A Kingdom Mindset--Be an Ambassador of Heaven
Todd Bentley
 

The Kingdom of God can seem like a vast uncharted spiritual frontier! Consequently, we need a Kingdom mindset in order to rightly discern and tap into all that God wants to reveal to us, especially in days like these--days of the harvest.

You might be wondering, "How we can advance God's Kingdom with a proper Kingdom mindset, one that displays God's love and His glory?" In this teaching, I want to ask a few questions and discuss how we can walk with a Kingdom mindset.

Being God's Spiritual Representative

Let's start by first discussing, that the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are the same; the Kingdom of God is Heaven on earth, and we need to learn how to synchronize both; and God's Kingdom is an ever-increasing Kingdom with no end. We also carry the treasure of God within us, and this treasure equips us to partner with God, so that souls are saved and His glory is manifested in the earth.

Now, let's take a further look at how we can gain a proper Kingdom mindset. First question: Did you know that with all the right qualities and qualifications, you could be one of "the highest ranking diplomatic representatives of one country to another?" (quote from Webster's New World Dictionary). Think about that for a minute.

Before we discuss the official name for this particular "diplomatic representative," let's examine a specific word that's connected to diplomatic--"diplomacy," and it means "the conducting of relations between nations". The fact is, in the context of our political structures (in the natural/physical realm), governments need diplomatic representatives who can be a liaison (act as a go-between), to promote good relations between nations. One important aspect of diplomacy involves helping nations to talk, to get past stumbling blocks, and even to reconcile with each other when necessary.

Yet, let's not forget that we're not just dealing with the natural/physical scheme of things. What about that other realm that is equally important? The realm of the spirit! I believe we cannot ignore the spirit realm. In fact, in the spiritual realm, God has opened up to us, an opportunity to serve Him in a particular "ministry assignment," to be one of His highest ranking spiritual diplomatic representatives!

The importance of this revelation was impressed upon me, because of a vital message that the apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthians. Let's examine the first part of his message; we'll discover that "ministry assignment" opportunity:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).

It's the ministry of reconciliation--that's the assignment! Let's pause for a minute before we look at the second part of Paul's message, because I have another question. Did you happen to venture a guess concerning the official name for "the highest-ranking diplomatic representative," quoted from Webster's? If you didn't, then why not make a guess right now. Keep your answer in mind as you read what Paul said next:

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:20- 21).

The answer is "ambassador" (in Webster's). But in the spiritual realm, the name of the "spiritual diplomatic representative" is: ambassador for Christ. Listen, as faithful, on-fire, pure-hearted believers in Jesus Christ, we will have the necessary character-qualities that will qualify us to be trustworthy ambassadors. Not for an earthly kingdom or government, but for God's eternal purposes concerning His Kingdom. Why? So that people are reconciled to God, they are saved from their sins, that they "might become the righteousness of God in Him."

This is no small thing! Do we get this? I mean, do we actually realize what an honor it is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ as His ambassador--the highest ranking spiritual representative!

Embassies In The Spirit

With all this in mind, I've been pondering about "embassies in the spirit." Think about that, too, because that's what the Kingdom of God looks like. Look at this--we are ambassadors of the Kingdom and everywhere we go, so goes the Holy Spirit. Just as ambassadors are connected to their respective embassies, we're connected to the Holy Spirit! It's like we're carrying a spiritual embassy within us. I am "in Heaven on earth," with all the benefits that Heaven has backing me up, regardless of what country I am in. For instance, when we were in Malawi, Africa, the ambassadors from our team who represent Heaven, went into the local hospital. They prayed for all 65 patients and two days later, every single person checked out of the hospital healed! An entire hospital was emptied!

Also, I've been wondering about ambassadors and embassies, and how they function and fit together in the natural and the spiritual realm. For example, various nations have Canadian embassies, which is where the Canadian ambassador (and staff) will reside and/or have offices. When Canadian citizens are in a city and country where our embassy is located, there are certain benefits we have access to (at our embassy), if the need arises. When I am in India, I can go to the Canadian embassy and when I step on that piece of ground, it's like I'm in Canada, even though I'm in India. I have all the rights, all the benefits, all the protection, and all the blessings that I have in Canada--it's like I just stepped into Canada.

In the natural/physical realm, embassies are housed in a building or collection of buildings, situated on a certain parcel of land within certain boundaries, with an address. (In a sense, it's like a little kingdom unto itself.) If a Canadian citizen is in danger or needs assistance, they can come to the Canadian embassy for help, because of its governing authority and its jurisdiction.

Knowing this, do you realize that just like the Canadian embassy, by its very nature, has a governing authority that you, as a born again Christian in the body of Christ, do too? I say this because almost all of us have a home/residence and some even have their home on a piece of land. We all have governing authority over our home/land. For instance, my property is marked out by a property line and what city hall calls my house (my half acre), is my "kingdom." The same goes for you. So get this--the devil has no authority in my kingdom. No plague, no sickness, no disease can enter because I take my authority. I stand my ground, I govern my property, and I declare my property to be "my kingdom"--the property that the Lord has given me. You have the same governing authority.

Let's take this principle concerning governing authority a step further--in the context of the land that the Lord wants us to take in the nations. When we went to Africa to host crusades, we claimed and declared the crusade grounds to be God's property, His kingdom. As a result, we experienced some amazing miracles. The enemy's plans just could not prevail over the grounds. For example, one Muslim boy who wasn't even interested in the crusade, just walked by and when his foot touched the grass, his deaf ear popped open! Why? No deafness in Heaven; God's Kingdom!

Another boy with a tumor came and as he stepped out of the car, his leg touched the grass and his tumor fell off. Also, a man was sitting at a nearby bar covered in hundreds of tumors and drinking beer. The bartender that owned the bar had authority and ownership, and he decided to tune the radio to my crusade. It opened a portal (gateway) for the power of God to come into the bar, and the man with the tumors was healed--every tumor fell from his body right in the bar! He rushed to a taxi cab, came to the crusade, and gave his life to Jesus. Why did the tumors fall off the boy and the man? No tumors in Heaven; God's Kingdom!

The Kingdom of God Is At Hand and Within Us

Such testimonies are Heaven displayed on earth, because the Kingdom of God is the will of God being done on earth. The Bible says that Jesus healed every kind of sickness and disease (Matthew 8:16, 12:15; Luke 4:40, 6:19). This implies that the healing of every sickness and every disease is the will of God--it is the Kingdom of Heaven displayed on the earth. Jesus said, "In this manner therefore pray: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10). Secondly, it's as though Jesus is saying, "It is My will that it would be on the earth now, as it is in Heaven. So when you pray, I want you to pray that it would be on the earth for you, as it is in Heaven now."

The Kingdom of God is the will of God being done on earth, and Heaven is our model. Miracles, signs, and wonders are an outflow of living in the reality of the supernatural. Jesus said, "I say to you the Son can do nothing of Himself but what he sees the Father do" (John 5:19). We need to wait, listen, and see what the Father is doing, because Heaven will come as the will of God is being done on earth. But in order for us to do the will of God, we need to see-- see what our Father has been doing, so that we can be about the Father's business, doing what He is doing. This is how to synchronize Heaven and earth.

When we see what the Father does and we do what the Father does, we have a revelation that the Kingdom of God is at hand (Matthew 10:7), and this is how close it is--it's like a membrane. Do you know what Jesus said to a certain scribe who knew the Word of God? He said, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34). Jesus also spoke a powerful word to the Pharisees, when they asked Him when the Kingdom of God was coming. He said, "The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20, 21).

Here are more questions: Where does Jesus sit right now? Answer: In Heavenly places at the right hand of God the Father (Ephesians 1:20). Where does Christ live? Answer: Christ in me; Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). I'm the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The Kingdom of God is where? Answer: Within you. Where is Christ sitting? In Heavenly places. Where is Christ sitting? Christ in you. Could it be that Heavenly places are in me and you?

How many times in worship do we think that Heaven is coming down? "Come on, Heaven! Hallelujah! God take me into Heaven." Listen, do you know how easy it is to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven? The Bible says that the Kingdom of God is at hand; that you are not far from the Kingdom; and that the Kingdom is within you. Heavenly places are right here! I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. It's like our heart is the door to being in the spirit. Some of you are waiting for the healing anointing to fall on you, you are waiting for the man of God to lay hands on you, but the Bible says that your miracle comes from within.

A Kingdom Mindset Makes You Dangerous!

Ministering in healing is something that I thank God for and I value. You know when my life changed? When I started taking the time to meditate on the truth of Roman 8:11: "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." I would just close my eyes and say this over and over, "The same Spirit...the same Spirit...the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. The same Spirit--creation...the same Spirit that anointed Jesus of Nazareth. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me."

The truth of God's Word became a part of me. I began to carry the Kingdom in my heart, having a Kingdom mindset. So right now, I am carrying the Kingdom. I'm dangerous, and if you are carrying the Kingdom, you are dangerous! The spirit within you will quicken and bring life to your mortal flesh. The healing anointing is in you just like it's in me!

The Holy Spirit wants us to receive a Kingdom mindset now; it's not just about a future Kingdom. That's part of it, yes, but the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and the Kingdom of God is within you now, here. The Kingdom of God is on earth as it is in Heaven. And when I received a revelation of what it's like in Heaven, right now, I had the faith to believe that it's God's will for me to have prophetic experiences everyday.

In fact, I have come to such a place of Kingdom consciousness, that I am living in my inheritance now. I'm not waiting for it in the future. How much of God can I receive and manifest in my flesh? What is keeping me from more? The natural mind. The carnal mind. The limitations of my flesh. The distractions. The world. Those are the things that try to keep me from manifesting the fullness of God.

Having a Kingdom mindset, has everything to do with God's love being revealed and His glory being released in the earth. "And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14.) So how will they hear unless we go, anointed and empowered, with a divinely inspired Kingdom mindset?

So press in to know the Lord! Friends, if you'll pursue Him with all your heart, you'll have a true Kingdom mindset. You'll be one of God's highest ranking spiritual representatives, anointed and empowered, to go and do the stuff in Jesus' name. Let's pray together.

Prayer:

So Father, today, I pray that You would release to us a greater reality and a greater understanding of the Kingdom that is within. Please help us to begin to see that every place that we go, we carry Heaven with us.

Father, we see examples in Scripture of the patriarchs walking with such a Kingdom mindset, that they even caused their oppressors to be blessed with prosperity. With a revelation of who we are, carriers of Heaven within us, we want to be a blessing everywhere You lead us. We want to see everything changed around us; people impacted by Your Spirit that they might be redeemed and saved.

As we comprehend Heaven and what it's like there--having no sickness or diseases--we want to take dominion--our governing authority, in the earth for your glory Lord.

Thank You that Your Kingdom has come! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Todd Bentley
Fresh Fire Ministries
www.freshfire.ca

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Todd Bentley's Upcoming Itinerary:

June 05 - 16, 2006
Tanzania, Africa Crusade
Contact: Jennifer Castro at (604) 853-9041 or missions@freshfire.ca
or www.freshfire.ca/event_details.php?Id=132&cid=86332368539

July 01, 2006
Jesus Culture Southern California
Vineyard Community Church
27632 El Lazo; Laguna Nigel, California
Contact: (949) 425-3784 or chad@vccgn.org or www.jesusculture.org 

July 02, 2006
Vineyard Community Church
27632 El Lazo; Laguna Nigel, California
Contact: (949) 425-3784 or vccgn@vccgn.org or www.vccgn.org