SEEDTIME AND HARVEST Vblog #6 - Kriston Couchey

SEEDTIME AND HARVEST Vblog #6 - Kriston Couchey

Kingdom Business Natural/Heavenly Growth

In the kingdom we cannot build a life, a business or a ministry. We cannot build the kingdom of God. Everything of the kingdom of God must grow from a seed from God through a heavenly natural growth process. We must receive good seed in good soil and let the earth grow it. Indeed, this is a great mystery.

We will become what we hear and believe (receive) in our hearts.  “As you believe, so be it unto you.” “Your faith has made you well.”  “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” “With God all things are possible.”  “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”   

Natural things are often pictures that can be used to show us spiritual things. Consider the natural growth process of a stalk of wheat that begins with a dormant seed. The seed placed in good soil sprouts and soon grows roots below ground and a small green blade breaks through above ground. The green blade grows and becomes a stalk. Then, a head begins to form on top. Next, the grain begins to grow in the head. The mature seeds in the head are seeds like the one that was planted. The seeds left alone will dry and eventually fall upon the ground and begin the process over again except there are a multiplied number of seeds.

A seed (word, thought, vision) planted in our heart-soil becomes a belief as it sprouts. The belief becomes a conviction as it grows a blade. A conviction becomes our attitude as it grows a head. Our attitudes become our actions as the full grain in the head becomes seeds (words & actions) sown from our lives into the world to sprout and grow into the natural world.

This is the supernatural natural process of bringing the desires and plans of God from heaven into the natural world. By this process, spiritual seed/word/vision from heaven becomes natural reality in the world. Through this growth process the world can be changed to become as it is in heaven.

  

Mark 4:26-32: And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

And He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”

1 Corinthians 3:6: I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

  

Psalm 127:1-2: Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.   

The heart of man is God's spiritual/natural interface. Spirit God and physical earth meet in the heart of man. Two realms meet heaven and earth connect in the heart of man.

The pure heart of man is like a fruitful garden. It receives spiritual seed from God and grows it into the natural world. (The earth yields crops by itself.)

The soil must be moistened and protected by the life giving brooding of the Holy Spirit.  

The pure heart of man is God’s production center on earth that fills the world with God’s plan and rule. Only the pure heart of man is the wife of God capable of intimately relating to Him, receiving seed from Him and giving birth to God’s plan and rule into the earth. If we love God and intimately relate to Him, we will receive His seed and become pregnant with God’s plan. If, however, we love another god, its seeds will be planted in us.

THE FIRST AND SUPREME SEED OF THE KINGDOM IS CHIRST JESUS

The kingdom of God is Christ Jesus. The Seed of God was sown into the world when Christ became a man to redeem and restore the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

All who receive Christ Jesus are seeded with the King and the kingdom of God. The King and the kingdom of heaven is planted in the heart soil of God’s people by the Holy Spirit. The presence and power of God in Christ Jesus are in the world through us to release the kingdom of heaven on earth. The seed of the Son of God in us planted by our lives into others produces many sons of God on earth.

Things in the world are changed through the process of the seed and natural growth.  We cannot change our character and actions by trying hard. Trying to stop doing something we want to do, or trying to start doing something we do not want to do will not make permanent changes. We must change what we hear, what we think and what we believe. We must receive new seed, the seed of Christ that will grow and change who we are and what we want to do.

Every word from God within us is a seed that can grow into the natural world. Man shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Christ Jesus is the Word from God. Every vision, thought, feeling or communication in any form from God is through Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit of God. Christ in us is the hope of glory.

Luke 8:15: But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience (endurance).  

In practical kingdom business growth there is a process involved in the word from heaven becoming manifest into the natural world.

Patience is required to reap a harvest. There is a space of time between the planting and the production. Our part is to patiently wait for the harvest and to care for the soil and the growing seedling or plant. There is nothing we can do to make the seed have life. God puts the life into the seed, and He causes it to sprout and grow. We can and must, however, provide the proper atmosphere, nutrients and care for the seed to grow to fruition.

This means holding on to the idea or vision even when we cannot see anything with our natural eye that indicates the idea is growing. The larger the idea or vision the longer the gestation period. A large work like a large animal or plant takes a much longer time. A chicken is birthed in only three weeks and is fully-grown in about twelve weeks. A human baby is birthed in nine months and takes about twenty years to be reach maturity. You can grow a radish in the garden in a few weeks; an oak tree will take many years.

The vision may be lost if we abandon it. Many worthy works planted by God in the hearts of men have failed to come to fruition because they were prematurely abandoned. If a brood hen sitting on eggs leaves the nest even one day too soon, all the chicks in the eggs will be lost.

The seed planted in the soil dies and is reborn a living plant. This eliminates any potential of human effort adulterating the pure supernatural natural growth process. The temptation is to abandon God's plan during the time of the death and rebirth transformation.

John 12:24: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

Just as a natural gardener works to care for the soil keeping it loosened so that it does not become too hard for the seed to grow, we must keep our heart-soil tender by forgiving and receiving healing for all offenses that can press down and harden our heart. The soil must be kept moist and the temperature in the proper range by the presence of the Holy Spirit. We must keep the weeds of useless words (bad seeds) out of our soil. Useless, negative words or thoughts will grow weeds that rob nutrients from the good seed and prevent them from growing properly.  

We must not only allow time for growth, we must also allow space. Seeds that are going to produce a large plant will require more space in the soil of our heart. Planting too many seeds in too small a space will cause them to grow improperly and bear little or no fruit. After the plants are up and growing, it may be necessary to remove some of them in order that there will be adequate space for growth. With some plants, it will be necessary to prune or trim the limbs to provide space on the plant for good fruit to grow.  

Keeping the weeds out means taking every thought captive. We must remove the thoughts that would hinder the growth of the growing vision. Negative thoughts of doubt, worry, and fear will choke the vision. The enemy of the vision will always attempt to plant the seed that “you cannot do it”, or “you are just not capable enough to do whatever God has said.” He is exactly right. We cannot do it. We are not supposed to be able to do it. God does it!  We must hear, believe, and obey what God tells us to do next. The earth brings forth the crop by itself.  

Thinning the plants means that we may need to lay down some really good ideas in order to concentrate on the more important vision. Our heart-soil just is not big enough and enriched enough to bring forth all the good ideas in the world at one time. If there are too many ideas or visions in one heart, none of them will grow well.

Trimming and pruning branches means cutting off excessive or wild growth of the vision. Too many branches on a fruit tree may cause the fruit to be small and may cause disease because sunlight cannot enter. Branches that are too long or improperly shaped may break when the fruit nears maturity. We may need to limit parts of the idea or vision as it grows.    

We are the manager of our garden. What we choose to hear and believe, what and how we think, are the seeds that will produce our life and affect change in the world. Setting our minds on things above and meditating the things of Christ produces the life of Christ and heaven. Bad thinking always produces bad life. God thinking always produces quality life. The difference between the man who tries hard but always accomplishes little in the kingdom and the man who is of much valuable service is what each hears and believes. In other words, how they manage their gardens.

All the seemingly unrelated negative events that consistently happen to the unproductive man are the product of bad seeds growing to fruition. All the seemingly unrelated doors of opportunity and blessings that consistently come to the productive man are the results of good seeds. Nothing happens until somebody believes something.

Remember “the earth yields crops by itself.”  We cannot make growth, but we must care for the soil, thin and trim the plants, protect the seedling from a hostile environment and predators, pull the weeds, shoo off the birds, and above all, keep the soil moist with the presence of the Holy Spirit through prayer. Communing with God in prayer and meditating the word (thought, vision, seed) in the Holy Spirit is the process by which the natural growth and eventual harvest will come.

Prayer and meditation is speaking to and hearing God. Speaking to and hearing God does not only involve audible words. Communing with God also involves speaking and hearing by pictures and feelings. It is seeing and feeling what God is saying as well as praying visions and feelings to Him.

Prayer and meditation is experiencing in the spiritual realm what God desires to bring into the natural realm.

To intimately commune with God, one must come to a place of inner quiet where the thoughts and distractions of the world can be silenced. Close your eyes, quiet your soul, and seek to enter into the presence of the Father. Ask God what He wants to do with your life today and wait quietly before Him. When you have a clear word, a vision from God, meditate it in your spiritual mind. Look at it. Understand it. Get to know it. See it happening. Feel how it feels. Then pray the vision back to God. With the vision in your spirit, go to Him and ask Him to give you the vision He has shown you. Daily continue praying this way. You will find that the vision will change some. It will become more detailed with a little more of this and a little less of that as God continues to clarify the vision in you.  

You are now pregnant with the word from God. The vision is now alive within you. Allow yourself to become excited as you feel the first movements of the living vision within you. Original creation is beginning to be reshaped as the vision in the spiritual realm begins to impact the physical realm. All over the world things may begin to move or adjust in order to set the stage to bring about the vision that God has placed in your heart as a seed.  

Next, begin to speak the vision out loud into the earth. Share it with those who can hear. Let your passion for the vision come forth as you speak it to others as God directs. You may need to begin writing it down or sketching it out on paper. Don’t be alarmed if the vision is a thousand times greater than you think possible. Remember it is God’s baby; He will bring it to birth.

Be faithful to pray the vision and be ready to take whatever next step the Lord shows you. Wait and watch for the opportunities and circumstances that in time will appear before you to birth the vision.

Keep on pursuing Love. Love never fails
and His kingdom never ends.
Ron McGatlin

www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

 

EMBRACING OUR IDENTITY Vblog #8 - Kriston Couchey

EMBRACING OUR IDENTITY Vblog #8 - Kriston Couchey

Reigning with Christ

Are we really sons of God? Can we truly do the works of Christ?

In this season, God is revealing into the hearts of maturing sons who we really are in Christ. The old false identity is being replaced with revelation of our true identity as sons of God – sons that are maturing into the full corporate expression of Christ on earth. Mature sons of God, joint heirs with Christ, bringing the revelation and manifestation of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

The life and power of heaven flowing through Christ within mature sons by the Holy Spirit will bring full redemption to the waiting world.

Galatians 4:6-7: And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts ... Therefore you are no longer a servant but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Romans 8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are (full grown) sons of God.

Romans 8: 18-19: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the (mature) sons of God.
The world is groaning and waiting for us to become the holy, purified, obedient, mature sons who will release the power of God to restore the kingdom of God on earth. It is waiting for us to heal and deliver our planet from the rule of darkness and oppression -- to forever break Satan’s cruel bondage from the earth and to establish the reign of righteousness, peace and joy, the kingdom of God. Thus, we, as the mature sons, are to extend the king-dome and its light to the world (Romans 8:21-22).

In the kingdom of God, faithful servants become rulers. We serve by ruling after having faithfully served in obedience to God in smaller matters.

Matthew 25:21: “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”

Luke 19:17: “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant: because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’”

Luke 12:44: “Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.”

Luke 22: 26b-30: “...he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I (Jesus) am among you as the One Who serves. But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
The highest order of ruling is intercession. Those who are seated at the table of the Lord have the opportunity and the responsibility to make intercession; to serve as an advocate for the Israel of God. It is bringing the people of God with their needs to Jesus, and bringing ministry from the Lord to His people that they may also be brought to the table of the Lord. As seated, mature sons, we reign with Jesus Christ on earth.

Romans 5:17b: ... those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:12: If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
Revelation 5: 9b-l0: ... and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.
Jesus has provided and is providing full redemption and restoration. It is more than spending eternity with Him in heaven and missing hell, though certainly this would be more than sufficient reason to endure. But the Word says that by His abundance of grace and gift of righteousness we will reign in life with Him if we endure (overcome). Jesus has provided and is providing all we need to reign as kings and priest on the earth as He ever lives to make intercession for us. He is bringing many sons to glory (Hebrews 7:25).
Seeing the goal of ruling and reigning with Him in this life encourages us to continue during the difficult life purification and reformation processes. Though we are sons on our way to the full stature of Christ, we will endure chastening and persecution.

Eph 4:13-16  … till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (mature) man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Hebrews 2:10:For it was fitting for Him, for Whom are all things, and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Keep on pursuing Love. Love never fails
and His kingdom never ends.
Ron McGatlin

www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

CHRIST And ANTICHRIST - Vblog #9- Kriston Couchey

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CHRIST And ANTICHRIST - Vblog #9- Kriston Couchey
 
ANTI-KINGDOM (#040)
The kingdom of God on earth is the order of God from heaven on earth.
In the kingdom of God, mankind and all he has authority over is fully ordered by God’s heavenly rule. Christ administers the ways of God from heaven to the world through redeemed, purified man. The kingdom of God comes as the will of God is done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). The Spirit of Christ within man accomplishes God’s will on earth. What could not be achieved by trying to humanly keep the laws of God is done as God’s love is manifest through the Holy Spirit of God working in and through man (Rom 8:3-4). The Kingdom of God on earth means that the planet and all that is on the planet is ruled or ordered by the will and ways of God. This produces God's order of prosperity for all the earth and all of its various systems. Righteousness is adhering to and aligning with the ways of God. Prevailing righteousness leads to peace on earth and goodwill or prosperity toward man. The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17).
Christ Jesus is the law-fulfiller first in His natural body and now in His Body of many members across the earth (Mat 5:17).
Lawlessness Lawlessness is any order other than God’s order. Man and anything over which he has authority, anything he does, and anything he affects can be disordered by lawlessness working through man. Lawlessness is the lack of Christ flowing the grace and love of God from within man. It is the absence of the grace and love of God establishing God’s ways. Lawlessness is failing to adhere to and align with the ways of God. Prevailing lawlessness leads to strife and ill will, which leads to poverty for man. The earth and all its various systems are harmed by lawlessness and could be destroyed by lawlessness left unchecked.
Satan, also know as Lucifer or the devil, is the original lawbreaker and is the spirit behind lawlessness on earth. Man becomes the lawbreaker as he decides to go his own way (the ways of the devil) and leaves the ways of God. Lawlessness is against righteousness, against Christ, against Christ within man. A Biblical word for against is "anti." The Greek word "anti" (an-tee') means opposite and often denotes contrast. Anti-Christ means "lawlessness" or "against Christ."
Much to do has been made by theologians about the future coming of a specific man called Antichrist. Focus on the future coming of a specific man diverts attention from the present spirit of antichrist now working to discredit the great truth of the indwelling Christ in believers. The fruit of the teaching of a coming man called Antichrist is that Christians are less aware of and less concerned about the works of antichrist now in the world and among themselves. This allows the powers of darkness to continue their disruptive and restraining works against Christ (the Anointed One) and His anointing in man. This fruit does not line up with Christ’s words and God’s character and nature. As we have previously seen, whenever the fruit of a teaching does not line up with these things, the teaching should be investigated by studying the original Greek text in the light of the revelation of the kingdom.
I was again shocked as I began to study the original Greek words regarding antichrist. Again, the translators’ lack of revelation affected the translation of the original Greek into English and other languages. The translators apparently had little or no revelation of the powerful Spirit of Christ within believers to victoriously overcome the works of evil in the world.
And, again, the church through the centuries, along with all modern translations and theological commentaries that I am aware of, have held fast to the interpretation of the text as referring to a specific future man called Antichrist. A careful study of the original Greek words will reveal that there is not necessarily a specific man to come called Antichrist. The biblical references to antichrist deal with the current work of the spirit of antichrist and lawlessness in man. The antichrist spirit is presently striving to restrain the work of Christ from bringing forth God’s order (kingdom) into the world.
The spirit of antichrist is working today to deny the reality and the power of Christ Jesus now come in the flesh in believers. The enemy’s desire is to discredit all spiritual gifts, anointing, and spiritual works coming forth from the Spirit of Christ within believers. This restrains the flow of God through believers, which hinders the overcoming of evil and restrains the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth.
The spirit of antichrist was operative during the first century working against the Spirit of Christ, which was coming forth in the apostles. John recognized that the spirit of antichrist would continue to be active as time passed, as well as in his day. The work of the spirit of antichrist is always to deny Christ in the flesh, whether His original coming in His natural body or His now coming in His universal body of individual believers, the Body of Christ. The spirit of antichrist will do anything possible to deny, prevent, or pervert the gifts and work of the Spirit of Christ coming forth within believers to establish God’s ways on earth. The antichrist spirit is a spirit of lawlessness and will seek to establish lawlessness (his ways as opposed to God’s ways).
1 John 2:18 KJV: Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:22 KJV: Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. The antichrist spirit is a liar and a deceiver. One of his major schemes is to deceive church people and religious leaders by causing them to believe that spiritual gifts are not available and active today by the Spirit of Christ within believers. One of his most dastardly stratagems is to mimic spiritual gifts by bringing forth false signs and wonders and then allow them to be exposed as evil. This strategy causes many naive Christians to oppose all manifestations of spiritual gifts, including Christ Himself coming forth in the flesh of His universal Body, the purified Bride Church. This can prevent Christians from benefiting from the powerful gifts and revelations of the Spirit of Christ. Consequently, the work of God is hindered or restrained in the world. Thus, the devil is able to continue to oppress the people of the world and to propagate his lawlessness among men, including religious people. 1 John 4:1-3 KJV: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7 KJV: For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. John was writing to Christians when he spoke of the spirit of antichrist working through men attempting to deceive people into believing that Christ was not coming forth "in the flesh" of His universal Body, the ecclesia.
The reason Jesus came to earth, died on the cross, was resurrected, ascended to the right hand of the Father, returned to earth as a life-giving Spirit, and is now seated in His temple upon the throne of the hearts of the redeemed, is to manifest Himself into the world and establish the kingdom of God on earth.
The devil failed to stop Christ from dying on the cross and being resurrected. He failed to stop Christ from returning to earth at Pentecost. Now his only recourse is to restrain the appearing of Christ in the flesh of His Body, the ekklesia.
The spirit of antichrist will do anything that he can to attempt to restrain the appearing of the Spirit of Christ Jesus in His temple, the heart of believers. The antichrist spirit will deny the works and gifts of the Spirit coming forth from the Body. 1 Cor 3:16: Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
2 Cor 6:16: And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." The enemy seeks to be seated in the temple (the heart of man) as God, showing himself as God, ruling in the world and being worshiped as God. He is the one who opposes God and endeavors to rule as God. His desire is still to be Number One in the world, to be like the Most High (Isa 14:12-14). The great "falling-away" apostasy When Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians, he was looking ahead to the apostasy that occurred in the church after the intense, spiritual light of the first century faded. He was warning that apostasy would come shortly after he and the other leaders of the early church had passed away. That "falling away" or apostasy deepened during the dark centuries and continues to plague much of the church today.
The "man of sin is being revealed" today as the light from God increases and the antichrist’s work of evil intensifies. The enemy’s great work of denying and disrespecting the Spirit of Christ and His work in believers has reached great heights and enormous proportions in the world today. Public educational systems, the scientific community, governments, and even many Christians have been deceived into believing that the works of Christ through the Spirit are irrelevant to the practical needs of mankind and the governing of the world. Surely, the enemy has had widespread success in working through apostate men with powerful signs, lying wonders, and unrighteous deception to restrain the work of Christ. However, the enemy’s work is being revealed and becoming evident! In the seventh millennium we are seeing the exposing of the man of sin, the antichrist spirit sitting as God in the temple of God, the heart of man. As the lawlessness of the lawless one intensifies, he is more visible and easier to discern. The brightness of the coming forth of the Lord in His people is exposing and consuming the antichrist spirit with the Word of the Spirit of the Lord.
It is the presence of the Lord that destroys the work of the antichrist spirit. 2 Thes 2:3-9: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming (presence). The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders. The anointed One and His anointing abiding within the believer is the source of spiritual discernment to know the difference between the cunning lies of the deceiving antichrist spirit and the truth of God. One will not know the difference by comparing intellectually discerned Bible teachings with other teachings of the same source. Spiritual discernment of the Word by the Holy Spirit of Christ will expose the lies of the spirit of antichrist. 1 John 2:26-27 KJV: These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
2 Thes 2:3: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. The "day" mentioned in this passage refers to the day of Christ’s bodily return and is different from the "day of the Lord" as we have studied. "Falling away" is translated from the Greek word "apostasia" and means defection from the truth. Only this one time is it translated "falling away." Study of these passages reveals that they are very consistent with other New Testament teachings and do not speak of a man called Antichrist, but speak of the spirit of antichrist working in man. Throughout history different men in different times have for a season been thought to be the Antichrist. Any man of history thought to be the Antichrist was probably in reality an antichrist. That is, one who was controlled by or influenced by a spirit of antichrist.
There will probably be other notorious men inflamed by the spirit of antichrist. There may or may not be a future embodiment of the spirit of antichrist in one particular man, but the spirit of antichrist working now is our major concern.
The important thing for believers today is to recognize the attack of antichrist on their own lives and in their own gatherings. Studying the Word can help us to recognize that we ourselves are possibly affected by the spirit of antichrist. The presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit can expose the attack of the spirit of antichrist and destroy his work.
Victory in the kingdom of God, in our own lives, is dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Spirit of the King) coming forth, establishing His presence in our heart and destroying the work of the enemy. Keep on Pursuing LoveIt Will Never Fail Ron McGatlin http://www.openheaven.combasileia@earthlink.net

DIVINE UNITY - Vblog #10 - by Kriston Couchey

DIVINE UNITY - Vblog #10 - by Kriston Couchey

Excerpts From  "Breaking The Mold" - By Kriston Couchey

 DIVINE UNITY (Pages 35-36)   

      Communion, community, common unity: these terms describe what those led by the Spirit have in common; UNITY. This communion (common union) is not based upon a church affiliation, doctrine, leader, or location. It is based upon: “…the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Complete unity with God is our destination in the kingdom. The kingdom will be released fully in those who learn to walk in union with the Holy Spirit regarding the heart and purposes of God. Not just obeying Him, but coming into agreement with His judgments and heart. The Bride of Christ is in complete agreement with the passion and purpose of God’s heart toward creation.

In this new day of the kingdom advancement we will see the progressive union of God with His children as He purges the earth of its rebellion and pride. As a groom consummates his love for his bride; so the Lord is consummating a union with His people that will express the very essence of God’s divine nature.

When those who walk with God in union enter fellowship, worship, and mutually encourage one another; you will see an even Greater Glory. This is an outpouring through those who have gathered unto Him as His body. Each one has first individually learned to walk in union with the king as the head, and then in communion with their brothers and sisters.

… and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, and the angel (messenger) of the covenant, whom ye desire: behold, he comes, said the LORD of the hosts.

God is fitting together a temple made of living stones that is at this present time scattered and coming out of wilderness trials and purification. But they are coming together in this time of earth’s upheaval and turbulence as a wave of refreshing to the earth. God is dwelling in His glory in these, and their common union is that they are partakers of His Spirit in nature and authority. They have learned to be at rest with God IN them and they IN Him. They have learned submission and accountability to God, and have come to maturity seen in obedience out of love.

COMMUNION IN COVENANT

There is coming a power and glory pouring forth from those walking in the “common unity” of the Spirit in the One Covenant of The Blood of Jesus. Truly this is the Wedding Covenant of Union with Christ. If you are led by the Spirit, you are His child, and are already in a completed covenant of unity with everyone else in heaven and earth who is one with God. In the One Covenant of “Common union” with God and each other, power will be released so mightily that many people will move beyond their old alliances and allegiances to their own church “communities”, denominations, leaders, and organizations.

The communion of the saints will be seen in the broader sense in its reality; as what God has deemed in “union” with Him is blessed, and that which is not in union with Him will not endure. You will know those in union with Him by His heart, His presence, and His power expressed in those He chooses to glorify; for we are the Glory He now chooses to clothe Himself in. He is the Glory we are clothed in. The new day’s work of God is going to be characterized by one thing: LOVE. By this ALL men shall know we are His disciples. The body will fully express what the Head (Jesus Christ) has created it to express; the divine nature of God seen in the person of Jesus Christ. God is pouring out a baptism of His Love and goodness to bring unity of purpose, heart, and vision to His people in this new day.

THE ONE COVENANT IS SUFFICIENT (page 59-62)

If the one covenant of Love given in Jesus is not enough for a group of people to work together in unity, will making another one of our own do any better? There is the bond of Peace in the Spirit. There is also a bond of “covenant” That men make with each other that is an agreement out of a need to “secure” relationships.

In I Sam. 20:14-17 Jonathan loved David like His own soul, but Jonathan made a "Covenant" with David out of fear of David changing his position toward him when he was in power. Fear has no place in the kingdom. Jacob and Laben made a covenant out of dislike to keep each other away. Covenants were made when one or more parties were unsure of the trustworthiness of the other. It is called a bond or “binding”. It is a need for security or surety that causes men to make extra-biblical covenants that bind together. Where is our security? Not in the bindings of church memberships or covenant relationships, it is in the Lord alone. Jesus told us to not swear (make a covenant) at all, but to let our yes be yes and our no be no. Anything more then that is of the evil one.

When two agree on something it is technically covenant. Agreement is a required component of the Body.  But that agreement is in the Holy Spirit, who gives us unity in the Spirit that is a “bond” (binding) of peace. Intentionally making a “binding” covenant not based on the Spirit’s “bond” as basis for relationship turns what should be a love relationship into law. People cut covenants to keep people or relationships secure, when all we need to really do is give people to Him for safekeeping in the first place.

If we need to make a covenant to keep a group of people loving each other and sticking together, then Christ’s love is not enough. It is better to live in the one Covenant of selfless Love; the one made by Christ’s shed blood. His blood is sufficient and His covenant is too. It is all one sided with the Lord. He cut the covenant with us because we were the untrustworthy party who had unbelief or doubts. God cut covenant to get rid of that unbelief and doubt in Him. Any covenant other than Christ’s is a division that separates us; it is an added covenant that devalues the ability and worth of the one covenant of His blood to bind us ALL with cords that cannot be broken.

There is a depth of brotherhood and love in the Spirit when He is in control and moving in power. In this setting, the constructs of men are meaningless. When the Spirit of God is moving in power, memberships, hierarchies, and institutional divisions become insignificant. This has been true of all powerful moves of the Holy Spirit. There is a unity in the Spirit that binds people together across all barriers and this is the NORMAL state of the church. We must learn to know one another by the Spirit in these days as the Lord will be rapidly moving ministries to many places to equip in a fashion that NO church denomination, apostolic network, or covenanted ministry can orchestrate. If we only trust the bonds of our membership, network, denomination, or covenant group we will miss God’s messengers.

The old ways of binding and uniting people will keep people sectarian and stunted.

When church government is a plurality of leadership that recognizes the across the spectrum need for cross pollination of the body, we will see great glory released to the body. This can only be fully realized when we start seeing ALL are in ONE covenant together. Many are in need of being brought the reality of the completeness and unity of covenant all His children already have in Christ.

COVERING EACH OTHER IN COVENANT

In the Body of Christ we are covered as we come into agreement with the Holy Spirit and then with others who have also come into agreement with the Holy Spirit. This covering comes from communion (common union) in the covenant that ALREADY EXISTS in Christ.  When Christ manifests in His body, those who are in agreement with the Holy Spirit in prayer, word and worship become a covering for each other as they partake of the one covenant in submission to one another. As Christ is released in edification, encouragement, and even correction; we protect and care for each other in the Love of God. This has NOTHING to do with a leader, and is an ever broadening and widening reality that will be fully manifest body wide in the Kingdom Age.  

You will not find the modern church concept of coverings ANYWHERE in scripture. The covering doctrine has given to men what ONLY belongs to God; our unquestioning, unwavering submission and contrition. It took me years to break free of the guilt and fear that comes from the “covering” doctrine. It is fear that keeps people bound to this false doctrine. Being part of the covering or "under authority" teaching does not mean you are evil. But, adherence to this doctrine systemically gives place in the body for someone other than the Lord to control, dictate, and take the place of “head”.

The covering doctrine is about being connected to leadership INSTEAD OF Christ. Many use "Covering” as a means of keeping people submitted to their doctrines, agendas, or leadership without question. For those unfortunate enough to have come under this influence, to disagree with your “covering”, or hear something from God they don’t agree with is to be unsubmitted to God and vulnerable to the devil. I have good news for you, it is not true. You have no need that any man teaches you, (definitely not me) but the anointing within you teaches you. He will teach you things men may not agree with. Go with the Holy Spirit and not the “covering”. Trust the anointing He has put in you by His Spirit.  This is a work of the Spirit that makes available to people all of the teaching, direction or correction we need. 

When the Lord told me I was to marry the woman who is now my wife, this is what He spoke: "She will be a covering for you". Wow, what a shock of a statement. But it has been truer than I could have ever imagined. She does not exercise authority over me. She has great influence on me and sways my heart with love; just as the Bride sways the heart of the Groom. But when her prayers open a path in blizzard (seen even on radar) for us go to a place of ministry, I must say, "she is a covering for me". I cannot imagine the impact of her prayers for me. My mother is also a covering for me with her prayers. She doesn’t exercise authority over me to bring me into submission to her agendas, doctrines, and church structure. But she certainly can speak to me the word of the Lord, and I must submit to the word if it is Him. I must submit to the voice of the Spirit in anyone speaking by Him, even my own children.

DIVINE UNITY-THE CITY CHURCH

DREAM - ONE CITY CHURCH

I had a dream in which I was going to church in a city. I was going with some others to this big church and as I was walking to the building a women stopped me and said, "For every great leader there is a denomination!" I realized that this is very true.

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?~Paul~ Paul saw the same tendency of men in his day to form divisions in the body according to the leaders of his day. We have seen the fruit of this error manifest fully in the church. Whether it be a network of churches under and apostle, a fellowship of churches, or a mainline denomination; Many churches associate almost exclusively with a leader or administrative head-quarters that "heads" the group of churches. Most "churches" do not fellowship and relate with all other believers in their location, but according to those who agree with their doctrine or are subject to the same leadership regardless of where it is located.

As the dream continued, we entered into an auditorium in a building that was separate from the "main" church building. After looking again from outside the auditorium, I realized that the building actually adjoined and was part of the one main church, and shared the same stage and pulpit. I then realized that even though it was a different building it still was part of the larger church. As I pondered this it hit me! There was only ONE church in the city.

THE CHANGING CHURCH

One of the great changes coming to the ekklesia in this hour of transition is the changing structure and expression of the church. Those submitting to the cleansing and moving of the Holy Spirit in this hour are going to begin to recognize and walk in a unity of the Spirit not seen since the initial days after Pentecost. Old structures and divisions that have separated and bound people to a single man or movement are going to disappear. It will be important to recognize that the tie that binds us together is the bond of peace found within the Holy Spirit. Any bond with a man or ministry that hinders or undermines the ONE covenant of union in Christ Jesus is going to be seen as divisive and sectarian.

If you are led by the Spirit, you are God's child, and are already in a completed covenant of unity with everyone else in heaven and earth who is one with God. In the One Covenant of "Common union" with God and each other, power will be released so mightily that many people will move beyond their old alliances and allegiances to their own church "communities", denominations, leaders, and organizations. There is coming a move to unity of believers in a city or region. The true church will learn to organize and relate based upon location and not division. You will begin to see and recognize those Father has given authority to be elders of cities or regions.

ONE CITY CHURCH, MANY GATHERINGS

People will gather regularly in cities and regions in groups ranging from small house church groups to church groups in buildings. The difference will be the unity of Spirit in which all the children of God relate. One "head" means all are of the same body, and are the same church. While groups of a region will meet in separate houses or locations, they will all come together from time to time for worship and equipping at city or regional events. Ascension gifted individuals will be brought in to release kingdom realities that affect the whole body, and not just a small part of it. There will be those who travel to the small groups equipping on a smaller scale, but will be part of the team of elders recognized by all. The Lord Himself will orchestrate by the Spirit the equipping for each city/regional church. Cross pollinating of truth and revelation will cause deeper maturity to come to the common believer.

UNITY RELEASING BLESSING

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that runs down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that goes down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, that descends upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commands blessing and eternal life.

The reason the church has not seen the power and presence of God released in a more profound and broader scale is division among brothers. He commands blessing and eternal life where brothers dwell in unity. As the church becomes more and more unified we will see clearly the blessing of God in abundant life flowing in every aspect of kingdom life. There is one kingdom, one church, one head, and one body. When the body is functioning in unity, the glory of God will be released in great measure. As much as this seems unlikely to some right now, it is already beginning to happen, and will be accomplished here on earth as it is in heaven.

You may find this book for free to download at: Breakingthemoldonline.net

Edited by Moderator on 09/06/2011 at 1:27pm

Divine Government Of God Part 1 and 2 by Kriston Couchey

DIVINE GOVERNMENT OF GOD - Part 1 Divine Structure Vblog #13 - by Kriston Couchey
DIVINE GOVERNMENT OF GOD - Part 2 Divine Authority Vblog #14 by Kriston Couchey

HEAVENLY FAMILY PATTERN (#019)

FROM REPLICA TO REALITY
Christ Jesus came to restore the reality of the kingdom of heaven on earth. Since the fall of Adam there had only been a facsimile or picture of the kingdom of God in an institutional structure of patterns in the Jewish religion to picture a type or shadow of the future kingdom. In the fullness of time, Jesus came bringing with Him the potential restoration of the kingdom from heaven to replace the Old Testament order that had foreshadowed it.

A great tragedy occurred shortly after the first few centuries. The work of Jesus and the disciples to restore the reality of the kingdom of God to the world was perverted. The church was deceived into returning to a form of the religious institutional shadow of the past and mixing it with the work of Jesus and the disciples. The original, pure heavenly pattern Jesus brought was perverted and the reality of the heavenly kingdom on earth was altered.

In more recent times, kingdom minded people understood that the governance of the world was to be patterned after the government of Heaven. During the last several centuries since reformation began, there has been an effort to pattern the church after Heaven's government. This attempt to replicate the heavenly government on earth has been a step in the process but is not the final design of God.

God does not desire to only replicate the government of heaven on earth. He fully intends that the earth be governed with the government from heaven. This is to be direct governance of the church and the world from heaven on earth by the Spirit of Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit in the sons of God. The kingdoms of this world will not become like the kingdom of our God. They shall become the kingdom of our God.

Holy Spirit led reformation leading to God's original patterns of governance on earth has begun. It is yet in the early stages. However, this is a major step toward the reality of the kingdom of God from heaven ruling and reigning on earth.

THE HEAVENLY GOVERNMENT
The government in heaven is entwined with the kingdom government of earth. In God’s pattern, the government of earth cannot be separated from the government of heaven.

The government of heaven is a FAMILY RELATIONAL structure. God chose to define Himself to man in terms of family relationships. The great SPIRIT GOD who is beyond description and "omni-everything" chose to be FATHER. In Scripture, heavenly relationships are spoken of in terms of family. FATHER has one first-born SON, who was with the Father from the beginning. The FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT are all ONE GOD in heaven. If it were possible for you to spiritually stand in the fire of the heart of God, the three would be there as one. There would be no distinction; the three are truly ONE GOD. The holy angels relate in the heavenly household as God's holy servants or messengers.

What is missing in this picture? The WIFE of God and many more Sons! Wow! This is getting huge! Are we about to discover why God spoke the earth into being, made mankind in HIS OWN IMAGE, and breathed HIS BREATH into man? Is it not God’s purpose that the earth be an extension of heaven filled with many Sons among whom FATHER DWELLS and from whom His beautiful BRIDE comes forth and becomes the WIFE of God?

The government of God on earth is the government of heaven and earth. In this sense, the heaven on earth is a direct intimate part of the government in heaven. Likewise, the government in heaven is directly and intimately connected with the government on earth. The Bride or Wife/Mother and Sons on earth are an intricate and intimate part of the family of God. (There is no gender distinction here; all can be Bride and all can be Sons.)

Since most all church and world institutions are currently NOT functioning in real kingdom government, coming into kingdom living is a great change. The secular fallen world governments have no direct connection with God. At best the church and Christian influenced world governments function as replicas as men seek to represent God on earth. In the kingdom reality we do not represent God but become a part of the family of God. We intimately relate in the family and flow the actual work and ways of God into the world by the Holy Spirit.

This is a major shift from the replica or foreshadowing of the government of God that God’s people have attempted to live in to this day. This is a major breakthrough in becoming what God desires us to become, ruling and reigning with Him on earth now. It is God ruling through His heavenly family pattern of government in the world.

With only a facsimile of the kingdom of God, we have not been able to bring down the government of the enemy. He continues to have a great influence on the governments of religion, business, education, entertainment, and nations of the world. However, the enemy kingdom is not a facsimile but the direct work of evil spirits. This has led to the church’s failure to reclaim the world for God. As the transition from replica to reality takes place, the kingdoms ruled by the enemy will begin to fall under the superior strength and power of the true kingdom of heaven.

HEAVEN'S FAMILY PATTERNS
As we continue to move into actually living the kingdom lifestyle, the patterns that govern our lives must become those that govern heaven. This means major adjustments in how believers live in the world. We are not just talking about the adjustment from the worldly, evil patterns of society; we are talking about adjustments regarding believers seeing, understanding and walking in the principles of heaven-style living on earth by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The first principle is that there is only one God and one Head of all. God is Head of all things. There is one authority in heaven, the authority of the Father. The throne of God is the absolute rule of all. The kingdom of God on earth is not separate from the kingdom in heaven. The throne of God is the seat of all government at all levels in the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. There is no replicated authority.

Secondly, there is no distance and therefore no need for any form of delegated authority. God does not delegate His authority as King of all. Our heavenly Father, through Christ by the Holy Spirit, is potentially available directly to every person on earth at all times. God's authority flows through His people but it always remains His authority. All authority in heaven and on earth is given to the Son Christ Jesus.

Through the Holy Spirit, the Son and the Father can indwell mature Sons in the many member Body of Christ on earth. Great authority flows through the Body; but it always remains God’s authority. The holy angels are sent with specific authority for specific tasks; however, it is always the authority of God. It is not delegated or given over to them but flows through them.

The sent servants on earth flow in gifts and authority. The gifts are like tools and may remain as part of the person or may come and go as God wills. However, the authority is never part of the person. It only flows through the person. No one is given delegated authority from God. The gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher are tools for service--not "offices of authority." God's authority can flow through all human beings including those who carry these gifts; but again, it remains only God's authority.

In the beginning, man was given dominion on earth and the ability to choose to obey or to disobey. But God did not give man the authority to disobey. Disobedience is rebellion to God and obedience to the enemy. Man’s disobedience to God (sin) submits to the enemy as an authority and releases the enemy to have a measure of authority in the world. In disobeying God, man seizes authority he was not given. He makes himself an authority apart from God. Functioning as an authority apart from God is the original sin of Adam.

Thirdly, God and everything in Heaven is completely holy. The kingdom of God in heaven and on earth is altogether holy. Nothing that defiles is allowed to enter the kingdom of God. Every member of the family of God must be completely holy just as He is holy (Rev 21:27).

This is very different from the cheap version of what we have called the "kingdom of God". Yet this is the reality of God and His kingdom. Most who think they have entered the kingdom of God have only begun a journey of complete cleansing and total death to sin as they become fully alive unto God (Rom 6:11). The kingdom of God cannot rule on earth without a holy people who flow the authority of God to govern the earth.

Fourthly, God is love and His kingdom is established and sustained by love. The love of God is the power that changes the hearts of men and cleanses the earth. Love is the predominant principle and law of the kingdom of God in heaven and on earth. Love permeates heaven and the kingdom on earth. Nothing in the kingdom works without love. Without love there would be no faith, no hope, no redemption, no mercy, no grace, and no life. Love is the glue that holds the kingdom together and is the pure source of obedience.

The heavenly family is connected by love. The Father loves the Son and the Father's love reaches toward all mankind. The Son loves us and gave Himself for us at the cross. The Father so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

We are probably more accustomed to thinking of the love relationship with God in the sense of "agapao" love. Scripture speaks of the "agapao" love in the family (social, moral, ready-to-serve kind of love). It also speaks of "phileo" love in the family (deep, tender affection, cherishing above all else, characterized by consistency).

1 Cor 16:22: If anyone does not love (phileo) the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed....
The heavenly family pattern includes social love and a deep, tender affection flowing from the Heavenly Father and the Son Who becomes the Bridegroom and Husband of the Bride/Wife. The same love also flows to the children. The heavenly family pattern is relationship through love including tender affection. Apparently, according to the above verse there is a curse attached to not having the "phileo" kind of love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The kingdom of heaven pattern is the Bride/Wife (Bride of Christ) loving her Husband (Jesus) with deep, tender affection to the point of complete submission with worship and adoration. The Husband (Jesus) loves His Wife (Bride of Christ) to the point of giving Himself for her and caring for her with deep and tender affection. The work of the Husband (Jesus) is not complete without the Wife (Bride of Christ).

THE KINGDOM ORDERS AND PROVIDES
The spiritual government from heaven is the absolute, supreme, above all else, authority that provides all life and establishes all order in heaven and on earth. Earthly institutions of life and order or supposed to flow the design and substance of the heavenly spiritual government into all natural life. The heavenly family pattern should be visible in the earthly family institution, business institutions and all governmental institutions.
 All aspects of spiritual and practical needs of mankind and the planet are provided for through the heavenly family patterns of government both in heaven and on earth. The Wife of God does the business of the kingdom on earth and brings great honor to her Husband. Proverbs 31:10-31 paints a picture of the government of God carried out by the pure and holy Wife of God. The Lord safely trusts His heart to her and there is no lack of the work of the Lord being done. She never does harm or brings reproach to the Lord. She is industrious in business. She is strong and powerful in the Lord. She provides for the poor and needy of the world. The Lord is known through her and governs the affairs of the world. She is honored and will rejoice in times to come. She speaks wisdom and kindness into the world. She is diligent and not idle. She is blessed and praised by her children. There will be much fruit of her labor, which will not be lost. God's Wife's works will praise her and bring glory to God.

Proverbs 31:10-31"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her, So he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.
She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.
She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.
Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all."
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates."

The government of God comes from the spiritual but is practical and real. Every aspect of life in the world is dealt with through the provision and work of the Father, the Son, and the Bride/Wife by the Holy Spirit. The heavenly kingdom family pattern governs the natural family, business, and political governments. It is God's only plan for governing of all matters spiritual and natural, in the kingdom of God.

PATTERNS OF LIFE
New Jerusalem is the great pattern-city of God. The patterns of life are coming down from God to form and shape the Bride of Christ. The other great pattern-city, Babylon, has imposed its patterns of rule upon the earth. As God's people fall in love with Him and become one with the Lord, the kingdoms of this earth will become the kingdoms of our God. New Jerusalem patterns of life will be planted into the hearts of men and then brought forth into the world.

The book of Genesis (the book of beginnings) is filled with patterns of New Jerusalem life. The Garden of Eden with its God-given patterns of life and ruling are New Jerusalem patterns of kingdom order.

God's rule on earth is governed as a Heavenly family.

Notice the divine image of the heavenly family in God’s natural creation.
God made man in the image of God and breathed the life of God into man.
Jesus is the image of God and the Spirit of life is within Him.

Genesis 1:26,28, Amp: God said, "Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the (tame) beasts, and over all of the earth, and over every thing that creeps upon the earth." And God blessed them, and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it (with all its vast resources); and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth."
Adam was given dominion on earth. (Notice that Adam was not given dominion over other people.)
All authority in heaven and on earth is given to Christ Jesus.

Mat 28:18: And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Adam was created and communed with God before having a wife.
Jesus was with the Father from the beginning and also had no wife.

God formed a wife for Adam from Adam's body.
God is forming a wife for Christ Jesus from His Body.

God instructed man to leave his original state and be joined to and cleave to his wife.
Christ Jesus left His original state in heaven to be joined to and cleave to His Bride/Wife.

The man and his wife are to be open, transparent and intimate with one another.
Christ Jesus and His Bride/Wife are to be open, transparent and intimate with one another.

The man and his wife are to become one flesh (one with one another).
Christ Jesus and His Bride/Wife are to become one.

Genesis 2:18-25, Amp:  Now the Lord God said, "It is not good (sufficient,
satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, completing)  for him." And out of the ground the Lord God formed every (wild) beast and living creature of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was its name. And Adam gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the air, and to every (wild) beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper meet (suitable, adapted, completing) for him.  

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and while he slept He took one of his ribs - a part of his side - and closed up the (place with) flesh instead of it; and the rib or part of his side which the Lord had taken from the man, He built up and made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then Adam said, "This (creature) is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of a man."   

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not embarrassed or ashamed in each other's presence.    
The husband is to deeply and tenderly love his wife.
Jesus loves the church (Bride/Wife) and gave himself for her.

The wife is to be subject, submit, and adapt to her husband.
The Bride/Wife of Christ is to be subject to, submit to and adapt to Christ Jesus.

The husband is the head of the wife.
Christ Jesus is the head of the church (Bride/Wife).

Ephesians 5:22-24, Amp: Wives, be subject - be submissive and adapt yourselves to your own husbands as a service to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of (His) body. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.
The wife is instructed to see that she greatly respects and admires her husband.
The Bride/Wife of Christ has this same respect, reverence and worship for her Husband.

Ephesians 5:33: However, let each man of you (without exception) love his wife as (being in a sense) his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband - that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly.
God's patterns always work. Nothing else will produce the kingdom life we all desire. Our only choices are to adjust to God's pattern or try to adjust God's pattern to us. I think we know which choice will work and which one will not. We can always find the love and grace in God to fulfill our part.

Please note there is a distinction between "man and woman" and "husband and wife." Man and woman are the same being with no distinction in the spiritual realm. Husband and wife are places of service and are without gender in the heavenly family pattern. Marriage of man and woman is an earthly replica made from the heavenly family pattern. It is only a type or shadow of the Heavenly Family.

In the spiritual realm there is no male or female, Jew or Gentile, bond or free.
Gal 3:28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
The heavenly family patterns take precedence over all earthly replicas or types. It is the real from which all life is to be patterned. Earthly replicas are not extended into heaven.

Because people have such great involvement in marriage in this life, it is mistakenly assumed by many that marriage continues in the spiritual realms of heaven. Jesus made this clear to the Sadducees when they brought Him a challenging question regarding whose wife a woman would be in heaven when she had had more than one husband in this life. Please do not be greatly concerned about missing "being married" in heaven. Experiencing the fullness of your heavenly marriage to your husband, Jesus, for one moment will wipe away all of your concern.  

Mark 12:24-25: Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?  For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven."
In spiritual matters there is no male and female. The more completely we live in the Spirit, the more we experience no male/female difference. The more we live in the earthly realm, the greater we envision male/female differences. There are differences in our earthly experience but not in our spiritual position or functions.

When God took a part of Adam to build up Eve, it seems obvious that He removed much of the emotion from Adam and placed it into Eve and left most of the ego in Adam. This makes male or female more suitable for certain functions in life. This is particularly evident in the rearing of children.

CHILDREN IN THE HEAVENLY FAMILY PATTERN

Natural children possess all the potential of adults. They have gifts, personal qualities and attributes, but they are immature and undeveloped. Years will be required for them to develop natural maturity in order to use their innate abilities. Though some may mature more rapidly in an area than others, to some degree they are all tied to time to produce maturity.

Spiritually, maturity is not as directly tied to time. A child may possess powerful gifts and reach maturity to use them in a short period of time. On the other hand, some fully mature adults may not have developed spiritually at all.

The parents have a major part in the development of children.

In the heavenly family pattern for natural children, the husband/father (like Jesus) and the wife/mother are both corporately involved in the development of their children. The mother is equipped with all the tenderness and attributes needed to nurture the babies and help them develop to maturity. The father/husband has strength and all the power of heaven to provide protection and security for the fledgling child. He also has wisdom and knowledge to train the children.

The children feel extremely secure under the care and protection of their strong, loving father and tender, loving mother. The father's strength instills feelings of safety in a child. His loving firmness gives them great assurance that firm boundaries exist for their protection. Only the special strength and love of their father can provide the security of discipline and protection they need. Small children are very sensitive to their mother's feelings and attitudes. Because she feels safe with her Husband, the children feel safe.

Boundaries, rules, discipline and laws are part of the training and development of the immature. The children's primary response is to obey their parents.
Ephesians 6: 1-3: Children, obey your parents in the Lord (as His representatives), for this is just and right. Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother; this is the first commandment with a promise:  that all may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
God's pattern is for the children to be obedient and honor their parents. Children growing up in the heavenly family pattern easily come to know God. They see Him in their parents. They have a clear view of God’s love in the love their father has for their mother. They are trained to reflect God's love as they see their mother respect and praise her Husband, their father. They understand God's love and know how to respond to it with loving respect and submission.

I think we can all see that the godly natural family mirrors the heavenly family. The heavenly family pattern translates into the earthly reality of lives and families. We are moving toward the reality of the rule of God through Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit in His people on earth as it is in heaven.

The Heavenly Family Pattern is the same for all types of corporate relationships including all kingdom business and governance.

BUSINESS IN THE HEAVENLY FAMILY PATTERN
God, through Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit is to be the HEAD of all businesses and governments. Some of us have begun to accept the reality that Jesus is the head of the church; but it might be a big step to realize that, in the kingdom of God, Jesus is also the head of each person and all businesses, schools, governments at all levels, and any other corporate work or structure in the world. In the kingdom of God there is nothing that is not under the headship of Christ.
God will flow His authority through mature Sons to carry out management functions. However, He will not delegate His authority. The King is the rightful owner of all the assets of the kingdom. God's empowerment and direction comes with the call and opportunity to serve in managing a portion of the kingdom. All things are for Him and through Him and nothing in the kingdom is done without Him. Our love relationship and intimate oneness with God provides the happiest, most productive life possible. As the Bride/Wife of God we are overjoyed beyond measure in the glory of our Husband/Father/King.

We saw earlier in the discussion on Proverbs 31 how the Wife serves her husband by meeting the needs of people and the world around her. The purpose of business and all other activity in the kingdom is to glorify God by providing for the needs of people and the world around us. All this is done according to His direction and from a motivation of pure love.

Every part of the heavenly family pattern rules in all forms of business. Employment is as permanent as marriage. Children (newcomers or immature) are loved and trained the same as in the heavenly pattern. Everyone looks to Jesus as Head and follows His leadership flowing through the Holy Spirit in those serving as father/husband, wife/mother and children. Everyone submits to one another and to the other person's place of service in the kingdom order (family). The focus is always serving by meeting needs and never is the focus on gaining personal wealth to consume upon our lusts or to meet only our needs.

God never intended that business or any other activities become competitive means of personal fulfillment of greedy motives. Competition, greed and other such things are patterned from Babylon and cannot exist in the kingdom of God.

Secular and godly are not opposites. In the past, there has been an inaccurate assumption that there was a division between secular and godly. The kingdom of God encompasses all life. The proper distinction or division is between godly and profane. The world is not inherently evil and is being redeemed and returned to the kingdom of God.

The heavenly family patterns of God's government for families, businesses, churches, and every aspect of human life are New Jerusalem patterns coming down now from God to form and shape the Bride of Christ. The enemy's patterns that have ruled in the world are harlot patterns from "Mystery Babylon."

Excerpted from Kingdom Growth Guides.

Keep on Pursuing Love
It Will Never Fail,
Ron McGatlin

http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net