Wednesday, August 5, 2009

What worldview do you have?

Kingdom Worldview

By Ron McGatlin



What we the people believe about the kingdom of God can change the world.

Our personal view of God and His kingdom is foundational to our view of life and has a great affect on our life now and in the future. Our worldview is derived from our view of God and His kingdom and has a small affect on the future of the world. The worldview of multitudes of people in many nations has a significant affect on the condition of the world now and its future.

Most people are not aware of the powerful affect of their collective view of God and the world. Some do not even know that they have a worldview. What the people within a nation or tribe believe will affect the destiny of that nation and how that nation affects the world.

Primitive tribes of the past derived their worldviews from stories told by chiefs or elders passed down through the generations. Today the worldview of the masses generally comes from several primary sources of which media is currently the most powerful. Modern television is chief among the media and together with movies, internet, books, magazines, radio, and other media sources, they outweigh all other sources in affecting the thinking and the worldview of the masses.

Education is a close second and perhaps more foundational in that education molds the minds of young people who will become the producers of media materials and programs. Especially higher education has a dramatic affect on future leaders in western nations and can greatly alter the worldview of a nation.

Among Christians theology has a major affect on their worldview. Theologians attempt to determine a biblical worldview and teach it through seminaries and bible colleges to pastors or priests and teachers who through preaching and teaching in churches and church schools pass the worldview down to the people. Other religions plant their worldview in the people through the same or similar methods.

There are many worldviews and multitudes of variations as people add their own observations from their life environment into the prevailing worldview of their culture. More than one worldview is perceived as the biblical view.

Jesus Christ presented only one all-encompassing worldview, the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

People are only beginning to realize the degree of dominion and potency delegated to mankind for ruling the world systems and affecting the planet. 

Mankind is not at the mercy of “mother nature” or any other aspect of the world. On the contrary, the world systems and Planet Earth are at the mercy of mankind. The collective effect of multitudes of people living their lives according to the ways of the Babylonian kingdom of darkness is great disorder and stress on all the systems of man and earth. Left unchanged this could eventually lead to total destruction. In contrast, the collective effect of multitudes of people with a kingdom of God worldview living their lives according to the ways of the New Jerusalem kingdom of God will be great peace, godly order, and prosperity for mankind and the planet.

We have a job to do.

People of God, it is not time to draw back nor to be downcast. We are entering a most victorious season on earth a season in which cleansing is coming to the earth through judgment and a season in which the mercy and grace of God’s love will cause the righteous, mature sons to shine forth as the sun (Matthew 13:40-43).

The focus of Christians has been so greatly diverted by eschatology toward events in the future that many have missed and are yet missing the awesome potential of God’s provision for today. We are now living in the “end of the age.” This is the time looked forward to by the writers of the New Testament. Things are coming into place for God to restore His ways to our world. Many individuals are bringing forth the kingdom of God on earth in their own lives and families. Some are doing it without realizing what they are actually doing. Enlightenment and understanding of the kingdom will move our focus from “future end-time theology” to Christ in us overcoming the kingdom of darkness and bringing forth the kingdom of God now on our planet.

Like me, you may have been taught one or more of the many views of eschatology and a worldview other than the kingdom of God. The enemy working through religion has veiled the real kingdom of God from us for too long. The light of the gospel of the kingdom that Jesus preached is again shining through, and pure hearts are being given ears to hear and eyes to see God’s plan and provision for His people and the world. We need to take a fresh look at what the Bible says about the His people and His kingdom rule on earth. 

We must begin with the firm realization that the kingdom of God is now, always was, and forever shall be.

We must also fully recognize that Jesus has completely and forever defeated the devil and given authority to believers in His name over all the power of the enemy.

There is no more for Jesus to do apart from fully abiding in and working through His people to establish His kingdom over the kingdom of darkness on earth. He does not need to return bodily to defeat the enemy and set His people free from the devil’s bondage. Neither has He surrendered this planet or His people to the devil. He does not need to plan another rescue attempt for His children. Jesus has already defeated the enemy and gained the victory and now lives in His people as the Victor. He waits only for us to stop listening to the deception of the devil and begin to hear and believe the good news of the sovereign “ruler/dominion” (kingdom) of God in us. 

Rather than speculate and debate about what prophetic event happens next, we need to realize and use all that we already have. The urgent matter is not when or exactly how the next theological event will occur. The most important thing by far is that we get a real kingdom of God worldview beginning with who Jesus is and who we are in Him.


WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TELL US ABOUT WHO WE ARE IN HIM?


I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS! 

2 Corinthians 5:21:For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 


I’M BLESSED WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN HEAVENLY PLACES! 

Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. 


AS JESUS CHRIST IS IN THE WORLD SO AM I! 

I John 4:17b: as He is so are we in the world. 


I’M BORN AGAIN BY THE WORD OF GOD! 

1 Peter 1:23: ...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. 


I’M REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD! 

Ephesians 1:7: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. 


I AM COMPLETE IN JESUS! 

Colossians 2:9-10: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, Who is the head of all principality and power. 


MY SINS ARE NAILED TO THE CROSS! 

Colossians 2:14b: And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 


I’M SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE! 

Ephesians 1:13b: in Whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. 


I RULE AND REIGN IN THE NAME OF JESUS! 

Romans 5:17b: those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One Jesus Christ. 


I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR! 

Romans 8:37: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us. 


I TAKE DOMINION! 

Genesis 1:28: Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion” 


I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME! 

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. 


I AM STRENGTHENED IN ALL MIGHT BY HIS GLORIOUS POWER! 

Colossians 1:9b-10a: being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might according to His glorious power...


ALL THINGS ARE UNDER THE FEET OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! HE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO BE THE HEAD OF ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH!

Ephesians 1:22-23: And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all. 


MY WEAPONS ARE MIGHTY IN GOD, TO THE TEARING DOWN OF STRONGHOLDS, CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, SPECULATIONS, EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTS ITSELF AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD! I BRING EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST! 

2 Corinthians 10:4-5: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 


THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS ALREADY APPEARED FOR THIS REASON, TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE ENEMY! 

1John 3:8b: For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 


HE DISARMED HIM, MADE A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF HIM! 

Colossians 2:15: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in it. 


HE HAS GIVEN ME AUTHORITY, WITH THE WORD AND IN HIS NAME TO HAVE POWER OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY! 

Ephesians 1:19, 3:20b, 6:10: and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, according to the power that works in us, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Philippians 2:10: ... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...

Colossians 2:9-10: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, Who is the head of all principality and power.”

Hebrews 4:12a: For the word of God is living and powerful...

Luke 10:19a: Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy... 


I ALWAYS TRIUMPH IN JESUS’ NAME! 

2 Corinthians 2:14a: Now thanks be to God Who always leads us in triumph in Christ... 


HIS WORD NEVER RETURNS VOID! 

Isaiah 55:11: So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 


I COME BOLDLY BEFORE THE THRONE OF GRACE! I RECEIVE MERCY AND GRACE! 

Hebrews 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 


IN THE NAME OF JESUS I COMMAND THE POWERS OF DARKNESS! 

Mark 16:17a: And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons...

What I bind on earth is bound from heaven, and what I loose on earth is loosed from heaven (Matthew 16:19, 18:18).

If any two agree on earth, they will have what they ask (Matthew 18:19).

If I believe in my heart when I pray and doubt not, I shall have what I say (Mark 11:24).

All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23).

If I abide in Him, I ask what I will, and it shall be done (John 15:7).

I receive the finished work of the cross, proclaim liberty and freedom, and speak peace. God, help me to realize my potential and to be who I am in Christ NOW.

These attributes are promised in the Word of God. If you are not experiencing them in your life pray in faith and ask God to make them real in your life. Believe you receive them when you pray and you will have them (Mark 11:24).

If you have difficulty believing them in your heart, begin speaking them out loud repeatedly. The Holy Spirit will help you and you will find that your heart will begin to believe the truth that you are speaking and eventually you will have what you say (Mark 11:23).

With the heart we believe unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10). It will greatly benefit our life to plant these truths of the Word in our heart

For more on Kingdom Worldview see Kingdom Growth Guide (#014) http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=11398&a mp;PN=1

Keep on pursuing love. It never fails
and His kingdom never ends.

Ron McGatlin

basileia@earthlink.net