Ways of the Kingdom

Are you a casual Christian?

"He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend" (Proverbs 22:11). In John 15:14, Jesus teaches us that we are his friends if we do what he commands. The Holy Spirit wants to help us create a climate for communion with our King, and that climate is maintained through obedience.

"From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God" (Acts 28:23). We must shake off apathy and excuse-making and daily contend for the kingdom of God. The Father is looking only for available vessels.

When Solomon finished praying to dedicate the temple, the fire fell. What happens when we finish praying? The fire will fall where there is dedication - a heart that is separated, surrendered, and yielded to His will. The fire will fall when a man with such a heart says, "Here I am. This is my life."

The Father is calling us individually and corporately into the place of prayer. The greatest ministry we have is ministering to Him through a lifestyle of intimate friendship with and obedience to Him. The King has given us authority to know and pray the desires of His heart to shake the nations.

We cannot advance the kingdom vision that the Father has given the local church without Martha's, but our remaining steady in the call of God depends on being seated at His feet, waiting in His presence. We need Martha and Mary to become one in our mind's, but the vertical dimension must take priority.

One of the great tragedies in Scripture is the death of an entire generation of Israel in the wilderness due to unbelief. We need to confront every stronghold of fear and unbelief by saturating and renewing our minds with the Word of God. Let us set our minds on things above and believe that the Father will accomplish what He has promised.

Enough of this toleration of doctrine that is not rooted in the revelation of God's holiness and the revelation of Jesus Christ, but in the opinions and the minds of men. When the Word of God is lost in our lives, we lose our way and establish idols in our lives. Revival will always begin with a revelation of the Word of God.

Revival is about the heart being revived, awakened, and re-positioned for the express purpose of the Father's pleasure. It's a restoration of the original design that the Father purposed from the beginning - a people for His very own.

In Isaiah 66, the Father asks, "Where is the house that you will build for Me? Where will my resting place be?" The Father is looking for the Body of Messiah to be a habitation for His presence and His glory. Let us prepare ourselves to be His resting place in humility and brokenness of spirit. Only rent hearts will rend the heavens.