#450 1E Kingdom: Walking Through The Kingdom
Life, Adjustment, Change, Growth, and
Discipline During The Earth Dimension.
The last study looked at the preparation for the Kingdom during our stay in the Earth realm. In this study we will look at some details of what we will call “The Kingdom Change.” Since it is clear that God has NOT subjected to angels the world yet to come but has subjected that eternal dimension to man, we need to ask, “What kind of man?” Does God have any qualifications predetermined for the people He has predestined to rule with Christ over that world when He makes all things new? In other words, does “Man” refer to any or all men or just to believers, or just to Christians or to “Christians that have grown to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ?” The visible church generally assigns every “Christian” who is “a believer” to this ultimate position. Not because of their growth or character but simply because they believe something about Jesus. To me, for each person who is to be involved in that Eternal Government to be required to come to the measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ is NOT an unreasonable demand.
“To be counted worthy of the Kingdom” seems reasonable when we understand the magnitude of character, honesty, responsibility, integrity and faithfulness that will be required to rule over the world yet to come. Having a Kingdom Character would certainly be an asset in ruling with Christ! If we have no concern for doing the will of God, growing up into sons or being conformed to His image in this life, why would we think we would be qualified to participate in that life?
This Gospel of Super Grace has done more to defeat the work of God in us than the devil has ever done! To just dismiss every preparation for the Kingdom by saying “Oh, God’s grace covers all that” reveals a serious defect in the understanding and the message of the visible church. Thank God for His unmerited favor (grace) extended toward us for “forgiveness of sins,” {plural}, but it is obvious that we need to respond to God’s call to deal with the “sin problem” {singular} through death and burial, and then through resurrection Life, begin in a new species of man who is fully consecrated to fulfill the eternal purpose of God to which we have been predestined. How could intelligent persons then ignorantly dismiss this necessity of preparation by glibly declaring that “God’s grace covers all that?”
For example: God was not shy at revealing the two crosses that apply to the true believer. 1.) The Cross of Calvary for redemption and, 2.) The “personal cross” for development and for fulfillment. If we receive grace to participate in the Cross of Calvary, would it not also be equitable to receive the abundance of grace to participate in the personal cross for fulfilling the purpose for which He saved us? In some unexplainable way, it appears that the personal grace we receive to participate in Calvary then becomes “personal grace” to give us an excuse to reject or ignore the personal cross. The question is this; does the same grace that gives us access to Calvary then “cover over” any requirement to “take up the cross daily and follow Him?” It is incredible that the “grace” people are bold to say “Certainly, grace covers everything!”
The church has been subjected to an “escape mentality” for so long that “escape” has become the goal rather than a means to the goal. “Escaping” in order to fulfill God’s purpose has become a strange concept in the modern church system.
It seems that following resurrection and the genesis of the new species, the grace of God moves into a new dimension of supplying a God given ability to grow up, change us from what we are as “saved people” and to become what “He is,” in order to fulfill His calling upon all those whom He has saved. This growing up, changing and constantly adjusting our lives and lifestyle to harmonize with the Kingdom Government of God, will require the “continuing” grace of God. Grace also teaches us how to live in an acceptable way.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Provision has been made to receive the ability that enables us to do good deeds/works and to resist lawless deeds. This provision is called “greater grace” by James and is sufficient to overcome the strong desire to please “self” and to combat quarrels, conflicts, murders, adulteries, envy and the lust that wage war in our members. (See James 4) This “greater grace” is the “continuing”grace to overcome sin, not merely cover sin. This “grace” gives us the power to resist the tempter who would find pleasure in our lawlessness. Jesus, through whom grace and truth was realized, overcame the temper by humbling himself and by resisting every temptation to which we yield ourselves in times of weakness.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. {Singular} Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:15-16)
It is obvious that the grace of God has many other dimensions and is not limited to forgiveness of sins. Paul also suffered, received understanding and ministered by the grace of God. To use the “grace of God” to cover lukewarmness, lawless deeds and sin becomes truly ignorant and really defeats the reasons He gave Himself for us.
This growth unto full stature, qualifying for the Kingdom and meeting the Father’s standards for “the adoption as sons” is the theme of this paper. All this is by the “abundant grace of God.” Scripture calls it, “Apprehending that for which we have been apprehended.”
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Php 3:12-14 KJV)
Act 4:33 And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
The grace to witness and minister is certainly valid but grace was never meant to cover over our lukewarmness, unconcern or the casual way of living. Revelation 2 and 3 are a clear indication that the “doctrine of grace” that is popular today has been seriously perverted. There is certainly no indication that Jesus was focusing upon “grace” in His rebuke, condemnation, criticism and His threatening the lampstand churches in Asia. He offered NO GRACE to cover over their failures.
Therefore, we will assume that “redemption” includes delivering us from every lawless deed and also to purify a people for His own possession. This is the aspect of our redemption that we are addressing in this study. This same grace must deliver us from a selfish self-center, where everything revolves around us and for our benefit, and empower us by the spirit of grace to accept our responsibility to fulfill God’s eternal purpose. We call this “Preparation for the Kingdom.”
It is obvious from Genesis 3 that “knowledge” will never produce the sanctified, rectified and developed persons who will be needed for the Government of the next creation/world. This understanding of the “two trees” also reveals that His very Life within that new species will be essential to fulfilling God’s eternal purpose.
Therefore, it is my opinion that we must grow up into the Kingdom. We must be born again to “see” the Kingdom and we must be “born of the water and the Spirit” to enter into the Kingdom. Birth and growth go hand in hand in participating in the Kingdom. It appears that both birth and growth are severely neglected by the visible church and no burden or desire for the Kingdom Life is experienced. Being “born of the water” and being “born of the Spirit” must be births in the next dimension of the new inner man and not some kind of “birth” in the old Adam man.
1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So many books have been written in that last 70 years concerning the spirit, the soul and the body. While that was helpful to some, who were escaping from a religious mentality, it now needs to be defined in the light of the new inner man.
After we are “born again” by the Living and Abiding Word of God there is a new creation, a new inner man or my Bible says a new self. This “new inner man” is a completely new creation who begins within the new genesis. Old things have passed away and all things become new. The “old soul” and the “old fallen/dead spirit” are of the old creation. Trying to refine, train, sanctify or redeem the “old soul” appears to be a big waste of time. Likewise, trying to redeem the “old spirit” seems to be irrelevant. Watchman Nee’s book “The Latent Power of The Soul” would be valid if the “old soul” was going to be part of the “new inner man.” It is my opinion that our concern should be upon the “soul and spirit of the new inner man.” Why? Because the new inner man must be a completely new creation and NOT part old creation and part new creation. It is the new creation man that is “saved.” The “new man” should be a complete new creation with a new soul and a new spirit who at the present time is living in this “tent.”
2Cor 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven; 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, shall not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
It is necessary that we set this revelation within the context of 2 Corinthians 12 when Paul was caught up to the third heaven and saw incredible things. That experience of the Third Heaven was 14 years before Paul wrote this letter. Therefore, in sequence, chapter 12 is really chapter one and chapter 5 is in the present tense. For that reason, what Paul is sharing here is the result of seeing things in the Third Heaven or the Most Holy Place. The body is just an earthly tent in which the new creation man dwells while in this earth realm.
We are not eliminating the body or treating it as irrelevant but we are trying to see that it has just become a tent. Why? Because the “old creation man” that did dwell there has passed away! He has died, been buried and a “new creation man” has risen from that grave and now lives in that tent. Eventually we will lay aside this tent and put on our dwelling from heaven.My thought is this; The old soul with all its failures, traumas, hurts, phobias, and psychological disasters is no longer relevant for the true Christian. As long as we focus upon the “latent power of the soul” or its failures or its phoebes we are focusing upon the old creation
It is my thesis that any man that has begun the race to fulfillment, is required to go on to “perfection” and be prepared to participate in the world yet to come. Therefore, growth, rectification, development, adjustment, change is not optional and the metamorphosis of the new species until Christ is formed in them is necessary to participate in that Government.
For some, this will be a completely new way of viewing eternity. Participating in the government of the next world seems very abstract and too far future to be of any benefit or concern to us in this present age. If there was going to be another opportunity between now and the world to come to grow up into full redemption, putting everything into the distant future might be a valid position. However, right now, in the present tense, seems to be the best opportunity to pay the price, grow up and be prepared for the world yet to come.
Heb 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
The Government of Zion will be administered by “righteous men” who have come to “perfection” or to full growth. This is what we are calling “coming to the full stature of Christ Jesus.” The fact that these are “spirits” should not detract from the “perfection” they have achieved. The “new inner men” that achieve to the Mount Zion dimension are “spirits.” They live in a realm of “spirits” of various kinds. However, they will not be “naked spirits” but will be clothed with their dwelling from heaven. This obviously was a revelation of something Paul saw in the Third Heaven.
There seems to be a universal ignorance about the present “heaven” where every saved person goes when he dies. It seems to be assumed that this is some permanent place where we live in eternal bliss and happiness. When I point out that this present heaven is going to cease to exist and then each person will be placed in that dimension to which they have attained, there is a great shock. Many people, in most countries, think that when we go to heaven that is our place for eternity. When they realize there is going to be a “New Heaven,” a “New Earth,” and the “New Jerusalem,” and that all “saved people” will find themselves in one of these places, depending upon their qualifications, there is a time of fear, disbelief and then personal concern about the growth of their new inner man. With this revelation comes the next question, “How can I prepare for the world yet to come?” When this question is asked with true sincerity, we know these are the ones we need to spend time with to answer their deepest concerns.
Too much of the church has taught that every “saved person” will see His face and live in His presence forever. There is a great discomfort when they learn that most of this “doctrine” is just ignorance of the scriptures. Some get angry when they realize all this preparation has been hidden from them by the ministry. Most have never heard of the “New Earth” or have any idea who will be inhabiting that place. Most are shocked when they learn that the “saved” will walk in the light of the New Jerusalem. Why? Because they have been assured that since they are “saved” they will sit with Christ on His throne in the New Jerusalem.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: { the New Jerusalem} and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.
Some teach that this is just during the Millennial Reign of Christ but a simple reading of Revelation 20 and 21 proves that to be false.
Therefore, in this study of “Walking Through the Kingdom” it is essential that we point out the errors and ignorant lies that have been presented by carnal ministers over the last century. These are not difficult scriptures for anyone who has “basic light” in the new inner man! [IF there is a new inner man!] Too many “ministers” today are just “ministering” by the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because they have neglected so great a salvation and have just assumed a “professional position “of administrating a church. Others have ignored the Holy Spirit who is busy leading those who love the truth into all truth and reality. We feel regret for those souls that are trusting their eternity to these foolish men.
The Kingdom is Absolute __ A Eternal Reality That Will Never Cease to Exist!
It Doesn’t Change and Therefore, It Requires a Continuous Change on Our Part!
2Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Because we have received grace and peace, it is now essential that we also become partakers of the Divine Nature. Our assurance is this: God has granted to us by His Divine Power, in Christ, His precious and magnificent promises {in scripture} that by participating in them experientially, we might become partakers of the Divine Nature. Every essential quality of Christ, pertaining to Life and Godliness, is inherent within the epignosis, or the true knowledge of Christ. The following is how this experience comes to us, experientially:
2Peter 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Peter 1:9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
2Peter 1:11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
In other words, If we are going to attain to the Kingdom requirements it will involve much growth and many changes in our life and in our lifestyle. Too many are evaluating these scriptural requirements as “Just Works That Will Never Save You.”
“Having or doing Church within the present system” seems too far away from the Kingdom preparation that is essential for participating in the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peter is very bold to warn that those who lack these qualities and accuses them of being blind, able to see nothing in the distance and who are ignorant of why God saved him in the first place. This simple definition of the “casual Christian experience” describes the vast majority of those people who flock to the “church system” each Sunday.
It seems, from time to time, that something “more” will not meet the need we have of God and we must redirect our attention to “something entirely different.” This appears to be that time again. One regret I have now is, looking back to see that so much of what we thought we had accomplished over the years was just for this time realm and very little was accomplished for the eternal realm. The “time realm” stuff will all be “left behind.” Our vision of “ministry” is once again changing. What we assumed was “an effective outward ministry,” did not have enough inward life behind it to produce something eternal in us or in others.
At the present time we feel a strong inward “pushing,” not a gentle leading, pressing us toward “ultimate Truth.” It is certain that we cannot define what that means but it seems that “ultimate truth” cannot be found except through a maturity of His Life in us. Ultimate truth cannot be defined as subjective OR objective but as something of another dimension. This dimension has a veil over it which obscures our vision and understanding. As long as we seek “ultimate truth” to gain some personal advantage, the veil will remain. I am guessing that the “Kingdom of God” is in that dimension behind “the veil.” It is clear that God has predestined the mysteries of God to be revealed through the church! Then why doesn’t He do it? He is waiting for that Kingdom change in a people that can receive understanding and revelation without having an individual desire for some personal benefit or to gain a ministry advantage over others.
The most obvious “change” that is essential to participate in the Kingdom, that most all preachers see in scriptures, are the works of the flesh. How to deal with these “defects” in believers AND in the pulpit is not so clear. These “works of the flesh” are seen in every church and in every generation but very little is ever done about it. Why? Because this “rectification” is beyond human effort and beyond human behavioral modification. These things can be preached against for weeks from the pulpit but no change takes place, either in the pulpit or in the pew.
Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
1Cor 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Even when these “weaknesses” are pointed out from the pulpit, most people are helpless to change. Why? Because the natural man has no ability to change. Then change is the product of God working within us. But what if we never change? Does that mean that God is not concerned about these things? Not at all! God works his miracles of change by developing the new inner person by His Life in us, until we reflect the character of Christ! As Christ is formed in us, these antichrist characteristics are forced out by being “overcome.” It is my theory that most of our ministries should be directed toward getting Christ formed in the church, rather than focusing upon these antichrist defects and preaching against the flesh. Over the years I have never seen any change in people by preaching against antichrist things.
Now our focus is upon preaching the positive effects of having the Kingdom Government in the inner life. I am guessing that the “entrance into the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” is attained by the Kingdom Life within us gaining dominion over the works of the flesh. The Kingdom Life {Sperma} is the cause and the entrance into the Kingdom of Christ is the effect.
Col 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him 11 --a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Here Paul is describing the characteristics of the “old self” or the “old man” or what we call “the Adam man.” In other words, wherever we see these things in the church we know these are NOT the works of the “new self” or the “new creation inner man.” It is this “new self” that is in the image of God. It is this “new man” who is being renewed to the epignosis of God. It is clear that true knowledge is not directed toward the “old self” but only to the “new self.” A church that is just “ministering” to the “old creation man” is wasting their time and effort and producing nothing eternal. Before just “church” can be valid we must first have a group of “new creation persons.” Old creation persons CANNOT be included in what is called “church.” If there are 10,000 people attending the church building and only 100 are “new creation persons” the “church” is just 100 people.
Col 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Since all of these things are spoken to “the church,” it is amazing that the opposite of these things is accepted in the church as normal for today. Why? Because it is taught that all these things are covered by grace. The “teaching” is this: Since Christ IS our righteousness, and we are in Christ, God no longer sees these things. When He looks at us, all He can see is Christ and His righteousness. We are hidden “in Christ” so all these fallen characteristics are no longer seen by God or necessary to be laid aside because they are covered by grace. The “super grace churches” really feel sorry for anyone who is concerned about their failures and bad attitudes or character defects because they are not really trusting Jesus to be their righteousness. Therefore, since “Christ IS our Righteousness” how we act is totally irrelevant.
For that reason, to preach the Kingdom demands, the Kingdom Life, the Kingdom requirements or the Kingdom change to super grace people is a waste of time because to them it is just another false doctrine of denying the grace of God and denying Jesus Christ who IS our righteousness.
It appears that any place where any other gospel has been substituted for the Gospel of the Kingdom, there is a resistance to the Kingdom message. A complete rebuilding of a believer in Christ into a new Kingdom person, in order to enable that person to fulfill the purpose of God, is too much for the modern believer and a strange concept to anyone who attends what we call, “the visible church.”
We might use some philosophical terms to define “ultimate truth” as something outside ourselves and of another dimension, i.e., something of the “mystical realm.” However, when we define “ultimate Truth” as the divine person of Christ Jesus, we should turn from the objective viewpoint to the subjective viewpoint.
2Cor 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?
If “ultimate Truth” is in us, why are we so ignorant? It is my opinion that “ultimate truth” can only be manifested in us through a maturity of His Life in us. “Going on to perfection” cannot be attained except by the maturity of His Life in us. “Going on” is not by some human effort or by some natural learning experience or by what we used to call discipleship. Light, Life, Truth, Eternal Realities is of the same essence and originates in the same divine substance. In Him was the Life and the Life was the Light within these persons that have received His Life. The Light then reveals the ultimate Truth which is Christ in you.
How different this “truth” is from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This “ultimate Truth” can only come from the Tree of Life that bears 12 kinds of fruit. The Light / Revelation / Seeing comes out from His Divine Life in us. The greater His Life in us, the greater is the Light / Revelation / Seeing of the Truth which Is Christ. This divine substance is the source for the “wisdom that is from above.” How different is this “wisdom from above” from the tree of knowledge which produces the “wisdom from below.”
Jam 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
The “wisdom” of the natural man, the old man or the Adam man is certainly from below and is identified by selfish ambition, jealousy, arrogance, earthly, natural, demonic, and cannot discern every evil thing. In other words the natural man who has not escaped from the old Adam is a serious danger to the church when he is given a position of influence, a place of authority or a pulpit to force obedience.
However, if the Adam man was eliminated from the visible church, the pews in many buildings would be about empty and many pulpits would be vacant. But why could this be possible after two thousand years of history? My theory is this: Another gospel has been substituted for the gospel of the Kingdom and the Kingdom requirements have either been ignored or a doctrine of grace has been presented that eliminates the need to change or to grow up in all things into Christ, who is the ONLY Head of the body.
For that reason we have entire assemblies that are a mixture of “old men” and “new baby Christians” who are still living in total dependence upon some carnal “ministry” that has never developed into the maturity of “sonship.” These carnal ministries have no desire to see the assemblies “grow up in all things into Christ” because they want to keep everyone dependent upon them for guidance and leadership. A growing group of “sons of God” in an assembly becomes a threat to the present leadership. These “sons” soon become rebellious and disobedient to the carnal leadership and they must be removed from fellowship.
Most of those who begin to grow have to support a family and cannot start a new assembly so they may just drop out of the church system and try to survive on their own. Then we hear this testimony about the ones who are forced out because they saw the system failing the believers.
1Jo 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us.
If all believers would grow together with the leadership, all of this controversy could be avoided. As long as the leadership was continuing in the growth mode and continuing to lead the congregation by their Life, the congregation could grow without becoming a threat to the leadership. When the leadership desires to keep the church dependent upon them, they soon become so busy that their spiritual life begins to suffer. Then, the growth of the leadership stops and the problems of control begin. Iron rod rule is not far behind the lack of continual growth in the leadership. Those who have developed their own spiritual life soon recognize the problem and are forced to leave and a new denomination begins. Since 1970 I have seen this pattern repeated many, many times. In church history, this IS the pattern and the reason for so many denominations. Developing a hierarchy of national leadership and national ownership of properties has preserved the denomination during these times of splits but the problems of the lack of growth keep increasing. New programs are established but no growth in the individual believer result so the cycle continues.
What is the solution? It appears that this whole “system” of establishing churches has failed to produce believers who grow to full stature. Destroying this “system” without being able to establishing a different pattern of eternal reality is NOT the solution.
At the present time, no better “man controlled system” has been produced. Many have been tried but all have obviously failed to produce a “glorious church, without spot or wrinkle.” Is there, therefore, NO Solution? The obvious one is to stop all of these man centered systems and begin to participate in the Church that Christ is building. Why? Because that IS the only one that will survive the violent shaking that must come to remove all these man made and man centered systems. How can that church be recognized?
Heb 12:26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying,
“YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.” 27 And this expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
When all the shaking has stopped, only the Kingdom Church will remain. Why? Because it cannot be shaken! Why? Because that IS the church He is building. These “man-made systems” will fall apart at the first shaking. Why? Because they are built upon the sand of this earth instead of the Kingdom of God, which is unshakable.
The two things that cannot be shaken are the unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person. This is what Paul preached.
Act 28:30 And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters, and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.
Act 28:23 And when they had set a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God, and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
Eph 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Commentary; Adoption (Greek, “huiothesia”, “placing as a son”) is not so much a word of relationship as of position. The believer’s relation to God as a baby / child results from the new birth whereas adoption is the act of God whereby one already a child is placed in the position of an adult son. (Gal_4:1-5).
Because the sperma of God, the Living and Abiding Word of God, has been implanted in us, we are born into this new realm of babes or children of God. Birth brings us into relationship with the Father. However, Life, growth, development, adjustment, discipline and transformation bring us into the position of sonship. When God acknowledges that we have met His qualifications and grown to the standard He has predetermined, we are accepted into His family as mature sons who are able to accept grown up responsibility.
We might say that a baby is one that is born of God. A mature Son is one who is being taught by God. As long as the Christian is just an infant or a babe, he is placed under teachers, trainers, guardians or those responsible for developing the baby into a grown son. After the growing son has met the qualifications set by the Father he is adopted by the Father and set in a place of responsibility and a position where the Father can teach him directly without the aid of outside teachers. Preparing ministers or Kingdom people by this method would immediately change how the church functioned.
Until we understand and are convinced that none of this “growth” has to do with the outward man but growth, development and maturity in the Christian realm are limited to the new inner man, Christian maturity will always be confusing.
Since ministry, ordination, position and Christian education has been applied to the outward man, the inward man has been neglected or ignored completely. From this error comes the idea that the Adam man can be “born again,” saved and ordained into Christian ministries. Because of that error the “church” becomes a place we go to on Sunday to hear another message about something that is presumed to be Christian.
Since God’s only plan for Adam is death and burial and Christianity BEGINS with resurrection and the new man, the “church of Adam” has ignored this essential experience and Adam is protected by the church and given his position of leadership and, in many cases, a pulpit from which to preach.
To try to repair this system or to redirect it or to revive it seems to be a waste of time. Why? Because it can never become the Church that Christ is building. It is a counterfeit system without a purpose!
For that reason to “Walk through the Kingdom” is not a matter of the outward man walking through some earthly or natural realm but applies to the new inner man who has grown to at least be “walking in the Spirit” as opposed to walking in the flesh.
Since the Laws of God are put within us, it implies that the Kingdom is an inward government that functions in the new inner man but with growth and development that Government will manifest in the outward man which causes him to “Walk Through the Kingdom.”
To expect the outward man to “walk in the Kingdom” when there is no inner man who is able to walk in the Kingdom is an unrealistic expectation.