Invade, Occupy, and Influence: A Forward Shift
Kings are destined for total conquest. This world is desperate for good people like you to enter their kingship as an image bearer of Christ. Jesus loves this world and He has made provision for its restoration. You were born a winner. The whole world is waiting for you to exercise your believer’s authority to act like a son of God (Romans 8:19).
Every member of the human race, whether he knows it or not, is a member of one of two kingdoms: the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of darkness. There is no middle or neutral ground. Scripture declares, “He that is not with me, is against me” (Matthew 12:12).
As kings (Jesus is King of kings and Ruler of rulers) we need to grab hold of our responsibility by invading this earth with God’s purpose.
We have a kingship mandate; establish the Kingdom of God, right here and right now. An understanding of biblical influence and the kingship of every believer is a must. Kings apply God’s Word to the land (Deuteronomy 16 & 17). Scripture uses the terms “salt” and “light” to teach us our responsibility to be proactive, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16).
We provide salt and light around us through kingship influence and by invading our society, and the world with the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Jesus taught us that the greatest in the Kingdom of God was a servant (Luke 22:26). We can become great servants by getting involved with Kingdom business. We can build schools, hospitals, clinics, banks, media outlets; we can become politically active, involved with international relief efforts, enter the business world, and a myriad of other such things. Tommy Reid in his book "Kingdom Now but Not Yet" said, “The Bible must become more than a handbook of personal salvation. It must become a mandate for the reestablishment of Christ’s rule and reign over the earth and the rebellious portion of the universe over which Satan now asserts dominion.”
PUSH TO THE FRONT
We can no longer sit idly by watching our world sink into moral decay and overcome by false religions. The Church is called to lead change and reform in our nation and throughout the earth (Ephesians 3:10). The Kingdom of God is not a future event but is now. John the Baptist proclaimed the coming Kingdom and Jesus announced its arrival (Matthew 3:2, 4:17; Mark 1:15).Like John Calvin who went to Geneva to “establish the Kingdom of God in a decadent society,” we too must involve ourselves with its establishment. Let’s be like John the Baptist and make ready a people for God (Luke 1:16-17) and like Isaiah who prophesied of the anointing’s purpose to “repair the waste cities that have been trodden down” (Isaiah 61:1-10).
You are in the Kingdom and the Kingdom is in you. When you exercise your delegated authority as a king all other kingdoms must submit. The Kingdom of God can be seen by a demonstration of His Kingship in your life. Jesus said go and tell John the things you both hear and see (Luke 7:18-22). Jesus announced the reestablishment of His Kingship rule and government on earth and that was only the beginning, now you’re involved.
Jesus came as the last Adam to regain all His creation, many sons, and the earth. Now, through His priesthood of kings, He is restoring all things back to Himself. What a profound statement. Jesus had a revolutionary ministry. He preached the Kingdom of God, gave His life for the atonement of sin, birthed His Church, and planted a small seed that would grow and grow called the Kingdom of God. What’s beautiful is that you and I, born again believers, can find our place and purpose in life. No longer are we wondering who we are or why we were born. We are a royal priesthood of kings being trained as representatives of His Kingdom government (1 Peter 2:9).
How exciting to know that you are being equipped to rule and reign with Christ on the earth, right here and right now. Throughout history God has been restoring truth to His Body, getting us ready to take dominion in His name. Just think about this, it took over 20 centuries to get us to a place where we could receive this truth about the kingship of Christ through His priesthood of kings. Jesus will return to the earth as the Lord (Ruler) Supreme for a glorious Church without spot nor wrinkle, not a defeated shadow lost in the umbers of defeat (Ephesians 5:27). You have been liberated and given talents to affect the world around you (Matthew 25:15). Determine in your heart to do something mighty with them.
CROSS AND KINGDOM
One day John the Baptist was in prison about to lose his life. He sent two disciples to Jesus asking Him, “Are you he that should come, or do we look for another?" Jesus answered saying, “Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me” (Matthew 11:3-6).I was wrongly taught that John asked that question because he was having a bad day. He was in prison filled with discouragement. But Jesus taught us something important about John’s character. Jesus said that John was not like a reed that could be shaken in the wind. John wasn’t staggering in unbelief. John knew who Jesus was. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the King of Glory. He knew that Jesus was Immanuel, God with us. John sent these two disciples to ask Jesus why He wasn’t taking dominion. After all, the entire nation was waiting for the Messiah who would come and release the nation from the strongholds of Roman rule. Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God continually. Even the Pharisees came to Jesus demanding to know when the Kingdom of God would appear (Luke 17:20). In the days of Jesus’ ministry everyone was looking at Christ’s dominion and missed the cross of Calvary. Today, thousands of Gospel sermons are focused on the cross and miss the Kingdom. We need both. Yes, we need both. When Jesus returns will He find faith? Will He find His bride busy about the Father's business? I believe He will.
POWER OF CONQUEST
Possessing God’s promises requires a fighting spirit. Don’t accept every thing that comes your way. Submit to God, engage all opposition to Christ’s Kingship through you: invade, occupy and influence. Then, after you have done all, stand rock solid in your faith refusing to break rank. Christ will not fail. You have been predestined for conquest.We must stop acting like defeated second class citizens. This earth does not belong to Satan but to Jesus (Psalm 24:1). We are destined for a victorious occupation. Jesus’ prayer will be answered and we will see the establishment of the Kingdom of God on this earth (John 17:15-20). You are part of the army of the Lord and the army of the Lord is invincible. It’s time to beat your plow shares into swords. You are not cursed, but blessed. Jesus didn’t pray the Father to take His disciples out of the world but to protect them from the evil one. He said, “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world” (John 17:18).
The apostolic is restoring the truth of a kingship people with a kingship agenda. We are not being equipped to escape this world but to change it. Scripture teaches us the power of conquest in the parable of the leaven.
“The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened” (Matthew 13:33).
Notice the leaven didn’t give up and quit, it was progressive in its work and destined to take over the entire meal. We, too, as a priesthood of kings, are destined for total conquest.
ACTION STEPS
What an exciting time to be alive. To make that forward shift into kingship start by acknowledging that Jesus has called you to be both salt and light in this world. Don’t put your kingship under a bushel. You are a king because Jesus has made you a king. Now let your light shine. You have a bright future. As you step out in faith, know that you cannot fail. The Father is well pleased to give unto you the Kingdom. You are in the Kingdom and the Kingdom is in you. Arise, king, and give Jesus something to rejoice about.
CONCLUSION – IT’S A NEW DAY
Kingship is your path to a rich life full of success and significance. As life battles against you on your journey to Zion, remember what Sir Winston Churchill Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War said, “Kites rise highest against the wind.” You were born to win. You are a king and you were created for dominion (Genesis 1:28). Push to the front of your calling and bring glory to your father. Jesus made it clear, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).Your partner,
(c) Apostle Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com
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