RESIDING IN THE ROYAL REALM OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM

by Brett Jacobsen

Christ the King inaugurated His Kingdom on earth with an earthshaking reformation. He completely overhauled the covenant and all the elements involved with it, transforming everything from the physical type and shadow to the celestial complete picture. This is what Jesus meant when on the cross He exclaimed “It is finished [teleo- complete, accomplished]” (John 19:30). He had ratified the New Covenant and therefore accomplished world-changing reformation into His heavenly Kingdom.

It is a sad fact of history that it didn’t take very long for a reverse reformation to begin its insidious attack on Christ’s Kingdom, drawing the majority of its inhabitants back into an inferior earthly counterfeit of the real. Of course we know that this continued down into the Dark Ages where it imbibed many crook characteristics and clearly manifested its foul fruits.

I saw this article and thought I'd post it because it is more confirmation of the same word which many of us have been speaking for some time now. Although I have written on the same topic, and from the same biblical story, I feel that this word clarifies certain aspects of the outworking of what God is doing with the church. It is important that we know that God is removing His presence from the systems of men, and that we realise why. Only then can we be part of the solution.

Gospel grace,

Bretto

by Chris Anderson

Something doesn't add up.

"These are the days of Elijah," we've heard it sung.

"These are the days of Elijah," we've heard it preached.

PART 7 of 7

An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
 
 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ”
 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV

The spirit of the world in the church
The spirit of the world has seduced us. We used to joke that “Jesus saves – and Jesus shaves!” But, many actually believe that the spirit of the world is Rock and Roll, spiked hair, and nose rings. Come on – let’s get real! Do you think the devil really cares where you wear your jewellery or what hairstyle you have? What he, as the master strategist, is after is the thing that controls it all - the heart. This is why the wisdom- writer exhorts to,

PART 6 of 7

An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
 
 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ”
 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV

Today’s Church

The parallel between Ezekiel 8 and today’s church is clear. As the elders in Ezekiel’s day secretly practiced idolatry, so today. There is a crisis in the leadership of the Western church. But it is not a crisis for lack of skills or better techniques – it is a crisis for lack of true men and women of the Spirit. Those who, in the secret recesses of the heart, have refused to bow to foreign gods and the systems of men.

PART 5 of 7

An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"

“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ”
 2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV

The Image of God

So, what exactly was the image that I was forcing on myself; and, was I sinning against the commandment:

“You shall not make for yourself any carved image…” (Ex 20: 4, 5 NKJV)?