It’s time for a new government
God has been speaking to my heart, stirring my warrior spirit, to contend for the influence and authority He has given to every follower of Christ. In 2019, I wrote a book called, It’s Time for a Revolution, basically a guidebook for leaders and healing practitioners to educate/train “their people” to live from a Kingdom mindset. Within the 338 pages of this book, I share the insights and practical tools taught to me by the Holy Spirit throughout my 20+ years as a mental health counselor. Shortly after its release, I felt like I had missed a chapter (I think every author/preacher could agree, there is always something more to say, but at some point, you must find an end).
So, what do I do with this burning piece of revelation until I am able to publish a revised edition? Blog about it of course! Jesus came to set us free from sin and death, to be the Sacrificial Lamb for our salvation. But as John the Baptist announced, Jesus came to establish the Kingdom of heaven here on earth, and in the words of the prophet Isaiah that the “government” would rest on His (Jesus) shoulders. In working with many church and ministry leaders and counseling thousands of Christians over two decades, I did not hear much about how they were tangibly experiencing or advancing the Kingdom of God. It can be easy for Christians to become a little self-focused; on their business (albeit Christian-based), their church, their ministry, or perhaps they are simply overcome with the struggles of daily life, that they have lost the vision for this crucial mission: Jesus commissioned us to be a legislative army that brings His Kingdom to the ends of the earth, and that through this effort, all nations could be saved.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” The word church here in the Greek is ekklesia. It is vital that we know how this translates. Otherwise, we would simply relate this verse to the idea of how we “do” church today, or that Christ was simply referring to a group of believers as “the Church”. But Jesus was very intentional in using the word ekklesia because it was a governmental word. He was making a very bold statement in declaring that He was building His own government, as He stood in the actual place where horrible pagan worship was taking place. The “gates of Hades” as mentioned in this verse, was located in Caesarea Philippi, in northern Israel and it was where they were standing when Simon Peter first declared that Jesus was the Son of God, revealing His true identity. Jesus was making a powerful stance against evil in that physical place of demonic government. It was the beginning of Him imparting authority to His disciples, to establish the Kingdom of God wherever they go.
The most fascinating part of the revelation, for me, is how Jesus was referring to His followers as an ekklesia in comparison to what was happening in the world at that time. The Romans were establishing an empire that was spreading to far off lands, and the way in which they commissioned their armies, was by teaching them to indoctrinate the people of every new land/community they conquered to the Roman way of life. These armies were instructed to quickly and efficiently train the people to think like Romans, act like Romans and convert their lifestyles to align in every single way, to Roman doctrine. From their pagan worship to how they structured their city and enforced laws, controlled their finances and even influencing the architecture, all with the overall “vision” to make the whole world, Roman. Do I need to say more?
What if we, the ekklesia of Christ, took on the role of a legislative force to be reckoned with? To transform the world around us, in whatever sphere of influence God has graced us to be in, to make Jesus’ vision of establishing His Kingdom here on earth a reality. What if churches, ministries, and Christian homes were truly emulating a biblical lifestyle, but don’t stop there. Similar to the Roman armies, we are commissioned, by Jesus, to have authority and power in establishing His government in every nation. In every school, hospital, business, grocery store, leisure activity, family environment…in every place your feet tread. First, helping the lost to know Christ as their Savior, and then to demonstrate how to live from a Kingdom perspective, in every area of our modern society. Thus, the title of my book, It’s Time for a Revolution; this is what Jesus came to do: to overthrow the evil regime that dominates our world. And through upheaval and reformation, His name would be made known, above all other names. I pray this stirs your passion (like it has mine) to be a transformative legislative solider for this New Government!
Link to purchase my book: https://a.co/d/aV0S2dR
Your Kingdom destiny awaits…and it all begins with a mindset.