The Law of Kingdom Life!

Make no mistake about it...everything in your life is governed, directed and dictated by laws! In fact, everything that you see in the natural is established by law. There are laws that govern the spirit, soul and body. Out of those laws, we find principles that become the handles that bring that law into motion or in other words, activate the blessing or the consequences of that particular law. There not a single thing that you do in life that isn't impacted by law.

The definition of the word law is interesting: "a system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of it's members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties." The Hebrew word for law is "nomos" and it means "that which has been established...a command".

The Bible is the "law" of God. The Kingdom of God is built upon and based on that law. In fact, the word very clearly points out in Romans 8:2, that the "law of the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus, has made me free from the law of sin and death! In standing on that word, I discovered that the word for life is "zoe", and it refers to the absolute fullness of life, a life that is active and vigorous, devoted to God and blessed! That blows my mind...the fullness of life that is available to me, the active, vigorous and healthy life that is mine, the blessed life...it's more than a result, it's a law of God! God has commanded zoe towards me. Based on that law, I have a righteous right to live healthy, vigorous and blessed.

Now, my part is to realize that the benefit of that law comes into reality when I begin to walk in the understanding and the authority of that law. As long as the blessed life remains only an option for me and just another possibility among many, and I don't get a revelation of it, I'll never walk in the authority that enforces that law when the enemy attempts to break it. In fact, if I don't get an understanding of it, I'll never walk in authority relative to it. As long as the enemy can keep me in the dark, and I am tossed "to and fro" about who I am in Christ and what belongs to me, he'll always have me in a place of vulnerability and my life will basically be up for grabs.

Several years ago, I left a Saturday night service at our church and was driving to a restaurant to meet some of our church family. I was in a hurry as usual (don't really know why) and a police officer stopped me for speeding. He happened to stop me on the same road that the church was on. As we began to talk, I played my "preacher card" thinking that just might get me out of a mess. When the officer realized that I was the pastor of the church just down the street, I thought I was "home free"...it was then that he informed me that if I traveled that road as much as I did then I should have known the speed limit!! He graciously gave me a warning (so did my wife) and I went on my way. What was he saying? I should have been knowledgable of the law that dictated the speed on that road. Obviously, I knew the law; but I ignored it.

For a lot of people, that's the case. We know what the word says, but we ignore it. Either that, or we are ignorant of the law. Either way, you're in trouble! The old saying used to be: "what you don't know won't hurt you..." I realized that statement couldn't be more off target. In one sense it's true, it won't hurt you, it can kill you. When you don't know the law or the Word of God regarding your life, you'll begin to live by tradition, half-truths and assumptions. Either that, or your theology will become relative to your reason. There is so much of the Word of God that just doesn't make sense to your natural self. That's because it's not a kingdom of flesh and blood. They are spiritual laws and must be exercised by faith, not natural reasoning.

As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, it is your responsibility to know the laws that govern who you are and who you are becoming. Many people mistakenly think that the will of God is automatic in your life...nothing could be further from the truth. God's will is certainly His intention for you, but His will, His word, His law; must be enforced and you must become the enforcer. Let me tell you how critical it is that you get in an understanding of this. I don't have a right to healing and health in my body just because God loves me. Now, He does love me and every law of the Kingdom is based on His love, but it's more structured than that. My right to health and healing isn't up for grabs or decided upon by God on a day to day basis. It's a law: "...by His stripes I am healed", Isaiah 53:5. So, based on that law, everything contrary to health and healing is illegal! Now, if I don't know that law, or if I'm not convinced of it or even walk in a revelation of it; I won't stand on it in faith. When that happens, I just start wishing and hoping that I'll get healed...instead of walking in it with authority.

The enemy is a liar and the "father of lies". In fact, it's the only weapon left in his arsenal. He has been stripped of power and authority, but he is the master liar. He has messed with our theology over the years and many people have come away with this consortium of mixed up beliefs, that they're really not sure in any given situation what God's purpose, desire or intent is. His word is infallible, undeniable and steadfast. His word is final authority. Stop living by what you see, think, hear or feel and take a stand on the law. It's your only hope!!

Whenever the law of God is enforced, the result is "zoe life". The manifestation of obedience to the law is the blessed life...a life that is marked by vitality and vigor. On the flip side of that, breaking the law of God, whether out of ignorance or disobedience produces death. Get the law (word) in your spirit....settle the issue in your mind, align your talk with the word and refuse to live beneath the rights and the blessing of that law in every arena of your life...spirit, soul and body. The next time you are faced with an issue, before you even ask God what His will is, find out what His Word (law) says about your situation. Remember, His Word IS His will! Once you discover what His word says, don't be swayed by anything else. His word is your ammunition, you are the sheriff - take your stand in faith, favor and anointing!!

Guard Your Gates!

Please receive this word as an encouragement in the place to which God has called you and in this season where you are currently carrying out your God given assignment! Several years ago, God began to teach me about the gates of our lives. Gates are those places of entry points whether it be in our families, our ministries and churches or our personal lives. The gates of our lives must be constantly guarded because I believe that they are places of intense battle. It's at the gates that the enemy aligns himself against you and your destiny. It's there that you find a constant barrage of the lies of the enemy as he attempts to gain entrance into that which is worth guarding.

Proverbs 4:23, tells us to "guard our hearts, for out of it flows the wellspring of life". As the Lord began to teach me about the gates, I specifically became aware of four gates that are actually gates of deception! They are: what you see, what you think, what you hear and what you feel. Those are four specific areas where the enemy specializes in "ripping" us off and disconnecting us from the truth and from the anointing. Everything you see, is not as it appears; what you hear and what you feel are not always the way that it really is and the arena of your thoughts can become a major battlefield where we must be careful not to allow to get out of control. Often, there is a distinct difference between truth and reality! Just because it is "reality" doesn't mean that it's the truth or even based on the truth. In fact, sometimes the reality of our existence can be anything but the truth. The reality may be that I'm sick in my body, but the truth is that I am the healed of God and that He has made full provision for my healing. At that point, I have a choice to make...I can either embrace and live by my reality or I can embrace and stand on the truth of God's declaration over me, no matter what the physical signs are that I may be seeing or feeling. My goal is to come to the place that my reality is also the truth!

I stand on this conviction and it is my confession over you as well..."my life, my ministry, my family... is not up for grabs"!! What God is doing in me and through me is too precious and valuable to not secure it. Everything that I don't secure is up for grabs and becomes vulnerable to the tactics of the enemy. So, how do I secure the gates? I secure it by the Word, and I secure it on a daily basis. My confession of faith must be consistent, biblical and based on an active and vital relationship with Christ. The degree of authority that you have in securing the gates of your life is always based on the degree of relationship that you have with Christ. I stand in agreement with you today that you are what the Word of God says you are, you have what the Word says you have and you can do what the Word says you can do. Your life and your ministry is valuable! Heaven is being changed because of your ministry. Nations are being affected because of your anointing. Communities are being shaped because of your obedience. God delights over you and His declaration over you is yes! and amen. You were born for such a time as this and He needs you to stand in faith, stand in righteousness and stand in authority. I encourage you to write a biblical confession over the primary areas of your life and ministry and make a daily habit of speaking and releasing the Word over your life and securing the gates of who you are!