#269 Kingdom: Raising Up Sons of the King

GAL 4:1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, [2] but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. [3] So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. [4] But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, [5] in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. [6] And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” [7] Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

There are 2096 references to “sons” in the scriptures. 32 references to the sons of Aaron but many other reference to those priests after that genealogy. Sonship is one of the major themes in scripture. Also many references to the firstborn son who was to inherit the major portion of the fathers estate. There are many examples given of sons who turned out as a great disappointment to the father and to the family. The selling of Joseph into slavery is an example of jealousy within a family etc, etc. Paul says that “children are held in bondage to the elemental things” or the first principles and must walk in the shallow water in the things of God. Paul wanted to share more advanced things with the Hebrews but could not because they had not advanced in their spiritual life. This is the same problem today when we want to share even simple things about the Kingdom with the “children of God.”

The training up of the sons of God is seen in type in several places. The development of Jacob, the deceiver, into Israel, a prince with God was accomplished over many years of God’s dealings and is a prime example of God raising up sons. With Joseph and David it appears that God’s own hand was fashioning then into sons pleasing to Him.

Teaching that all born again children of God are heirs of God is not basically wrong but is very misleading. Multitudes have assumed that they will inherit eternity simply because they believe something about Jesus. What we receive as our potential to inherit [all things] is generally taught as our entitlement and our eternal inheritance regardless of our growth and maturity. Consequently, too much inheritance is wasted by unprincipled living and undeveloped character. Too many have gone off to a far country, distant from the city of God, to waste their inheritance with carnal living.

Rev 21:7] “He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

There is this requirement of “overcoming” that is a prerequisite to inheriting the promises. Character, discipline and spiritual development has been left out of the equation as necessary to our full inheritance. While this negligence in teaching the requirements to inherit the promises is not considered as false doctrine, it certainly has caused the church to suffer tremendous eternal loss. It is my hope that the preaching and teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom will correct this problem in the next generation since it may be too late to change the course of the visible church in this passing generation.

While an undeveloped child of God is a potential heir of the Father he still must be trained, disciplined, taught, matured and developed to the standards set by the Father before he can be set as the Father’s son and assume his place in the family business. Maturity in the eternal standards already established by the Father is a prerequisite to assuming responsibility in the Kingdom.

Inheriting a Place in the Family Business

Since the concept of the Kingdom Government of God is still an abstract thought in much of the church, I want to use a more familiar example to describe a practical application of the Kingdom inheritance. Since the “family business” is a universal principle in much of the world it should be universally understood. A shoemaker trains up his son or daughter as an apprentice until that son or daughter is able to manage the family business. The one that has been approved by the father will inherit the family business. However, if after several years the father understands that this “heir” has no integrity or discipline or ability and is casual about the “shoe business” he may be disqualified from inheriting the family business.

While we are in our apprenticeship training we are under outward discipline but before we can be approved by the Father and assume leadership in the family business we must advance to an inward discipline within our spirit. Until our new spirit is more fully developed our spiritual discipline will certainly lack reality.

Many very successful businesses that have prospered under the father is soon bankrupted by the sons that try to run it after the father retires. The examples are unlimited with more examples every day of successful family businesses that have collapsed soon after the family assumes the management.

This cannot and will not happen with our Father’s Family Business, which is “the Kingdom of God.” We are under strict disciplinarians, trainers, teachers, and tutors until we are fully trained, developed and approved. The Spirit of Adoption [ the Spirit of Christ– the Spirit of the Son – the Living and Abiding Word of God] has come to prepare us for this day set by the Father. The Holy Spirit has come to discipline us and teach us and train us until we arrive at the standard of maturity set by our heavenly Father. At that time He will acknowledge us and set us as His son! By this time we will be qualified to assume some duties within the family business but we still must remain faithful and continue to develop in our Kingdom character and integrity. We should be able to take the substance that has been assigned to us and then multiply it for the benefit of the family business. To whom much is given, much is required! Even more is required of the sons that are destined to take over the family business.

Before the foundation of the world our heavenly Father determined to expand the Kingdom of Heaven to all continents, nations, villages, cities and rural areas of earth. His plan is that no area of the earth will be without a representative of the government of heaven. This representative will be responsible to govern his assigned area in the character of the King and as His representative. He must reflect the same qualities as the Divine Son.

The Father’s Family Business is the Kingdom of God.

This eternal government is limited to family members only and there will be no hirelings on the staff. For this reason it will require millions of the sons of God to administrate the “family business” because of branches of His government throughout the New Earth, the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem as well as all the works of the Father’s hands. New Earth alone will require millions of family members to administrate all the continents, the nations, the cities, villages and rural areas. Of course spiritual babies will not be qualified to govern on any level. Some who are qualified will rule over 10 cities and some over 5 cities but local governors will be required to govern locally. In the eternal Tabernacle of God there will be no sea. Ast present the sea encompasses 2/3 of the earth surface which means there will be much more territory to govern.

Isa 9: 6] For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. [7] There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore.

Suppose the Father assigned us a place of government in the middle east and sent us there to establish His government of peace. From the time we arrived His government was to continually increase along with a continual increase of peace. Would we be competent to carry out that assignment? This is the exact reason that maturity is not just a matter of knowledge but of character and wisdom. This is an example of the manifestation of sonship!

Rev 2: 26] `And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO him I will give authority over the NATIONS; [27] AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father;

This government will not run on bribes. 1saiah 8:1 And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel. [2] Now the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. [3] His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.

Exo 23: 6] “You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute.

[7] “Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty. [8] “And you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.

2 Chron 19: 7] “Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness, or partiality, or the taking of a bribe.”

Isa 33:15] He who walks righteously, and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain, And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; [16] He will dwell on the heights; His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him; His water will be sure. [17] Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will behold a far-distant land

The “family business” will be a government of righteousness, integrity, faithfulness, pure motives, peace and the highest ideals. Since God knows our heart He will not make a mistake in setting sons in high places that are not qualified for the position. Many times an earthly father will promote his son to a high position in the family business hoping that he will grow up to the responsibility that has been given to him. Many times the earthly father will be disappointed when he discovers his son is not qualified to administrate the family business or is stealing from the family business or is cheating the customers. Our heavenly Father will not make that mistake because every son which He receives will be severely disciplined to share His holiness. Every heir will be placed under tutors, teachers and disciplinarians to assure the Father’s standards are met and that heir is tested and approved for the position her has been assigned. Without favoritism.

Heb 12: 5] and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; [6] FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” HEB 12:7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? [8] But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

1 Cor 11: 19] For there must also be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may have become evident among you.

James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

This “fact” of undisciplined sons rampant in the assembly is a black mark on the church. Too many illegitimate children are in the “ministry” and in the pews and few “speakers” have the boldness to point out the problem. The fact that we believe something about Jesus does not qualify us as sons but may qualify us as children of God. However, if they don’t endure discipline they may be labeled as “illegitimate children” and have no part in the Kingdom.

Rev 21: 22] And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. [23] And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. [24] And the nations [of those who are saved] (included in scripture by several translations) shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth shall bring their glory into it.

Obviously there will be nations on the New Earth that are “saved” but will need a righteous government to establish and enforce God’s laws in the land. These are the qualified Sons of God of which we are speaking. These are the sons that are being trained and disciplined today with the potential of qualifying for a position in His eternal government and inheriting the “Family Business.” Since “children” need an outward government and outward discipline and continual guidance, God will provide His sons to administrate His government in every area of His Kingdom. However, since His sons will have developed an inner life and an inner discipline and an inner government they will administrate by His Life and character. This is such a wonderful plan because we see the wisdom of the ages inherent within the Kingdom Government as it continues to expand until it invades every nook and cranny of God’s creation. Of the increase of His government there shall be no end!

Dan 7:27] `Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’

REV 6:9 And when He broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; [10] and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, wilt Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” [11] And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, should be completed also.

It is obvious that these “Outer Court Christians” are SAVED but not developed into the character of Christ and are still demanding vengeance upon those who had mistreated them. This does not follow the example of Jesus. These are still “children” in their development. It would be reasonably to assume that they will need righteous government to guide them in the things of God. They surely are not qualified to take their place as leaders or managers in the family business.

REV 15:2 And I saw, as it were, a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had come off victorious from the beast and from his image and from the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. [3] And they sang the song of Moses the bond-servant of God and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations.

These “Outer Court Christians” had advanced to the Red Sea experience [ where they

sang the song of Moses] through proper baptism in the cloud and in the sea and stood in the wilderness.. They had some revelation of God and His mighty works and His sovereign authority over the nations. They had a certain victory in their life over the evil forces on earth but they had not advanced to sonship or participated in the Kingdom. They failed to advance through the wilderness training period. They are no longer babies but only developed to the “childhood stage” of growth. Like Israel they needed the government of Moses with earthly and outward discipline but advanced no farther.

REV 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; [10] and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, [10] “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” [11] And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, [12] saying, [12] “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” [13] And one of the elders answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and from where have they come?” [14] And I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [15] “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne shall spread His tabernacle over them. [16] “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; [17] for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes.”

These “saints of God” had been tried and tested through great tribulation. They had achieved to the “white robes” that were thoroughly cleansed without spot or blemish. Still they had only achieved to the Holy Place position of the greatest of the Old Testament saints. The same position as John the Baptist. This is certainly a great place to be with some role in the government of God and with some inheritance in the “family business.” They were “before the throne and serve Him day and night in His temple.” Of course in the New Jerusalem there is no temple and there is no night there. The New Jerusalem is IN GOD and in the LAMB who are it’s temple and the GLORY of God enlightens it {them} forever so there is no night there.

Since the New Jerusalem is transparent the Glory of God shines right through her to illuminate the nations of the New Earth. The persons who have achieved to this perfection will be the Bride of Christ, the manifested sons of God, the overcomers that sit with Him on His throne, the man-child company who is to rule the nations with a rod of iron, and the saints who will receive the Kingdom and have the dominion within the government of God. They will rule over all the kingdoms UNDER HEAVEN, over the works of His hands.

Still, these saints have outgrown their need for “human leadership and church programs” and Jesus promises them that He will now personally lead then, as their Shepherd, and He will guide them into a greater dimension of His Life.

The “Family Business” which will encompass every square foot of God’s creation is fully managed from the Throne of God and under the full dominion of the Son of God Who has inherited all things. The First Born Son has received His full inheritance but will share it and His dominion with His bride, the wife of the Lamb. It requires these different metaphors of sons, overcomers, bride, man-child, etc to speak of His eternal purpose for His saints.

The Last Adam has been set in His eternal position but now God is building up the “last Eve” to take her place in God’s eternal purpose. However, He is building Her out of Christ, the Last Adam and not from the dirt of this world. [or by church programs] She must take her being from Christ as well as her Life from Christ. She is Christ in another form. This bride for Christ is taken from His side and is constructed from the” blood and the water” that flowed forth after He was dead and redemption was fully purchased. Since she is being “built” from “His Life and His Word” it should be clear that these religious systems that have grown like weeds upon this earth can only hinder her completion. Since these weeds [tares] will be gathered up and cast into the fire we can feel sorry for them but we must come out and be separate. Our development must be by the hand of God in the same way that Eve was built and not by these religious systems that only make golden calves for an outward worship.

When God deals with the golden calves not even the dust is saved. The most important requirement of the ministry today is for the “ministry itself” to be developed into the sons of God. It is only then that these “sons” can be manifested and be examples to the other “sons” that God is perfecting.

If God deals with the religious systems today like He did in Israel then only disaster awaits those who insist upon programs as a substitute for the Life of God within. Surely these man made religious temples will not be .left one stone upon another regardless of how many years they were in the building and their outward beauty. Fleeing seems to be an option but to where shall we flee? To the hills? In 70 AD fleeing was the only option left.

Fleeing from the “Family Business” and its responsibilities may seem to be another option but we strongly warn against that because the “Family Business” is an eternal reality that will not pass away or be destroyed. The saints of the Highest One will receive the “Family Business” and manage it forever. Those who have decided to just be followers and not leaders will certainly follow but will have no more opportunity to accept responsibility in the Family Business. They may still have a place at the Father’s table. Of course God does have a place for everyone but that is not too much comfort to the lukewarm because that “place” may be a great surprise! It will surely be outside His body and just vomit in His eyes!