Jesus gave us authority “to overcome all the power of the enemy, nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:19). We all face the complication of walking that out on earth; we’ve all experienced failures trying to do things “in Jesus’ name.” Here are a few of the pitfalls:
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When our initiative has roots in our own will, it works if it coincides with God and fails when it doesn’t. The seemingly random process feels like pinball, and our “misses” naturally back us away from initiative.
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Warriors have a spiritual gifting that operates in authority and initiative. Even when we pick the right battles for righteous causes, our authority has roots in our will instead of Heaven; and we lose even when we win. We fight with people on earth instead of the spirit operating through them. We leave a trail of bodies instead of a legacy of setting captives free in Kingdom victories.
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When our initiative does begin with the Father, we often feel that when we prophesy it or pray about it, our job is done. We have a zero-initiative theology that relies on the miraculous intervention of God for everything; also, a random process that works “randomly.”
Establishing God’s Kingdom on earth is love on one hand and spiritual warfare on the other. David experienced the Father’s love and covenant promises for Israel and killed Goliath in an anointing that was far beyond his own. The legal basis for warfare starts in the courts of Heaven, and the direction and authority to bring heaven to earth begins in the Council. Everything happens first in Heaven and second on earth. Warfare is won in heaven before it is fought on earth. The genius of sons is that they have access to Heaven to bring Heaven to earth. Sons see what Father is doing and cooperate with a strategy in Heaven they have seen themselves. Once you see the purpose and the plan, you can’t unsee it. You can’t help being courageous and engaged.
Matthew 6:9-10 “This, then, is how you should pray, ‘Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.’” NIV
Matthew 16:19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” NASU
Matthew 18:16 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in Heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in Heaven.” NASU
Creativity
You might assume that if we see things in Heaven first, there is no room for initiative or creativity; we are just obeying instructions. The reality of Heaven is relational and what you see is the Father’s purpose. You will see the spirit of wisdom behind His strategy of love. Yet, the tactics to implement that purpose are usually as fluid as the circumstances around it. Servants implement religious rules with rigor; sons implement their Father’s purpose with a surprising amount of latitude and love because they share His Heart. Father’s purpose is imprinted in their hearts because they’ve seen it in Heaven – once you see Reformation, you can’t unsee it!
Jesus did do what He saw the Father doing in Heaven (John 5:19).
The Father shows Jesus (and us) everything He does (John 5:20), including His business (John 15:15).
Jesus gave life to whomever he pleased (John 5:21, latitude).
All judgment was given to the son (John 5:22-23); and to us (John 20:23).
It’s not About Me
We are all in a Kingdom transition from servants to sons, from adolescence to maturity. Servants want to be discipled on how to get answers (crumbs) from God for their finances, business, family, health, influence, ministry, etc. Their God is a bit like Santa Claus. They have not experienced Heaven. They just want the experience of receiving things from Heaven.
Sons have experienced going to the courts and Council of Heaven. Once we get a glimpse of what Father is doing, all our priorities change in an instant. We see life through Father’s purpose instead of just our own. The “Eureka is that Father’s purpose and our purpose are the same thing! What is in our Father’s heart is also written in our hearts. After seeing in Heaven, it’s natural to put the Kingdom first (Mt 6:33) – and when we do, everything is added. There is never an issue about what’s important. There is never a problem “being myself.”
It’s About My Father
At the age of 12 Jesus’ parents took him to Jerusalem for the Passover. On the way home, Jesus was missing, and when his parents went back to find him, it took three days. Jesus didn’t seem that responsive to the inconvenience imposed on his parents?
Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house? (Luke 2:49 NIV)
Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 NKJV)
In the Greek, there is no word for either house or business. It just reads, “I must be about my Father.” Servants, like Martha, are busy with the activities of the church, the initiatives of good deeds (or finding their kids), but they miss the heart of the Father. Servants operate out of an intellectual “letter of the law,” a shopping list of instructions or a recipe book full of principles.
They miss the experience of love. Sons must be about their Father. They abide in Him, in the experience of His love and wisdom. They are in His Council in Heaven. They are fluent with the seven spirits. They see the strategies and understand the purpose. They call forth things that are not (on earth) as though they are (in heaven) Romans 4:17. They know how to bring the Father’s heart to earth and prophecy His Kingdom into reality. It touches their lives, their businesses, and their nations. Their creativity, boldness, and exploits have roots in Heaven’s Kingdom purpose. They do see salvations and revivals, but they add Reformation and see His Glory present on earth as it is in Heaven.
The Biggest Opportunity
Sons are populating Father’s Council because they carry the commission to birth heaven on earth; to bring a Reformation of Nations! Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. You too are invited to help redeem cultures and nations. Reformation has multiple levels built on redeeming individuals, families, businesses, mountains, cities, and nations.
Isaiah 66:7-8 “Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. NIV
What About You?
The purpose of Heaven for each of us is already written in our hearts and can be seen and heard in the Council. When you seize this opportunity, your business can shift from a Christian business full of servants to a Kingdom business full of sons who make a difference. We help individuals and businesses get their prophetic purpose in writing and then make it happen on earth.
John Garfield
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