SEVEN ESSENTIAL KINGDOM BUILDING BLOCKS
By, Barbie Breathitt
Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" And more importantly, He is asking us the same question today, "Who do you say I am?" Many believed that the spirit of a man could be passed on to someone else. For this reason Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Jesus wanted to know who the people thought He had come from: an earthly father, a heavenly Father, or whose spirit rested upon Him. We know He is the Messiah, sent by His heavenly Father to redeem a fallen earth.
Matthew 16:13–20 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" He asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in Heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock (of revelation) I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven."
The Holy Spirit is still coming to each one of us asking the same question, "Who do you say that I am?" What is your response going to be?
Jesus is Building His Church on the Revelation that "He is the Christ, the First Born Son of the Living God" If your ears are open to hear revelation from the Father in Heaven about His Son Jesus, you will be used to build His Church. If your heart receives revelation of the Christ, you will be trusted with the keys of the Kingdom.
Binding and loosing is one of the keys of the Kingdom God gives those that receive revelation. Through prayer we can bind the negative, dark things of sickness, disease, and sinful influences away from someone and loose them from their harmful influences. You can also bind the positive fruits and things of God's Kingdom to them like love, light, joy, and peace so they have the opportunity to choose to develop them for themselves.
As we pray for someone, they are able to exercise their choice to make positive changes in their lives by coming into agreement with God's promises. We inherit the Kingdom through possessing the promises of God and walking in the beatitudes mentioned in the book of Matthew.
God has granted those that walk in Kingdom power and revelation the ability to decree and declare things to be established on earth.
Job 22:27–29 You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows (things promised). You will also declare a thing, and it will be established (to rise, abide, accomplish, to make sure to succeed) for you; so light will shine on your ways. When they cast you down, and you say, 'Exaltation will come!' Then He will save the humble person.
Revelation is an important building block of the Kingdom. If we don't take action on the revelation we receive, implement it in our own life, to share, and teach it, that revelation becomes a religious thing. What good is revelation that isn't acted upon with obedience? God is looking for the "sons of God" that He can pour His love and revelation into. The revealed, manifested love of God is what will change the world and the people living in it.
God Builds His Kingdom with Burnt Stones that Have Passed Through the Fiery Furnace of Testing and Trial
When Jesus died on the Cross He was the firstfruits of resurrection life. The physical earth reeled, shook, and quaked. The sun refused to shine. The sky was darkened and the veil was rent in the temple. There was a profound manifestation as the precious Blood of Jesus poured: the earth groaned. All of creation is groaning again waiting for the sons of God to manifest again.
God builds His Kingdom with burnt stones that have passed through the fiery furnace of testing and trial to become living stones that reflect His brilliant light in a dark world.
Isaiah 48:10 See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
In this world we will have trials and afflictions, but they are all light compared to the true riches they qualify us to possess. Jesus said, "Repent and believe the 'good news' for the Kingdom of God is at hand! Pick up your cross, come follow Me and I will make you 'fishers of men.'" This speaks of a Kingdom process.
Mark 4:11–12 He told them, "The secret of the Kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside (of the Kingdom) everything is said in parables so that, 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'"
All of us have areas in our lives that we need to release by submitting them to God's dominion, allowing Him to heal and direct us into His Kingdom purposes and plans.
Psalm 119:1–3 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in His ways.
To remain pure we must meditate on His precepts and ways, living life with our whole heart, following the commands of His Word. God's grace will keep us from the shame of being deceived or believing a lie because our hearts chose His truth and understanding. God promises His unfailing love and salvation will come to us.
The World Changes when we are Conformed to Christ
Jesus is making us into fishers of men, so where are we going to bring these fish we catch? The obvious answer would be the Church, but is the Church prepared, equipped, and ready to handle a boat load of stinky, floppy fish?
When Jesus said He was going to build His Church, do you think He was talking about the churches we have in existence today? What do you think the Church Jesus builds would look like? Will it be a Church where the Word is spoken but not in boldness? Where no signs and wonders are allowed to follow because they don't really believe the Word? Will it be a Church that has a form of godliness but denies the demonstration of the power of God? Will it be a Church where the prostitutes, drug addicts and sinners are not welcomed and embraced in love because they smell like cigarettes and alcohol, dress seductively, or not in the latest designer fashions? Will it be a Church where the poor, widow and orphan are not taken care of? Will it be a Church where the gifts of the Spirit are not encouraged and allowed to have a place in the services to impact the people that come looking for God's relevant answers in their lives? Will it be a Church that doesn't reach out to those in a dark and dying world, to those deceived in the New Age and occult practices, because they are afraid they will be defiled by a spirit of deception? What kind of Church would Jesus build? What kind of Church would you want to attend and be an active part of? We change the world through love.
Jesus would build a supernatural Church full of love, Kingdom power and authority. A Church founded on revelation, the seven pillars of wisdom and understanding; a miracle-working Church that heals the sick, casts out devils, raises the dead, opens the eyes of the blind, unstops the ears of the deaf and saves the lost from their sin.
Jesus would build a Church that would restore hope, with an emphasis on every dimension of the Kingdom of God being manifested on earth.
We are the living temples of God. Is your temple a place that worships idols of money, success, and the ideals of man, or are you a true worshiper of God?
2 Corinthians 6:16–18 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate," says the Lord. "Touch (to attach oneself to make implied relations) no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty.
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom that Support Jesus' Church
James gives us the seven essential building blocks, qualities or pillars of wisdom we need to develop successful lives to walk in Kingdom integrity and character.
James 3:17–18 But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Heavenly wisdom is:
1. Pure; properly clean, innocent, modest, perfect; chaste.
2. Peace-loving; oneness, peace, quietness, rest, salutary, prosperity.
3. Considerate; "gentle," appropriate, mild, moderation, patient.
4. Submissive; good for persuasion, easy to be entreated.
5. Full of mercy and good fruit; human or divine compassion.
6. Impartial; undistinguished; without dubiousness, ambiguity or uncertainty. Acts 10:34 "God is no respecter of persons."
7. Sincere; without dissimulation or hypocrisy, wearing no mask, beholding Him with an unfeigned or unveiled face.
If our faces are covered by hypocrisy, lies, deceit, or any unclean thing, we will not be able to reflect His glory.
2 Corinthians 3:16–17 But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
The Heart is a Storehouse for Good or Evil Things
Whatever we sow in our thoughts, agree with in our emotions, and speak forth from our heart in conversations will manifest in our lives. We will reap the harvest of its fruit, either good or evil.
Our thoughts sow an action.
Our actions sow a habit.
Our habits sow our character and integrity.
Our character sows our destiny.
Our destiny determines our eternity.
The heart is a storehouse for good or evil things.
Luke 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up
in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
We must filter everything that comes through our mind so only good things reach our heart. We need to think on the truth, excellent positive things.
Philippians 4:8–9 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
King David was a brave and valiant warrior, yet he also possessed a heart of worship that sought God day and night. David was quick to repent and sought to please the Lord.
Jesus' Unfailing Love, Miracles and Healing Words Caused Man to Praise God
Jesus is perfect, impartial love. He doesn't see gender, race, age, education, or wealth.
Luke 18:35–43 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to Him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
Jesus' unfailing love, miracles and healing words caused man to praise God. Jesus returned to Capernaum to minister, and a multitude of people crowded in to hear His teachings and observe the great miracles. The house was not able to contain all those who sought the Master. The religious leaders came as detractors, critical spectators to find fault because their hearts were jealous of the Kingdom power Jesus possessed. The presence of the teachers of the law prevented others who came seeking with faith, willing to pay a price and make great sacrifices, to receive in word and deed, from entering the house.
But this obstacle didn't stop the men who were seeking healing for their paralyzed friend. They were willing to pay the price to replace a roof to see their friend walk into destiny whole again. Their faith-filled actions demonstrated their heartfelt belief that Jesus was the answer. The demonstration of God's power releases praise in the heart of man. What price are you willing to pay to see the power of God demonstrated through your life and the life of your family and friends?
Mark 2:1–12 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that He had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and He preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Immediately Jesus knew in His spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and He said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . ." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
It is time for the Church to walk in the revelatory healing power of prophecy, signs, wonders and miracles again.
Suggested Resource: Visions, Visitations And The Voice Of God
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Barbie Breathett personally learned and now passionately teaches God's Love, Presence and Breath. Her astute prophetic voice and accurate dream interpretations have blessed those in prisons, hospitals, street ministry, in Europe and around the world.
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