Identity and Inheritance

This is from a section of our ministry manual - GO.PREACH.HEAL It is available for pre-order on the store page. 

God puts his grace towards us so we can put our faith in him. Even our faith in Jesus is an expression of his grace. John 1:12 states, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” The word for power in that verse means privilege, delegated influence, or jurisdiction. Here we learn that our authority is rooted in our identity as sons of God. Jesus paid for our identity on the tree. He redeemed us, he bought us, and since his blood is that of the only begotten Son of God he brought many sons to glory. One Son equals many sons into lots of glory, which is good news. Glory is the atmosphere of royalty. Identity leads to purpose and purpose leads to destiny. Our purpose and destiny was Jesus. You are predestined to be in him in love. When you receive his love, it transforms you, and you become like him. All of creation is groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God. My opinion is that creation is groaning for us to become like the Christ who lives within us. Often in church you will hear people say, “I don’t know what I am called to do?” The issue is a bit deeper than that. The real issue is that they don’t know who they are. When you know who you are naturally you know what you are supposed to do. In church, there are young adults who go in circles, following fads. There are a slew of older folks searching for purpose. Without spiritual Fathers there is no identity, without identity you have lots of serious issues. If you don’t believe me just look around the next time you go to church. Fathers give their sons identity. The fatherlessness in the church is similar to that in the world. If the church doesn’t invade the world, the world will invade the church. As you and I respond to the voice of God in this hour, we, by the grace of God, could see a lot of things change in this generation. In the Jewish Culture, the age of accountability is 12 years old. The Jewish people have a bar mitzvah to celebrate maturity. When Jesus was a boy he went into the temple at the age of accountability. Joseph and Mary left Jesus in the temple. They went back for him and here is what he said to them in a rough paraphrase, Didn’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business?” Let me say it like this, God expects us to know what is going on. Jesus doesn’t apologize to them because he understands he’s not guilty. Part of sonship is righteousness. When someone is righteous, they see clearly and know what is going on. Righteous people rightly access reality and respond correctly to the circumstances they are in. It’s clear that at the age of accountability Jesus knew who his Father was. Because he knew his Father he knew what he must do hence, “I must be about my Fathers business.” It is really important that we know our Father in heaven because when we do we receive our inheritance and our assignment for earth. Here at the age of accountability the Son acknowledged his Father, he confesses him before men so to speak. Before Jesus went into public ministry his Father affirmed him publicly. At the age of accountability the Son confesses who his Father is. At the age of maturity the Father acknowledges and affirms the Son audibly and publicly. Here we see what a healthy relationship is like, two people bold about one another. Sons are bold, orphans are not. One of the purest manifestations of sonship is boldness. I believe the church is going to receive an upgrade of boldness. Boldness only grows in the secret place, so be sure to spend time with the Father especially if you want to glorify the Son by living like a son. Remember sonship has nothing to do about gender, yet about our position as sons and daughters of God. The blood of Jesus speaks a better word. We are not just forgiven by the blood but we were washed and made Kings and Priests to the Father because of his Son Jesus. Revelation 1:5-6 states, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” The blood of Jesus didn’t just make us sinners saved by grace; it made us kings and priests to God. You may feel like nobody. People may tell you that you are nobody, but because of the blood of Jesus you are somebody in him. In his world you are a king and a priest. He expects glory and dominion from you. When you know who you are in him and what you are called to do with him, he receives glory and dominion. You extend his Kingdom and your good works give him glory. Our identity and inheritance is all about giving Jesus what he is worthy of. The nations are his inheritance. We receive our inheritance in him, so we can bring him his inheritance, which are the nations. How does this happen? Good question. Kings have influence on the earth. Priests have influence in the heavens. We are called to Intercession and Action, Petition and Legislation, Glory and dominion. Priests minister to the Lord; Kings minister to the people. Priests keep the house of the Lord; Kings keep order in the place where they are ruling. When I say ruling, I am actually talking about serving because that is what a leader in the Kingdom is a servant who leads by example. Let me say it like this—the government is not in Washington D.C. It is on your shoulders because you are the body of Christ. Ruling and reigning in the here and now looks like loving and serving. When John the Revelator wrote the book of Revelation he was in exile on the Island of Patmos. During that time Christians were persecuted, they were like the scum of the earth to the society they lived in but to God they were kings and priests. We are not defined by our circumstances or the opinions of others but by the blood of Jesus. Both the priesthood and kingdom are received by inheritance. During Bible times, either you were born into the Levitical priesthood or you were not. If you were not born into the Levitical priesthood, there was no way of getting in. Also Kingdoms were inherited again through the bloodline. The blood of Jesus is our qualifier; because of his blood we are who we are by the grace of God. Both kings and priests have responsibilities. They are political and religious. Don’t shy away from politics; bring the truth of God’s word to the political arena. Don’t forsake the assembling of the saints. Don’t just go to church, be the church. We cannot just put the Kingdom into the future. We must at all costs advance it now. It is irresponsible to push our responsibility onto another generation. Now is the time to exercise our authority in humility. Jesus believes in you, so go for it.

Questions

1. What defines you?

2. As a Priest what are your responsibilities?

3. As a King what are you responsibilities?

Prayer of Impartation

Father, would you continually reveal Jesus to me. Holy Spirit, would you remind me of what Jesus said to me and about me. Let the Blood of Jesus alone give me identity. I ask that the wisdom of God would come upon me and increase daily. Especially when it comes to living with the privileges of the Kingdom and also fulfilling my responsibilities. I ask these things believing that they will be done in Jesus name for his glory.

Scriptures to Meditate on

• Ephesians 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

• 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” 

• 1 John 3:1-3 “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

“I Want Justice – Oceans of it…”

Amos 5:24 NKJV “But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

The Bible is a book (or collection of books) of justice; one cannot avoid the topic while reading both the old and new testament.  So how, as Christians, are we able to avoid such a topic?  That may seem like a harsh and blanketing statement, however it is interesting how we are, at many times, able to avoid such a matter that is so near to God’s heart. In Psalm 89:14 it states that “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” The word habitation there also means “foundation” or “basis”. The kingdom of God is the only government with an incorruptible justice system. If we are citizens of this kingdom and children of the king, then maybe we should be aware of what the king and his kingdom are about.

Now think with me for a moment. Let’s go to Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” First let’s establish that this verse has something to do with Jesus. Ok, now remember also what Jesus mentioned to his disciples when he sent them out, “say unto them, the kingdom of God has come nigh to you…” Now perhaps we have something to do with increasing this government that has no end. However it is a true partnership with Jesus and with us. May I propose that the “zeal of the Lord of hosts” is Jesus?  Zeal means jealous or envy. God was so jealous for us that he sent his son to die for us as an overwhelming statement of love and act of ultimate justice.  True justice reaches out to those who are beat down, discriminated, dehumanized, oppressed, tortured, terrorized and brings them into a state of love, hope, care, safety and salvation. That is what God did for us through Jesus.

However, God’s love for us does not stop there. Through reconciling us his jealousness gave us the ability to be close to Him through the torn veil of Jesus’ body not only to be close but also to partner with him, to do stuff with him.  In a marriage, being close is great. However, one can only take so much of cuddling and eventually you want to get up and have a story, a history, and an adventure together. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (James 1:22-23)” Now that is not a command toward a works based salvation. However, there is progression from hearing the work to doing the word. After a student listens how to, they do. Jesus did not only listen, he did. Yet he was in constant communication, so the listening empowered Him to do.

Yes, we grow our history with God with being close to him in quiet times, yet we also grow more in love and grow our testimony when we do stuff with God. Our quiet times should lead us into the “do” of the gospel not just the “don’t”.  What seems to be the number one thing God wants to do with his kids? Carry out justice.  Take care of the widow, the fatherless, the hungry, the thirsty, the poor, the least of these. Jesus himself so closely identifies himself with the least of these that they practically become one in Matthew 25. If Jesus is with the least of these, then maybe he doesn’t only hang around churches. Just a thought. Also in James 1, in verse 27 James writes “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” I think it would be reasonable to conclude that James received that revelation by observing Jesus. I guess it would also be very reasonable to conclude that most of the Bible was inspired by Jesus!

Ok, take a step back for just a moment and just think for a few minutes. Pray for a few minutes and ask God, What would you like to do God? How can I partner with you today?  God may not be asking you to go stand in front of an evil dictator and cast the devil out of him and get him saved (although He might, haha). We know the mantra that “God will not give you more than you can handle”. Maybe you can start with giving to an organization that is doing something about the many injustices in the world. Like abortion (www.standtrue.com), hunger and medical issues (www.impactnations.com), prostitutes and child trafficking in Brazil (www.shoresofgrace.com), Haiti (www.preciouspearl.org), helping pastors in Pakistan (www.WeSeeJesusMinistries.com) and many other organizations. Maybe you should get your church or core group of people talking, watching movies about current issues like the genocide in Darfur, global sex trafficking, and the current abortion rate.  What local organizations can you take part in? Like soup kitchens, caring for the poor, Child and Family Services, neglected kids, juvenile delinquents, and single mothers. If you really stopped, prayed and thought for a minute I guarantee you that God will give you an idea.

I do want to make a note that the writer of this blog is not perfect and hasn’t figured everything out. I want to be personal in saying that God has really recently stirred up this issue a lot in my heart.  My husband and I have seemed to be making a habit of watching movies/documentaries on issues in several countries in Africa, including Rwanda, Sudan (Darfur), Somalia and Zimbabwe. We also have several really good friends who are doing things we wish we could do a lot more of, like be with the poor overseas, ministering to prostitutes and street children in Brazil, and bringing hope through micro-enterprises, clean water and medical help to destitute countries. By the grace and goodness of God, he has made a way for us to be a part of what he’s doing. Like international trip and projects that we have in Haiti. We also try to support social justice issues through giving and talking about it (i.e this blog). Also we are looking to God for ideas in helping through specific projects like Beautiful Feet, providing sandals for every person in the town of Bulera, Uganda. (www.impactnations.com - project 542) Also, translating a book into Urdu to be an encouragement and a blessing to pastors in Pakistan as they risk their lives. (www.weseejesusministries.com/project) We also have a great love for Haiti and a growing love for the nations in Africa. There are also times where our ministry has taken teams of people to minister in front of abortion clinics to love and convince woman not to make the wrong choice. One must start somewhere, so go ahead and make a step.

So start somewhere and want justice – oceans of it! Lord, I pray that you increase our hunger for justice and make us want to act. Help us to partner with you in seeing the oppressed go free!