1. Treachery Among Believers?!

By Ron McGatlin

In prayer early Sunday morning I asked God what was underlying a situation among some kingdom minded believers of which I had recently become aware. I was surprised but not shaken when He spoke clearly one word in my spirit. He said, “Treachery.” Humbly I asked God what he meant by this one word. He patiently added, “Treachery is involved”.

The use of that word can stir up some very negative connotations in our minds, and that is a road we do not want to travel especially without clarity.

It was time to check the dictionary for a definition of the word treachery:

Treachery: harmful things that are done usually secretly to a friend, to your own country, etc. – an act of harming someone who trusts you, disloyal, betrayal, deception, lack of respect, treason, etc.

A quick look at a concordance revealed many episodes of treachery in the Old Testament that confirmed this definition regarding doing harm to those of the same family, group, or tribe. Probably the greatest New Testament example is Judas and other Jewish people who were a part of the crucifixion of Christ Jesus.

Treachery can be found in the history of traditional church systems.

Beneath their facade of pleasantries, Christian religious systems can sometimes be involved with acts of treachery, sometimes by individuals seeking to climb the hierarchal ladder of success in the system. Probably much if not most of the time the person seeking to climb the proverbial ladder does not intend to do harm but rather is simply seeking to do the best job possible by bringing forth his or her own ideas of management of the system. Certainly the enemy often gets involved and exploits the situation causing strife and wounding among people within the system.

The kingdom of God is very different from passing religious systems.

In a mature kingdom group, Christ Jesus is present within the group by the Holy Spirit. He is the only system or authority of governance involved in the group, and competition or treachery cannot exist. However, we live in a time of transition. The headship of Christ truly leading His kingdom people is manifesting on earth. While at the same time, the religious systems are in the process of coming down.

Therefore, there can be a residue of the old system that is not yet removed in the minds and hearts of the people within developing kingdom families, groups, and tribes. This residue will always lead to treachery of various forms and intensities within the group. And as always the enemy is outside watching for a crack to enter in to exploit the tension and create disorder and devastation in the kingdom group.

A short time after the Lord had given me the word about treachery, I asked what to do about the situation and immediately received another one word answer, “LOVE.” The pure holy love of God in His people and flowing out to all around them is the order of the kingdom. Christ the Head of the body abiding within His people produces the love, and the love produces the order of every aspect of governance in the kingdom of God on earth. Literally the love of God holds together the kingdom of God and every kingdom cell or group. Where mature love exists there is no need for rules. All law and prophecy is fulfilled through love. The kingdom of God functions by love. The unlimited power of God flows only through love. Faith works by love. The pure love of God is the one thing that the enemy cannot counterfeit.

Unity among individuals, families, groups, tribes, and nations is only possible by the pure holy love of God flooding the hearts and lives with the nature of God in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. God is Love.

Christ Jesus is the only Head of the kingdom church.

In religious systems men are set up as HEAD; whether they are called Father, Priest, Senior Pastor, Vicar, Bishop, or some other title they assume responsibility for the organization usually through a hierarchy of offices under their office of headship. Their noble attempt is to vicariously govern the group for and under God.

Religious systems at the core are a top down-flow of law and order. That is to say order is maintained be either written, spoken, or implied rules of behavior that is required to fit under and align with the hierarchy of rule from the head man down through the ranks.

The kingdom rule of Christ by the Holy Spirit is quite different. We are beginning to grasp the difference between “Headship” and “leadership.” In the kingdom the presence of God in Christ is NOT far away in a distant heavenly realm. There is no need for a man to stand in as head. There is one Head of the true kingdom church but many leaders. What then is a leader?

The Role of the Leader

All believers have the potential for full one-on-one connection with Christ within by the Holy Spirit. However, not all believers are mature enough in the Spirit to experience the full one-on-one connection of oneness with God through Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore they are not yet able to fully hear or see and follow the Head. They must by exercise grow into the discernment of the Spirit of Christ in them by the Holy Spirit. The entire role of the leader is to get the person to Christ by the Holy Spirit and help them to mature in discerning Christ who is in them by the Spirit.

In the kingdom, leaders are not in a higher office and DO NOT rule over individuals or groups. There is only one level for every believer, and that is a born-again son of God. All believers are on the same journey toward the same goal. We are all connected to and directed by the same Head. However, we are not all at the same place on the journey. Some are a bit further up the road. Leaders are simply more mature than a less mature brother or sister. Another word for a mature person is an elder, and a term for less mature is younger. Elder is not an office over others. It is a place of serving God by serving the “youngers” by leading them into becoming mature or elders. Everyone in the body of Christ is elder to someone, and everyone is younger to someone. Even the most mature is younger to Christ Jesus, the only begotten first born Son of God, our Lord, Savior and King, our Great Apostle, the Spirit of Prophecy and our Great Shepherd, the King of kings and Lord of lords.  

Oversight is observing and guiding. Our journey is an ever maturing spiritual relationship with God on an increasingly higher plain of love, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The more mature are able to see the next step for the less mature and help guide them on their journey to maturity in Christ.

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Love never fails.

Ron McGatlin
archive.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net




2. Talkers, Gawkers, and Walkers

By Clay Sikes

There are those who talk about it, those who watch it, and those who do it! Which are you?

The time for talk is over. It is time to put away the tambourine and take up our mantle....But first we must 'dismantle' the old (order) to find the new, and this is where the rubber meets the road. A fact - you will never find the new until you put away the old! The bulk of this battle rest within the traditions in our own mind (2 Corinthians 10:3-7).

Cheap talk is the old way, while costly walk (testimony) is the new. Talking takes no courage, gawking takes no courage, while walking takes all you can muster.

The "conversation" of the 2nd Day Church Age has now bowed its knee to the enabling action of the 3rd Day Kingdom Age; yet many are stuck in religious 2nd Day tradition - the old mindset of 'contemplative talk.' The strength of the oppressor lies in the ignorance of the oppressed. Many will literally talk themselves until death, never walking an inch, yet their first step forward would part a sea! Tragically, they will never realize God's last name isn't "Gonna," but rather "Is."

The spiritual energy of Heaven is now available upon earth, but faith and courage are required to step into this unknown world - the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. We can take this land, no matter the size and quantity of giants! Stepping into Faith isn't comfortable as it requires us to abandon logic and reason (our secret place of comfort, control, and security). Our spirits are bold, but the ruling soul is stronger - ask me how I know? I have a testimony of crippling 'reason.' I have long been a prisoner in the jail of logic.

Praise God I have been pardoned! I am walking in faith in this unknown world called the Kingdom. Terrifying at first, but exciting beyond words!

Joshua's move took great courage, discomfort from comfort zones, facing the unknown, and being willing to take others into the unknown with him - guts brothers...more than we have, but not more than He can provide! Many will never cross because their feet and their mouth are not in sync! Overcoming testimony (Revelation 12:11) is a full body function - feet, head, and all parts in between!

The trumpet is sounding, and God is looking for a few good men and women.

Put me in coach!

Clay Sikes
www.lighthouseprophecy.org





3. News Headlines


Ex-Intel Chief: Obama Must 'Get Real' on Fighting ISIS - (A detailed view of what must be done to defeat ISIS) - 11/19/2015
Even in the face of the murderous attacks in Paris, President Barack Obama still says his strategy against ISIS is working. Now the president's former intelligence chief has a warning: the White House is underestimating the deadly ambitions of Islamic terrorists. Gen. Flynn was President Barack Obama's top man at the Defense Intelligence Agency.


Obama Won't Change ISIS Strategy, Despite Paris Attack - ISIS new video today warns Washington, D.C., would face attacks like Paris. - 11/19/2015
Obama is making it clear that he will not change his strategy or even expand military campaign against ISIS. Obama forcefully defended the vast majority of Muslims at press conference today. "When I hear folks say we should admit just the Christian refugees.. that's shameful. That's not American. That's not who we are."


Where Are All the Christian Refugees From Syria? - 11/19/2015
Christians and other religious minorities in Syria have been targeted for death, sexual slavery, displacement and cultural eradication by ISIS. Many of these persecuted Christians hope to escape to the United States. They have been largely excluded, by the State Department. "There is no way that Christians will be supported because of their religious affiliation."


ISIS Warns Big Apple, Washington DC: You Will “Suffer Same Fate” as Paris - 11/19/2015
In a newly released video by a jihadist group affiliated with ISIS, the terror group threatened that the US would “suffer the same fate” as France should the government continue its military campaign in Syria. The six-minute video, posted to an ISIS website on Monday, specifically targeted Washington, DC with threats of multiple terror attacks.


ISIS attacks become reality for the West - 11/19/2015
“We cannot see it just as a regional conflict in Syria or some sort of internal struggle within Iraq. It’s larger than that. It’s a battle of civilizations, even if the Obama Administration does not want to identify it that way.” The Paris catastrophe is just a part of the bigger picture. If the U.S government doesn’t take a stronger stand, ISIS attacks will be in the USA.


The Jewish Connection to Paris Music Venue Where 89 People Were Killed - 11/19/2015
In 2011, a terrorist told French security that "we had planned an attack against the Bataclan because its owners are Jews."The Bataclan concert hall was under Jewish ownership for four decades and had received frequent threats in the past for that reason. Sold only two months ago by co-owners Pascal Laloux and Joel Tuitto, the venue is still under their responsibility.


In the Name of Honor: Female Genital Mutilation Comes to America - 11/19/2015
Some legal immigrants can also bring problems into our country. A practice called female genital mutilation, predominantly seen in Muslim-controled countries, is now an issue in the United States. Many girls do not survive the ordeal due to bleeding and infections and those who do are scarred both physically and emotionally for life.


Beirut bombings dimmed in light of Paris - 11/19/2015
Just because violence in Lebanon isn’t a “shocker” doesn’t mean it should be forgotten. Last week’s Beirut bombings have been the capital’s deadliest since the end of Lebanon’s civil war in 1990. “ISIS is not satisfied with their current borders. They talk about taking new territory their next-door neighbors is in the line of that expansion,”


South Sudan: a forgotten crisis - For South Sudan’s people, war is a never-ceasing reality. - 11/19/2015
Approximately 2.4 million people have been displaced or driven from the country. Nearly 4 million people remain “severely food insecure,” according to the UN. Thousands of kids – somewhere around 16,000, to be exact – have been used by the government and rebel forces as child soldiers.


God’s Word comes alive for the Corongo Quechua - 11/19/2015
Peru (Wycliffe Bible Translators USA) Like women in America might meet to do quilting or to do crafts together, Corongo Quechua women get together to spin wool into thread. Abila has begun coming to their gatherings to teach them God’s word in their own language..The whole experience of hearing Scripture in their language is new to these women.


MORE NEWS HEADLINES

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