhaps have self-imposed unnecessary hardship, stress, and frustration.

Life on earth holds no greater challenge than the - Placing highest value and worth “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, upon complicating daily demand of choosing among for tomorrow will worry about itself. competing alternatives for our limited time. Our - First among all others Each day has enough trouble of its own.” life is the sum total of all the decisions we make (Matthew 6:34 NIV) every day, and those decisions are determined by our priorities. How we use our time every day eventually defines GOD’S PRIORITY ASSIGNMENT our lives. Life was designed to be simple, not complicated, and the FOR MANKIND key to simplifying life is prioritization. Identifying the correct and right priority of life is the key to a successful and fulfilled life. So For the last 43 years this simple mandate, laid down by Jesus then, what is the principle and concept of priority? Christ, has been my life’s mission. And it continues to regulate If our priorities determine the quality of life and dictate all of our actions and behavior, then it is essential that we understand and identify our priorities. The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but life without a purpose—life with the wrong priorities. Life’s greatest challenge is in knowing what to do. The greatest mistake in life is to be busy but not effective. Life’s greatest failure is to be successful in the wrong assignment. Success in life is measured by the effective use of one’s time. Time is the true measure of life. In fact, time is the currency of life. How you spend your time determines the quality of your life and death. You become whatever you buy with your time. Always be aware that everything and everyone around you is vying for your time. Your time is important because your time is your life; and the key to using your time effectively is to establish correct priorities.

FIRST THINGS FIRST! When your priorities are correct, you preserve and protect your life. Correct priority is the principle of progress because when you establish your priorities according to your purpose and goals, your progress is guaranteed. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV) Here, Jesus states God’s number one priority: “Seek first His Kingdom.” This is the most important statement made by the Lord Jesus, and it establishes what should be the first priority in our lives. Jesus identifies the Kingdom as being more important than food, water, clothing, shelter and every other basic human need. According to His assessment, what should be mankind’s priority and primary preoccupation in life? The Kingdom of God. God’s number one priority for mankind is that we discover, understand and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is this priority that motivated me to write this article. The priorities of all human beings are concealed in the words, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything you need for life will be 18

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

my life decisions today. The benefits that have come from this commitment have been beyond my expectations, which is one reason why I am wholeheartedly committed to assisting you in understanding this wonderful reality of Kingdom living. I have laid out the practical process of fulfilling this mandate so you can clearly see that this is one priority we must reorder. Our first instruction from Jesus is to seek. This means to pursue, study, explore, understand, learn, and consider. Seekers must have a desire to know, and possess a passion for the object of their search. To seek means to give diligent dedication and to preoccupy one’s self with that which one is seeking. The Kingdom must be pursued, studied, understood, and learned. Second, Jesus tells us to make the Kingdom first. In other words, the Kingdom must be our top priority – the principal thing to place before all others as most important. The Kingdom must be placed above everything else and should have no competition. It is important to understand that because a kingdom is not a religion, the priority of mankind should not be to seek a religion or some form of ritual. The word for “kingdom” in this verse is basileia (NT: 923), the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Radah or mamlakah (OT: 4467), translated in Genesis 1:26 as “dominion.” Both words mean dominion, sovereign rule, kingdom, reign, or royal power. In this article, we will focus on this concept in detail because it should be our priority and it is generally an unknown or misunderstood concept in most modern cultures. In practical terms, a kingdom may be defined as “the sovereign rule of a king over a territory (domain), impacting it with his will, purpose, and intent.” In this biblical text, the word “kingdom” as used by Jesus, refers to God’s government, God’s rulership, and God’s dominion over the earth. The Kingdom of God means God’s will executed, God’s jurisdiction, Heaven’s influence, God’s administration, and God’s impact and influence.

A kingdom isâ&#x20AC;Ś The governing influence of a king over his territory, impacting it with his personal will, purpose, and intent; producing culture, values, morals, and lifestyle that reflect the kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desires and nature for his citizens.

KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

LIVING God’s Priority Assignment Jesus’ final instruction to us in this verse is to “seek also the righteousness of the Kingdom”. This is another vital concept that has been diluted in the waters of religion and must be recovered if we are to understand the Kingdom and experience the abundant life all humans deserve. The word righteousness is actually from the discipline of law, not religion, and implies right positioning. To be righteous means to be in legal or lawful alignment, right standing, correct fellowship and in right relationship with authority; to fulfill the requirements of authority.

To accomplish this purpose we must understand: - Kingdom concept - Kingdom philosophy

LOSS OF A CONCEPT

The Kingdom concept as a whole has been lost to contemporary human - Kingdom law culture, especially in the Western - Kingdom culture world. In his attempt to create the - Kingdom society Kingdom of Heaven on earth, man - Kingdom economy has opted to design his own forms - Kingdom citizenship of government. But his experiments continue to fail: evil kingdoms, - Kingdom provision empires, dictators, communism, - Kingdom worship socialism, democracy…and the list - Kingdom protocol goes on. The desire for righteous - Kingdom representation In essence, righteousness describes the government burns in the heart of maintenance of the rightly aligned relationship every human. All of us are seeking the with a governing authority so as to qualify for the right to receive Kingdom even if we all don’t realize it. Many historical kingdoms governmental privileges. This is why Jesus emphasizes the of the past contained several components that resemble the Kingdom and the need to be righteous so that you can receive Kingdom of God and can be beneficial to us when studied. “all things added unto you.” This promise includes all of your I was born in 1954 under a kingdom that at that time ruled the physical, social, emotional, psychological and financial needs. Bahamas and colonized our lives. This experience has made it easier for me to understand the Bible because it is a book about a King and a Kingdom. My goal in this present writing is to reintroduce the concept of the Kingdom to a world who has lost it. Most people alive today have never had any contact or experiences with a kingdom. Consequently, ignorance of the Kingdom concept makes it difficult to fully understand the message of the Bible. This publication will unveil many of the unique concepts and components of a kingdom that will help you immediately understand the words, claims, promises, and methods of God as well as the life and message of Jesus. - Kingdom government

WHY RELIGIOUS GOVERNMENTS FAIL Since the fall of man, he has tried to imitate this concept of Kingdom; but throughout history, man’s every attempt to establish a heavenly Kingdom on earth has failed. This is why religious governments always fail, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or any other form. It is for this reason that God Himself had to come to earth to bring the heavenly Kingdom back to this planet. The earth cannot give rise to the Kingdom of Heaven independently; the Kingdom of Heaven must issue forth from Heaven. Man lost a Kingdom, and a Kingdom is what he is looking for. Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of Heaven back to the earth, not to establish a religion. This is why religion cannot satisfy or fulfill man’s spirit. The Kingdom of Heaven has top priority by virtue of its role in the original purpose of man’s creation. As such, the Kingdom was the first form of government on earth.

According to Jesus, the most important priority and preoccupation of all mankind should be the seeking and studying of the Heavenly Kingdom government, administration of the Creator God and His purposed plan and program to impact earth. But in a practical sense, how does one go about seeking this Kingdom? How does one explore the concept, nature, function, program, components, principles, and power of the Kingdom? The secret to a full and fulfilled life is discovery, understanding, and application of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Religion postpones the Kingdom to a future experience. But you must remember that you cannot appropriate what you postpone. God’s desire for you is that you enter the Kingdom life now and experience, explore, apply, practice, and enjoy living with the benefits, promises, and privileges of Heaven on earth. Embrace the New Year, rediscover the number one priority in life, and let the adventure begin!

About the author – Dr. Myles Munroe is founder and chairman of the International Third World Leaders Association (ITWLA), an organiza-

tion devoted to training and developing leaders in over 80 developing nations. Dr. Munroe is a multi-gifted international motivational speaker, bestselling author, business and government consultant, mentor and ambassador for his country, the Bahamas. He has written over 45 books and has addressed audiences in over 78 nations addressing critical issues affecting every aspect of human, social, and spiritual development. He is also the founder, president and senior pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International, headquartered in Nassau, Bahamas. For more information visit: www.mylesmunroeinternational.com. 20

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

BUSINESS In God We Trust

YOUR

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE 22

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

JONATHAN SHIBLEY

lot of business schools and business books talk about the importance of having a “Competitive Advantage.” The idea of a competitive advantage is that there exists a superior value or distinction that consumers are drawn to. Do you realize that through the Holy Spirit’s empowerment you have been given a competitive advantage for life and work? In Christ, you have been given the access and privilege to a realm of abundant life that can only be available to those who know Him. This competitive advantage can be harnessed and used to bring honor and glory to God in every aspect of our lives, including business. In Exodus 31, God told Moses that He had filled Bezalel with His Spirit, arming him with unique skill, ability and knowledge to accomplish his work. God’s supernatural empowerment is available for you in the marketplace.

THE EDGE OF ACCESS We have access to divine favor. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says that God’s eyes are constantly scanning the earth, looking for hearts who are fully His, so that He might strongly support them. What would it look like if God strongly supports your business efforts? The closer we draw to God, the more His heart penetrates our hearts. Things begin to come into alignment. Our priorities, plans and motives all begin to line up with His, as we spend time in His presence. Favor, more than any other element, may be the most necessary for promotion, advancement and acceleration in business. We can boldly ask God for favor, provided that our hearts are truly drawn towards Him. Psalm 5:12 says the Lord blesses the righteous and surrounds them with His favor like a shield. Picture your life being “shielded” with favor! In business, a shield of favor will land accounts that you could not have gotten on your own. A shield of favor will help you win the hearts of key decision makers for no apparent reason. A shield of favor may also protect you from getting a job that you thought was good, only ending to be disastrous. As our hearts and motives align with His, the shield of favor is available for us. I have an attorney friend named Lorne in the Dallas area who still attributes God’s divine favor to the 22-year success of his firm. In the late 1980’s he had a divine encounter with a famous former Dallas Cowboys player. This former player, who was heavily involved in real estate, learned that Lorne was contemplating launching a practice. They met on a Tuesday and Lorne was told that he needed to complete a major project in only two weeks. His partner and their wives prayed, and by faith stepped out, committing their practice to the Lord. By that Saturday they had found an office, hired a staff person and completed the project on time. This one divine encounter turned into 20 years worth of business and other client relationships. KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

BUSINESS In God We Trust We also have access to divine creativity. In Christ all things were created and He is the author of creativity. The more we tap into the life-giving vine of Jesus, the more we can plug into His creative element, which transcends every area of life. Business rewards creative ideas and solutions. Our lives are like an empty canvas. God gives us the paint and the brush and is says, “Go paint a beautiful picture for me!” I’ll never forget meeting Rose, an entrepreneur in Kazakhstan. One day God gave her an invention for a unique bug repellant. Her business began to experience major growth. Through that one Godinspired solution, her business has helped create jobs and fund missions work in Afghanistan! In India I toured a textile business that today is thriving, providing hundreds of jobs and helping to fund missions work all over. But it didn’t start that way. It started with a man who received a divine idea and strategy one day in prayer. This man barely had enough rupees [Indian currency] to buy one sewing machine. He stepped out in faith, launched His business and God began to bring increase year after year. The very essence or meaning of the word “entrepreneur” was termed by Jean-Baptiste Say in the 19th century. It is one who “shifts economic resources from lower to higher productivity or yield.” The familiar charge of Jesus in Luke 19 to “do business until I come” urged resourcefulness, creativity and productive yield. The Master honored and rewarded those who produced and rebuked the one who gave no genuine effort. Kingdom entrepreneurs seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance to align with Father God and the Son in bringing His purposes to the Earth. God’s creative genius finds outlets through His business partners to inject life, hope, restoration and peace into the world that will bring Him glory. His creative element brings new realities. We have access to eternal truth through the Word of God. The latest, trendiest business books are typically retelling ancient truths and principles found in the Bible. The Bible has answers to every business challenge. My friend Mark is a very wealthy, successful businessman in the oil and gas arena. People who know Mark know two things about him. They know that he’s a savvy businessperson and they know that everywhere he goes his Bible goes with him. Mark’s Bible must have several hundred tabs in it where he’s marked, circled and highlighted various verses. One day he told me about his [well worn] Bible and all the tabs: “Each one of these tabs represents a problem I’ve had

to deal with and the answer to that problem.” What a resource and guide for life we’ve been given in the Word of God! It should be our number one business book. We have access to the fruit of the Spirit. After the fruits of the Spirit are listed in Galatians, it says, “…against such things there is no law.” In other words, when we allow the Holy Spirit to operate in and through us, these fruits are acceptable and welcomed in any context or setting. Don’t ever underestimate the importance of discernment. The Holy Spirit can guide us through discernment, one of the key elements of successful decision-making. We need His discernment to know whether a deal is real or shaky. We need discernment to know who to work with, and who to stay away from. In all things, the closer we are to God the more we’ll be able to discern His will. Our competitive advantage, or that which will set us apart, is directly linked to our personal walk with the Lord. The more we draw near to Him and allow Him to fill us, the more our lives will bear a distinction that the rest of the world longs for. Because we have access to these privileges does not exclude us from problems or hardships. There is no magic wand that we can wave to make all our problems disappear. However, there is a deeper reservoir of grace, enablement and anointing that we can embrace as we press into God. As we mature as persons walking in His presence, we’ll become increasingly perceptive to divine ideas, opportunities, discernment and appointments.

About the author – Jonathan Shibley serves as president of Global Advance, a ministry that has brought training and encouragement to more than 500,000 pastors and marketplace leaders in 80 nations. For more information go to: www.globaladvance.org.

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

SPECIAL Major League Soccer

Kingdom Influences the

WORLD’S MOST POPULAR SPORT Steve Zakuani, of the Seattle Sounders FC talks to KINGDOM Life

KINGDOM Life Magazine is honored to feature rising young soccer star, Steve Zakuani. He has not only made his mark in the soccer world but is also impacting it with the message of the Kingdom. Soccer, which is commonly known as football in most countries outside the United States, is by far the most popular sport in the world. With the ever-increasing popularity of the game and professional Major League Soccer (MLS) well established, the game is making great inroads into the American sports culture, while continuing its dominance in other parts of the world. Steve Zakuani, who was the University of Akron’s soccer phenomenon, was named the first overall pick of the 2009 Major League Soccer SuperDraft; selected by the MLS expansion team, the Seattle Sounders Football Club. Two years ago he launched Kingdom Hope, a nonprofit organization with an aim to help and inspire individuals to become great achievers in all areas of life.

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

Titus Mathew, Publisher and Editorial Director of KINGDOM Life Magazine interviewed this amazing young 23-year-old soccer player, the star forward of the Seattle Sounders FC.

Q&a KINGDOM LIFE MAGAZINE - What influenced you to become interested in soccer? How did that lead you to eventually become a professional soccer player for one of the top Major League Soccer teams, the Seattle Sounders? STEVE ZAKUANI - I’ve basically been playing soccer since I was five years old. I began by just playing on the streets of London with my friends, and then I eventually signed with Arsenal Football Club’s youth team. Arsenal is one of the biggest teams in the world and to be a part of their youth program for five years was incredible. After I left Arsenal, I kind of lost my passion for soccer and began playing just because it’s what I was used to do doing, not necessarily because I loved it. However, at 18, I left England and enrolled at the University of Akron in Ohio on a full scholarship. They have an amazing soccer program and after my sophomore year when I led the nation in scoring, Major League Soccer offered me a five-year professional contract. I accepted the contract and dropped out of school to enter the draft. Seattle Sounders selected me as the first overall pick of the 2009 Major League Soccer draft.

to play against David Beckham and the French legend, Thierry Henry, so that is also a great thing. When I was badly injured, David sent me a very encouraging email that really helped me at the time so I will always be grateful to him for reaching out. He’s always been friendly to me every time I’ve seen him or played against him. Thierry Henry © Seattle Sounders is a player I grew up watching every week as a kid, so it was great when New York came to play us in Seattle because we had dinner at his hotel the night before the game. He also offered me a lot of encouragement with my recovery.

KLM - Last year you represented your country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the international level? How would you describe that experience? SZ - It was an incredible experience. I grew up in London for most of my life but I was actually born in Congo so it was a huge honor to be selected for the team. The game was played against Mali in Paris and even though we lost the game 3-1, I enjoyed myself a lot. However, it was only an exhibition game and not an official game, which means I am still eligible to represent England, Congo, and in a couple of years, the United States. England has a very strong team that will be hard to break into, so I will probably have to decide between Congo and the United States. At this point, I’m leaning toward playing for the US because this is the country where I made my mark as a professional and the country that afforded me the opportunity to live my dream(s). KLM - You have played and interacted with some of the world’s greatest soccer stars. Can you tell us about some of them and who has had the most profound effect on you? SZ - I’ve been privileged to play against great teams and great players. The biggest team I have faced is FC Barcelona and they are widely considered to be the best team on the planet. I have also played against Chelsea who are one of England’s strongest teams. In terms of individual players, it was great to play against Lionel Messi who is the best player at the moment. In MLS I get

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SPECIAL Major League Soccer KLM - Your team, Seattle Sounders FC, just won the coveted US Open Lamar Hunt Cup for the third time. What was that experience like? SZ - It was an amazing experience and a historical one too. Recently, I don’t think any other team has won that trophy three years in a row, so we will be in the record books for that accomplishment. I played a big role in the first two US Open Cup trophies but I was injured for the final this year and had to watch my teammates from the stands. I was very proud of what they did and hopefully next year we can make it four in a row. KLM - What is one of the most unforgettable moments in your career? SZ - The day I made the debut will always stand out in my mind. It was my rookie year and we were playing New York on national television. I entered the game towards the end and I just remember thinking how loud it was. We won the game 3-0, and there were 30,000 fans in the stadium – we couldn’t have hoped for a better night. I also remember every game in which I have scored. I’ve been fortunate to score some very good © Seattle Sounders goals and I never get tired of hearing the fans cheer and scream my name to show their appreciation. It’s a great feeling. KLM - How did your recent injury, that sidelined you for most of the last season, affect you? Are you now fully recovered and ready for the next season? SZ - It was a horrific injury. It was a double leg break and I also had extensive nerve damage down my right side. It’s the kind of injury that can easily end a career or send a player into depression. About seven and a half months out, I am glad to say that I am almost fully recovered. There is still some work to do but I am working hard in the gym [and with my coaches] to get myself ready to contribute next season. It was a hard injury to deal with because I was playing very well just before I got injured. My game was elevating to a very high level and then my progress and hard work was cut short without warning. It was tough to take but because of my faith, friends, and family I’ve been able to see the big picture and make effective use of my time away from the game in a positive way. I have been speaking to youth groups, churches, universities and other arenas, sharing a lot of what I’ve learned from Dr. Myles Munroe. Had I not been injured, these opportunities would not have presented themselves.

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

KLM - Siegfried “Sigi” Schmid, the head coach of the Sounders FC, speaks of you as a “dangerous dribbler with good speed” and as one of his “team’s main weapons in terms of stretching and turning the defense.” Who or what do you credit your unique style of playing to? SZ - I’ve always played a very offensive type of game. The players that attracted me when I used to watch soccer as a kid were skillful in offense and I guess I tried to replicate what I saw them do in my own game. KLM - Earlier this year, over 36,000 Sounders fans held up placards with your number ‘11’ on them. For one full minute, the fans chanted your name to honor you after the Sounders 3-0 win over Toronto. Obviously you are greatly loved and admired. What do you have to say about such loyal and appreciative fans? SZ - I remember that day. It was about a week after I broke my leg and I was in the hospital in Seattle. My mom was in town and was at the game with three friends of mine. I had the game on but I fell asleep and missed that tribute. Later that night, my mom returned from the game and told me about it and how she broke down [crying] in her seat

when it happened. I saw it on YouTube and it made me very emotional. I’m just a kid from London who loves to play football (soccer) and it’s something I would do for free – purely for the love of it. So, to have 36,000 people who don’t know me personally, singing my name and holding up my number as a tribute to me was very special and I will remember it forever. KLM - How did you connect with your mentor, Dr. Myles Munroe? What effect has he had on your life and career? SZ - The first time I saw Dr. Munroe was on June 12, 2005. I was going through the motions of life and definitely was not living for God at the time. Dr. Myles came to a church in East London and spoke on leadership. I’d never heard the Bible explained that way and after the meeting I met him backstage, he signed a book for me and I went home. I began to read the Bible and attend church and I made a commitment to live for Jesus Christ. A couple of months after, I heard that Dr. Myles was back in London and so I went to see him again. This time he taught on the Kingdom of God. I’d never heard anything like this and I was numb for a few days. I replayed his words in my head over and over until it sunk in. I read the [New Testament] four gospels a lot after that and I watched every DVD of Dr. Myles Munroe, and read all of his books. Whenever he was in London, I made sure I was at the meeting. After going to college in the States and then becoming a professional in Seattle, I decided to formally meet him. I flew to Nassau in 2009 and went to his company’s headquarters. They were closed that day, as it was just after Christmas and so I went back to my hotel and

came back the next day. Dr. Myles was there and we got to talk for a few minutes. The next night I spoke at his church meeting and the next morning we had breakfast at the Hilton Hotel and spoke for hours. I’ve traveled with him on a couple of his overseas trips and we speak on the phone

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SPECIAL Major League Soccer

every now and then. He is my mentor, a spiritual father, and to be completely honest, has probably had the biggest influence on the way I think and conduct my life more than anyone else. I could talk about the influence he’s had on my life for a whole year nonstop. Because of Dr. Myles and his teachings, I’ve learned what the Kingdom of God is, what my purpose is, how to be a man, how to manage money, how to treat women, and so much more. KLM - What is “Kingdom Hope” and what are your plans with this nonprofit organization? SZ - Kingdom Hope is my life assignment. My dream is to establish a first class organization that will influence the world with the Kingdom of God by using soccer as a launching pad and platform. We will run many programs, such as an academy that will function as a school where aspiring soccer players will live, take general education courses and study the Kingdom over a two year period before being sent out into universities and professional teams worldwide. I also dream of hosting seminars and conferences specifically for soccer players where they can be taught Kingdom principles in a safe environment. 30

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

Finally, just this year, I felt the Lord tell me to include a church/ministry branch to Kingdom Hope so I am working on the specifics of that right now. I love teaching and have been doing a lot of it lately so that will also be done through Kingdom Hope. Everything we do will be based on Kingdom principles. KLM - How do you see your role in influencing the sports world – specifically the world of soccer with the message of the Kingdom? SZ - Right now, my role is to be an influence by the way I live. In the locker room, at the team hotel, in public, no matter where I am, I need to live a life that reflects Kingdom culture so that my words can carry weight when I stand up to explain what I believe. As my career progresses, and my influence grows, I will begin to build the Kingdom Hope headquarters in England, where our ministry and initial academy will be based, so that those soccer players who are seeking the Kingdom, will have a place to go. © Seattle Sounders

CULTURE Influence

OCCUPY

EARTH

A Contrast to the Religious Evacuation Plan BY

It began in the aftermath of perhaps the biggest economic collapse in this nation’s history, which led to the greatest recession experienced in generations. The protest movement, inspired by political uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, had coined a new phrase: “Occupy Wall Street,” and had a new adversary: the richest “one percent.” Decrying the abuse of power by banks and multinational corporations and, in essence, blaming the collusion of the mighty Wall Street for the economic chaos, the demonstrators had a new battle cry in the word “occupy.” The word “occupy” has certainly created strong passion, while also highlighting the power of solidarity of the masses. The earlier protests in other parts of

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

TITUS MATHEW

the world like Egypt and Libya morphed into political revolutions that successfully overthrew long-reigning dictators. This has created a prototype for more demonstrations that challenge political authority as never seen before, assisted by the emerging ally of social media. The banal word, “occupy,” never held such prominence and meaning until that Saturday, less than a week after the United States marked the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. September 17, 2011, marked the kick-off and the official call to arms of the “occupy” protest movement. Although a few religious leaders have attempted to position themselves to address social issues involved in the movement, for the most part, the Church has remained relatively distant. The world would have us enter into all sorts of social issues for all sorts of reasons. But what should our response be from a Kingdom perspective? How would Jesus define “occupy” in today’s culture? Since the word “occupy” has taken a front seat and is identified as the icon for engagement, it warrants a closer look to see what the word truly means. According to the dictionary, the word “occupy” can have several closely related meanings depending on the context, such as “take or fill up time or space, engage or employ the mind, be a resident, take possession, or control or hold.” Looking at these various terms, the dominant image that emerges is that of engaging and being involved.

“The role of the Church is to be the agent or catalyst that facilitates the ushering in of the Kingdom.” In understanding the Kingdom—the central theme of Jesus’ message—we see that He advanced a similar idea of “occupy” when referring to humans and their role on earth. The gospel that Jesus preached is filled with references to transforming earth to reflect

Heaven through the children of God—His divine creation. That was the original plan when the Creator made the declarations: “Let them have dominion” and “Be fruitful, multiply, replenish, subdue and have dominion” (see Genesis chapter 1). Man and woman were to have a purposeful habitation on earth with a mandate to rule over the territory given to them. Psalm 115:16, says “the highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to the sons of man.” This statement clearly defines the domain over which authority rested. We read in Isaiah 45:18 “He who created the heavens, He is God; He who fashioned and made the earth, He founded it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited” (NIV). The earth was created to be inhabited. These statements and many more found in the Scriptures clearly speak about the creation of earth being for the habitation of man to accomplish the purpose for which God created him. It was not an experiment; neither has the original plan changed. The earth was created for man. However, teachers of religion over the centuries, under the influence of deception and unbelief, have deviated from this original purpose of the Creator and found an alternative, more attractive doctrine to keep man preoccupied—the “rapture.” The idea of leaving the troubles and cares of the world behind and entering a blissful state of Heaven is without doubt a unique selling point to get sinners saved. While it is scriptural that we will be removed from the earth either through death or with the return of the Lord, the Scriptures never support the idea that Heaven is man’s permanent and only destiny. The preoccupation of escaping the earth by getting saved has created a theology often referred to as “fire insurance.” Man’s

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CULTURE Influence

failure to understand and identify his purpose creates the yearning to abandon earth. In the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, he taught them to pray that the Kingdom come on earth and the Father’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven (see Matt. 6:9-13). In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, he says “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one” (John 17:15 NIV). On His sermon on the mount, Jesus states the meek shall inherit the earth, (see Matt. 5:5). Why would someone inherit something if it were meant for abandonment? In studies done on near-death experiences, the dying person, when having had the option of leaving earth or returning back, in most cases indicated a strong desire to return to earth to finish something. These studies may or may not hold validity, but the truth is undeniable that the spirit of man yearns to find his purpose and assignment on earth. The evacuation of earth and leaving the problems behind should not be the priority, and certainly not the preoccupation of humans. Man has a clear assignment—that of advancing God’s Kingdom on earth—and at some stage when we leave earth, our destination will still be a “new earth,” (see Rev. 21:1).

The Church has been too preoccupied with rapture, a term that does not appear in the Scriptures but was developed based on other verses and concepts found in the New Testament. Instead it needs to be focused on influencing earth with the culture of Heaven. The role of the Church is to be the agent or catalyst that facilitates the ushering in of the Kingdom. Jesus always told parables and stories to explain the Kingdom, using examples from daily life that were relevant to the day’s culture. In one such parable, He tells a story of a certain nobleman who went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and then returned. “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, occupy till I come,” (Luke 19:13). In this illustration, Jesus wants his followers to understand a key principle of the Kingdom—that as citizens of the Kingdom, we are to do business with what he has entrusted us with and be good stewards of it rather than bury it and wait for the Master to return. The spirit of religion advances an evacuation plan and an escapism theology, while the gospel that Jesus preached undeniably places the emphasis on dominion of the earth, engaging in the kingdom’s advancement, and becoming the salt and light that leads people from darkness into light and freedom. Dominion does not mean forceful taking over of governments and violent overthrow of power, but rather influencing culture to create the environment of Heaven on earth. When Paul talks in Colossians 3:2 about setting your minds on things above and not on earthly things, he means we are to operate on earth with Heaven’s operating system and bring God’s government to earth. We are indeed citizens of Heaven, but we are placed on earth to fulfill the purpose for which we were born. To some, this idea may be offensive, but believers need only change the way we think about it to the way Jesus defined and demonstrated it. While former teaching has had many of us packed and ready for Heaven; the Kingdom message tells us to unpack and get on with the Father’s business—on earth as it is in Heaven. The Kingdom should be our focus as we engage in the original “Occupy Earth” movement as mandated by our loving, creative Father. Let’s be fruitful, purposeful and seek His Kingdom and righteousness as we bring Heaven’s culture to earth.

About the author – Titus Mathew is the founder and Publisher of KINGDOM Life Magazine. He is also the CEO of Regenz Media, LLC

and the President of Nations Vision, a global development organization based in Frisco, Texas. He is an entrepreneur, international speaker and leadership trainer. For more information visit www.kingdomlifemag.com

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

QUEST The Long Search

The Search for

Utopia BY

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

DR. MYLES MUNROE

here is nothing more powerful than an idea. Ideas have created, and now control, the world we live in. The present global unrest and social and economic upheaval that is sweeping the nations, exposes the dissatisfaction, disappointment and frustration that our post-modern societies have in mankind’s political, social, religious and economic ideologies. The systems of the world are broken and it seems like no one can fix them. The ideologies of man have failed and their children are begging for a new idea. This is why I want to introduce a fresh idea – to show how important ideas are to our daily lives. When an idea is conceived it is called a thought; when a thought is conceived it is called a concept. Concepts are the material that dreams are made of and they serve as the substance for living and interpreting life. Everything humans have made or invented was first preceded by an idea. As a matter of fact, inventions are often called one’s “brain-child.” In essence, the mind can be impregnated by ideas that develop into concepts that become visions that produce reality. Over 3,000 years ago, the great King Solomon wrote, “As a man thinks so is he.” This simply means that you are and become your concepts. Psychologists describe our value and estimation of our life by the nature of our “self-concept.” Concepts rise in value as we consider our perception and interpretation of life. Human communication is solely dependent on concepts. We can only understand life to the degree that our concepts are correct. As a matter of fact, the purpose and goal of communication is to transfer your ideas and concepts from your mind to another mind. Therefore, communication is only successful when the sender’s concepts are received accurately and properly understood by the receiver and vice versa. If your ideas are wrong then your concepts are wrong, and consequently, your understanding will be inaccurate and incomplete. You can only understand properly if your concepts are in alignment with your ideas and your ideas must be based upon God’s dynamic truth. The original concept is always in the mind of the sender. In this state of the thinking process it is called a “precept.” Simply put, a precept is “an original idea.” Therefore, in order to understand the original concept, you must have a clear grasp of the precepts of the sender of a message. The heart of understanding is precepts and concepts. Error is a product and a result of what is called “misconception.” In reality, the receiver misunderstood the concept of the sender. This writing will fail in its purpose and intent if I do not successfully convey and transfer my precepts, concepts, ideas, and thoughts to you the reader. So, let’s proceed in exploring the critical

concepts that lead to the answer to man’s search for meaning.

THE LONG SEARCH FOR THE IDEAL In every generation, since the beginning of time, the dream of a utopian society has motivated and sustained the passion of mankind, producing highly developed cultures and social systems as they moved forward in this pursuit. The driving force and desire for the perfect world finds its way into every civilization and has been the source of inspiration that has led to the invention of philosophical ideas, social infrastructures, and even religions; all having some kind of impact on our contemporary communities. This force is centralized in man’s search for the ideal. Passion for the ideal, produced in many ancient cultures, is the dream of a messianic vision. This is the belief that somewhere in some distant future from some unknown place a person would come who would provide the answers to all our problems. He would establish the “ideal world” free from pain, hatred, fear, poverty, and other social ills—a world of peace, love, joy, and harmony among all mankind. This search and desire for an idyllic world is the source of the development of the concept called

“In the end, mankind has become imprisoned by his pursuit of freedom.” “ideology.” Ideology is the most powerful energy that has impacted the lives of people over thousands of years and continues its effects to this very day. An ideology is the formulation of ideas and thoughts that have been pondered, developed, refined, defined, and formalized. These ideas are also defined as a philosophy, or “a way of thinking.” Some of these “formalized ideas” have produced “schools of thought,” which became the foundations of theoretical and ideological premises for the creation of systems of governing communities, societies, cities, nations, and the world. On the negative side, some of these ideologies have been the source of injustice, destruction, oppression, mass poverty, depression, and social terror. These ideologies have carried a variety of labels, and over thousands of years they have emerged, submerged, and then reemerged in succeeding generations. Some of these labels are quite familiar even in our generation: imperialism, socialism, communism, dictatorship, humanism, deism, KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

QUEST The Long Search

democracy, monarchy, and communal living. Many of these have been tried, revised, integrated, revived, and have been the source of many social experiments. Yet, no matter how much man has tried to re-create his world, the fulfillment of his hope and desire for “utopia” still eludes him. Our most recent attempts have led to the advent of the ideology of “individual freedom” and the admirable concept of “selfdetermination” and “a just society,” which we have termed in our modern civilization as “the democratic ideal.” Despite the fact that this is the most civil form of national governance and social relations within a society, even this has not manifested the utopia its founders dreamed of. The motivation and inspiration for the pursuit of the civil society and the democratic ideal is the concept of “freedom.” The pursuit of personal freedom is the strongest motivator in Western social consciousness. This desire to be free to pursue one’s personal dreams and to maximize one’s potential is the foundation of the democratic ideal and is embraced as the ultimate standard of a free society. However, the societies and communities that have tried this noble “freedom” experiment are still plagued with the inconsistencies of inequality, racism, prejudice, injustice, corruption, jealousy, suspicion, competition, abuse, neglect, and a clear disparity between the “haves” and “have-nots.” In the end, mankind has become imprisoned by his pursuit of freedom.

we are searching for. Simply put, all people are the same and looking for the same answers to the same questions.

THE SOURCE OF THE DESIRE

A few years ago I received a gift from some friends in a faraway country with whom I had the opportunity to work. Their culture and social background was different from mine. They had heard me speak on the subject of “man’s search for meaning and purpose in life.” The gift that they gave me was a beautiful hardbound book with a title that still sticks in my mind 20 years later. The book was called The Long Search. I was intrigued with this simple title but, even more than that, I was pleasantly surprised by the content of the book. It has become one of my favorite books in my personal library. The book chronicled the history of the invention, development, refinement, and practices of all religions in the world. The photos captured my imagination, the text expanded my appreciation of the complex nature of religions, and the research provided insight into the commonality of the human family. At the heart of the book was the concept that all religions are a result of man’s search for a Supreme Being—identified as “God,” “divinity,” or whatever other word one chooses to fill in the blank. Religion is man’s attempt to respond to his desire to find some type of meaningful, and possibly intimate, relationship with a Supreme Being as he seeks to find some reasonable meaning to life.

I have had the privilege of traveling to over 70 nations and have worked with every race, culture, socioeconomic class, and religious and political group, and yet I am still amazed that in each one of these societies the search is the same. In fact, it is my conclusion that we are all the same and searching for the same thing. What makes us different is the route and systems we implement to develop what

This human search for Ultimate Reality is natural and common to all human cultures. Even the self-acclaimed atheist inherently believes that, at the very least, there is someone or something out there not to believe in. Even in the most primitive societies we find this expression of desire to seek, find, and understand a Supreme Being as evidenced in the creation, development, and practice of

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

some form of religion. However, the question confronts us: from where did this natural desire and need to seek for a higher power originate? This internal soul-searching irritation—that there must be a reason and design for the universe and creation—must have a source. The long search for reality obviously implies that something is lost. It is impossible to search for nothing. Therefore it is my contention that the very nature of man’s soul search indicates that something he previously possessed is missing. It also seems that this need to search is not a choice but a necessity. The search is personal as well as corporate. Perhaps the best way to find what is missing and what we are searching for is to identify what you need or desire. For example, thirst implies the need for water, hunger implies the need for food, and tiredness implies the need for rest. So, we can identify what we lack by what we naturally desire and thus recognize our need. We will discuss this need of mankind in succeeding articles and you can obtain more details in my series of books on the Kingdom. However, at this point, it is important to at least acknowledge its existence and overpowering control over all mankind and to also appreciate that this deep need controls and dictates man’s behavior, both individually and corporately.

IDENTIFYING THE NEED I have spent over 40 years studying and researching this phenomenon, first in a personal pursuit and then also in a lifelong commitment to help others find answers to their dilemma. I have come to the conclusion that the common pursuit of all humans is the pursuit of power – the desire to possess the ability to control one’s circumstances and destiny. I know this may shock you and perhaps cause you to go into denial. Most of us would not want to admit that we desire something as frightening as power, but the reality is that this is the basic desire in every human heart. When I use the term power, I am not referring to the tyrannical, oppressive, dictatorial control of people, but rather the ability to control your circumstances and environment. It is this lack of control over our daily lives, situations, and circumstances that make us feel helpless and live as victims of life. For most of us, life is simply a daily struggle as we try to stay afloat in a sea of uncertainty and pressures of all sorts. At the same time we wrestle with a sense of dignified slavery to the institutions of our societies. Our desire and passion to gain this power to control our circumstances and environment is the motivation for our behavior. We strive to gain positions of influence in order to accumulate financial wealth. We seek the power that money promises us: political and spiritual power, the accumulation of status symbols, superior knowledge, and many other forms of controlling dispositions. I believe this pursuit for power is simply the pursuit of dominion over life. This human preoccupation and desire for power and dominion is also the fuel for man’s obsession with progressive development in

all disciplines including political science, social science, biological science, technical science, spiritual research, economic research, and all other aspects of the human experience. The result of this power search is found in the long human march toward modernization. Over the past 6,000 years mankind has tried [and continues to try] to control and tame the environment through the inventions of primitive and modern instruments. For example, science tries to stop the aging process, improve the quality and length of life, and produce every type of pill to solve a myriad of problems. Ultimately the greatest challenge is to prevent the reality of death.

“...the very nature of man’s soul search indicates that something he previously possessed is missing.” Yet no matter how far man thinks he has progressed, the ability to achieve dominion and power over life and death on earth still eludes him. In fact, in light of all the uncontrollable social ills, health epidemics, military conflicts, political unrest, economic uncertainties, religious clashes, and destruction of the environment, it seems as if man’s advancement is an evolution going backward in time. This human failure to achieve control and mastery over his environment and circumstances has left him with a deep desire for a brand new world. The human spirit longs for a world he controls where circumstances are at the mercy of his will. This is the greatest human desire. This is also the source and motivation of religious and spiritual development and practice. In every religion we discover the component that promises power to control circumstances and even death itself. This explains why the deep dark secret practices of witchcraft and spiritualism are so attractive to millions; it promises power over people and circumstances. The human spirit is possessed by this desire to dominate, rule, and control his personal private world and his environment. Man is in search of the ultimate governing power of dominion. The desire for power is inherent in the human spirit. To understand this desire for power, it is necessary to understand the original purpose and design of mankind and the assignment for which he was created. Dr. Myles Munroe Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI) Myles Munroe International (MMI) International Third World leaders Association (ITWLA)

About the author – Dr. Myles Munroe is founder and chairman of the International Third World Leaders Association (ITWLA), an organiza-

LIVING Primary Principles

Can Your

Foundation

Weather the STORMS? BY

Kingdom Response to Crisis

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

TRISTA SUE KRAGH

God creates all men. Some become rich, some become poor depending on how they SEE! (Proverbs 29:13 – Hebrew translation)

lobally we are experiencing crisis. The world leaders, governments, CEO’s and analysts are all struggling to find solutions to the world’s problems. During this time of great uncertainty, my husband, Matthew and I are experiencing the opposite in our businesses. Matthew is an architect, and I am an hotelier. We live in a state that has lost over 900,000 jobs and is rated the 4th ‘highest stress’ state in America – Naples, Florida. The recession greatly affected our construction and real estate industry with a massive domino effect. Simply put, a few years ago, everything seemingly came to a complete stop. So what happens when the way you’ve been doing things for the past 15 years no longer works? I needed some information. This came in the form of Dr. Myles Munroe teaching “Kingdom Response to Crisis” in a session I attended in Bradenton, Florida. The principles he taught from the Word of God have profoundly changed the lives of my husband and I.

CRISIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM One of the primary principles I learned, that caused a paradigm shift in my religious beliefs, was the fact that Kingdom citizens are not immune to crisis. However, we can determine the outcome of the crisis by controlling our response to the situation. If you recall, in Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus told the parable about a storm that both the wise and foolish builders experienced. They both heard instruction. The only difference was the wise man applied it to his life. Thus, he was not destroyed by the crisis that he experienced.

SIGHT IS THE ENEMY TO VISION On February 19, 2009, after hearing Kingdom principles at the conference, I sat in front of my computer at work and looked at all the rooms (inventory) that needed to be rented. In the past 15 years I never had a problem selling rooms during peak season. That year was different, and if I didn’t do something immediately, then it would have been nearly impossible to pay the following ten months mortgage and payroll for the remainder of the year. I had been trained by a management company to sell rooms tiered at three price points: City View Rooms, Bay View Rooms and Luxury Rooms. But on this afternoon, while looking at my inventory I said to God, “Help me see what I cannot see.” There I sat for five minutes just looking at all the inventory. Then it suddenly dawned on me! The rooms with king beds were always highest in demand, but the rooms with two double beds rarely sold. Therefore, I should discount the double bed rooms by 50% and sell them at “recession rates”. I would much rather rent a room for a discounted rate of $99 than have them sit empty each night. Before going home for the evening, my staff loaded the new rates into the global distribution system that updates all the channels like Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, etc. When we showed up for work the next morning, we had such an influx of reservations that it took us four days to manually input them all. While the other hotels were letting people go, I was now hiring more staff due to the demand.

I did not have to change my marketing strategy, nor pour more money into advertising, because I already had everything that was necessary. I simply had to see things differently. In Exodus 4:2, God asked Moses “What is in your hand?” and in 2 Kings 4:2, Elisha asked the widow woman “What do you have in your house?” Everything you need to accomplish your dream is present on the inside of you. Pray for insight and divine ideas.

INNOVATE When you are used to conducting business a certain way and suddenly the market changes, you must innovate. Innovation is the ability to see beyond sight and combine old things in a new way. I had to sell my inventory in a new way. I was also speaking to the mentality of the people by offering a “recession rate”. Needless to say, we had an extremely successful season, with even other business owners inquiring about the secret. I would respond “I’m in the Kingdom, and there’s no recession in the Kingdom of God. God gave me a strategy.” This opened many doors for me to share the Kingdom of God with people locally and internationally. People should be asking you to help solve their problems when they see that you operate with wisdom. I love answering the question, “What is the secret to the success of the hotel?” because it gives me opportunity to brag on God and show evidence of His Kingdom at work, even during crisis. It is time for Kingdom citizens to truly be a testimony by becoming salt and light in the world by the proper display of their attitude and how they are living their lives. Now, I am able to easily go into Hindu and Muslim nations to share Kingdom business principles. This reminds me of the young foreigner, Joseph, who demonstrated to Egypt how the wisdom of God operates; which proves that the principles of the Kingdom far exceed the limited knowledge of man.

CRISIS BRINGS PROMOTION I acquired a new vision for the hotel and with that came changes. A few months later, when summer rolled around, I decided to replace my management team. For those employees who were not good stewards of their position, lazy or didn’t add value, they were terminated. A few diligent staff members were promoted and the rest of the positions were filled with fresh, industrious people. That change made one of the greatest differences at the hotel. We must be good stewards and diligent in the positions we are in. For when the time comes for promotion, we will be like Joseph – ready for the palace from the prison, where he added value and managed it well.

THROW AWAY THE DONKEY JAWBONE The following year, in April 2010, there was a large oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which greatly affected Florida’s tourism. Nobody was traveling to Florida. The strategy I had in 2009 would no longer work in 2010. Once again, I sought God for insight and strategy

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LIVING Primary Principles for this new crisis but heard nothing. Sales were down a quarter of a million dollars. At the end of the summer, I said a prayer to my King stating that it was my right as a citizen to receive what was justly mine. I then submitted the proper paperwork to the oil company for reimbursement on losses incurred that year. A few weeks later they offered to reimburse me almost double. In the Bible, God’s first name for himself is Creator. He is so creative that he doesn’t usually do things the same way twice. When Jesus healed the blind men, He was creative each time. After Samson killed the Philistines with the donkey jawbone, he threw it away (see Judges 15:16-17). This is the problem with traditions; they can hinder and cripple you from where God is bringing you because you are stuck with what used to work. God is always moving and doing something new. He’s brilliant at that! The only catch is that you must know your rights as a citizen, be persistent and have the faith of a child.

DEPLOYMENT

THE LIFE OF EVERYTHING IS IN ITSELF

My husband, Matthew, is a gifted architect. He started as an intern in a growing firm 12 years prior and was eventually promoted as partner. In 2009, the firm moved into a very large facility. Naples, Florida had seen incredible growth in the construction and development industry for a number of years. This also happened to be the same year that everything came to a complete stop. Based on Ecclesiastes 11:6 (“Sow your seed in the morning and at evening do not let your hands be idle because you know not which one may succeed.”), I encouraged Matthew for seven months to transition and deploy into his own firm. Eventually he made this transition by giving his notice and working on very small side jobs at night until he had completed his final three months at the firm. Because he found his life work in his job, I knew inevitably he would be successful. He also signed a ‘non-compete agreement’, in which he could not work for any clients of the firm for three years. In the natural, it seemed impossible to find new clients, because the firm had the majority of the clients in town. Since we have the Holy Spirit, and live by our ethics, that was not a concern of ours. God has been faithful and Matthew has had numerous new clients and an entirely new network of relationships.

As a young child, Matthew’s grandmother saw his gift and enrolled him in art classes. Understanding the principle that the life of everything is in itself, I knew that eventually people would come to Matthew for his talent. As the creator, God put the life of every tree, plant and forest inside the seed. The same goes for us. God gave everyone a unique gift to develop so that it would make room for him or her. Proverbs 18:16 says, “A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.” This is the guarantee that your gift will get the attention of eminent people.

STEWARDSHIP For 12 years, Matthew had been an excellent steward of another man’s company. Luke 16:12 teaches us, “If you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” Knowing this, through thick and thin, I could easily support Matthew in his new venture. Prayer and fasting do not over-ride principles in the Kingdom of God. It is imperative that you manage what you have, and then He will promote you and give you your own property, employees or resources to manage.

Fast forward to present day: November 2011 marks the two-year anniversary of Matthew’s firm, MHK Architect and Planning! Matthew is employing even more staff to keep up with the demand. Matthew was recently featured in two of our city’s prominent magazines. His signs are being seen at job sites all over Naples. Recently, another architect approached Matthew in disbelieve of his success, because he had personally not had a single job in three years. We give all the glory to our King! I recently had a conference call with the bankers and they had one question for me: “We are looking at your hotel’s financials and trying to figure out how is it possible from 2008-2010 to be so profitable?” I am thankful for the crisis because it put pressure on me to think differently and it provided amazing opportunities for Matthew. We didn’t just survive the recession. As a testament to our King, we thrived and shined through the recession. We must be like the wise man, who upon hearing the principles of the Kingdom, applied them, so when the storms of life came his foundation remained firm and he outlived the crisis.

About the author – Trista Sue Kragh, owner/operator of Bayfront Inn in Naples, Florida, utilizes her 17 years of hotel experience as an

international business speaker. As a Life Coach and alumni of Oral Roberts University, she pastors at Naples Embassy, located at Bayfront Inn. She is also the president and founder of Kingdom Community International, a Kingdom house-church discipleship network. Trista Sue is the co-founder of Radio-Wise.com, an online Kingdom radio channel as well as the Executive Editor for KINGDOM Life Magazine. For more information and contact visit www.TristaSue.com 42

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

Learn to apply the principles of the Kingdom in the midst of crisis. OVERCOMING

CRISIS by Dr. Myles Munroe

The current prolonged season of war and worldwide economic crisis has created countless personal crises. Unemployment, foreclosures, threats, and fears loom and Kingdom citizens are not exempt. You can survive and even thrive during these times. Dr. Myles Munroe teaches how to overcome any crisis by applying the sure wisdom and time-tested principles of the Kingdom of God. With special attention to God’s original command to be fruitful and take dominion over the earth’s resources, you will overcome whatever comes your way. After all, there are no crises in the Kingdom, and that is where Christians hold their true citizenship. Choose today to rise above the circumstances and overcome the crisis.

Get FREE One Year Subscription to KINGDOM Life Magazine when you order:

“Overcoming Crisis”

plus $5 S&H - US Orders only Mention promo code: KLM02YOC

Send order(s) to: REGENZ Media, LLC 5000 Eldorado Pkwy, Suite 150 / Frisco, TX 75033

HEALTH Hormonal Aging

The

Salubrious

Experience BY

CRIS ENRIQUEZ, M.D.

Distinguished Fellow, American Academy of Cardiology

ging is a disease. The symptoms of aging are due to destructive biological processes that happen inside the body because of the choices we make during our lifetime. Ancient writings and medical science have concluded that if we just acquire knowledge and follow good health habits we can live a very long time. There are now reports that we have the genetic potential to live for 120 years. Kingdom Health, therefore, is what we aspire to achieve. It is optimal health that manifests as living longer, happier, prettier, with a sound

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

mind. Kingdom health is what I call the salubrious experience! The predisposing and precipitating factors that lead to the development of degenerative diseases are protean but the four main causes of disease and death are hormonal imbalances, inflammation, toxins and heavy metals and stress. All of these factors deserve to be discussed but at the present time, due to the increasing interest on hormonal issues and replacement therapy that seems to crescendo, especially among the middle age community, I would like to focus

and discuss what a lot of people appear to be interested in.

SOME OF THE DISEASES THAT CAN

The treatment of hormonal imbalances has become controversial because synthetic hormones, that were exclusively used to balance hormonal deficiencies and prevent complications, were instead found to do the opposite causing more heart attacks, strokes, and [breast and uterine] cancers – the very conditions they were supposed to prevent.

BE RELIEVED BY BIO-IDENTICAL

Many times the manifestation of hormonal deficiencies remain unrecognized and undiagnosed due to lack of understanding and the lackadaisical misconception that somehow, the symptoms that accompany them are normal and not worth correcting or even investigating. Even though they can be annoying and debilitating, they are often disregarded and ignored with most ascribing the symptoms to “old age.” Sadly, this is true for both the patient and the healthcare practitioner. There seems to be an unwritten resignation that as we accumulate years we are expected to have aches and pains, be sluggish, lose energy, have digestive problems or experience memory lapses that younger people often condescendingly and falsely call “senior moments.” Longevity and optimum quality of life are what we desire. We want a life with no afflictions or disability and to be productive and independent for as long as possible. As stated above, medical science has now indicated that we have the genetic potential to live for 120 years. It is ironic, however, that in a study conducted in the United States a few years ago, Americans were asked that if they had a choice, what age would they want to die. The majority said 91 years because they associated “mature” age with being sick, disabled, unproductive and dependent upon others. They also thought that the symptomatology that older folks develop and suffer from are normal, expected and to be ignored. As I have said earlier, aging is not normal. It is a condition that involves the cellular level that often manifest as hormonal deficiency producing symptoms of memory impairment, menopause, impotence in men, stress, hypothyroidism, diabetes,

HORMONES ARE: HYPOTHYROIDISM – This is a condition due to inactivity or under activity of the thyroid gland. This is usually secondary to iodine deficiency or autoimmune disease that results in decreased production of the thyroid hormones, which are essential for every function of every cell in the body. The manifestations vary, which can range from lack of symptoms to the slowing down of metabolism; and is characterized by cold intolerance, weight gain, hair loss, constipation, memory lapses, depression, morning stiffness, fluid retention, menstrual irregularities, fibrocystic disease of the breast, cardiovascular abnormalities to frank goiter. MENOPAUSE – This is the stage in women when ovaries stop producing eggs with diminishing levels of estrogen and progesterone with complete and total cessation of menstruation. Symptoms that usually usher in this period are hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, decrease or absence of libido, memory disturbances, palpitations or joint pains and aches. When these women are tested using either blood or saliva, they usually demonstrate low levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone – which are vital [hormones] for optimal health and longevity. The usual age for menopause to manifest is from late thirties to the fifties. IMPOTENCE OR ANDROPAUSE – This is also referred to as ED or “male menopause.” While this could be secondary to psychological factors, as previously believed, there are physical medical reasons that can bring about notably poor circulation due to cardiovascular issues, diabetes, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, smoking, potassium deficiency or arsenic contamination of drinking water. There is an emerging belief that a good percentage of these patients are due to hypogonadism with consequent significant reduction in the testosterone level, a condition that can be easily corrected by competent medical specialists trained in anti-aging and alternative medicine. STRESS – This is a condition that has been implicated, directly or indirectly, in 65-85% of all degenerative diseases. During an emergency, producing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline is beneficial because they are vital whether a person decides to fight or to flee. Most of the bodily functions like the gastrointestinal track, the urinary system and the other systems shut down. Blood is deviated from the different organs to muscles; blood vessels constrict to prevent profuse bleeding in case of an injury. Muscles tense up to get ready for whatever physical activity one decides to do, either to flee or to confront the emergency and fight. However, if stress continues and becomes chronic, adrenal fatigue sets in causing more problems that can lead to serious health problems. During this stage, people usually experience tiredness and easy fatigability for no apparent reason. They tend to have lots of aches and pains, they feel run down and tired, they have a rough time getting up in the morning and may need caffeine from coffee, tea or sodas to get started and to keep going; they have loss of concentration with foggy memory and they feel desperate and scared. Chronic stress makes the cardiovascular and immune systems weak, and when this continues, the adrenal glands become exhausted, energy reserve becomes depleted and organs become fatigued which, when left untreated, leads to disease and even death.

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HEALTH Hormonal Aging

obesity, etc. These symptoms are easily correctible with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Hormones are chemical substances that are produced mostly by the endocrine glands to control most of our everyday functions. They carry messages from their organ of origin to the specific intended cells for their growth, development, energy and function. Deficiency in any of these hormones produces disease specific to the organ involved with symptoms that can vary from annoying and acceptably mild to more serious affliction that can cause death. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should only be done using bio-identical hormones. These are hormones that are plant-based [from soybeans and wild yam], individually compounded to be molecularly similar to the hormones produced by humans. This is, however, in complete contrast to synthetic hormones, which are made from the urine of pregnant horses. For many years synthetic hormones were the only preparations that were used to combat the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, peri-menopause, menopause and other sexual dysfunctions. In the 2003 medical journals, it was reported that although they alleviated some symptoms, the extensive study that involved thousands of women concluded many incidences of deaths from cardiovascular diseases and cancers. The fascination in the use of synthetic hormones suddenly evaporated with most medical practitioners switching enthusiastically to the use of bio-identical hormones to protect their patients from unnecessary complications that are often serious and deadly.

There are many hormones that play a big role in attaining optimal health such as pregnenelone, cortisol, DHEA, melatonin, thyroid hormone, insulin, human growth hormone and others; but the more common deficiencies are those of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. ESTROGEN – This is the main steroid hormone in women. It promotes the development and maintenance of female characteristics of the body. It is essential for menses and reproduction, and prepares the uterus for pregnancy. The three kinds of estrogen are estrone, estradiol and estriol. In older women who have stopped menstruating, there is a significant reduction in the levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone producing sets of syndromes with symptoms that are annoying, bothersome and sometimes intolerable. These symptoms, although irritating and depressing, can be easily corrected using the increasingly popular bioidentical hormones, which seem to purport to have no serious side effects in contrast to their more scary cousins, synthetic hormones. PROGESTERONE – This is a steroid hormone that is released by the corpus luteum and prepares the uterus for pregnancy. Along with estrogen, diminishing levels of progesterone, as women age, produces a conglomerate of symptoms commonly referred to as menopause. TESTOSTERONE – This is also a steroid hormone mainly produced by males but to a lesser extent, also present in women. This initiates and enhances the libido. For men, this is most helpful in alleviating impotence. Additionally, testosterone has other vital medical uses especially in the treatment of coronary artery disease, memory loss and mental concentration. It is also good for improving muscle mass, energy level and bone density.

About the author – Cris Enriquez, M.D., is a distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Cardiology, co-founder of Rapha Health

Institute in Florida and in the Philippines, co-founder of The Healthy Life Center in Asia, a best selling author and a radio and TV personality in the United States and in the Philippines. KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

MARRIAGE Spiritual Leader

Marriage & Relationships BY

t is said that diamonds are a woman’s best friend! God is the purest and most rare diamond. He told us in His word that we are created in His image and in His likeness (see Genesis 1:26-27). The highest form of a relationship other than our relationship with God is the friendship between husband and wife. Marriage is a lifelong journey into intimacy, but also into friendship. Who knows us better than our friends? We all share intimate secrets with our friends – secrets that we will never share with our families. Husbands and wives should have no secrets. As our relationship develops we should grow into true friends who know everything about each other – the good and the bad; yet still love and accept each other unconditionally.

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

RUTH MUNROE

The husband and wife relationship is the oldest and most preeminent of all human relationships. It predates and supersedes all other relationships; including parent and child, mother and daughter, father and son and brother and sister. No relationship should be closer, more personal or more intimate than that which exists between a husband and wife. Such intimacy involves not only love for the person, but knowledge of the person. A husband and wife should know each other better than anyone else in the world. They should know each other’s likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, good and bad qualities, gifts and talents, prejudices and blind spots, and graces and character flaws. In short, a husband and wife should know everything about each other, even those undesirable traits that they hide from everyone else. If we know everything about each other we can better protect each other. LADIES: When a man asks you to marry him, he gives you a diamond ring to seal your acceptance. That diamond ring signifies the relationship will be forever and that you will go through the experiences of unforeseen crisis, untrodden paths, unpaved roads, around unknown corners, down dark alleys, up steep hills, through deep valleys and into the bright sunshine – charting the course of your new life together. It is said that because marriage is such a great idea, only God could have thought of it. Marriage, as God designed it, is like a precious gem. It must be developed over time. It takes a long time for a good diamond to form. Therefore, building a great marriage can take a lifetime.

It is how we respond to situations that cause us to fuse together without a visible seam. As husband and wife we don’t want to be like the world and bond together, we want to fuse together until we become inseparable and unbreakable.

“The highest form of a relationship other than our relationship with God is the friendship between husband and wife. Marriage is a lifelong journey into intimacy, but also into friendship.”

HUSBANDS: In Ephesians 5:25-31 and Colossians 3:19 God admonishes you to love your wife. But notice He didn’t leave you hanging not knowing how you must love your wife. And, He didn’t say that your wife must love you. He says ‘ just how I love my wife (the church) that is how you should love your wife.’ If you read her the Word and teach her the Word, she will naturally love, honor and respect you. My husband and I often read to each other. This causes us to become closer to each other because it is a time set-aside for just the two of us. It also strengthens the lines of communication. WIVES: In Colossians 3:18 God admonishes you to submit to your husband as unto the Lord. No, it does not mean that you must be a doormat; but you must acknowledge the position God gave him as the spiritual leader and guide for the family. To submit means to recognize, affirm and support your husband’s God-given responsibility. In this present time, when marriages are in trouble and husbands and wives don’t want to support each other, we must realize

Godly marriages become stronger under pressure. A diamond is the hardest substance on earth. Therefore, just as pressure purifies a diamond, the everyday problems and challenges of life purify a Godly marriage. The harder things get, the stronger the union grows. Marriage fuses two people into one, so that under pressure they become so hard and fast nothing can break them. KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

MARRIAGE Spiritual Leader

that the marriage union requires input from both husband and wife. Know that communication is key. Working together as a TEAM will always elevate your relationship and keep you focused on the goal for your marriage. When you work together for the greater good of the marriage, both husband and wife are fulfilled. Remember, the Bible says that one will put a thousand to flight but when two work together they will put, not four thousand, but ten thousand to flight. My encouragement to husbands and wives is that marriage is an adventurous journey, and every traveler on that road needs a reliable guide and a trustworthy handbook. Whether you are newlyweds just starting out on your journey together or experienced veterans seeking to enrich and refresh yourselves along the way, commit your lives and your marriage to the Lord. Live for Him and follow His Word, and He will bless your journey, bring you success and fill you with joy and contentment along the way. Consider the words of the wise man:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) Remember, you have chosen to step onto the greatest train of your life together. You must stay on board to arrive to your destination of a fulfilled and exciting future.

About the author – Pastor Ruth Munroe is Co-Senior Pastor and Executive Director of Bahamas Faith Ministries International in Nassau, Bahamas. She and her husband, Dr. Myles Munroe, travel extensively around the world sharing the uncompromising message of the Kingdom of God. 50

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

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FAMILY Preserving the Future

Train Up a

Child Preserving the Future of the Kingdom BY

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

DAVE BURROWS

e live in a world that is out of natural order and whose foundations are shaken. Psalm 82:5 states, “They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.” This description is especially applicable when we look at today’s family, which is essentially a lost entity when compared to the original design. The lack of clarity and confusion of what a family is makes parenting more difficult now than ever before. Consider some of the signs of the time; teachers having relations with students more than half their age (some in pre-teen years), children abused by their own parents, and dual or conflicting parenting as a result of divorce, separation or single parenthood.

Kingdom Parenting is sometimes an undiscovered or lost art, yet it is key to preserving the future of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God was built on the principle of family. God has always operated through and in conjunction with the family. The first family God used to establish his Kingdom agenda was lead by Abraham who was first and foremost a family man. This is evidenced by what God said about him, “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:19) As a whole, humanity is in a state of confusion and families are severely declining. However, we must continue to fight for the ‘original family order’ that was decreed and instituted by the King. No matter how many new and perverted family arrangements proliferate (cohabitating unmarried parents, same sex or alternative families, etc.), Kingdom parenting is our only

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FAMILY Preserving the Future

Basic Principles for Preservation of the Kingdom TRAIN – Just as cars are attached to a train and goes wherever the train leads, we must

hope. Those of us who are Kingdom citizens must respond in two ways. First, by teaching and fighting for the restoration of primary or traditional parenting and second, by engaging in secondary or supplemental parenting. This is when Kingdom citizens become mentors, coaches, advisors, counselors or foster parents. Jesus actually requested that we assist and encourage the youth because the Kingdom and it’s future is resident in them. Matthew 10:42 states, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” “… and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:14) Jesus also stated in Matthew 18:3 “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

allow the youth to attach themselves to us and properly guide them. Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Train also means to trail or drag; to direct the growth of (a plant) usually by bending, pruning and tying; to form by instruction or discipline; to make prepared (as by exercise) for a test of skill. DIRECT – This is a key word in reference to Abraham. Young people need direction and those who are Kingdom minded must build relationships with young people so we can assist in providing direction. Direction is the primary need of children and youth. ASSIST (Tangibly - Investment) – If you notice Jesus’ words, he emphasized “the little ones”. Assisting means helping them through whatever means is available to us. We can help as coaches, mentors, advisors, counselors or safe-house parents. THE THREE R’S: REPRODUCE, RAISE AND RELEASE – Children are born to leave. We become successful parents when they can leave us and effectively function on their own. We must always keep in mind that our job is to raise them according to God’s plan then release them into the world to perpetuate the Kingdom. DISCIPLINE APPROPRIATELY – Children are not naturally disciplined. The Bible informs us that if they are left to their own devices they will self-destruct. Hebrews 12:8-11 shows us, “If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Children may not appreciate the pains of discipline but deep down they are programmed to understand that it is ultimately for their good. TEACH – Jesus was first and foremost a teacher. Teaching the word is the hallmark of His ministry as well as Apostle Paul. Each parent or mentor is expected to be an effective teacher of the Word. Careful and considerate instruction insures that God’s instructions are transferred to the next generation. There is no guarantee that they will get this instruction anywhere else; that is why it should come from the home first. MODEL – Jesus came and provided a model of what we are to be like. By the same token, we are to be the model for our children to follow. If they cannot use your life as a pattern you have failed. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul who said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” This should also be our mantra as parents. Give them something to follow because whether you like it or not they will become just like you. TRANSFER – The parents of old always transferred blessing and gifts and insured that they left an appropriate legacy. We must transfer to our children and speak their inherited destiny over them. This transference has to be conscious and not accidental. We cannot assume that because they are around us it will automatically rub off.

About the author – Dave Burrows is the president of Youth Alive Ministries. He is also the Youth Pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International in Nassau, Bahamas. He currently serves as President of the Global Youth Ministry Leaders Network and is an advisor to the Government of the Bahamas as Chairman of the National Youth Advisory Council. Pastor Dave travels locally and internationally as a conference speaker, motivating youth, churches, youth ministries and school groups to maximize their God given potential. For more information visit: www.daveburrowsministries.com. 54

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

MISSIONS Getting Equipped

Equipping Tool THE GETTING EQUIPPED™ SERIES

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

for Leaders BY

JOE & JO HUGHES, FOUNDERS, EGI

When my wife and I came to the Lord in 1975 in a tent revival in Rome, Italy, we knew we were making a Kingdom change – a change from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light and from serving a temporal kingdom to an eternal kingdom. Through the last 30+ years of church planting in the Philippines, to leadership training all across Asia and even into Africa and the Ukraine, I have seen that what is needed is a change in kingdoms, not joining a religion or church. Jesus’ disciples changed kingdoms and that is how they were able to turn the [then known] world “upside down.” This was accomplished not by mass crusades or church programs, but through discipleship. Early in our ministry we realized discipleship is the key to accomplishing church growth and sustaining it. Working with new converts toward the goal of having them become mature church leaders taught us the process of what really worked. During these same years, we also saw the need for training materials written in simple language but with thorough treatment of subjects that range from basic Christian doctrine to how to start a new church. This became the core of EGI’s Getting Equipped™ Series. Operation World, a book that sites the situation of the “church” in each country with its needs, problems, etc., shows that the overwhelming plea from developing nations is for discipleship training materials in their language. Some of these nations have Bible schools but only a small percentage of the believers of those nations ever make it to those schools. In those nations, many of the new believers who have a strong desire to be discipled and learn how to follow Christ already have families, jobs and responsibilities. They cannot afford to take 2-4 years out of their lives to go away and study. In many cases these believers are in rural areas and the Bible Schools are far away in large urban cities. Many times they are excluded from the institutional track because they are not academically or financially able to qualify, but they have the heart and the calling to lead the church. Therefore, the challenge is to meet their needs where they are and bring success to their ministry in order to add to the expansion of the Kingdom of God. Ralph Winter (deceased), former founder of the US Center for World Mission said, “More than 3 million dedicated church leaders throughout the developing world have received little or no Biblical training. Danger, cost, distance and lack of resources prevent traditional leadership training methods from meeting this need. Compounding the problem, when leaders leave their area of ministry to attend distant Bible Schools, congregations struggle on their own without pastoral oversight and care. Between 80-90% of those who leave for formal training and schooling do not return.” This need is why EGI’s Getting Equipped™ Series was developed. The series is designed to provide a systematic process of training. Each lesson is designed to have a direct application and implementation.

This training system overcomes the problem of taking leaders away from their local area for an extended training period. Instead, the training is brought to them. The Getting Equipped™ Series can go to nations and cultures where the institutional school cannot. The series neither competes with, nor replaces formal Bible School training. Rather, it identifies the leaders of the hundreds and thousands who will need further Biblical Studies. The Getting Equipped™ Series consists of seven (7) manuals that helps a believer become “Equipped for the Christian Journey”: • The Facilitator’s Guide • Basic Beliefs of Christianity • Genesis: Book of Beginnings • Missions & Church Planting • The Christian Family • Stewardship • Bible Study Skills While comprehensive in scope, the series follows guidelines that make it relatively easy to translate and read. It provides a practical, Biblical path that takes believers from early conversion to church leadership. The following are key points that make up this series: • Biblically based • Written without church clichés or cultural references • Practical and doctrinally balanced with no denominational slants • Includes application exercises • User-friendly design Although there is not a specific order in which these manuals must be studied or taught, the key to the series is The Facilitator’s Guide. This manual contains a training system to be used by the facilitator to “train the trainer.” Seminar participants are to learn, and then go and teach other leaders who will, in turn, teach others. Through equipping and training, the church will grow and believers will mature in their faith.

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MISSIONS Getting Equipped

Paul instructed Timothy to “entrust” his teachings to others who were reliable and able to teach.

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2) EGI’s Getting Equipped™ Series works on the premise of the “priesthood of the believer.”

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) Everyone needs training to learn the things of God and to stay doctrinally sound. The role of the leader or pastor is not to do everything himself, but to train others.

“It is he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so the body of Christ may be built up…” (Ephesians 4:11-12) In other words, every believer should be trained and equipped to be able to witness, win and disciple others to the Lord. Because the series is designed as discipleship training, it has transferability and accountability as can be seen from Jesus’ model of discipleship. He called them, taught them, showed them, separated them, sent them and evaluated them. Jesus equipped His disciples and then He empowered and mobilized them. The Getting Equipped™ Series was developed so that leaders today can also do that. It puts “tools” in the hands of the workmen that can help them be successful in their ministry and calling. Although discipleship is a main theme of Jesus’ teaching, too often it seems to get overlooked in the quest to add numbers to a congregation. In Nicaragua where the Getting Equipped™ Series was introduced in 2006, some comments received from the pastors were: “We have been competing to make more members. No one ever told us we need to make disciples.” (They had been having groups come in for years doing seminars.) One success report was from a young pastor who started the Getting Equipped™ Series with 13 disciples. Over time some dropped out, but then more joined. The result was his church had grown 70% in about 18 months. Of course this inspired others to want to start discipleship in their churches.

In a nation that has a fast growing Christian population, we received a call for using The Getting Equipped™ Series because the church was “a mile wide but ½ inch deep.” Evangelism alone – without discipleship and equipping – leaves shallow believers who struggle when the storms of life come. That is why we say the series “equips for the Christian journey” through teachings about family life, financial problems, or just actively walking the Christian life in the community. A leader from West Africa contacted us by email saying he had seen our Facilitator’s Guide. “I have spent some time on your website and I have discovered that what you are doing is just what the church here in West Africa needs to move in depth in our walk and work with the Lord.” In another email he wrote, “I’m not asking for money; what we need is training.” He facilitated a seminar (a launch) teaching The Facilitator’s Guide in 2011. The leader reported, “I am excited to write to you that the launch of the training was a great success and far beyond our expectations. We launched with 43 leaders and together developed a vision and action plan for multiplying training and churches across the region. All 43 leaders committed to train 747 in the next year.” He likes The Getting Equipped™ Series and training because it can be monitored and measured. The trainers will keep weekly contact with the leaders. When they meet again it will be easy to see who really made disciples. As Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit.” (Matthew 7:20) These are changing times and people’s decisions are changing nations and governments. However, it needs to be the people of God bringing the change through Kingdom transformation and righteousness. Many churches are going to nations with the mission of wanting to make a difference. From what we have observed in many nations, multiplication of believers through discipleship is the avenue God can use to bring about this difference and expansion of His kingdom. Evangelism is just the beginning. The next step after evangelism is discipleship. Discipleship must truly be just as Jesus did. When believers are trained and equipped they can ‘turn the world upside down!’ The Getting Equipped™ Series is an invaluable resource that, when put in the hand of any church planter and/or leader, will produce multiplication of believers and church growth.

About the author – Joseph (Joe) and Beverly (Jo) Hughes are founders of Equippers Group International, a ministry focused on training and developing national leaders globally. Following years of being on the mission field in Southeast Asia, they developed a training tool for leaders called The Getting Equipped Series TM, which is being used internationally to equip leaders. For more information visit: www.equippersgroup.com and www.gettingequipped.org. 58

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

INFLUENCE What is Yeast

The Principle of

Yeast

Power of Kingdom Influence BY

DR. PEPE RAMNATH

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

THE PRINCIPLE OF YEAST Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.” Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (Luke 13:18-21) Jesus wanted his audience to really understand the very basics of this advanced complex, called the Kingdom of God. He knew if they would understand the basics of this complex, everything they do within the confines of this new understanding would bloom and influence everything they touched on earth for God. Though there are many complexities into the science and biology of yeast, Jesus met the people at the base of their understanding. The Kingdom was positioned in the minds of the people waiting to grow, expand and dominate through each person who heard and understood. Jesus knew that each village used yeast for cooking and it had become the cooking culture of that entire community. So he took the simplicity of their cooking experiences and turned it into a prerequisite course for understanding the greatness of his Kingdom. The simple explanation of the workings of yeast found in the kitchen of the villagers are one of the basic fundamentals of how the Kingdom of God works, operates and dominates a world gone bad. It is how complicated things are derived from simple things; how large things are made from small things and how the smallest things in life are what make the large things

in life really matter. Electrons are the smallest part of an atom. An atom is the smallest part of an element and an element is the smallest part of a compound. An atom upholds the weight of the most complex structures in the world. The most complicated things in the world get its identity from the smallest atom. Imagine: each one of us are summed up and predicted by invisible microscopic DNA found within the smallest part of our body called the cell. The nucleus houses the majority of genetic material of a cell. The nucleus is the “brain” of the cell and controls all activity within the cell, using DNA as a blueprint. Therefore, a complex is as strong as the smallest part, not the largest part. A compound is a pure substance made up of two or more elements that are chemically combined in a set ratio (it can repeat itself the same way over and over again). It is composed of two or more parts, elements, or ingredients. Soap is a compound substance; its compound can be repeated over and over. A mixture contains more than one combined substance but it is not chemically joined, therefore the substances found in a mixture can be separated easily. Bread is defined as a mixture so it can be easily separated, until the yeast gets into it. Yeast therefore is the only substance that can take a mixture and make it one with all the ingredients in the bread. Yeast takes an imperfect mixture and causes it to behave like a compound and yet maintain

its mixture property. When the Kingdom enters into the cultures and races of our communities, villages and nations we become one. The Kingdom of God will take the mixtures of nations, races and cultures and make a world of kings and lords, and brothers and sisters in the name of our King Jesus. Therefore, the Kingdom of God is the only solution for the cure of world wars, segregations and divisions. It is important to know that what makes bread tasty is the yeast and not the dough. We buy sealed packets of dry Fleishman’s or Red Star Yeast for baking. But in the times of Jesus, the village people saved a little bit of one day’s dough, and kept it moist in a balm to mix into the dough for the next day’s bread.

WHAT IS YEAST? Yeast is a Fungus. It is a single-celled fungus. We are more familiar with edible mushrooms available at the supermarket, common baker’s yeast used to leaven bread, as well as Penicillium that ripens blue cheese and also produces antibiotics (Penicillin) for medical and veterinary use. The scientific name for the yeast that baker’s use is Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, or “sugareating fungus.” A very long name for such a tiny organism! This species of yeast is very strong and capable of fermentation – the process that causes bread dough to rise.

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INFLUENCE What is Yeast

Saccharomyces Cerevisiae is a species of budding yeast. It is perhaps one of the oldest and most useful yeast. It was discovered in ancient times 5000 years ago in Egypt where it was found in baking and brewing. It is believed that it was originally isolated from the skins of grapes. “Saccharomyces” derives from Latinized Greek and means “sugar mold” or “sugar fungus”, saccharo- being the combining form “sugar-” and myces being “fungus”. Fungi are neither plants nor animals, yet it has certain characteristics of plants and animals at the same time. Yeast breathes oxygen just like us and it exhales carbon dioxide just like us. Since fungus has characteristics like both plants and animals, it could not be placed in the plant Kingdom or the animal Kingdom. Biologist had to give it its own kingdom category so that it would not be confused with plants and animals. There are five (5) kingdoms for classifying all living things on the earth. The five Kingdoms are Bacteria, Protists, Fungi, Plants and Animals. Humans belong to the animal Kingdom.

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

HOW DOES YEAST WORK IN MAKING BREAD? As the yeast begins to metabolize (breaking down for easy consumption) the sugars in the dough, it forms carbon dioxide that puffs into tiny gas pockets all through the dough. The gas can’t escape because of the elastic gluten in the flour, so these pockets of gas stay in the loaf. The carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is much weaker than the gluten in the bread and as a result it keeps the CO2 trapped inside of the bread. The CO2 is unable to break the elastic gluten in the bread and it begins to form pockets of holes inside the bread causing the bread to rise. When the loaf finally goes into the oven, the gas expands even more as the temperature rises, until the dough finally bakes, holding the shape of those tiny gas pockets, now filled with air. The gases expand more in the heat of the oven. Increased heat makes the bread taste better. In the heat of persecution and adversity the Word tastes better. And as the bread rises, the size increases many folds. When you prepare bread it is recommended that you use a large bowl and

place the kneaded dough in the bottom of the bowl. By the time it has risen the dough is nearly overflowing the bowl. When dealing with the Kingdom of God it prepares your borders by metabolizing the best in the world for enlargement, as Jabez prayed. What’s the point of the parable? A small amount of yeast will leaven a large amount of flour. The tiny lump of yeast (Kingdom) will soon invade a large volume of dough (world). Small beginnings will always produce large endings according to the principle of yeast. Yeast cells digest food to obtain energy for growth. Their favorite food is sugar in its various forms: sucrose (beet or cane sugar), fructose and glucose (found in honey, molasses, maple syrup and fruit), and maltose (derived from starch in flour). Yeast extracts sugar from the dough. There are many types of sugar in the world and the yeast of the Kingdom has a way of finding the sugar and it makes it food. There are diversities of cultures in this beautiful world we live in that are rich in sugar and just right to feed the yeast that is within you. Yeast finds sugar in culture plates in the microbiological lab, just like the yeast of the Kingdom finds the sweetness of life in the cultures of the world.

Jesus placed this yeast-like Kingdom in us and placed the sugar of life in the world creating a symbiotic balance of life. Each culture has the sugar that the yeast needs to grow and form colonies of that particular yeast. Whether we can see it or not there are lots of sugar foods in each culture of the world. The Kingdom will find it once it is loosed into the culture of the world. We benefit each other and produce a spiritual ecological balance for species of Kingdom yeast to grow.

Mustard tree, like the Eucalyptus regnans, which grow up to 492 feet. Though the Orchid seeds are the smallest in the world, it does not produce the largest trees. And though the Eucalyptus regnans are the largest trees on earth, it does not have the smallest seed. The Mustard tree was perfect for Jesus’ analogy of how greatness is uniformly balanced. Here is a carpenter-preacher speaking in the villages of a minor Roman province. It is not very impressive when you look at the big picture. However, within a single generation after Christ’s death, Christianity had spread all over the Roman Empire and beyond; to India in the East, Ethiopia in the South, and Britannia in the West. Just because the Kingdom didn’t seem very great did not mean that it would have stayed small forever. The Kingdom of God naturally begins as a small and insignificant gesture, but grows to become large and powerful. A small Mustard seed contain a giant tree; a tiny leaven-lump contains a large bread loaf that is fresh and fragranced from rising, and ready for the oven. When we carefully take yeast and place it in hard and meaningless dough, the cruelty of an unfriendly world and the heat of an oven-like world is turned up high and will bake that dough into a tasty stomach satisfying life-giving bread. Jesus’ prayer in John 17:15 says, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” Your ideas, inventions, discoveries and thoughts may have seemed insignificant in the eyes of this hungry world, but when God gets inside of each idea, invention, discovery and thought, the world will come to eat. What is it that discourages you? What is the mountain that seems insurmountable? There is a true old saying; “Little is much if God is in it.” There’s a very interesting command in Zechariah 4:10: “Don’t despise the day of small things.” Too often we, like Jesus’ first disciples, are tempted to give up when we see the tiny, struggling beginnings, and think that’s all there will be. Don’t quit. Don’t judge your efforts, or Jesus’ power, on what you see right now. The seeds we sow today will grow great crops in season. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

THE POWER OF SEEDS Sometimes we get discouraged when we see the little we have to work with. What you’ve worked so hard to do seems so small and insignificant -- so futile, so hopeless, so tiny. The disciples may have felt that way about the Kingdom of God. But if we learn that the power is the nucleus of the atom we will rejoice. For the atom and the cells comes power packed to build massive dreams. I have noticed that Jesus used small things to describe the mighty, ever increasing, limitless and infinite Kingdom of God. He used a Mustard seed, pearls and microscopic yeast. There are many seeds smaller than a mustard seed like orchid seeds spawn from microscopic pollen that can produce up to 35 million extremely small seeds per ounce. There are many trees larger than a About the author – Dr. Pepe Ramnath and his wife Dr. Angela Ramnath are founders and Senior Pastors of the Miramar Christian Center International in Miramar, Florida. They are the owners of a growing business, Dove Environmental Corporation, a laboratory that tests for environmental matrices and air quality. Dr. Ramnath holds a PhD in Environmental Microscopy, and is the author of two books, The Supernatural Kingdom and The Genetics of Vision. KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

ask

Myles

Dr.

Have a question for Dr. Myles? Email us at: Editor@KingdomLifeMag.com

& Q

YOU SAY JESUS’ CENTRAL MESSAGE WAS THE KINGDOM BUT DIDN’T PAUL PREACH, “JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED”?

Paul said that, but Paul didn’t preach that. Never take a verse out of context and use it to build a doctrine. You want to always place things back in context. Paul statement was in context of an argument. Paul used to be a Pharisee & graduated from Gamaliel, the top school of Pharisaical training of the day. Gamaliel the Elder was the highest trained professor in Pharisaical theology. Paul was his top student and hated Jesus. Paul was trained and Jesus was a rebel to him. Paul developed a network of people who would go around finding people who believed in this kingdom and kill them. Paul would go from town to town to get legal papers to destroy the groups of believers. That what he was doing by going to Damascus. On the way there the Governor knocked him off of his horse and asked him what he was doing. When you touch the citizen you touch the government. Paul says who are you? He says I represent the Lord Jesus Christ, He is

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

the King. Paul says what would you have me to do? He said lets change your name to Paul and go to the Gentiles and tell them about the Kingdom. Now the problem is that a Pharisaical Jew was not only a religious person, he was also prejudice. The Pharisees believed that salvation is only reserved for the Jews and the Gentiles were dogs. After Paul was healed he went to the desert for 17 years to cleanse himself of the Pharisaical doctrine and prepare himself for the ministry of the Kingdom of God. When he comes out of the desert, he starts preaching what he was known as killing people for. Now his friends are confused saying that he was mixing with dogs and preaching what they hate. Paul asks them what do you hate? They said you know, we have been trained, if you want to become a member of God’s household they must follow the laws of Moses, the Torah, the Mishnah and the laws that were added to the laws. The Pharisees were trained if you don’t obey all the laws, then you cannot be righteous. Thats when

Paul answered his criticizers, by stating the he was not preaching laws to be obeyed that man created, but rather Christ and the work that He did for the Gentiles to bring them back to the kingdom. He wasn’t preaching the laws that he was taught in school. He was answering an argument to a specific group of people in a specific moment in a town where they attacked him. So lets look at what Paul said in other places and see if that is in balance. Lets start by looking at Acts19:8-9 “Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. Acts 20:25-26 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.” Acts 28:23-24 “They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.” He preached the kingdom and then tried to explain about the king. You never preach the prime minster, you preach the country then you explain the government. Acts 28:30-31 “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE NIV AS THE VERSION FOR YOUR BOOKS? I did my studies at the university, where we studied Hebrew and Greek, which are the two languages of the Scripture. As we went through our schooling we did comparative studies with different translations. I was shocked to find out that the King James version changed some of the words that

are very important that made the difference in my entire theology. So I had to search through all the versions, and come to the conclusion, as well as many Biblical researchers, that the NIV is so far the best translation that holds true to the literal words translation. Most of the words that the NIV translate, they keep them. Even some of the words that the King James added, the NIV leaves it out for there was no proof of it being in the original text. So they even tried to protect it that way. The King James is a beautiful language from the 16th century, but please don’t be married to it.

WITH YOUR HECTIC SCHEDULE, HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME TO STUDY AND PRAY? It is a matter of setting my priorities. Then I organized my life according to the priorities and thirdly, I discipline my life accordingly. A leader does not get a lot of sleep.

DOMINION Kingdom Agent

God’s

Real Estate Agents BY

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) Real Estate is defined as “real” or a specific thing of value, and “estate” means the original condition, position, territory and the right of authority over it. No matter how many corrupted things have come on the planet or how the devil seeks to twist an alternate existence, this planet and everything on it, over it and under it still belongs to God.

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

DR. RICK KENDALL

Genesis 2:7 says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” This means that God imparted His very nature and personality into us. This life became the treasure in an earthen vessel. God took the mud of His physical real estate, and then breathed His Kingdom image inside of it to become the person within the skin! Then He gave this new Kingdom agent, dominion over the real estate. Adam was given authority to be a steward by taking dominion over the fish, fowl, cattle and creeping things over all the earth. Instead

of realizing he had the Kingdom knowledge within himself, Adam fell into the deception that a piece of outward real estate (forbidden fruit), would give him power. Adam committed high treason causing him to be casted out of the garden realm. Man was thrust into an alternate universe. From that moment, thorns and briers of a twisted perception began to spread over what were once Myrtle and Fir trees. By the sweat of the brow and hard labor people begin to toil for food. The lust of outward “things” resulted. When Adam sinned, he lost the covering of God and began to build for shelter. Man learned to construct more elaborate facilities over time and even today, every house and building is made from some part of the earth; whether it is steel or concrete pounded from raw metal and rock, or clothes from the cotton or skin of animals. Even the furniture you are sitting on originally came from some part of the earth. Out of this, mankind put his name on his inventions and developed legal rights and ownership. The very first border was that of the angels set by God to keep Adam from the garden. One of the biggest factors in current global economic instability is not money, but real estate from local properties to international borders. Nearly every war fought by nations is about taking land from one government to be owned by another. Man has ceased to understand he is a steward of God’s property and has sought the power of exclusive ownership. This is a result of greed bringing ultimate depletion of natural resources. This thirst for territorial monopoly has taken mankind from genuine dominion into a system of debt. God has no problem with people having deeds or making treaties to specify borders and rights for property, as long as it is understood that the ultimate ownership belongs to God. He set laws of forgiving debts and allowing the land to rest every seven years to bring an understanding of stewardship (not ownership). However, mankind (in a fallen condition) rejected God’s principle of rest to pursue self-interest. (See Deuteronomy 15:1-2, Leviticus 25:3-4) The problem societies face today is not lack of resources, because nearly everything that’s ever been on the planet is still on the planet. The problem is an economic system of worldwide debt. Unfortunately, debt has become the norm and is infused in the minds of many, especially in America where nearly all homes and other properties are mortgaged through long term high interest loans. It’s difficult to “take ground” if it is owned by a bank. If you have a mortgage or several loans, you need not be condemned, but be aware, that as ambassadors of God’s Kingdom, He is opening innovative ideas and doors that will get you out of debt [soon] and keep you out of debt.

The second “Adam” ( Jesus Christ) came to redeem us and restore us to the Kingdom. Most of the church world can accept this redemption spiritually and even physically, but this redemption covers everything including the real estate ground we call earth. When the scriptures declare that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, it’s talking about restoration of God’s Kingdom to His cosmos (original blueprint). This is vital as we are being prepared to be Kingdom Real Estate agents that walk with freedom and authority into places we never knew we could go. Our King has redeemed us from the curse of debt, and has set us into His Kingdom economy where wealth is from within and wisdom is the administrator. The devil knows that the way to bring a false one-world government is through a debt infused system. The only way the enemy can appear to assume power is by creating the illusion that he has a seat of authority (or apparent grounds to take a place). He will do this through corrupted systems that appear to have the answers for all the problems that it caused in the first place. There will be challenges and oppositions as we progress into more groundbreaking renovation and change, but paradigms must shift as the King of Glory comes in. Romans 8:22 reveals that the mutant weather patterns and global shakings are not global warming, but global groaning! No matter how fiery current world calamities seem and no matter how far the devil “appears” to progress, it will ultimately come down because God, the King is on His throne and owns it all. God instructed Israel to tread out ground for “takeover”. It was not so they could own it for themselves and retain it exclusively into their customs, but it was to colonize the land for the restoration of His Kingdom. Israel was chosen not because God loves her more than other nations, but because His seed sprang from that nation and through that seed ( Jesus), Israel was chosen to be a base of Kingdom operations to reach all the nations with the good news of His Kingdom. Now through Christ we have also become engrafted citizens of His Kingdom to redeem back what was lost. God has delivered us from debt to restore our promise, purpose and place of dominion. We have been restored back into the covering and authority to take dominion through infiltration, influence and innovation. He has given us power to be His Real Estate agents in, on and over the earth to shift paradigms back to the original blueprint He intended for this world. Get ready for the manifestation of sons (men and women of God) with title deeds in their hands.

About the author – Dr. Rick Kendall is the President of Global Embassy Network (formerly The Body Network). He leads “The Main Street Network,” an extension of the Global Embassy Network that brings marketplace men and women together as frontline ambassadors. He travels extensively speaking in churches, conferences and seminars, with a relevant, revelatory and prophetic Word that motivates, activates and empowers God’s people to capture their Kingdom purpose and destiny. Dr. Rick also launched Kingdom Advance Seminars to help people understand and find transition into the message of God’s Kingdom.

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PURPOSE Self-Discovery

m o t t o Rock B

y r e v o c s i D f l e S o t t l u p a t a C e h T BY

ROBERTO HERNANDEZ

am of the belief that our assignment together with God’s goal is to ultimately fill the earth with the Lord’s culture. Everything we experience, whether good or bad, can be used to expand God’s Kingdom on earth and for His reputation to be known. He makes a name for Himself. All we have to do is patiently endure hardship as a good soldier and we’ll see and experience how He’ll cover the earth with His nature. The earth shall be filled with the Glory of God as the waters cover the seas.

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

God is a God of purpose. Even when we’re in affliction He will both revive us and complete that which concerns us. I recently had the opportunity to travel to (my hometown) Perth Amboy, NJ. A few months prior I visited there as well. The first time was due to an emergency with a family member who passed away. I had the privilege of speaking at his funeral and learned some things about the condition of that town. The second time, I observed the condition of my hometown through other unfavorable circumstances – more funerals and time spent with an immediate family member who hit ‘rock bottom.’ He had recently divorced, lost his job, foreclosed on his home, got his car repossessed, and most unfortunately, lost the leisure to be with his children everyday. While assisting him in his journey, I saw first hand how Kingdom principles really work. I spent time observing the condition of people in Central Jersey and the surrounding areas, and saw that many seemed to be at their rock bottom. Rock bottom is not necessarily an unfavorable place. It can be considered very strategic towards character development to those who are exercised by its demands. I guess we’re reminded that all things should work out for the good of those who are called to fulfill God’s purpose. All things include even the unfavorable ones.

THREE SOURCES TO SELF-DISCOVERY I’ve learned that there are three sources for self-discovery and purpose: 1. Cry of Destiny – The tugging voice in our DNA. Very few people identify and respond to it in their lifetime. 2. Intentional Training – The least percentage of people are introduced through this journey. It’s usually when a parent or guardian sees a certain gifting or potential and immediately directs the child by enrolling them in education and training. 3. Pressure and Crisis – Crisis has always proven to be most popular in forcing people to find their purpose in life. (This is also known as ‘Rock Bottom.’) Throughout history, many great men have discovered themselves and their purpose after emerging out of crisis. Dr. Myles Munroe, author of Overcoming Crisis, Understanding Your Potential, and The Pursuit of Purpose, among other pertinent books, said, “Crisis is the incubator of innovation and the womb of creativity.” Rock bottom is the catapult to revealing your authenticity and serving yourself to your generation. Usually, before you are greatly used, you have to be deeply bruised. Being stripped of everything should remind us, that what we’re called to do requires what we have in our hands, not our bank accounts. What is in you? What were you born to accomplish?

ATTITUDE ALTERS ABILITY How are we to respond when we’ve reached our wits end? My observed and proven resolution is to respond with an attitude that enables your ability to think your way through (and out of) crisis. Attitude can be defined as “a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior.”

Depression and anxiety are our two greatest enemies when faced with challenges. They are the result of not taking the time to think before acting. They’ll rob us from our creativity that is usually manifested in the face of adversity. As a man thinks, so is he. God’s first recorded name in the Bible is Creator. It means one that brings something into existence; an innovator. I believe since we are made in His image and likeness, we too are to think, not fret if we’re at rock bottom. Just like God created the universe when everything was void and without form, we too posses the ability to become creative and innovative when things are dark and not right. The potential is in us. Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus, “Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20) Where is this power? It’s not just going to fall in our lap from heaven? No! It’s already in us. God will DO when we MOVE. He can’t steer a ship that doesn’t leave the shore. We were never promised that once we connected to our Source, our Heavenly Father, that everything was going to be a bed of roses. On the contrary He said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The word ‘cheer’ in this verse takes the word ‘attitude’ a step further. It means: shout of joy, in praise or encouragement. Cheer, is attitude in the highest form. “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith produces patience. And patience, when it is complete, makes you perfect, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

PRINCIPLES ARE OUR KEYS TO SUCCESS It seems is as if we were intentionally designed to resist adversity. The words of Jesus stated this and showed us the secrets to success in-spite of what we undergo in this world. He said, “If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit – but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.” (Matthew 7:24b25 MSG) Rain, flood and tornados hit everyone’s house. When you work Kingdom principles into your life, you are not moved by the various storms [of life]. No matter where you are, even if it’s at rock bottom, consider it your new start. Use the principles from your life manual (the Bible) to build like a smart carpenter. Though I assisted my relative (in the beginning) with food, finances and driving him to different places to get things done, I gradually weaned off to allow him to apply the principles I’d taught him along the way. To my amazement, in just a few days, he was practically restored completely. While encouraging him out of his depressive state, I understood that he needed things to happen rapidly, but didn’t get alarmed. Instead, I invited him to breakfast and took him to meet other people; specifically a group of very happy rehabilitated men from a local Youth Center. They were men who once reached rock bottom but now have a vision for their lives. KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

PURPOSE Self-Discovery

IDEAS ARE WHERE HIDDEN WEALTH LIES It took an idea to make one phone call to a company. The manager, who also happens to be a friend, hired him and gave him a company car. Another coworker offered to pay his car insurance. It was awesome to see people get involved in contributing towards his needs. It was contagious.

is to get us to think and act in ways we ordinarily would not. For some, moments like these become business opportunities. For example: One will feel the adrenaline of selling used items and make it their primary business. They begin to sell stuff they don’t use and even begin buying other stuff to sell. It becomes their new source of income.

In the midst of it all, I made him promise to listen to two CDs on “Potential” that I’d purchased a week earlier. While listening to the CDs, he overheard a part that said, “Don’t wait for the blessings to fall on your lap, instead think: what do you have in you and in your possession that can fix your present problems?” He immediately thought on the spot, “I have a set of quality weights that are just sitting in the basement of my foreclosed house. Why don’t I just sell them and use the money to assist me and my family?” The purpose of crisis

You are equipped for what you were born to do. The potential is already in you, not in your bank account. Think and act upon those ideas of wealth that constantly harass you. They do not subside because they’re supposed to be executed. Purpose is in you. Being at the rock all the way at the bottom can never rob you from your authenticity, made in God’s image and likeness. It’s truly a catapult to launch you into your life assignment.

About the author – Roberto Hernandez is an international motivational speaker, life coach and evangelist who teaches Kingdom principles and effective evangelism for the marketplace. Roberto is known for creatively assisting people in self-discovery, gift development and equipping them for effective ‘non-religious’ approach to influence their society. He is also the Head Network Ambassador and Mentor of Kingdom Community International, a Kingdom house-church network in Naples, Florida. For more information visit: www.thepurposeman.com. 70

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

LIVING Intervention

The

POWER of

KINGDOM

Intervention

RAYMOND ENEAS

Without the Kingdom of God, life with all its riches, results in peasantry.

et me begin by saying that the Kingdom of God is God’s way of thinking, God’s way of living and ultimately God’s way of doing everything on earth! It is the uncontaminated governmental system of God. Therefore, you cannot be in constant violation of God’s Word and claim that you are in the Kingdom. In other words, you cannot be a homosexual, adulterer, fornicator, liar, gossiper, thief or abuser in any form and be a part of the Kingdom of God. Such behaviors do not exist in this Kingdom no matter what bishop, president, prime minister or leader may believe. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV) You are identified as being a part of something, when its culture is embedded in you and its culture is the norm in your life. The Kingdom of God is the most powerful force on the face of the earth. According to Jesus, the Kingdom is the only thing that has the power to cause all things to be added to your life that you would ever want or need. Nothing or nobody else can make such a claim and be truthful about it. Whatever you desire to have, based on God’s purpose for your life, the Kingdom of God can provide it. Jesus gave us the key to unlock and have access to the Kingdom. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:3334 ESV) Jesus’ strategy for intervention is the Kingdom of God and it will always be the Kingdom of God. When he first started His ministry at thirty years old, His first public statement was all about Kingdom intervention. His strategy was not watered down positive affirmations; it was not dividing people into different denominations, and it was not getting a lot of people together and manipulating them from the pulpit to give big offerings. His strategy was “Listen young man, young woman you need the Kingdom of God!” In fact, He became the offering and offered the Kingdom to all of us. Scripture tells us that the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, so the Kingdom of God is all wrapped up in the Holy Spirit. This could only mean that the Holy Spirit is the source that gives us the power to enter into Kingdom living. You will never understand the Kingdom if you do not have a strong relationship with the Holy Spirit. You have to allow the Holy Spirit to intervene in your life so He can activate the power of the Kingdom of God in you. The Kingdom of God cannot be seen with the naked eye because it operates on the inside of us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Once the

Kingdom of God is activated in you via the Holy Spirit, you become a person of righteousness aligned with God’s Word, His purpose and His power. Have you ever had a printer where the alignment was completely off? As long as the printer is not aligned properly, it will not print and if it does print, it will not come out right. It is the same way if we are not in alignment with God, we will never come out right or live righteously. With that said, the power to have a peaceful life will elude us if we are not living righteous. The Kingdom has the power to give us real peace in our lives. To have true peace means peace of mind without any worries. Man is incapable of living in true peace without the Kingdom of God. From the day that Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit, the entire human race was separated from God and since that time, we have been struggling to have perfect peace. The Bible tells us that God keeps us in perfect peace if our minds are stayed on Him. If we look at the state of our world today, many people want peace but their minds are not near God. God is either last or nowhere in the minds of many people. Our minds are designed to function properly only with God as the nucleus, so when He is not on our minds, we gradually malfunction and become self-destructive. That is why the entire world is in disarray and chaos. God says we must acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our path. God just asks for a simple acknowledgement and many of us will not do that. No one likes not being acknowledged, not even God! The more we cry for peace, the more wars increase, and the more we say we are not worrying about our circumstances, the more we worry. Though Jesus told us not to worry, many people are experts at worrying. Brook, and our two sons, Chancellor & Jaiden, loves the Disney movie, “The Lion King.” Although the makers of the movie may not have realized it, the film portrays a Kingdom mind-set and culture. The movie’s tag line is “Hakuna Matata” which means “no worries!” For us to worry is unpleasing to God because only faith pleases Him. Worrying is the archenemy of faith and worrying hinders the power of the Kingdom from entering into your life. If we worry we will never have peace of mind. We want peace but we don’t want Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace; the only one who can truly introduce us to real Kingdom living. We will never have access to the peace the Kingdom provides until we get the true revelation of who Jesus really is! After Jesus’ disciple, Peter, got the revelation of who He was, he received access by receiving the keys of the Kingdom. This allowed Peter to experience righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, which is the Kingdom of God. “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

LIVING Intervention • You cannot be in constant violation of God’s word and claim

him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19 ESV) Only Jesus can bring Kingdom intervention into our lives. It is only He who has the keys to let us in just like He did for Peter. If anyone or anything else is Lord of your life other than Jesus, the Kingdom of God will be kept from you. It possesses the right solutions to all the problems we have on earth. It has the power to solve war, crime, domestic abuse, chaos, anarchy or disorder and all other religious setbacks. The more I experience the Kingdom, the more I realize how powerful it is. It is so powerful that it was exactly what Jesus brought back to earth to stop every form of suffering people experience. Not only did Jesus talk about the Kingdom, He also demonstrated its power by transforming people’s minds through Kingdom culture teaching, healing the sick, raising the dead, restoring prostitutes, training men to be good leaders (His disciples), forgiving His accusers and murderers, destroying prejudice and empowering others to do the same. He was not power hungry, but gave and shared His power only with those willing and obedient to the Father. This is why 1 Corinthians 4:20 says: The Kingdom of God isn’t just talk, but it is Power! Every Kingdom has an end except Jesus’ Kingdom (see Luke 1:33).

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS THE ONLY THING THAT DOES NOT EXPIRE The safest kingdom to be a part of is the Kingdom of God because it is the only Kingdom that will not expire. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 that we must seek first the Kingdom of God. He did not say seek it second, third or fourth, but first. He knew His Kingdom was and still is the only answer or solution to all of our problems. Do you realize that there is nothing else that will not come to an end except the Kingdom? Rome was the greatest civilization of all time and since then no country has been greater, not even the United States of America. The Romans ruled the entire world but the day came when Rome came to an end. In the same way, your life will one day expire, your money will expire, your car will expire, and even the milk in your refrigerator will expire. BUT NOT THE KINGDOM! The Kingdom is the most powerful place in Heaven and on earth! When I gave my life to the Lord, I was fortunate enough to be under the leadership of great Kingdom teaching from Dr. Myles Munroe. One day my wife, Brook, and I were taking Dr. Munroe to the airport and I asked him a question and his answer has stuck with me ever since. I asked him “What do I need to do to understand the Kingdom

that you are in the Kingdom of God. • The Holy Spirit is the source that gives the power to enter into Kingdom living. • You have to allow the Holy Spirit to intervene in your life, so He can activate the power of the Kingdom of God in you. • Our minds are designed only to function properly with God as the nucleus. When He is not on our minds we gradually malfunction and become self-destructive. • We will never have access to the peace that the Kingdom provides until we get the true revelation of who Jesus really is! • If anyone or anything else is Lord of your life other than Jesus, the Kingdom of God will be kept from you. • The safest kingdom to be a part of is the Kingdom of God, because it is the only Kingdom that will not expire.

more?” He paused for a few seconds and said “Son, let me share with you what I did to really begin to understand the Kingdom. You must keep reading Matthew, Mark, Luke and John over and over and over and over again. As you read those books of the Bible, it’s like peeling an onion and new revelation about the Kingdom will keep coming to you”. Brook and I were so excited about His advice and I had never been more excited in my life to read the four gospels! As I began to read with great hunger, the Kingdom began to become more evident to me and revelation just kept coming like Dr. Myles said it would. Now if you have ever peeled an onion before, I am sure you quickly realized that the more you peel it, everything looks the same but you keep getting deeper and deeper to the core of the onion. In addition to getting deeper, the scent of the onion gets stronger and it affects your eyes. In the same way, the more you read or peel the four gospels, the deeper the revelation of God will hit you and the more it will affect your life. You will begin to be conditioned with Kingdom Culture. I am now living proof of the power of Kingdom intervention. I no longer need to be convinced about the power of the Kingdom nor can I be persuaded otherwise. It was the power of the Kingdom that destroyed pride in my life, caused me to not want to fornicate, tell lies, be unfaithful, spend money foolishly and be disobedient to my authorities. It was the power of the Kingdom that caused me to see the power and abilities that God placed in me. The Kingdom has turned me from being a young man lost with no hope to becoming a young man full of hope, who became dedicated to giving hope and inspiration to others. The Kingdom is the essence of true power. The Kingdom of God is my number one pursuit in life and I pray that it will become yours too!

About the author – Raymond D. Eneas is a gifted teacher, author and speaker who travels globally to empower others with a message of Kingdom culture, leadership, and purpose. He is the President of DGI Inspired, LLC, whose mission is to develop and train leaders, and is the Founder of TheGenerationalEffect.com, an organization designed to strengthen families. For more information about him visit: www.dgiinspired.com 74

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

DOMINION Destiny

Dominion BY

Destiny

GLENN BLEAKNEY

hat is the prerequisite for the end of the world? What events will precede the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? The disciples asked these very questions of Jesus two thousand years ago. Matthew 24:3 records: “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?’”

Jesus’ response is given in the ensuing verses of Matthew chapter 24. He states that many false prophets would appear in an attempt to deceive (v. 3-4, 11). He further announces that there will be an increase of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes and that lawlessness would flourish resulting in a culture of intolerance towards Biblical righteousness and the true Christian Faith (v. 12). However, of all the signs that will precede His return, Jesus says that there is really only one thing that will unequivocally usher in the End: the preaching of the Kingdom Gospel to all creation. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) Seeing that this is such a significant mandate, it is imperative that we understand what the true Gospel of the Kingdom really is! The first thing we learn about the Gospel of the Kingdom is that it was the message preached by the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 4:23 narrates that, “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” The Gospel of the Kingdom is also the message that the Lord summoned His followers to preach. He said in Matthew 10:7-8, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.’” Please note that in both of the aforementioned references the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom was, invariably, accompanied by mighty works such as the healing of the sick, the deliverance of the oppressed, and even the raising of the dead! 76

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

The New Testament is clear: the Gospel of the Kingdom is powerful and was never intended to be communicated in word only. The testimony of the Gospel is to be made effective not only by proclamation, but also in demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul the Apostle declares under the inspiration of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 4:20, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” When the Lord Jesus walked the earth 2000 years ago, the Gospel He preached came not only in word, but also in works. Luke 8:1 records, “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God.” Jesus not only spoke of the Kingdom, He carried it to the people! The term “kingdom” in English is literally, “King’s Dominion.” The dictionary describes ‘dominion’ as the “authority and power to govern and exercise control.” In the original economy of God, it was His intention that humankind would exercise His rule on the earth. We read in Genesis 1:28, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” We know that prior to sin, while dwelling in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were naked, yet they were not embarrassed. After their transgression, they immediately became conscious of their nakedness. The reason for this sense of shame is that they were no longer covered by the glory of God. Sin literally strips you of the glory. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Not only did Adam and Eve experience the loss of God’s glory as a result of sin, their spiritual authority was also forfeited. Hence, Satan now became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) as well as the prince or ruler of the world. (See John 12:31) When Jesus came to the earth, He came to restore man with the glory and authority that was lost. The devil knowing this attempted to strike a deal with Jesus at the very beginning of His ministry. Of course, Jesus would not negotiate with Satan. He was well aware that such a transaction would be illegal in nature, as it failed to address the root cause of the forfeiture, namely, sin. There was no short cut to reclaiming the authority and glory. After Jesus’ resurrection, a permanently binding, legal transaction occurred which resulted in the authority and glory being restored to humankind. Jesus cried out, “All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18) Paul said elsewhere, that God the Father “raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church. (Ephesians 1:19-22) What is the result of this? The person that is truly born–again and filled with the Spirit has access to both the authority and glory of God. Paul reveals this to us. He says, “God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13b-14) We have been created to share in His glory and know His authority. The truth is that the authority is in the glory! The Bible says, “The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD.” (Psalm 97:5) The word translated “mountains” can also be used figuratively referring to anything that opposes our God’s will.

Acts informs us that the anointing carried by Peter was so strong that the sick were brought “…out into the streets and laid…on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:14-16) Paul, likewise, was so full of the glory of God that the Lord worked “… extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.” (Acts 19:11-12) Let’s be honest! When was the last time you witnessed such glory and power at work in the Church? Most Christians have never witnessed the like. Nevertheless, it is God’s desire to manifest His glory and power through His people to the nations today! Paul shares a profound revelation about the Glory. He says that Church “…is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself ].” (Ephesians 1:23 AMP) The Church is the only means by which God’s glory is manifested on the earth today!

Paul reminded the Ephesians that God is “…able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

We were created to exercise His dominion over all of creation. (See Genesis 1:26) Jesus, as the Second Adam exercised dominion over devils, sickness, death and even the elements when He walked the earth.

Notice, he says it is the power of the Spirit in us that is limitless! The glory of God fully manifested in and through the Church is unstoppable and will bring transformation to the nations! Consider the power that was at work in the Early Church:

Just before He went to the Cross, Christ reminded His Church, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” ( John 14:12)

About the author – Glenn Bleakney is the Founder and President of Awake Nations Ministries. He travels internationally preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom in the power of the Holy Spirit. By God’s grace, many miracles occur and countless lives have been transformed. Glenn Bleakney also oversees the Impact Center of Supernatural Ministry and the Awake Nations Ministerial Fellowship with a focus on leadership development and planting churches. For more information about Glenn Bleakney, visit www.AwakeNations.org KINGDOMLIFEMAG.COM

KINGDOM REPORT Global Report

2011

Global

LEADERSHIP Summit

Over 60 Nations Attend Premier Leadership Event In Nassau, Bahamas

The Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Bahamas, Hon. Brent Symonette and former Prime Minister of the Bahamas and Leader of the Opposition, Rt. Hon. Perry Christie addressed more than 1500 delegates from over 60 nations at the 2011 Global Leadership Summit hosted by the International Third World Leaders Association (ITWLA) and Myles Munroe International (MMI) in Nassau at the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort. ITWLA and MMI in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism welcomed leaders from nations near and far who came expecting to benefit significantly from this convergence of dynamic speakers and facilitators for an intense week of leadership training. Delegates to the Global Leadership Summit came from many nations including the Republic of South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Venezuela, Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Jamaica, Barbados, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, England, Republic of Congo, Ukraine, Haiti, St. Thomas, Australia, Guyana, Argentina, Israel, France, Kenya, Fiji, Cuba, Argentina, Australia, Swaziland, India, Belize, Brazil, Honduras, Costa Rica, France, Great Britain, and the United States.

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

The Ministry of Tourism hosted the delegates to a special reception on Monday evening before the first plenary session with Dr. Myles Munroe, who addressed the conference on this year’s theme. The Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Brent Symonette also addressed the conference and welcomed the delegates stating, “We in the Bahamas, are honored to host this very strategic event and assure you that your time here will be transformational as you deliberate on this most important theme: Principles of Personal, Corporate and National Leadership.” The former Prime Minister of Bahamas and present Leader of the Opposition Rt. Honorable Perry Christie followed the DPM reminding the outstanding packed audience of leaders: “The Global Collapse and disintegration of National Economies, the National

Uprising and explosion of unrest in the Middle East and Europe, the rising exposure of Corporate and White Collar crime, the violation of religious and moral trust, the fall and prosecution of National Political Leaders, makes leadership the most important discussion in our time and thus this event is critical and timely.”

OTHER SPEAKERS AT THE GLOBAL EVENT INCLUDED:

Senior Host, Dr. Myles Munroe challenged the international cadre of world leaders: “We are a generation of leaders who must effectively address the issues such as the sexual orientation revolution, global and local terrorism, famine, growing poverty, social and political disillusionment, the personal and national devastation of natural disasters, health epidemics, failing education systems, the emergence of third world economies and global trade transitions, the plight of the environmental fears and the flight of refugees and immigrants, with wisdom that is beyond our experience.”

• Leon Williams - Leadership training expert and CEO of Williams Consulting

World-renowned speakers and facilitators from around the globe in every discipline and sphere of influence facilitated this year’s summit. Their sessions consisted of intense study, facilitation of idea exchange, discussion and equipping each leader with a renewed sense of purpose, conviction, vision, passion and skills to face this 21st Century world of new challenges.

• Raphael Massiah

The four-day Global Leadership Summit brought together leaders and aspiring leaders from all disciplines including politicians, legal professionals, government administrators, educators, business leaders, medical professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, managers, supervisors, law enforcement agencies, college professors and students, media professionals and more.

• Bertril Baird

President of ITWLA Dr. CB Peter Morgan, introduced the mission and vision of the International Third World Leaders Association (ITWLA), and invited all leaders to join the growing global network. Dr. Morgan stated during his session on National Values and Morals, “The present and new emerging challenges our world faces today will not be solved by old theories. It will require trained, competent, skillful, wise and confident leaders in every discipline. Governments everywhere seem to be paralyzed and bankrupt of ideas to address their national problems. Many have reverted to turning this frustration on their own citizens who in turn rise up against their cultural, social, political and religious institutions. There seems to be a void of leadership to effectively rise to the challenge of a world screaming for solutions.”

• Bob Harrison - Award winning sales and leadership expert • Larry Jordan - Entrepreneur trainer and corporate businessman, • Hon. Zhivargo Laing - Bahamas Government Minister of State for Finance • Sylvia Jordan - City Councilwoman of Southfield, Michigan • Mrs. Beverly Saunders - VP of Training and Organization Development for Kerzner International • Dr. Dwight Nichols - Entrepreneur and Businessman

OTHER FACULTY INCLUDED: • Dr. Jerry Horner • Drs. Peter and Patricia Morgan • Dr. Richard Pinder • Dr. Dave Burrows • Dr. Pepe Ramnath • Dr. Martin Williams • Dr. Derek Grier • Dr. John Rogers • Chairman of ITWLA, Dr. Myles Munroe A special feature of this year’s event was the Global Leadership Round Table chaired by Executive Directors of the International Leadership Training Institute, Dr. Patricia Morgan on which leaders from over fifteen nations presented their perspectives on leadership in Third World Leaders. This Global Leadership Event concluded with an Awards Luncheon were hundreds gathered to celebrate the Honorees for 2011 and all participants received their certificates of completion. There was also a special Commissioning Ceremony where over ten leaders were sent out to make a difference in their nations.

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KINGDOM REPORT Global Report

State Government Welcomes

Dr. Myles Munroe for Leadership Training Programs

Ondo State Government Hosts Dr. Munroe for Two National Leadership Programs for Entire Government

Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, Governor of the Ondo State in Nigeria, Africa extended a diplomatic welcome to Dr. Myles Munroe at the Governors Palace for the second consecutive year as a guest of the Government. Dr. Munroe served as a special consultant for a two-day Leadership Training Seminar for all political office holders and other top government functionaries. Ondo State Government organized the two-day intensive leadership-training program as a continuation of Dr. Munroe’s first leadership training project in 2010. Under the theme: “Leading to Create a Legacy” top government officials, joined His Excellency the Governor, the Deputy Governor, Missioners, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments and leaders from every sector of the National Administration, at the Ondo State Cultural Center in Adegbemile, Akure, for the program facilitated by Dr. Munroe.

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

“Today I am pleased to once again welcome one of the world’s most renowned leadership consultants and motivational speaker to our fine city,” said Governor Mimiko. “I am still trying to recover from his first visit to us last year when he inspired me to be a more focused and productive leader. He changed my life forever and I expect no less on this occasion.” Dr. Munroe responded to the Governor’s welcome by stating, “Today again, I feel like I am returning home and look forward to a rewarding and productive two days with the many outstanding distinguished leaders of your administration.” As part of a strategic planning session with the stake holders of the upcoming Public Service Institute, Dr. Munroe was led by His Excellency the Governor to speak at a senior public service seminar; after which he was taken on a tour of the construction site of the New Ondo State Leadership Training Institute which was a project

inspired and birthed out of Dr. Munroe’s first visit. “Today I am proud and deeply impressed by the Governor’s proven commitment to leadership training evidenced by this beautiful structure rising from the dust and look forward to returning many time to contribute to its programs,” said Dr. Munroe. Speaking to the scores of media persons who followed Dr. Munroe and the Governors delegation, the Governor announced, “I am pleased to announce the official appointment of Dr. Munroe to our new Leadership Institute Council and we look to him to guide us in its’ development and designing of its curriculum.” The Governor then took Dr. Munroe on a tour of two newly constructed schools representing the government’s commitment to education by building fourteen new state-of-the-art schools. Dr. Munroe was then driven to the Ondo Cultural Center where Cabinet Ministers and Commissioners, and other top government functionaries, prepared for the day of intensive leadership training. Dr. Munroe addressed the entire government leadership on, The Spirit of Leadership, How Leaders Inspire and Influence Change, Leading Through Crisis, and Succession in Leadership.

The Ondo State Government, in its plan to include many other sectors to benefit from Dr. Munroe’s Leadership Training sessions, invited Dr. Munroe to facilitate a special “Women in Leadership” Seminar with women from Governments, Heads of NGOs and Secretaries in the National Administration. The wife of the Governor and First Lady of Ondo State hosted the women’s event. Dr. Munroe was also presented by The Ministry of Employment and Productivity for a leadership training session with over two thousand youth and aspiring leaders selected by the government’s National Youth Corp. Dr. Munroe addressed the packed Governors Center on “Discovering Your Personal Leadership Potential.” The final session organized by the Ondo State Government was a special session, sponsored by the Governor, for Dr. Munroe to address the pastors and spiritual leaders of the Community. Dr. Munroe spoke to the spiritual leaders on “The Role of the Church in National Development.” “I am excited to see the hunger and deep commitment by all sectors of the community to personal leadership development and I look forward to returning next year to continue the process of transforming followers into leaders and leaders in agents of change,” said Dr. Munroe. Dr. Munroe’s final meeting was with the Government Director of Training and Personnel Development to discuss the International Third World Leaders Association’s (ITWLA) role in assisting the Government of Ondo State in developing the leadership programs for the New State Leadership Training Institute. Dr. Munroe then left Ondo and headed to Warri in Delta State to speak at a statewide Leadership Summit hosted by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. Thank you for your support and prayers for Dr. Munroe as he takes the Yeast of the Kingdom into the Halls of Power and affect nations with the Kingdom principles.

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Afterword:

The Power of Planning BY

DR. MYLES MUNROE

Consider these few thoughts about thoughts. A thought is a silent word. Therefore, a word is an exposed thought. Everything in life starts in the form of a thought. Imagination is when a thought becomes a plan. Therefore, imagination is a plan that is not documented. If you want to be successful in life, take your ideas, turn them into imaginations, and then take the imagination and duplicate it physically. The physical document becomes a plan of action. Many people never get beyond the idea stage. Those are the people who are usually followers. Next, there are people who get to the imagination stage. They usually talk a lot but do nothing. Those people are called dreamers. However, when a man or woman takes their imagination and puts it on paper, you are looking at a visionary who is becoming a missionary. If you see things in your mind, you are a visionary. Unfortunately, there are a lot of visionaries in the graveyard. They had great visions, but their vision never became a mission. When a visionary becomes a missionary, you have a man or woman who is going to change the world. Consider now the divine thoughts on thoughts. In the Book of Ephesians, God’s thoughts about thoughts and imagination are revealed. It states, “Now unto Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20) Evidently, God wants us to become people who have plans. He says to use your imagination, but imaginations are plans that are undocumented. When you can document an imagination, you have developed a plan of action for your life. I can guarantee that people who are confused, bored or disillusioned probably do not have a piece of paper in their life with their plan on it for the next five years. If you do not have anything to look at, you begin reminiscing. If there is no goal in front of you, you check the hazardous holes behind you. If there is no vision in front of you to pull you, you will be dragged back to a past with which you are familiar. If you do not have a clear plan for your life on paper, you are going to be a confused, misguided person. For this reason, the Scripture says so clearly in Proverbs 16:1, “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue.” The author goes on to say, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) As God commanded Moses, document your plan. When you have it all down on paper, if you get confused, you have something to which you can refer. I admonish you to stop, plot your course, and set it for as far as you can imagine. Do not worry about how it is going to get done. God said that if you make the plan, He would give the answer as to how it will be accomplished (Proverbs 16:1).

KINGDOM LIFE | Winter 2012

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