#304 Kingdom: God’s Sovereignty and the Sons of God
Rom 9:11] for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, [12] it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.”
Rom 9:16] So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. [17] For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” [18] So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
Rom 9: 23] And He did so in order that He might make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, [24] even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.
We may solidify our confidence about all the things which we have been investigating IF we begin before the world was, in the eons of time past, before anything except God existed. We say before there were things, there was God. And all THINGS were created by Him and for Him. In fact everything that now exists came out of God. Nothing exists independently from God.
Everything that now exists is in its exact place because of the absolute sovereignty of God. When God decided to do all that He did, He did not have to consult with anyone or ask for their ideas. Creation or human existence was not Adam’s idea. Adam never decided he needed a wife because he didn’t know what a wife was. He never decided how long a day would be or how long a week was or how long he would live or even where he would live. They did go house hunting or decide where they would build their garden. God decided everything for Adam and for Eve. That IS God’s absolute sovereignty.
God chooses who He will and He rejects who He will and we have no say in the matter.
Rom 9:19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” [20] On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? [21] Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use?
Rom 11:5] In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. [6] But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. [7] What then? That which Israel is seeking for, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;
This Gospel of the Kingdom BEGINS in the Gospel of God’s Absolute Sovereignty! If we ignore God’s absolute sovereignty the Kingdom is perceived to be like all earthly kingdoms.
It becomes more and more obvious that certain ones among us have been chosen by God’s
grace but within His absolute sovereignty. He chooses whom He wills for the time and the work that He purposed before the foundation of the world. God has purposed beforehand to have an Only Begotten Son who was to be the pattern Son to which all other many sons should be conformed. God decided that out of His sovereignty. We can deny that God chose us and we can resist that but we can never change that. If we ignore “God’s Gracious Choice” when preaching on the “Remnant Church” we circumvent God’s sovereignty. Whom ever is standing within the purpose of God in this time period is standing by God’s grace and His sovereign choice.
Rom 8: 29] For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; [30] and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
God predestined according to His choice and He called those that He had predestined. If we are called to His purpose today it is because He chose us and not because we chose Him or made a “decision” to serve Him. He has established us in His purpose out of His sovereignty.
Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [19] For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. [23] And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Creation was subjected to corruption, not of its own will, but because of the sovereignty of God! BUT creation will be freed from its bondage to corruption at the time the sons of God are manifest. This also is God’s sovereign plan and the result of His choice.
Also, the 12 disciples were sovereignly chosen and called and none volunteered. Jesus said “I chose you, you didn’t choose me.” John 15:16] “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. [17] “This I command you, that you love one another. [18] “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. [19] “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
I believe it is extremely important to fully understand that God chooses who He wills, when He wills, where He wills, to complete what function He wills and that He HAS chosen us for this time period and in this place. We are mostly agreed that He has chosen us to preach, demonstrate or establish the Kingdom of God in this area. God has chosen us to be pioneers in the experience and preparation for the showing forth of His chosen, disciplined, developed and matured sons of God. This understanding seems to be primary at this time because we are slowly moving into a new dimension that we are unfamiliar with and we must understand that since God chose us and called us He will also train us in this next restoration. If He just left us here to do the best we can to establish His Kingdom first in us and then through us we can only respond with ; “Oh, wretched man that I am.”
The reason we are starting with and emphasizing the sovereignty of God and His sovereign choice is because if we begin with our current experience of development or with the current condition of the church we will just see the impossibility of accomplishing anything of significance. Of course we could just get together and pool some ideas and begin by prophesying great things and exploits and blessings and revelations and provisions that has nothing to do with God’s purpose. This foolishness has no place in God’s Kingdom and ignores His absolute sovereignty.
Jesus only DID what He saw the Father DOING. He only SPOKE what He heard the Father SAYING. That is recognizing and working within God’s sovereignty as THE PATTERN SON! Adam and Eve demonstrated the reverse pattern! My theory is that this “pattern dimension” of sensitivity and obedience is primary to experiencing the next restoration. Unfortunately, this is far beyond our experience at the present time. I am speculating that the Lampstand Church, under the illumination of the Seven Spirits of God, will function in this dimension.
In this study we want to look at these “Keys to the Kingdom” that Jesus gave upon the basis of God’s sovereign revelation of Christ to His disciples. We feel certain that these “Keys” were not limited to Peter or the Jews because we saw Paul demonstrating these “Keys” to the Gentiles. My theory is that this dimension of “the Keys” is associated with the Lampstand church and NOT with Outer Court believers! I am rejecting any notion that Peter received this revelation of Christ because of any personal attribute or righteousness he possessed. It was simply God’s gracious and sovereign choice.
Mat 16:16] And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. [18] “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. [19] “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
In effect this is what is seems Jesus was saying to Peter. “Peter, you didn’t come upon this revelation by yourself and no other man helped you. This was the sovereign work of my Father who is in heaven. Upon the sovereignty of the Divine Revelation of “CHRIST”, I will build my church. This IS the basis of overcoming the gates of Hell and the foundation of all binding and loosing on earth that which has already been bound and loosed in heaven.”
It is obvious that we have to have an open connection with heaven if we are to know those things that have already been bound and loosed in heaven. Trying to bind on earth things that have NOT been bound in heaven is very frustrating and a waste of time an effort. We learned this over the years of ineffective binding and loosing.
For the church that He is building to go around just indiscriminately binding and loosing everything that is in their way misses the whole point of God’s absolute sovereignty and God’s absolute right to initiate everything from heaven. I can testify that for years I thought it was up to man to initiate the binding and loosing on earth and then God would respond by binding and loosing these things in heaven. I suppose I heard that concept someplace when the emphasis was upon casting out demons and upon spiritual warfare.
After anyone receives the Keys to the Kingdom and the authority and power to bind and loose the things on earth that God has sovereignly bound and loosed in heaven, it would be impossible to return to the routine of the “church service.” That means sit in a pew and listen to another “message,” shake hands with 10 people and go home.
My theory is that part of the “revealing of the sons of God” will be evident after this corporate group has received these “Keys of the Kingdom.” It is true that many are preaching that each one of us has already received the “Keys” and all we need to do is start using them. If that were true we would certainly see the evidence. The “church system way” to receive the “Keys” is to make an altar call for everyone to come forward who wants to receive the “Keys of the Kingdom”! Everybody put up your hand if you want everything you bind on earth to be bound in heaven and every thing you loose on earth to be loosed in heaven. Now come forward and we will “release you into this ministry” by the laying on of hands.
However, let us examine the basis of how these things are given. None of these things are given by making a decision or by the laying on of hands. They are not “imparted” by the will of man or by the anointing but solely out of the sovereign choice of God.
In the foolishness of the current church system of “ministries” we would ask all those who want to be the “manifest sons of God” to come forward for the laying on of the apostles hands. That is as silly as trying to lay hands on someone to qualify them to sit on the throne with Jesus or to become the bride of Christ or join the group of the 144,000 who stand on Mt. Zion. These things that lay directly before us in the next restoration will be entered into on the basis of His sovereign choice and by the development of our character and maturity and how much we have been conformed to the image of Jesus, the Pattern Son! We can forget about shortcuts to the priesthood ministry or to the Kingdom of God because they just don’t exist!
It is very important to recognize that Peter didn’t pray and fast and seek diligently to receive the Keys to the Kingdom. He didn’t ask and keep on asking. Everything was initiated from heaven on the basis of God’s gracious choice. The “Keys” were not things on a ring that fit certain doors but represented a spiritual authority to bind and loose but only those things that had been initiated (bound or loosed) in heaven first. The “Keys” didn’t give Peter any independent authority or licence to do more than what God’s sovereignty had already released in heaven. These “Keys” were given as the result of a direct revelation of Christ given by the Father. These “Keys” were a total surprise to Peter. They will also most likely be a total surprise to all others who will receive them.
This revelation of Christ originates in heaven and God gives to whom He wills. God chose Peter out of His sovereignty. Should we just wait and see if God will give us something? No! God can only give these “mysteries” to the ones He can trust and has a confidence that they will use the “Keys” for God’s purpose and not to build a big ministry.
While the “Keys” were given out of God’s sovereignty and by His gracious choice the activation was given to Peter. Whatever YOU bind and whatever YOU loose. They were initiated in heaven by the Father but the “keys” must then be activated and initiated on the earth by Peter.
Was Peter the sole recipient of the “Keys” or was he an example of how these things are given and how they work? It seems clear that Paul had the use of these “Keys” and probably many others throughout the ages since. The scriptures are very careful to refrain from identifying or giving a definition or limitation or the extent of the use of the “Keys.” No time limit was given or if the “Keys” were only for binding and loosing. In Matthew 18 we see the same binding and loosing but no mention of “Keys” are given. This “ministry” in Matthew 18 is based upon harmony and agreement among the “ministers” and not limited to a specific revelation.
We could speculate that the “Keys of the Kingdom” today should open up greater accesses to the mysteries of God than they did for either Peter of for Paul. Why? Because of the process of the completion of the “glorious church.” It appears to be God’s design to reveal something more to each generation of the church in its season. We tend to look at the first church as the ultimate in experience, in knowledge, and in revelation. However, it appears that the latter house will be more glorious than the former.
My understanding is that God, in His absolute sovereignty, can assign any definition He desires to these “Keys”, in any dispensation, for any redeemed people and can multiply the use of these “Keys” as it pleases Him in the fulfillment of His eternal purpose. If we suppose that every “believer” will receive the “Keys to the Kingdom” we will be disappointed. However, the “Keys” are within the ream of all true disciples who are functioning under the absolute sovereignty of God.
We could easily say that the interpretation of the “Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” that was promoted by the church in past centuries were too shallow. It was thought that these “keys” were given to Peter to give him the responsibility of admitting people to the Kingdom or locking them out of heaven but that is just ignorant. Did Peter use these “Keys” on the day of Pentecost to open up the Kingdom to 3000 souls? Yes! Did Peter use the “Keys” to open heaven to Cornelius and his family? Then did Paul use the “Keys” to open the Kingdom to the Gentiles? Yes! Teaching that Peter can infringe upon the sovereignty of God to limit souls into His Kingdom is ignorant. Binding those who hinder the work of God on the earth may well be within the ministry of Peter and other disciples if they are just binding what has already been bound in heaven. The “Keys” are not for man’s independent use to accomplish man’s desires but the way God has designed to get His will done on earth as it is being done in heaven. All initiation begins in heaven. For the Catholic church to imply that Peter and Apostolic succession is door to heaven is presumptuous.
If the “Keys” had been a major part of Peter’s ministry or if these were exclusively given to Peter we would think there would be some mention in his epistles or in other writings. To me this indicates that the “Keys” were very common in the early church ministries. My opinion is that these “Keys” will be once again be common in the latter day Kingdom ministries.
IF THESE KEYS are necessary for the completion of the bride of Christ, the manifestation of the sons of God, the formation of the 144,000, the man-child company, the overcomers and the kingdom of priests ministry or the establishment of the Kingdom on earth, then the “Keys” will need to be common within the various ministries of the manifested sons. However, the assigning of these “Keys” is wholly within the choice of God and under His sovereignty.
Our theory is that the Kingdom of God will increase in His people little by little and line on line until its full appearing in the manifestation of the sons of God. If this is correct then this is the beginning of the increase of His government (which will have no end) for this age in which we live.
We have made a distinction between the “Church ministries” and the “Kingdom ministries” in past studies. We have witnessed the “Apostles of the Church” ministering over the last 35 years but we are anticipating seeing the “Apostles of the Kingdom” arising very shortly. There will be very little similarity in these two distinct ministries. The first has to do with the “sovereignty of the minister” and initiating things from earth! The latter will function out of “the sovereignty of God” with everything initiated in heaven. We should be seeing the “firstfruits of the various Kingdom ministries” very soon if the church is to make the transition into the next restoration. IF Christ does not have free access to rule and reign in the lives of “His Kingdom ministries” there is little likely they will lead the church any farther into the purpose of God. Milling around in the Outer Court revelation, understanding and illumination will soon become boring and discouraging and frustrating. Signs of this are already appearing.
Today there is quite a lot of “ministry” going on but the testimony of the church as salt and light to the world is fading away very quickly. Once the salt is no longer salty and the light has become darkness we are not far from another dark ages. MY confidence is that the Sovereign God will not let this happen again, even though He did permit 1000 years of darkness before this series of restorations began. At the present time there doesn’t appear to be any foundation or desire for the army of Joel 2 to arise within the visible church. IF this army IS the “manifestation of the sons of God” then it IS time for the sons of God to arise.
The exaggerated claims and hyperbole of the “prophets” might fit into the appearing of the
“manifested sons in the priesthood ministry” but we don’t yet see any indication that is real as yet.
That doesn’t mean it will never be real or there is no hope. My theory is that for these “wild prophesies” to be fulfilled there has to be a greater “spiritual church base” laid within the Kingdom than what we see so far. Some of these prophesies may well reflect the heart of God but the church must pay a price for the prophesies to be fulfilled and we don’t see that happening yet.
In Charismatic Movement we assumed that it was God’s will to heal everybody, develop everybody and give everybody a ministry. We assumed that God wanted everybody to be 100% effective and 100% successful in everything they did. Now we begin to understand that the “100 fold ministry” is only available to those who only do what they see the Father doing and only speak what they hear the Father saying. This is how our “Pattern Son” was 100% effective.
Even if He only healed one man around the pool or explained the Kingdom to a very small group or raised two from the dead, He was still 100% successful in doing the Father’s will. It is my guess that this will be the identifying mark of the “manifested sons who are functioning after the order of the Pattern Son.” None of this will be effective if we just continue doing the best we can and searching out new ideas and seeing how others are “successful.” The “Key to this Kingdom dimension” is just doing what we see the Father doing and just speaking what we hear the Father saying. [Binding and loosing everything that moves was not effective for us.]
However, if we have no idea what the Father is saying or seeing what the Father is doing there is little confidence we will see Kingdom results. In other words there is a definite “veil between us and the clarity of this direction.” This “Veil” appears to be the “Second Veil” in the Tabernacle of Moses.” The “hope set before us” is that in “David’s Tabernacle” it shows clearly that this “Veil” as well as the “Third Veil” is removed in God’s purpose. Now we must determine IF we are in the right season. Is this clearly God’s revealed will? Absolutely! Is it God’s will to heal everybody? Absolutely! Then is everybody going to get healed? Not a chance!
Then who can get healed? Those that the Father has healed in heaven. Who can be loosed? Those whom the Father has loosed in heaven! But who wants to minister within this unreasonable limitation? Probably only the “manifested sons who are following the Pattern Son” in the regeneration! This is a tremendous step in the Kingdom direction! However, it should be clear that the “discipline of God designed for sons” will precede the restoration of this pattern ministry of the Pattern Son. The undisciplined will try to heal and loose everybody!