Pastor Jim Sanderbeck
The Kingdom of God comes to change the culture. Change culture? Yes, the culture of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. Scripture is very clear:
1Jn 3:7 Delightfully loved children, don’t let anyone divert [deceive] you from this truth. The person who keeps doing what is right proves that he is righteous before God, even as the Messiah is righteous. 8 But the one who indulges in a sinful life is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was revealed was to undo and destroy the works of the devil. (TPT)
Satan works through fear and manipulated lies and deceptions. As exposure of the lies happens, the lie loses its power to enslave. The devil then lies more, overplays his hand and is fully exposed. At that point, he is held accountable and is subject to the judgement of God. That is why for 3 years we have been praying for exposure, accountability and judgement.
Jesus is perfect in all ways. He is both the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29) and the Lion of Judah. (Rev. 5:5) Holy is the Name of the Lord. (Rev. 15:4 & others) Just as Jesus is the Holy lamb, He is also the Holy Lion of Judah. In fact, His gentleness and His wrath are both released because of His great love. This generation of believers has known Him as the Lamb. They are about to see Him now as the Lion. The best New Testament example is that of Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts 5:1-11) The result of that was a tremendous release of the fear [exceeding alarm, fright, terror] of the Lord. Cultures of the earth are about to get a close look at the fear of the Lord. As that comes about what should be the response of the Ekklesia?
Just before and right after Acts 5:1-11, the apostles AND the believers prayed similarly. This event of Ananias and Sapphira took place in Jerusalem after they had been chastised and warned to keep quiet about the Kingdom. After praying together, ALL were filled and the power of God flowed through THEM COLLECTIVELY. Boldness that was unrestrained and unity in the love of Jesus was their portion and that boldness and unity in faith moved on and among the people around them. In Acts 4 they prayed:
Act 4:29 So now, Lord, listen to their threats to harm us. Empower us, as your servants, to speak the word of God freely and courageously. 30 Stretch out your hand of power through us to heal, and to move in signs and wonders by the name of your holy Son, Jesus!” 31 At that moment the earth shook beneath them, causing the building they were in to tremble. Each one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they proclaimed the word of God with unrestrained boldness. 32 All the believers were one in mind and heart. Selfishness was not a part of their community, for they shared everything they had with one another. (TPT)
This (Acts 5:12-16) came after the prayer of the believers—not just the apostles. The believers acting in faith released the power of the Kingdom to those around them and that resulted in an increase in numbers of believers, a clear fear of the Lord on everyone, accompanied by deliverance, and healing.
Act 5:12 The apostles performed many signs, wonders, and miracles among the people. 13 And the believers were wonderfully united as they met regularly in the temple courts in the area known as Solomon’s Porch. No one dared harm them, for everyone held them in high regard. 14 Continually more and more people believed in the Lord and were added to their number—great crowds of both men and women. 15 In fact, when people knew Peter was going to walk by, they carried the sick out to the streets and laid them down on cots and mats, knowing the incredible power emanating from him would overshadow them and heal them. 16 Great numbers of people swarmed into Jerusalem from the nearby villages. They brought with them the sick and those troubled by demons—and everyone was healed! (TPT)
Therefore, as the Lion of Judah roars, this needs to be the posture of the Ekklesia:
- Continue in prayer as led by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 4 & 5)
- He will give direction, strategies and assignments.
- Pray for boldness.
- Pray for those in need.
- Pray for open doors of opportunity to share the Gospel of the Kingdom.
- Pray Psalm 91 and add your name, your family, those in your sphere of influence to each provision of that Word.
- Come together regularly with others of the Ekklesia in the love of Jesus, and share in meeting the needs of one another.
Heb 10:25 This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning. (TPT)
- Stay accountable
- Share in communion regularly
- All things should be Kingdom focused—as seen through the window pane of the Word. (Jn 14:10; Jn 14:31)
- Be obedient to whatever Holy Spirit directs. Just make sure it is Holy Spirit and not emotion or self-serving. (2 Cor. 2:9)
- Assignments (stay in your lane)
- Strategies (movement and process)
- God things have precedence over good things
- Listen to the words of the apostles (covering for protection, instruction and provision), the prophets (advance notice and instruction), the teachers (instruction in the Word), the pastors (care, counsel, stewarding), and the evangelists (spreading of the Gospel and taking territories). (Eph. 4:11-13)
- Be prepared to whatever degree is suitable for you and your situations (Matt. 25:1-13)
- Be engaged with your assigned boundaries (Acts 17:26)