

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Copyright © 2018 Reuben Seevaratnam, All Rights Reserved.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. lf you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Copyright © 2018 – Reuben Seevaratnam

All rights reserved. This book is protected under the copyright laws. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. The use of short quotations or occasional page copying for personal or group study is permitted and encouraged. Permission will be granted upon request. Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All emphasis within Scripture is the author's own.

Reuben Seevaratnam

11A Jalan Meranti

Tanjung Bunga

Georgetown

11200 Penang – Malaysia

GA2018@aol.com

ISBN eBook: 978-967-16121-1-8

## Dedication

I dedicate this book to my late dad whose influence kept me hungry for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit from a young age. His example challenged me to embrace the call of God on my life, to guard my heart with all diligence, and to leave a spiritual inheritance and legacy for generations to come. Thank you, Dad, for being the same man of integrity at home and behind the pulpit, and for always giving your best to Mom and your children. Last but not least, thank you both for making it possible for me to receive the greatest compliment a son could ever receive: of revealing and reminding others of your ways that are in Christ, for a tree is known by its fruit. May my influence upon the hearts of my children be no less than yours upon my heart.

Thank you, Mum, for your generosity, wisdom, discernment, prayers, and counsel. Thank you for the almost 52 years you loved and served Dad as his wife, and for embracing the call on his life as the best wife and mother he could ask for and needed. Thank you for demonstrating the strength, love, and joy of the Lord in the most challenging of circumstances, and for being a pillar for me, our family, and church—not just as a mother, but also as a spiritual mother. The heritage and legacy of faith you and Dad have deposited in me and my children shall be seen in generations to come by God's grace.

To my wife, Shantel. Thank you for leaving the security and familiarity of your family, culture, and nation of your birth in response to the Father's call upon our lives together from Penang. Thank you for being the best wife, mother, and friend I could ask for. Your love, patience, generosity, and spirit of excellence in the many responsibilities you carry has been and will always be an example and pillar of strength to me, our family, and ministry—not forgetting the help you provided for this book.

To my children, Zoe, Noella, Matthias, and Johanan. Your mom and I are overwhelmed by the Father's loving grace, uniquely demonstrated through each one of you. You make parenting such a delight and joy, and you exceed our expectations. I pray that each one of you will truly know and experience how much our heavenly Father and your mom and I love each one of you—much more than you know. Our prayer for you is that you possess the rich spiritual inheritance and legacy that is yours.

To my sister, Rhema. Thank you for being a great blessing to Dad and Mum, a wonderful sister, "sister-in-grace," and aunt. You are an anointed woman of faith and dedication. The love you demonstrate toward our family and the Global Harvest family of faith will always be appreciated and remembered.

To my church family, Global Harvest Assembly. Thank you for your love, patience, and faith in the calling of God upon Shantel and myself, and for your faithfulness and commitment in the many ways you have given of yourselves. Shantel and I appreciate the passion you carry for this message, and for our Global Harvest family. Thank you!

## Acknowledgments

A special thanks to Pastor Dexter Low for honoring Dad the way you have, and together with Brother Eddie Villanueva for welcoming me to the Asia for Christ Movement where this message was birthed in Manila, in November 2012. Thank you for the privilege and honor to impart this message to your family of faith.

Also, thanks to Pastor Paul Arends for being instrumental in helping me shift into this new season in my life and ministry, when you specially came to Penang in October 2012 not for meetings, but to connect relationally and became the catalyst for the message of this book to unfold. Your life message, testimonies, and encouragement have helped me discover my spiritual inheritance as a son of my father's house. I appreciate the love and honor you and your wife demonstrated toward Dad before His homecoming, and still demonstrate toward me and my family. Thank you.

## Endorsements

At a time when there seems to be great division over many things in nations all around the world, Reuben Seevaratnam's book calls the Church to walk in the fullness of purpose for which God created her. His genuine concern for the body of Christ provides understanding, showing us how we can be the unified Church that will impact the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Seevaratnam's deep-felt sincerity for the heart of God and God's people provides divine wisdom that will empower the Church to influence the world and bring increase to the Kingdom of God.

Whether a church leader or a believer who wants to make a difference in the world, all should read this text to know how to strategically align themselves to fully answer their call and live a peaceable and joyful life, as the light in the darkness.

Susan Slusher

Director, Christian International Global Network, Asia

Dean, Christian International Equipping Network

It is a joy to endorse this book written by Reuben Seevaratnam. He is a good friend of mine and a genuine man of God like his father Dr. Joy Seevaratnam. His life mirrors the journey of discipleship described in this book.

Just before the prophet Elijah was taken up, he calls Elisha "son" for the first time, and asked Elisha "What do you want?" Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit. Elijah's reply was, "If you can see what I [your father] see, you will receive it." Reuben has a clear revelation of his spiritual inheritance and legacy, and shares insights that will help you walk in your spiritual inheritance as part of the Father's generational plans and purposes for you.

You too can be enriched and challenged to become mature sons and daughters of Abba Father, to fulfill His good plan, purpose, and prophetic destiny for your life.

Dr. Henry Pillai

Senior Minister, Grace Assembly AOG, Kuala Lumpur

Founder, Grace Community Services

Dean, Wagner Leadership Institute

Chancellor, Alpha Omega International College Kuala Lumpur

Reuben's father, Dr. Joy Seevaratnam, was a council member and founding member of the Asia for Christ Movement (formerly Charismatic Fellowship of Asia). As the vice president of AFCM, I have known Dr. Joy's ministry and him personally as an outstanding leader, a man filled and used by the Spirit of the Lord in Malaysia and many nations. He left a great legacy behind as a leader of the Charismatic movement in Kuala Lumpur and Penang in the 1970s and '80s. However, the best legacy he left behind was to raise a son, Reuben Seevaratnam, a true son, who deeply loved and connected strongly with him.

When Dr. Joy was no longer traveling, we accepted his request for Reuben to represent him at a council gathering in Manila. This gathering led to Reuben being welcomed to the AFCM Council. As a council member, Reuben was invited to minister at the last AFCM Mission Congress at the Philippine International Convention Centre in November 2012. Together with Filipino leaders, we prayed for the president of the Philippines, who gave the opening address. Pastor Reuben left his mark with a clear and timely revelation, which were the seeds of this book. This book deals thoroughly with the Generational Alignment found in the last prophecy of Malachi and in the prayer of Jesus for oneness, for the healing of the Father's family on earth, and through family, healing cities and nations.

It is a must-reading for those who want to see cities and nations transformed. It covers the need to know the love and ways of God as our Father, so we may become a house that is generationally one on earth as it is in Heaven, and a house of rest that is marked by His presence. This book is timely, as it provides the most important key of "God's Way" for the healing of hearts and nations.

Dr. Dexter Low

Founder and Chairman of the Latter Rain Church of Malaysia

Council Member, National Evangelical Christian Fellowship

Vice President, Asia for Christ Movement

Member of the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders and

Australian Coalition of Apostolic Leaders

Author of God's Mandate for Transforming Your Nation

## Peace Prayer

Father Esther Bouquerel (December 1912)

Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me bring love.

Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.

Where there is discord, let me bring union.

Where there is error, let me bring truth.

Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.

Where there is despair, let me bring hope.

Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.

Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.

O Master, let me not seek as much

to be consoled as to console,

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love,

for it is in giving that one receives,

it is in self-forgetting that one finds,

it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,

[it is in dying to self that we have life more abundantly, AN],

it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.

## Contents

Author's Note

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Healing Ways of the Father

Chapter 2 The Generational Alignment of Heaven for Healing

Chapter 3 Truth for Transformation

Chapter 4 Shining with the Light of Life

Chapter 5 Turning Our Hearts to the Father

Chapter 6 Turning Our Hearts to Our Fathers and Sons

Chapter 7 The Family Wineskin of Our Kingdom Assignment

Chapter 8 Our Kingdom Mandate and the Father's Glory

Chapter 9 Inheriting Nations

Conclusion

About the Author

## Author's Note

At the first, it is best that I clarify any misunderstanding a reader may have regarding the use of the words "son" or "sons" throughout this book. My intention is not to make a distinction between physical gender, but between mature, fully trained disciples and immature believers who are not fully trained disciples.

The following are two examples based on Scripture, taken from the New King James Version of the Bible:

Matthew 5:9 says, "Blessed are peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." In using the word "sons," Jesus is not excluding daughters, but is speaking about mature believers or fully trained disciples.

Likewise, Romans 8:14 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." Again, the apostle Paul is not excluding daughters, but is speaking about mature believers or fully trained disciples. The word "sons" in Romans 8:14 is the Greek word huios; and the word "children" in Romans 8:16 is the Greek word teknon, where huios is often used to refer to mature disciples who have been fully trained.

Just as every believer is part of the "bride of Christ" (see 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25; Revelation 21:2), we are also called to be mature fully trained disciples or "sons"—not spiritual babes or children.

I fully appreciate all brothers and sisters in Christ as children of God, who together are made in the image and likeness of God our Father. I also write this book to all who call Him their Lord and Savior, and for the seekers and the yet-to-believe readers who know there is something more to this life—and after this life.

## Foreword

We don't believe that the timing of this book at the 500th year anniversary of the Reformation is any coincidence. The reformation was not the discovery of something new in the Scriptures, but the forgotten. The psalmist wrote, "When the ancient foundations are destroyed, what will the righteous do?" What you are about to read is not an attempt to bring forth something new, but rather the revealing of ancient foundations lost. Although readers will find themselves being "taken off their map" into what feels like new territory, Pastor Reuben Seevaratnam takes you on an exciting journey of rediscovery through the Scriptures that will bring a paradigm shift guaranteed to open the doors for a fresh reformation for you personally and to the Church of these last days before Christ's return.

We have been on this same journey and are pleased to recommend to you this work of wisdom and insight borne of love for the God of the Bible who reveals Himself as a Father seeking a family. Discover Jesus, the Son, who gives us the example and model of sonship missing from the churches today. See in these pages what Holy Spirit is doing through the family paradigm to heal our families, our churches, our cities, and the nations of the world. Become part of a movement that will empower you to be the answer to the prophet Malachi's cry at the end of the Old Testament for blessing to come from Heaven as "the hearts of the fathers are turned back to the children and the children to the fathers."

This book is written in a style so as to walk you back again through the Scriptures to gain revelation and understanding. That is no easy task, and not an easy read—though it is simple for the heart to embrace. You will need to stop continually and ponder the spiritual realities presented. It is not a book for information but revelation that leads to transformation. And you will receive keys that unlock so many doors for you.

If you believe that God has a mighty plan to touch all nations in these last days, to heal your city and your nation, causing His glory to be known over the whole earth, then read and reread this book. More than once you will find yourself changing the way you think—and rejoicing to know the way forward.

Paul and Margie Arends

Senior Leaders and Pastors of The River

Kalispell, Montana

## Introduction

And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14 New American Standard Bible).

Our ways that have kept our land in need of healing, are our ways that have kept the body of Christ divided. The place where oneness begins is revealed in the last prophecy of Malachi that Jesus revealed in His last prayer. Jesus prayed that we would be one on earth just as He and His Father are one in Heaven. This is the generational alignment of Heaven that reveals where becoming one must begin for our land to be healed.

Before we can turn our hearts to our fathers and sons in our families and family of faith, we must first turn our hearts to our heavenly Father by humbling ourselves to pray in response to His glory, and not in reaction to darkness. Seeking His face reveals the knowledge of His glory and His ways, that we may turn our hearts to our fathers and sons on earth and fulfill our Kingdom assignment.

Central to the Protestant Reformation five centuries ago was the revelation of justification by faith through Christ alone. Central to the subsequent outpourings of the Holy Spirit was the revelation of His acts of power. The history of these defining global movements have mostly been short-lived, which has exposed the greater challenge of keeping wineskins new to build upon what is birthed by His Spirit! By "wineskin" I refer to the relational unity that begins under leadership that either facilitates, hinders, or aborts through division, the increase of the new wine or outpouring of the Father's glory. New wineskins facilitate the increase of the new wine of the Father's glory, and old wineskins will either divide and break with the new wine, or contain the old wine without the life of His presence. Hence, the wineskin of a church or ministry is the relational alignment under leadership that will either facilitate, hinder, or abort the presence and power of the Holy Spirit through the wineskin of that church or ministry.

Hence, foundational to this message is the message of knowing God as our Father and not just as Judge and Rewarder. This revelation is essential to being healed and secure, as we become rooted and grounded in His love. As we grow in the knowledge of our Father's glory, wineskins will become and remain new in the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit that has begun. This is the foundation for establishing the generational alignment of Heaven on earth, that our ways no longer keep the generations divided and the body of Christ apart, but turned toward each other for the healing of our land.

The Father is coming back for a bride who is conformed to the image of His Son, who re-presents Him in the ways of truth and life. As we turn our hearts toward the Father, our hearts can turn toward our fathers and sons in our homes and house of faith. These are the ways of God's people called by His name, whose prayers will be heard, sins forgiven, and nations healed.

# Chapter 1

## The Healing Ways of the Father

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations (Psalm 67:1-2 King James Version).

When the ways of the Father are known upon the earth, His saving health will be among all nations. What a powerful promise. This must be the foundation in all our discipleship, if we want to see transformation and healing in our land.

The weakest link in fulfilling the Great Commission is the knowledge of His ways in all our teaching and equipping. Without the knowledge of His ways, we have prioritized ministry skills and information, but without transformation. We have pursued the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit to heal our minds and our bodies while we His body have struggled to become one. The only ones who can make known His ways to a land in darkness are God's people called by His name:

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

We again see the impact of our ways upon the land. When we who are God's people turn from our wicked ways, He will hear us from Heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land.

###### The health of our land is not a reflection of the darkness in the land, but of those in the body of Christ who are called to shine in the darkness. Darkness prevails in the absence of light!

The health of the church is not revealed by her programs, size, assets, or even the power for the miraculous. It is revealed by her ways. The tipping point for healing our land is not based on how much we know, how much we can do, and how much we have, but it is based on our ways. Knowing the ways of God set apart the children of Israel from Moses:

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel (Psalm 103:7).

Like David wrote in Psalm 67, Moses was not content with the power of God, but wanted to know His ways:

Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people (Exodus 33:13).

### The Fruit of Our Ways

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!" Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5,7)

We need to consider our ways, because at the end of the day, it is the end of our ways and not just the end of our works that impact our cities and nations.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 16:2,25).

Solomon's revelation on the ways of man in Proverbs 16, was no doubt influenced by his father David's desire to know God's ways:

Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day (Psalm 25:4-5).

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).

Darkness prevails in the absence of light, and the health of our land reflects the health of His people called by His name. As the body of Christ is healed, so too will our land be.

###### The hallmark of the spiritual health of the church is revealed in her ways.

When the ways of the Father are known and revealed, salvation will come to the nations. Our land will not be healed simply because we are His. It will not be healed even if we have perfect theology, are filled with His Spirit, and know His acts of power.

###### The healing of our land is not based on the number of believers in the land, but on the ways of those believers.

Hence, it is possible for our cities to be filled with churches, but the land still remains in need of healing. The strength and effectiveness of prayer cannot be separated from the heart, focus, and purpose of the one praying!

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16).

Our land will begin to be healed when we pray out of humility to seek His face.

###### Prayer may be a sacrifice without obedience and a form of godliness without power if we keep praying but never turn from our wicked ways.

If we want to know the ways of the Father, there is no better example than Christ, His Son. Jesus Christ the Son not only knew His Father and walked in His ways, but also represented and revealed His Father to us. He came to seek and to save the lost, to save us from our sins, to destroy the works of the enemy, and to give us eternal and abundant life. Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, and He walked in the ways of the Father so that we may be reconciled to the Father through Him.

###### All that Christ the Son said and did was in response to His Father, that we may know the Father through Him and be reconciled to the Father through Him.

Our teaching, preaching, works of ministry, accomplishments, and achievements are not to draw others to ourselves, but to the Father as His sons and daughters! As a tree is known by its fruit, as a father is known by his children, and as the Father is known by His Son, so is our heavenly Father's desire to be known through us, as His sons and daughters.

When a world that is fatherless sees Him in us as His sons and daughters, we become ministers of reconciliation, preparing the way for Him to reconcile a fatherless world to Himself, through the ways of His Son in us.

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

### The Mindset and Ways of the Fatherless

As a Son, Jesus revealed His Father and walked in the ways of His Father. Though Lucifer had a perfect Father in Heaven, he was fatherless in mindset and mentality. He had no knowledge that the glory he enjoyed in Heaven was the glory of His Father. He likely assumed He had earned or deserved it, or that the glory he enjoyed in Heaven was his entitlement!

Lucifer received and believed the lie that the glory of Heaven was independent of the Father. He did not know that all glory begins with the Father of glory. Hence, with the mindset of an orphan, Lucifer received and believed the lie that he could displace and replace the Father and still enjoy the glory of Heaven. Lucifer was not fatherless by position, but in mindset and mentality—and so became the mindset of Adam and the ways of the fallen sinful nature!

This was the same lie Lucifer used against Eve, that she could dishonor the Father of glory through her disobedience and still enjoy the glory of Eden. Lucifer, Adam, and Eve all fell short of the Father's glory by believing the lie that the glory they enjoyed was independent of the Father.

On this lie, they dishonored the Father of glory and fell short of the Father's glory. Though they had a perfect Father, they behaved like the fatherless, dishonored their Father, and fell short of His glory. This is the mindset and mentality of the sin nature of Adam.

The prodigal son and his elder brother, in Luke 15, had a great father, but neither of them knew his ways; hence, neither of them walked in his ways, and neither of them revealed the ways of their father. Only when the prodigal son returned home did he learn to walk in the ways of his father. Until then, he was like his elder brother. Both were sons by position, but not by intimacy of relationship.

If we do not know the ways of our Father in Heaven, we risk walking in the ways of the elder brother or the ways of the prodigal son. Without seeking the presence of our Father's face, we risk either serving as servants like the elder brother or becoming consumers like the prodigal. Because their hearts were not one with their father, they were not one with each other.

They were children by position, but not sons by maturity—their unity as brothers could rise no higher than their oneness as sons with their father. It is the wicked ways of the elder brother and prodigal that have kept us from becoming one and kept our land in need of healing.

Before the revelation of sonship through Christ the Son, Moses served as a servant. Christ however, served as a Son over His own house.

And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end (Hebrews 3:5-6).

###### Moses was faithful as a servant, but Christ was a Son over His own house.

### The Ways of the Laodicean Church

The lukewarm church of Laodicea in Revelation chapter 3 also represents some of the ways in the body of Christ, that hinder the healing of the land. This was a church that was not cold because they were working. Yet neither were they hot, because they were working without the presence of the Lord of the work. While they worked in the house, the Lord of the work was outside, waiting to come in.

This church was secure in the achievements and accomplishments of their own hands but worked without His presence, rest, or voice. Without His presence and His ways, they worked by might and by power of their own strength and abilities, but not by His Spirit.

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, "These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth'" (Revelation 3:14-16).

The church of Laodicea is like the church that is content and secure with the reward of their labor, though absent of His life-giving presence. Such are the ways that we need to turn away from, as we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face. It is not the hot or the cold that provokes God, but the lukewarm ways of the Laodicean church. It is not the degrees after our name that impress God, but the temperature of our passion for Him!

###### To be hot by working from His presence or to be cold by doing nothing is better than being lukewarm, working without His presence and rest!

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:1,11).

###### Without His presence, our works will be done in the flesh and not by the Spirit in the rest of faith.

Because you say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing"—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me (Revelation 3:17-20).

###### The outward appearance of success is not the primary indicator of spiritual health.

Before He calls us out to work with Him, He wants to come in and fellowship with us. As we break the bread and partake of the cup of fellowship, our eyes will open in His presence.

Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight (Luke 24:30-31).

Our security and identity does not and cannot come from our accomplishments and achievements, because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29). Jesus was so secure in His identity as a Son that He was willing to wait until He was thirty years of age before beginning His public ministry.

Before Jesus ministered to the needs outside His house, He served faithfully as a Son in His own house. He was not driven by the needs around Him like a servant. He was led by the Father as a Son.

Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:21-23)

One of the greatest lies in the body of Christ is to believe that our spiritual disciplines and ministry works are the evidence of our salvation, instead of the fruit of transformation from abiding in the vine.

Spiritual discipline that does not lead to our maturity in Christlikeness may be nothing more than dead works, which leads to self-righteousness and a form of godliness that denies its power! The second greatest miracle after salvation is the fruit of a transforming life!

You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them (Matthew 7:16-20).

###### It is the fruit of increasing Christlikeness and not the fruit of our gifts and calling that is the evidence of our relationship with Christ, our Vine.

Increasing and growing in Christlikeness is the evidence of His life in us and is the fruit of our salvation. Hence, no message on eternal security can afford to omit the evidence of our security. This is the fruit of abiding in the vine as confirmed and revealed by our ways—not by our works or gifts alone.

###### As fruit reveals our tree, our ways reveal our Father!

The ministers in Matthew 7 were unknown because of the absence of fruit, despite their gifts and power.

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19).

###### The physical and material success of our own power and might has blinded us to our spiritual poverty and the nakedness of our own ways.

As God's people called by His name, Christ is in us. However, the ways of the Father are not dependent only on Christ being in us, but also with us abiding in Christ.

###### Christ in us is the hope of glory, but abiding in Christ is the glory of our hope!

The ways of the Father are dependent upon us resting in His presence and listening to His voice. If we do not labor from His presence, we will fail to walk in His ways, fail to become one, and fail to release healing to our land. The prodigal son and his elder brother in Luke 15 had a good father, but they did not have the mindset of a son, and neither did they know the heart and ways of their father.

Though positioned as sons, the prodigal and his elder brother had the mind and ways of the fatherless and fell short of the father's glory. Though Lucifer was positioned as a son, he had the mind and ways of the fatherless, which led to his rebellion and downfall.

Having a good father is not the evidence that we have the mindset of a son or know the ways of the Father. It is possible to be a child of God yet have an unrenewed mind and not know the Father's heart or ways. Likewise, it is possible to have great parents on earth and still have the mindset of an "orphan" and not know their heart or ways.

###### It is possible to have a good father and still have the mindset and ways of the fatherless! Many are children by position, but fatherless in mindset and ways.

Jesus came that we may be reconciled to His Father through Him. The context of salvation begins with being saved from our sins and hell, with the purpose of being reconciled to our heavenly Father.

The purpose of forgiveness through Christ is reconciliation to the Father. Many religions preach forgiveness, but only in and through Christ is there reconciliation. Jesus did not tell us to simply forgive if we remember our brother has something against us, but to be reconciled before we offer our gift at the altar.

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24).

Because of the lie of the enemy, many are fatherless in their mindset and ways. Hence, our heavenly Father needed to send His Son to represent and reveal Himself to a fatherless world, so we may be reconciled to the Father through His Son!

###### Servants do not reveal the Father, only sons and daughters!

Therefore, the Father could not send an angel, He had to send His only Son, that we may see the Father in the Son and be reconciled to the Father. The Father reconciles us to Himself through His Son that we may mature as sons and bring many to Him as we walk in His ways. When the ways of the Father are made known in the nations, His saving health will be among the nations. His ways are made known to those who humble themselves, pray, and seek His face. Such are those who turn away from the wicked ways of a fatherless mindset and mentality, no longer serving Him as elder brothers or servants, or even just coming to Him as consumers. They are not cold or lukewarm, but labor from the rest of His presence. They are led by His voice and Spirit to walk in His ways that will heal our land.

###### When we walk in the ways of Christ the Son, we will walk in the ways of the Father for healing our land.

### The Ways of the Father

If we want to fulfill our ministry of reconciliation, we need to reveal and represent the Father as His sons and daughters. Then the lost who are fatherless may be reconciled to the Father through the image of the Son in us. Hence, the goal of discipleship is that we be conformed to the image of the Son, so that we may reveal and represent the Father:

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).

This image of the Son is the "good" that all things work together, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

The ways of our heavenly Father are revealed in the image of His Son, which is found in the ways of Christ. Hence, the goal or purpose of discipleship—as demonstrated by the apostle Paul in Timothy, his disciple—is to reveal the ways of Christ:

For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church (1 Corinthians 4:17).

First, this reveals the priority, identity, and security of the apostle Paul in not identifying himself by his apostleship, great knowledge, anointing, gifts and power, but by his ways in Christ. Though Paul was an anointed and gifted scholar, his identity was in revealing the Father, by walking in the ways of Christ. Hence, the priority of Timothy and every disciple is not knowledge and ministry skills alone, but from the foundation and purpose of knowing the ways of Christ to reveal the Father.

Second, Timothy is not only a role model disciple, but also represents Heaven's generational alignment on earth as a son of God and man. Despite the wonderful influence and impact of his mother and grandmother on his faith, Timothy needed a spiritual father in the faith to impart and reveal the ways of Christ to him.

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me (1 Corinthians 4:15-16).

Until and unless we are discipled as spiritual sons and daughters, we will not teach as fathers and mothers but as teachers. When discipleship is between teachers and students without the relational context of family, we become equipped and skilled with knowledge and information, but without transformation through the ways of Christ that reveal the Father.

The apostle Paul, a master disciple-maker and teacher, gives the key characteristic of one who is discipled—the testimony of Timothy was not to remind others of Paul's works in Christ or even Paul's knowledge of Christ, but rather Paul's ways in Christ! As a spiritual father, Paul prioritized the ways of Christ the Son.

As the Son reveals the Father, those who walk in the ways of Christ the Son also walk in the ways of the Father. By walking in the ways of Christ, Paul was revealing the ways of the Father, as a father to Timothy!

The passage in 1 Corinthians 4:15-17 also reveals the family context of discipleship. Discipleship was never meant to be the primary role of the local church, but the primary role of the fathers of the families that make up the local church. It appears that Paul took the role of the father that Timothy did not have, becoming a spiritual father to him. We only read of the impact of Timothy's mother and grandmother on his faith. Yet Timothy also needed a father, and Paul stepped in. Not as a teacher, pastor, or apostle, but as a father.

The weakest link in our discipleship programs is when it is just a program without the relational family context of spiritual fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters in the faith. Hence, the primary center for discipleship is not the local church, but the family. When it is not possible in the family, we shall discover in the last section of this book, that the church was designed and purposed to be a family of faith, led by spiritual fathers and mothers in Christ.

If we want to be catalysts of change, transformation, and healing to our land, we need to walk in the ways of the Father that are revealed through the ways of Christ His Son. To learn the ways of Christ, we need to be discipled or taught by spiritual fathers who are known by their ways in Christ.

Significantly, the apostle Paul did not leave out "in Christ" when he said Timothy will remind others of his ways "in Christ." Obviously not all of Paul's ways were in Christ, and Timothy would have had to learn to honor Paul's ways that were in Christ without reacting and taking offense at his ways that were not (yet) in Christ. By learning to honor Paul as a spiritual father, Timothy needed to learn not to dishonor Paul for any of his ways that were not (yet) in Christ.

Without this revelation, we can become vulnerable to either dishonor our leaders out of fear that we don't idolize them, or risk idolizing our leaders out of fear that we don't dishonor them!

Those who idolize their leaders can see no wrong in their leader. However, those who honor their leaders are aware, maybe painfully aware, of their ways that are not in Christ.

###### Through honor, they do not define their leaders by the offenses of unmet expectations, but by their ways in Christ and the spiritual inheritance they carry.

### Perfectly Trained Disciples

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel (Philippians 2:19-22).

Timothy did not seek his own, but was like-minded with his spiritual father in Christ, having learned the ways of Christ in Paul. Timothy was not a role model disciple because of what he knew and could do, but because of who he had become and was becoming.

###### Our character is revealed, proven, and tested not as students, servants, workers, mentorees, or protégés, but as spiritual sons and daughters of fathers and mothers in Christ.

As a spiritual son to Paul, the character of Timothy was proven by serving "as a son with his father." We can safely say that Timothy, who was "like-minded" with Paul, had become like Paul, who taught him as his spiritual father. This fulfills the description of one who is perfectly or fully trained:

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40).

Though the prodigal son and his elder brother in Luke 15 were sons by position through DNA, their hearts were not one with their father. Though Paul and Timothy were not sons by DNA or even through legal adoption, they were one with each other.

This is the relational context of discipleship needed to learn the ways of Christ the Son so that we may reveal the way of the Father for the healing of our land. As a spiritual father and son in Christ, Paul and Timothy were one on earth even as the Father and Son are one in Heaven. This is Heaven's generational alignment for transformational discipleship, for God's people to be healed and become one, and the land healed.

# Chapter 2

## The Generational Alignment of Heaven for Healing

Apostle Paul did not disciple or teach Timothy as an apostle, pastor, or teacher, though he was an apostle of apostles, a pastor of pastors, and teacher of teachers! Instead, Paul taught Timothy as a father, that Timothy would learn to walk in the ways of the heavenly Father by learning the ways of Paul that were in Christ.

###### We learn the ways of our perfect Father in Heaven by learning the ways of Christ in our imperfect spiritual fathers on earth.

The singular difference between teaching as a father and from any other context, is that spiritual sons and daughters in Christ are transformed to walk in the Christ-like ways of those who teach them as spiritual fathers in Christ. The purpose and fruit of teaching disciples as spiritual fathers cannot be replaced or achieved by teaching as teachers, pastors, coaches, or mentors.

Those who are taught by spiritual fathers will be transformed as sons and daughters who know the ways of the Father. Not everyone is a father or has a father. In a family of faith, however, we can have and become spiritual fathers and mothers in Christ.

My mother, Elsie, and late father, "Dr. Joy," revealed and demonstrated the ways of Christ to me from childhood. They encouraged me to pursue what God had put in my heart, without any pressure to be in ministry as they were. My mother was the President of Women's Aglow Malaysia for many years and often ministered alongside my father.

If they had known that I would eventually be pastoring the local church Dad began, I would not have earned a Bachelor of Science, I would have gone straight to Bible College!

I had the great privilege and honor to serve alongside Dad in the local church. I lived with my parents before and after my seven years abroad, until marriage. Even after marriage, my wife and I lived near our parents and helped my father as caregivers in his later years. Without realizing it, the ways of my parents that were in Christ were not so much taught but imparted through the daily process of learning through serving and fellowship as a son.

### Heaven's Kingdom Alignment in Jesus' Last Prayer

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one (John 17:11,20-22).

Jesus is praying for those whom His Father has already given Him and for those who will believe, they all may be one just as the Father and Son are one. This oneness of Heaven's Kingdom government is not an alignment of gender between male and female or of race between Jew and Gentile or of economics between servant and free. All who believe are already one in Him (Galatians 3:28) but need to become one on earth as Christ is one as a Son with His Father in Heaven!

###### Jesus Christ is not one as a King or Servant in Heaven, He is one as a Son with His Father!

### Heaven's Kingdom Alignment in Malachi's Last Prophecy

This last prayer of Jesus was concealed in the last prophecy of Malachi, when Malachi prophesied for the heart of fathers and sons to be turned toward each other. This is the oneness of Heaven's generational alignment between the Father and Son.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:5-6).

The deadline for the fulfillment of this prophecy is not the coming of John the Baptist or even the first coming of Christ, but any time before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

"Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Lord" reveals that before Christ can return, the generational alignment of the Father's house and family must be restored as prophesied by the prophet Malachi, even as a fruit of the gospel of the Kingdom, as it is preached until the end comes!

and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:20-21).

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (Ephesians 3:14-15).

Christ is one as a Son with His Father, because Heaven is not just a Kingdom ruled by a King, it is also a family led by the Father of the King who rules and reigns in His Father's Kingdom as a Son!

###### The generational Kingdom alignment of Heaven is the alignment of Heaven's Kingdom-family on earth so that His Kingdom may come on earth as it is in Heaven.

Unity on earth must begin generationally between fathers and sons because it is where unity first broke down in Heaven between Lucifer and the Father! Through Lucifer's fatherless mindset, mentality, and ways, the unity of Heaven's Kingdom family was broken. The spiritual health and unity of Heaven's Kingdom family first broke down "vertically" between the Father and Lucifer, which resulted in the "horizontal" breakdown of unity between the angels.

The relational alignment where oneness first broke down in Heaven is the place where it must begin on earth. The oneness between brothers of a house can rise no higher than the oneness of each brother as a son with the father of their house!

Therefore, through the mindset and ways of spiritual sons and daughters, the generational alignment of Heaven's Kingdom government will be restored in the house that the Lord is building, that it may be built as a Kingdom family on earth as it is in Heaven. Timothy revealed and represented his spiritual father Paul as a son, even as Jesus Christ revealed and represented His Father as a Son! By walking in the ways of Paul that were in Christ, Timothy also revealed the ways of the heavenly Father.

To make known the ways of the Father, we need to walk in the ways of Christ His Son. To walk in the ways of Christ His Son, we need to be taught by spiritual fathers in the Lord, so that we can learn their ways that are in Christ without being offended by their ways that are not in Christ. The weakest link to not knowing the ways of Christ is the relational context of our discipleship. Many teach and preach about "sonship," but fail to recognize that the ways of Christ that reveal the Father are learned by becoming spiritual sons and daughters of imperfect spiritual fathers who walk in the ways of Christ.

Not everyone has children or are fathers in their own house or family. Those who do are called to make disciples by revealing the way of our heavenly Father through the ways of Christ. These ways are the foundation for teaching the Word of God. We reveal these ways by the spirit and attitude of our work, fellowship, and relationships as husbands, wives, fathers, sons, and daughters. Spiritual fathers in the faith facilitate transformation through the demonstration and example of their ways that are in Christ in their daily home life. Through the local church, everyone and anyone can have a spiritual family of faith—not a perfect family, but a family that is being perfected by His grace.

###### Transformation does not occur by teaching alone, but in the relational context of family, where spiritual sons and daughters are taught and led by spiritual fathers and mothers in Christ.

As sons and daughters in Christ, we need to imitate the ways of Christ in our fathers and mothers without taking offense at their ways that are not in Christ.

This honor should first be established in our own homes when and where possible, and second in our house and family of faith, the local church. Healthy sons become healthy fathers who lead out of sonship. Christ did not lead as a leader, servant, teacher, or miracle worker, but as a Son who revealed His Father!

As we are taught as spiritual sons and daughters, we are equipped to disciple as spiritual fathers and mothers, becoming positioned to turn our hearts toward our fathers who disciple us and those we disciple as sons and daughters. When the hearts of the fathers and the children are turned toward each other, we become generationally one on earth, just as the Father and Son are one in Heaven.

If the knowledge of truth alone were the only condition for oneness, it would have prevented the rebellion in Heaven. It would have also prevented the disunity within churches, ministries, and believers who share the same doctrine, core values, and principles. Yet the lack of oneness between those who believe and share common doctrine is sufficient evidence, that while doctrine is foundational, it is not sufficient by itself to make us one.

The template for oneness on earth is relational and must begin generationally. When oneness begins between those in authority and those under authority as spiritual fathers and sons in the home and local church, it will flow horizontally between those who are sons and daughters of the spiritual father and mother of the home.

Before we seek to restore the "first people" or "natives" of our lands and women to their rightful place of ministry, restoration must begin generationally in our homes and local churches, because only when each house is healed and one, can they together become one.

The first commandment with a promise does not begin with honoring our husbands and wives, sons and daughters, kings, presidents, prime ministers, Jews, or the native "first people" of a nation. The first commandment with a promise begins in our home and family, with the first government in our lives—our father and mother.

The generational alignment of Heaven is also the alignment for integrity, peace, and succession in ministry; hence, the model of discipleship that is needed for healing our land.

### Heaven's Kingdom Alignment for Integrity and Peace

The word "one" in the prayer of Jesus in John 17, includes the oneness of integrity and peace. The word "integrity" comes from the word "integer," which comes from the wholeness and completeness of being "one." Anything less than "one" is no longer complete or whole and is no longer an integer!

###### Integrity was first lost in Heaven, not on earth, through the fatherless mindset of Lucifer, though he had the perfect Father.

Besides integrity, becoming one speaks of a relational completeness and wholeness that is found in the Hebrew word for "peace," which is shalom. Where there is shalom, there is nothing missing, broken, lacking, or out of place. The absence of shalom is the absence of health—not just physically, but also relationally in the body of Christ. Becoming one on earth as it is in Heaven is the foundation for us to become peacemakers. The lives of peacemakers are marked by the presence of the Prince of Peace.

In the absence of spiritual fathers, the fatherless mindset and ways of each generation prevails. If the body of Christ fails to walk in the ways of the Son, there will be no peace, integrity, or unity in the home, the household of faith, or the land.

###### Many gifted, called, and anointed ministers have made costly mistakes and paid a high price for failing to seek and honor the advice and counsel of spiritual fathers and mothers in Christ.

If we have no spiritual fathers and mothers, we will not have the voice of reproof, correction, and training in righteousness through His Word. Without the reproof and correction from spiritual fathers and mothers who walk in the ways of Christ, there will be no integrity or peace in the body of Christ, or in the land.

Jesus Christ is our ultimate role model of walking in the ways of a Son. He honored His imperfect spiritual father and mother (Joseph and Mary) as a Son of the home, though He was also the Son of God who revealed and represented His perfect Father in Heaven!

The life and walk of Christ as the Son of Man during His first thirty years on earth was the evidence, demonstration, and fruit of His life and walk as the Son of God.

### Raising Ministry Successors

###### As we reveal the ways of Christ in our spiritual fathers, we reveal the way of our Father in Heaven through the ways of His Son!

In ideal circumstances, every child is taught by their father and mother and the rest as spiritual sons and daughters in their house of faith, the local church. When we do not have fathers and mothers who can disciple us, or children whom we can disciple as fathers and mothers, then the local church becomes the place of discipleship as a family of faith.

The baton of ministry has been dropped for too long in the absence of ministry continuity, without effective succession, through the absence of spiritual sons and daughters in Christ. Success without succession through spiritual sons and daughters may appear successful, though not spiritually healthy.

###### Healthy ministry succession occurs through sons and daughters who walk in the ways of Christ in their spiritual fathers.

Those who serve as students and servants instead of serving as sons and daughters often fail the test of honor required for ministry succession and continuity. They are likely to either usurp, displace, replace, or dishonorably walk out of their family of faith in offense. When we reveal the ways of Christ in our fathers, we become fathers ourselves. As sons in the faith who lead as fathers, we in turn can raise disciples to mature into fathers who lead as sons. This is how the heart of each generation will be turned toward their fathers and sons in their own families, and in the family of faith.

### Discipleship through Heaven's Alignment

And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:6).

Elijah did not teach Elisha as a prophet, but as a prophetic spiritual father. Joseph did not teach the Son of Man as a teacher, but as a spiritual father. Paul did not teach Timothy as an apostle, pastor, or teacher, but as an apostolic spiritual father. While we have been given titles and positions of New Testament church leadership and eldership in the letters of the apostle Paul, order and structure was never meant to replace the life that flows relationally through a family of faith. Without a skeleton, there is no ordered structure to support life.

When order and structure are prioritized over relationship, life ceases to flow. Such is the state of many movements that began through an awakening or outpouring of the Spirit, but have become monuments, empty of the presence and life of God. However, many shall experience and see a re-awakening and re-digging of wells that shall flow again with new life.

### Revealing Our Tree

Therefore by their fruits you will know them (Matthew 7:20).

We are not known by our gifts but by our fruit, or the ways that distinguish and separate sheep from wolves in sheep clothing. Wolves in sheep clothing are fatherless in mindset, though they may be very gifted and anointed! They have no spiritual fathers and mothers, and no spiritual sons and daughters who reveal their ways in Christ. Wolves in sheep clothing can only deceive by their appearance, not by their voice. Only those who know the Shepherd's voice, will discern the voice of a wolf, though he may look like a sheep!

But He will say, "I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity" (Luke 13:27).

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon instructs us to listen to our father and mother even as he undoubtedly was influenced by them, to value and pursue wisdom above riches. Scripture also reveals that Timothy was influenced by the faith of his mother and grandmother. The apostle Paul became the father in the Lord that Timothy did not have but needed.

Paul's model of discipleship is the answer to Jesus' prayer of unity. It fulfills the prophecy of Malachi as the model of transformational discipleship that we may be one as it is in Heaven. When we, like Joseph and Paul, begin to teach and disciple not as teachers but as fathers in the Lord, then the hearts of the fathers and sons in the family and family of faith will turn toward each other as it was between Paul and Timothy.

To disciple as a father in the Lord, our hearts must first be turned to our spiritual fathers in the Lord—who may or may not also be our own fathers—because as fathers, we are represented and revealed by our sons!

As a son, I represent the ways of my father that are in Christ, as I turn my heart toward my children. If I struggle to turn my heart toward my parents who are also my spiritual parents in the Lord, I may struggle to turn my heart toward my children and children in the Lord. I can only turn my heart toward my father as a son, in response to turning my heart toward my Father in Heaven. This was the relational foundation for Christ the Son of God, who lived and served as the eldest son and brother in the house of Joseph.

As I grow in the revelation of my heavenly Father's love, I begin to know Him not just as my Creator, Judge, and Rewarder, but as my Father. This is the foundation for our identity, mindset, and mentality. We must become so loved and secure in our relationship as sons and daughters that we can freely turn our hearts toward our imperfect natural and spiritual fathers without offense and dishonor.

The key to not being distracted by their ways that are not (yet) in Christ, is to be distracted by their ways that are in Christ through the revelation of the inheritance and mantle of their gift and calling that they carry.

###### A gold miner who is distracted and offended by the dirt, loses the gold!

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Like gold hidden beneath the dirt, we all have spiritual treasures in the earthen vessels of our humanity. We can only learn to honor the ways of Christ in our spiritual parents, as we learn not to be offended by their ways that are not in Christ.

###### By humbling ourselves to pray as face-seekers, we do not live in reaction to darkness but in response to the Father's glory!

This is how our sinless and perfect Son of Man could humble Himself to obey, submit, and honor Joseph and Mary, who were incomparably less perfect spiritual parents and leaders than Himself. The love, faith, and security that Jesus demonstrated as a Son of the house of Joseph, revealed His oneness between Him and His Father in Heaven.

Each one of us must become one on earth as it is in Heaven if we want to be healed and transformed to bring healing and transformation to our land. We must turn our hearts toward our heavenly Father, and to our spiritual fathers and sons in the Lord, beginning where possible in our own homes and in our houses of faith. Only then can we learn to walk in the way of the Father, by walking in the ways of Christ the Son.

For thirty years, Christ the Son passed the test as the Son of Man in the house of Joseph. This was a thirty-year ministry of "home affairs," which became the evidence of His proven character. Likewise, His submission as the Son of Man was the foundation of the authority He demonstrated during His three years of public ministry.

True authority always flows out of submission—first in the natural, then also the spiritual (Ephesians 6:1-3 and James 4:7).

###### The mark of authentic and healthy leadership is leadership out of sonship through the ways of Christ that reveal the Father.

Authentic and healthy leaders reveal the Father by walking as sons of God and man, in the image of Christ the Son of God and man. This is the generational alignment of Heaven and the purpose of discipleship in the Great Commission.

### Heaven's Alignment for Healing the Land

In the late 1990s, David Ravenhill, the son of Leonard Ravenhill, ministered at a pastors' meeting in Penang, Malaysia, that I attended. He mentioned a common question he is often asked by pastors and leaders in his travels concerning the strongholds of the city he was visiting. When asked to identify the stronghold of a particular city, he would often say it was the church! He would then explain that the spiritual climate of a city was the responsibility of the body of Christ, which was either being resisted because of pride or given the grace to bring transformation through humility.

Jesus never ministered in reaction to His environment. Rather, He transformed the environment as He walked under an open Heaven, as the Spirit remained upon Him! As the Light, darkness had to flee and strongholds break wherever He went!

We have seen that the anointing for power and the miraculous is not a guarantee against disunity and division. Disunity and division is impartial to both power-filled and power-less churches, Christian ministries, and organizations.

###### The acts and works of God are not sufficient to bring about healing and unity if the ways of God are not also present.

The double-portion anointing or glory upon Elisha that we read in 2 Kings 2 was not independent of his alignment with his spiritual father Elijah. The glory upon Elisha was a spiritual inheritance he received, having learned to honor and serve Elijah as a spiritual son. Elijah gave Elisha many opportunities to leave and do his own thing, but Elisha had eyes to see beyond the imperfections and flaws of Elijah. Like Ruth chose to remain with Naomi, Elisha saw beyond natural circumstances and remained with Elijah.

###### The testimony of Elisha was not the miraculous of parting the water or healing the water, but rather his ministry as a son who poured water on Elijah's hands.

Both Elisha and Ruth received a spiritual inheritance that money could not buy and that information and knowledge alone could not provide. They received their priceless spiritual inheritance as a spiritual son and daughter—their hearts were turned toward their spiritual father and mother respectively.

But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?" So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah." And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the Lord is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him (2 Kings 3:11-12).

Elisha and Ruth could not receive or inherit what they could not see or value without revelation: the ability to see beyond the natural or physical realm. The revelation that kept Elisha with Elijah was the revelation that enabled him to see the father of his glory depart, in order to receive the glory of his father's mantle as an inheritance, for the glory of sons is their father.

...and the glory of children is their father (Proverbs 17:6).

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.... "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:22-24).

In Hebrew, it is written in Proverbs 17:6 that the sons of sons are the crown of the elders, and the glory of sons is their father. In other words, the glory of each generation is not from themselves, but is an inheritance from their fathers, even as Christ received from His Father generationally as a Son, and not positionally as King.

###### The glory upon each generation rests upon those whose hearts are turned toward the fathers of the preceding generation, whose inheritance of glory is needed for healing the land.

The glory of Christ is the King of kings, not just a kingly glory but also the glory received from His Father, as a Son. Our King of kings rules and reigns with the heart of a Son.

And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:6).

For our land to be blessed and not cursed, each generation needs to turn their hearts as sons and daughters toward their fathers, as a response to turning their hearts toward their Father in Heaven. Those who are one as sons in Christ are positioned to become one as brothers in Christ, through the honor each gives as a son to the father of their house. As demonstrated by the prodigal son and his elder brother in Luke 15, those whose hearts are not turned toward their father, will not turn toward each other as brothers.

###### The unity of brothers can rise no higher than the honor each gives as a son to the father of their house, because sonship is the ceiling of brotherhood!

The next two chapters reveal the ways of Christ that enable us to become one as sons and brothers in Christ, as fully trained disciples who reveal the ways of the Father.

# Chapter 3

## Truth for Transformation

God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations (Psalm 67:1-2).

The ways of the Father were revealed by the Son. We have seen that the apostle Paul walked in the ways of Christ, which are the ways that reveal the Father. Hence, when Timothy reminds others of Paul's ways in Christ, he was not only reminding others of his spiritual father on earth, but also his Father in Heaven! This was the purpose of Paul teaching Timothy as a spiritual father, so that Timothy would walk in the ways of Christ that reveal the Father, for the healing of the land! Therefore, a fully trained disciple is someone who knows and makes known the ways of the Father by walking in the ways of the Son as revealed through the ways of Christ in their spiritual father.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" (John 14:6-9)

Jesus Christ the Son revealed His Father as the truth and life. The apostle Paul revealed the Father by walking in the ways of Christ the Son, thus in the ways of truth and life. It is not a surprise then, for him to receive the insight, understanding, and revelation he needed to write the most number of letters or "Pauline Epistles" in the New Testament! Only the first four gospels reveal the life and public ministry of Christ on earth, and the next reveal the acts of the Holy Spirit. The remainder of the New Testament is predominantly written by Paul. Paul walked in the freedom and revelation of truth because he walked in the ways of Christ.

### The Way of Truth

I have chosen the way of truth... (Psalm 119:30).

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:32,36).

The way of truth is the way to our freedom and liberty and is needed for our healing and transformation. The way of truth brings freedom and liberty from the fatherless mindset, through the mind of Christ the Son. However, our freedom in Christ is undermined when we fail to walk and keep the freedom we receive.

Keeping our freedom and breakthrough begins with knowing the truth. Knowing the truth is different from pursuing or experiencing His presence. Ideally, one is pursuing the truth while seeking His presence, understanding the need for both. Seeking His presence but remaining in ignorance limits our walk in freedom. It is the truth we know that sets us free. Many want a "quick fix" through the laying on of hands and personal ministry, but they fail to keep what the Father gives by not knowing the truth.

Central to His presence in the Old Testament was the "Word" in the Ark of the Covenant. Central to the presence of Christ was Christ the Word! No one could be physically close to Him and not hear Him. Neither could someone hear the Lord speak and not be in His presence!

As we seek the Lord, we must grow in revelation in the knowledge of Him and His ways. As we grow in the knowledge of Christ the Truth, we pull down every stronghold, vain imagination, and high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ the Son. In turn, this sets us free from the mindset and mentality of the fatherless and we are able to think as sons and daughters with the mind of the Son. As we walk in the freedom of truth, we will walk in the ways of life to shine in the darkness with the light of His glory! (See John 1:4.)

###### As we grow in freedom and liberty, we become healed to become one in order that our land may be healed as the body of Christ becomes one.

We can experience truth because Jesus Christ is Truth! Truth is not constantly changing like facts and circumstances that are only true at a given time. The truth is not just information, knowledge, or a philosophy—it is the person of Jesus Christ and the Word made flesh, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hence, if the Son makes us free, we shall be free indeed, by the truth!

For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 1:3-4).

### The Mind of Christ

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2).

The ways needed to shine in the darkness and heal the land begin with renewing our minds to the mind of Christ the Son!

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5).

To walk in the freedom of truth, we need the mind of Christ the Son to set us free from the mindset and mentality of the fatherless, which leads to a performance and achievement-based identity, instead of a relational-based identity, as sons and daughters. The mind of Christ the Son is the mindset and mentality that enables us to serve and minister as a son, not as a servant, slave, or worker! Jesus was not sent as a servant, but as a Son. He did not come to serve as a servant, He came to serve as a Son.

Servants are driven by need, but sons are led by the Father. Servants do not reveal or represent the heart and ways of the one they work for. Only sons and daughters reveal the heart and ways of the one they serve!

When we walk in the truth, we receive freedom and liberty from a fatherless mindset and mentality that began with Lucifer and led to his fall from the Father.

###### We are transformed by the renewing of our minds—not the informing of our minds.

An un-renewed mindset can keep us distracted with information and knowledge about the truth, but without experiencing and being transformed by the truth. The prodigal son and his elder brother in Luke 15 knew about their father but did not know his heart or ways. Only when the prodigal returned to his father did he begin to know and grow in the ways of his father.

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 (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

To be transformed through the ways of Christ, we need a paradigm shift to think as sons and not as servants. We need to think from an identity that comes from our relationship to the Father as His sons and daughters and not from our performance, achievements, and accomplishments as servants and workers.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... (Hosea 4:6).

Those destroyed for lack of knowledge are not those without truth, they are God's people who have the truth, or at least more truth than those who are not "My people." God's people are not destroyed because of Him or the enemy, but through their ignorance of His ways.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25).

The knowledge that we need as God's people is the knowledge that renews our minds to the mind of Christ the Son so that we may be transformed to walk in the ways of the Son. Many of God's people have knowledge, but it is only information without revelation, insight, and understanding for transformation.

The knowledge we need to be free, stay free, and bring freedom to others must lead us to walk in the mind and ways of Christ the Son.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).

Death and life are in the power of our tongue. Luke 6:45 reveals that out of the abundance of our heart our mouth will speak. Hence, words of death will flow from a heart of unbelief—and words of life from a heart of faith. This must remind us to guard our heart with all diligence, for from it will spring either the issues of death or life!

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you (Proverbs 4:23-24).

For lack of knowledge, many do not guard their hearts and are destroyed by the fruit of their lips through the sowing of words that lead to death, not life.

Though God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, we need to understand and remember the limitations of knowledge, even knowledge that leads to the mind and ways of Christ. The knowledge of truth that Lucifer was created in and surrounded by in Heaven did not protect or prevent him from becoming the father of lies.

###### Lucifer became the father of lies though he was created and raised in the presence of truth!

The most transforming environment becomes powerless to transform if our heart is not positioned and postured to be transformed in His presence!

The spiritual atmosphere and environment of truth Lucifer was created in far exceeds the knowledge of truth gained from our knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. In fact, many who were the trained experts and scholars of the law and the knowledge of truth failed to recognize, discern, and believe the Living Truth when He walked among them! In the parable of the sower, the most powerful seed remains fruitless without the soil and roots needed for fruitfulness and is kept free of thorns and weeds.

These facts reveal the limitations of only knowing the written Word if we do not have ears to hear the spoken Word from the Living Word through His written Word!

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life (John 5:39-40).

Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6).

Though Jesus knew the law and the prophets, He did not quote the Word of the written law in His response in the wilderness temptation to turn stones into bread. He instead spoke the Word that proceeded from the mouth of God!

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4).

Jesus was also very clear when He said He only says what His Father says, and not what was written in the law and prophets independently of His Father's voice. Therefore, any quote Jesus made from the law and prophets was in response to hearing from His Father, not a verse He pulled out from His mind, independently of hearing from His Father!

For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak (John 12:49-50).

###### Christ the Son did not live by the Word that had been written, but by every Word that proceeded from the mouth of His Father.

Prophetically, manna was provided daily, even as the disciples were taught to pray "give us this day our daily bread" and not weekly, monthly, or yearly supply! Just as we cannot trust in manna or bread that has been saved and grows stale, neither can we lean on the written Word alone, without also having ears to hear the voice of our good Shepherd through His Spirit!

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).

The spoken Word was all the patriarchs of our faith had before the advent of the written Scripture. Enoch, the seventh generation from Adam, is listed in the great hall of faith in Hebrews 11:5. He pleased God by faith that came by hearing. The way to receive the mind of the Son is not to stop with the written Word, but to desire and let the written Word bring us to Christ the Living Word of truth. As we come to Christ for life, we will live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4) and believe with faith that comes by hearing!

There is little in Joel chapter 2 that fully and clearly describes what happened on the Day of Pentecost in the Upper Room in Acts chapter 2. Yet the apostle Peter quoted from Joel 2 to confirm that the Pentecost experience in the Upper Room was a fulfillment of prophet Joel's prophecy!

There was also very little written word of the "New Covenant" to support most of everything the disciples and early church experienced in the gospels and the book of Acts. Yet they were right on the mark, in contrast to those who resisted the Spirit of Truth and justified themselves with the letter of the law.

Not everything practiced in the early first century church had been "written" at that time; hence, was only in conflict to those walking in the letter and not to those led by the Spirit of the Word of Life. When the Spirit of life brings us to the Living Word, we will receive freedom from every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God:

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 (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

When our thoughts are brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ the Son, we will be transformed to walk in His ways, as we renew our minds to His. If we have all knowledge of the written Word but fail to come to the Living Word to hear, heed, and live by His voice, we have no greater advantage than the father of lies who was created in the presence of the Word. Healthy students of the Word hear the voice of the Spirit as they read by coming to the Living Word for life.

As sheep, we have ears to hear His voice, to hear and believe, for faith comes by hearing. On more than one occasion, those closest to Jesus failed to recognize Him until He opened His mouth and spoke! Until He spoke, He was mistaken to be a ghost, and even a gardener, despite just having risen from the dead!

###### Those who do not know His voice risk failing to recognize His presence and risk being deceived by counterfeit appearances!

A wolf can only wear sheep clothing but will always sound like a wolf and does not heed the voice of the good Shepherd.

Shepherds do not use a public-address system to call their sheep! Therefore, sheep need to remain within hearing distance of the shepherd. Hearing the voice of the shepherd has less to do with the volume of his voice, but more to do with the proximity of the sheep with the shepherd. The further away the sheep wander, the softer the voice of the shepherd, and the greater the distraction of other sights and voices.

Likewise, the farther away, the less safe, and secure we are when we wander away from our Shepherd. We must hear from the Spirit of Truth as we come before His written Word so that we may walk with the mind and ways of the Son.

Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7).

### Grace and Truth

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

###### Through Jesus Christ comes both grace and truth—neither without the other!

Without grace, truth becomes the letter that kills. Without truth, His grace can lead us to a familiarity of His presence without the fear of God or the knowledge of His ways. As we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face, we will grow in both grace and truth to know and walk in His ways.

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come (John 16:13).

Even the Spirit of Truth, like Christ the Son, does not independently speak on His own authority! He only speaks what He hears, telling us things to come. For us to have the mind of Christ to walk in the ways of truth, we cannot walk in isolation and independence without spiritual fathers and mothers in Christ.

Moses was called the meekest man. Perhaps one demonstration of His meekness was revealed when he received the advice of his father-in-law, though he spoke face to face with God!

###### We must realize, like Moses, that God will not tell us what we must hear directly from men, and man cannot tell us what we must hear directly from God. May we have the wisdom to know the difference!

Though Christ the Son was led by His perfect Father in Heaven, He had to grow in wisdom and stature as a Son of Man in the house of Joseph, His imperfect spiritual father on earth!

### The Battle for Our Transformation

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate (Genesis 3:6).

Everything Eve found desirable in the forbidden fruit, she had already received by her Father in the garden. The forbidden fruit was not the only fruit that looked good. All the fruit that had been given was pleasant to the eyes! The forbidden fruit was also not the only fruit that was good for food. All the fruit that was provided for Adam and Eve was good for food. Lastly, the forbidden fruit was not the source of wisdom. Adam and Eve had access to the source of all wisdom as they walked together with God in the cool of the garden.

###### All that Eve desired in the forbidden fruit, she had already received!

The ultimate purpose of the temptation was to tempt Adam and Eve to have the mindset of the fatherless by believing the lie that she and Adam could dishonor the Father of glory and still enjoy the glory of the Father! It is also significant to note that the one thing that was forbidden in Eden, was one specific fruit from one specific tree. In general, fruit is good and beneficial to our health. Yet, God chose what was otherwise good and beneficial to be forbidden.

This may have been done to test if the foundation of our obedience is based on honoring Him and His Word, or on our understanding, reason, and logic. The serpent appealed to Eve's understanding, reasoning, and logic to tempt her to justify dishonoring the Word of her Father. This is the root behind many issues facing the body of Christ today. We justify sin based on our understanding, reason, and logic. This happens when we think that we are more loving, merciful, and kind than God the Father.

###### We make ourselves like "god" when we reduce the Word to our human reasoning and understanding of love to justify what He has forbidden!

Deception is often a mixture of good and evil like the forbidden fruit. Hence, the temptation to study and examine the goodness of the written Word without coming to the Living Word for life is a form of deceit.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

In the absence of life, many are led astray by their own desires and have turned away from the truth. They have justified their lawlessness with the letter of the written Word, without the life of the Living Word.

When we do not come to the Living Truth for life, we subject the written Word to our own desires, becoming deceived. We fall into the trap of believing that we are standing on grace despite the absence of truth to justify our own desires!

When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?" (John 6:61)

Before the truth sets us free, He will first offend the lies we believe and the desires we have that conflict with truth. Our response to this offense determines if we become free or remain bound. Jesus made more sinners glad than the religious who became mad with rage. When truth offends us, we have the opportunity to either respond humbly in repentance and faith, or react in pride by taking offense.

###### The same sun that hardens clay melts wax. The response of our heart to harden or melt is not the fault of the Son, but the substance of our heart.

As we come to the Living Truth for life, we will know the ways of Christ the Son that reveal the Father and receive the desires of His heart as we delight ourselves in Him! May His desires for us become our desires.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

Those who do not come to the Living Word for life risk replacing His voice with the reasoning of a fatherless mindset. This results in subjecting Scripture to our subjective experiences rather than subjecting our experiences to the objective truth of the Living Word!

Faith does not come by reading alone, but by hearing the spoken Word of life and hearing from the Spirit as we read the written Word. To each of the seven churches in Revelation, it is written, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Those who cannot hear are limited to their own human understanding and reasoning. Those who fail to hear and believe are powerless to live by faith that comes by hearing in the righteousness of God! The Greek word for "repent" in the New Testament is to change the way we think. It is possible to grow in information and knowledge, but never change the way we think or repent.

###### Being sorry for our sins will not lead to transformation if our minds are not changed and renewed to the mind of Christ the Son!

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

The apostle Paul writes that he does not rejoice simply that the church in Corinth was made sorry, but that their sorrow was a godly sorrow that produced repentance unto salvation.

There is also a sorrow of the world that produces death, as demonstrated by King Saul in 1 Samuel 15, and Judas when he hung himself. Peter denied Christ three times and wept bitterly. Yet he came back to Jesus, demonstrating a godly sorrow that leads to salvation. The religious leaders about to stone the woman caught in adultery dropped their stones in response to what Jesus wrote in the sand. However, they walked away from Him instead of toward Him.

There is no transformation without coming to Him. Many seek to change their behavior without coming to Him, failing to realize that only when we come to Him will our minds be renewed toward Christlikeness. The greatest miracle of salvation written in Romans 10 does not occur through our confession of sin, but through our faith confession of the lordship and resurrection of Christ.

###### Jesus never forgave and healed the sick in response to their confession of sin, but in response to their faith!

In much of the New Testament context of confessing our sins, we see that the confession of sin has more to do with relational healing, reconciliation, and restoration of relationships in the body of Christ. The willingness to confess our sins to those we have sinned against demonstrates our acceptance of responsibility in humility, which is necessary for healing, reconciliation, and restoration. The woman who was caught in adultery in John 8:10-11 was first forgiven, and then told to go and sin no more!

To confess our sins before those we have sinned against requires a humility to acknowledge personal responsibility and not blame-shift. This was the second greatest failure of Adam and Eve after eating the forbidden fruit. Instead of acknowledging personal responsibility, Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, and the serpent didn't have a leg to stand on!

Confessing our sins to those we have sinned against is a necessary part of reconciliation and restoration of relationships. Even the call to confess our sins in 1 John 1 is in the relational context of fellowship. Matthew and James write that we are to confess our sins before man, and even before laying our gift at the altar. When we recognize our need for mercy by acknowledging our sins to those we have sinned against, we will not pray for judgment on offenders from self-righteous pride but will pray in humility for mercy and salvation for ourselves and for our land.

### Repentance through His Goodness

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

The purpose of our heavenly Father's goodness is to lead us to think as sons and daughters with the mind of Christ the Son—not the mindset of those who serve and minister as servants and workers.

His kindness can lead us to repentance through godly sorrow, as it did for the apostle Peter at the "boat-sinking" catch of fish:

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" (Luke 5:8)

The sorrow of the world produces death, as it did for Judas who hung himself. This is a sorrow that is sorry for being caught and for the consequences, but does not lead the person back to Jesus. Worldly sorrow is like the criminal who pleads for mercy by promising the judge he will try his best to never to get caught again!

What distracts us will easily overwhelm us and consume us. Many live their lives distracted by what God has not done and is not doing and by the offense of what others have said and done against them. The alternative is to live our lives distracted by what God has done and is doing and staying grateful for those who have blessed and encouraged us.

###### We can either choose to live in reaction to offense or choose to live in response to His goodness as a face-seeker.

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17).

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

The absence of judgment is not God's acceptance or tolerance of sin, but His merciful patience to delay judgment so that none perish but have the opportunity to repent.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Our heavenly Father in His mercy was longsuffering toward us until we heard and believed the good news. He could have judged us in our sin before we were saved and judged us for all our doubts and double-mindedness. Yet because of our need for repentance, He is good and kind to us. His blessing and favor upon our lives far exceeds what we deserve. None of us would and could stand if we were judged according to what we deserve and if our blessings were exactly as we deserve.

The truth that the purpose of His kindness is to lead us to repentance demonstrates that His kindness is not a reward because we are good, but an act of mercy to turn our hearts toward His, though we deserve judgment. This is the purpose and reason we are to respond to our enemies and those who offend us the way Jesus instructs us:

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:44-45).

Only mature sons have the mind of Christ the Son and are able to respond to darkness with the light of the Father's glory. Because His kindness is to lead us to repentance, we are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us, that His kindness through us may lead them to repentance.

###### Responding in love to the unloving reveals the Father's heart and leads our enemies and offenders to repentance.

The kindness and goodness of a good Father is to save His enemies by changing their mindsets through repentance. Our chief enemy, however, seeks to take advantage of the kindness of God. It is his intention that God's goodness lead us to independence and rebellion, as it was in Eden, instead of repentance! His strategy is to make us believe the lie that Abba's (Father's) kindness to us has nothing to do with Abba, but more to do with our spiritual disciplines, accomplishments, achievements, and the works of our hands.

Many fathers have been dishonored as a result of this lie, because many spiritually immature sons believe that whatever good they experience is independent of the father of their home. They believe it is a reward of their good works and good behavior. They are often easily offended with the father of their home and react in dishonor to the ways of their fathers and spiritual fathers who are not in Christ.

The prodigal and his elder brother in Luke 15 experienced the kindness and goodness of their father but without the revelation knowledge of their father's goodness. Hence, they continued in their dysfunctional ways until the prodigal left his father and lost everything before coming to his senses. Only when the prodigal came to the end of himself did he appreciate his father's goodness. He had always been poor in spirit, but he had no revelation of his poverty of spirit until he came to his senses through his physical poverty.

###### Only when the prodigal experienced physical poverty in his time of need did he receive the revelation of his spiritual poverty and need for mercy.

The revelation of the judgment we deserve and our need for mercy should move us to appreciate the Father's mercy and goodness and lead us to repentance. Other recipients of the Father's mercy, not judgment, include the woman at the well with many husbands in John 4:28-30, the woman caught in adultery in John 8:10-11, and Zacchaeus the tax collector in Luke 19:5-10.

Jesus did not humiliate, embarrass, or make the woman at the well feel ashamed for her promiscuous lifestyle. He did not condone or affirm her lifestyle, but neither did He condemn her. He filled her with hope for deliverance and salvation. His righteousness did not make her uncomfortable with Him. His righteousness enabled her to recognize her spiritual need. Instead of being provoked to anger and rage, the light of Christ shone brightly in the woman's darkness, and she became an evangelist to the men of her city!

Additionally, Jesus never informed the woman caught in adultery about the law and what those who break the law deserve. His mercy led her to repentance. Her accusers, however, had a form of worldly sorrow. They dropped their stones but turned away in the wrong direction! Instead of walking toward Jesus, they dropped their stones and walked away from Jesus. True repentance results in us walking toward Christ, not away.

Jesus the Light did not condemn Zacchaeus for his darkness, He brought the light to his house. Amazingly, Zacchaeus was not filled with fear but "made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully." The kindness of the Lord led him to repentance. That repentance led to fruits of repentance, as Zacchaeus sought to return half of his goods to the poor and to restore fourfold anything he took by false accusation.

These are the ways of the Father toward sinners. He desires that we also demonstrate the ways of Christ as mature spiritual sons and daughters.

Jesus never threatened with the fires of hell or the consequences of breaking the ten commandments. He simply let His light shine in their darkness. His kindness led them to repentance because He revealed the heart and ways of His Father.

In these examples, Jesus demonstrates the need to cross over to where sinners are, but without denying the Cross and becoming like them! He did not conform to the culture of the world by adopting the culture of the world to change the world!

###### The influence of salt and light is from its difference and not similarity with its environment.

The Son wants to set us free from the lies that keep us in unbelief. Unbelief is rooted in believing lies based on facts that oppose the truth of God's Word. Facts and truth are not the same. Jesus Christ is the Living Truth, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Facts that oppose the truth are only true at a given moment of time and are always changing for better or for worse. Hence, a bad report may change for better or for worse immediately after the report was made!

Facts that are aligned with the truth must never be taken for granted, but appreciated by holding fast the good confession of our faith. With our heart we believe unto righteousness, but confession is made unto salvation, and Jesus is the High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 10:23). Nothing was created without the spoken Word, and every weapon against Jesus in the wilderness was met with the spoken Word!

The faith that comes as we hear His voice helps displace and replace the lies in our minds and free us to be filled with all joy and peace in believing (Romans 15:13). When Jesus demonstrated anger, it was rarely if ever toward His own disciples, or even to the seventy or the multitudes. It was not even for the polygamous woman at the well or the woman caught in adultery or the thieving tax collector! Jesus' strong words were usually reserved for the religious leaders, as written in Matthew 23:13. Even when Jesus overthrew the temple tables, He did not find the nearest whip and use it out of anger. Instead, he took time to make a whip before using it intentionally. He did not impulsively react in anger.

When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables (John 2:15).

May His truth set us free from the despair and hopelessness of every lie. May the Sword of the Spirit pull down every stronghold, vain imagination, and high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of our heavenly Father and bring our every thought captive to the mind and ways of Christ.

### Of One Mind

Apostles Paul and Peter, as senior leaders of the first century church, exhort us to be "like-minded" and of "one mind." Those who have the mind of the Son become like-minded of one mind and one mouth through the confession of their hope.

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5-6).

Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Corinthians 13:11).

fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state (Philippians 2:2,20).

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous (1 Peter 3:8).

When we have the mind of Christ the Son, we will walk in the ways of truth to reveal the Father. Agreeing to disagree is an easy escape from seeking the mind of Christ in major matters of disagreement. It is easy to repeat the ancient quote:

###### In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.

###### –Rupertus Meldenius, circa 1627

The challenge, however, is the wisdom to discern between the essential and non-essential! If we fail to discern correctly, we risk giving greater priority to the less-essential and lesser priority to the more-essential. It is essential to know God as our Father, and not just as our Creator, Judge, and Rewarder. To have the mind of Christ the Son, we need to come to Him for life and lay down our personal ambitions, agendas, and desires. Only then can we objectively hear His voice without malice, wickedness, insincerity, falsehood, prejudice, or bias.

If our identity and security is not from our relationship as sons and daughters of our heavenly Father, it may rest on our need to be right, with the false security of our knowledge, achievements, and accomplishments instead of increasing Christlikeness! When we are of "one mind" we are not "yes men" but like-minded with the mind of Christ. When we have the mind of Christ, we will be of one mind. As our minds are renewed to the mind of Christ, we will not only walk in the way of truth that reveals the Father, but also in the way of life to shine with the light of His glory.

When we walk in the way of truth, we walk with the mind of the Son that does not live in reaction to darkness but in response to our heavenly Father's goodness. When we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face, He makes known His ways of truth to us so that we may speak and live in response to His goodness. Living in response to His goodness, or the knowledge of His glory, empowers us to live in the way of glory.

# Chapter 4

## Shining with the Light of Life

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him" (John 14:6-7).

Jesus is the only way to the Father and reveals the Father in truth and life. As we walk in the freedom of truth, we will walk in the life that He came to give (John 10:10), which is the way of the Father's glory!

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:4,14).

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).

In the beginning was the living and spoken Word. In the "spoken Word" was life, and that life was the light of the Father's glory that shone in the darkness!

Jesus Christ the Son only spoke what He heard His Father say and did not speak in reaction to what the enemy was doing or had done. He spoke in response to the Father, not in reaction to darkness. The words that Christ spoke in response to the Father were Words of life! Therefore, those words became the light in every area of darkness where the Living Word spoke!

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).

###### God is light; and the light of His Words of life, is His response to darkness!

When God saw the darkness in Genesis 1, He did not react to the darkness. He responded with who He was and is—The Light! For God our Father so loved a world in darkness that He did not war with the "flesh and blood" instruments of darkness in the world; rather, He sent His only Son to be the Light in the darkness! When Christ the Son ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit on earth, He did not react to the works of the enemy. He spoke words of life that became the light in their darkness. When Jesus saw the darkness in Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, He responded to Saul's darkness with light and turned a terrorist into an evangelist who would write most of New Testament books!

The apostles ministered in the power and might of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, as Jesus did in the gospels. There is no mention of Jesus or the apostles pulling down or uprooting territorial strongholds in the heavenly realm where they ministered. As they declared, proclaimed, and decreed words of life, those words became the light of life that displaced and replaced the darkness as they walked under an open Heaven wherever they went!

###### In the absence of light, darkness prevails—in a home, community, city, and land.

A great deception of our time is when believers react to darkness instead of dealing with the absence of light that empowers the darkness!

Darkness is the reason and purpose we are called to be the light. We are not called to react or become overwhelmed or offended by those around us and those who may be in government. We have been called to speak life and shine in the darkness.

###### Out of the abundance of a heart of faith flow words of life that light may shine in the darkness.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

There is no light without His life, and no life without coming to the Living Word:

But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life (John 5:40).

As a candle flame requires oxygen to burn, so does the flame of His glory require the oxygen of His abundant life to burn. Adam and Eve chose the knowledge of goodness and evil in the place of life and fell short of the Father's glory. May we never choose the knowledge of goodness in the absence of life by not coming to Him through His Word.

You have made known to me the ways of life... (Acts 2:28).

The knowledge of goodness without life is like coming to the written Word without coming to the Living Word for life to hear His voice. The written Word without communion with the Living Word, leaves us with the letter of the law, which kills in the absence of life.

...who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3:6).

Because His Word is Spirit and life, every word from the mouth of God is packed with life and full of light and glory! Hence, light may have shone in Genesis 1 as soon as the first word left His mouth, even before the sentence was completed! Just as the life of the spoken Word became the light in the darkness in the beginning in Genesis 1:3, the Father demonstrated His extravagant love toward a world that was in darkness.

God sent His only beloved Son to be the light in the darkness, to become the first born of many sons and daughters who would become the light of the world! The life that Jesus came to give us in John 10:10 begins with Romans 10:10! We who were in darkness first received the light of His abundant life when we believed He was raised from the dead unto righteousness and confessed that Jesus is Lord unto salvation.

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.... Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 3:1; 10:23).

The ways of the Son begin with holding fast the confession of our hope without wavering.

Just as God's response to darkness is to shine with the light of the spoken Word of life, we too must shine in the darkness around us by speaking the Word of life into the darkness. If we do not walk in the ways of life, we will live in reaction to darkness instead of shining in the darkness.

###### Those who react to darkness empower the darkness through words of death instead of shining in the darkness through words of life.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21).

Our spoken words determine if we add to the problem or become part of the answer. We position ourselves to shine in the darkness when we respond with words of hope and life, as those who seek His face. Face-seekers see darkness in the light of the Father's glory. Those who do not seek the Father's face may become passive and adapt to the darkness, or they may react in fear or offense with those in darkness.

To respond to darkness with the light of life through the spoken Word, we need to humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face so that we see the darkness in the light of the Father's glory. As we seek His face, we will come to the Living Word for life, that we may hear His voice and pierce the darkness by saying what the Father is saying by His Spirit.

### The Generational Alignment for Life and Glory

The second but foundational key to walking in the ways of life demonstrated by Christ is the first commandment with the promise of life.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6:1-3).

This commandment is where the new commandment in John 13:34 begins; Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."

The first lesson that was taught, even to Christ the Son of Man in the house of Joseph, was to honor father and mother, with the promise of life! There is a huge difference between honoring and agape love. Unlike honor, there is no promise attached to the command to love! We love in response to Abba's love for us, and for the benefit of others and not ourselves. If we love because of something we receive in return, then it is no longer love!

In contrast to love, the command to honor comes with a powerful personal incentive and motivation, "that it may be well" with us, and that we "may live long" on the earth! This promise is for those giving the honor, not for those receiving the honor!

Love is the evidence of our relationship with Christ, our Vine, and, hence, a fruit of the Spirit. Jesus tells us "to love one another" in response to His love for us.

To honor is not a fruit of the Spirit or a fruit of maturity, but something that must be taught and learned from childhood with the promise of "life" for us who honor.

Before we learn to love God or even to love our father and mother, we must be taught to honor our father and mother. Perhaps learning to honor and love our perfect Father in Heaven whom we cannot see, begins with learning to honor our imperfect fathers and mothers whom we can see! This promise is not dependent upon our attitude toward our perfect Father in Heaven, but upon our attitude toward our imperfect fathers and mothers on earth!

The grace and favor of life begins with our Father in Heaven but is dependent and conditional upon honoring our imperfect fathers and mothers on earth. Without this revelation, we will believe the lie that honor must be earned and deserved.

Daniel was described as having an excellent spirit and David, a man after God's heart. Both men demonstrated what honor looks like toward unrighteous, evil, wicked, and godless kings. Even the apostle Paul demonstrated such honor toward the religious ruler who ordered him struck (Acts 23:5). All three demonstrated that giving honor is not based on the character of those in authority, but of our own personal character. We honor for our sake and not for the sake of those we honor!

Honor follows obedience in Ephesians 6:1, implying that obedience is possible without honor, but also the precursor to learning how to honor. If there is no obedience, there will be no honor. Obedience must lead to learning to honor.

Honor must eventually come from the value we give to the position of our father and mother, and not from their character or the quality of their parenting. We cannot learn to honor our perfect Father in Heaven without first learning to honor our imperfect fathers and mothers on earth!

###### The light of the Father's glory upon Christ the Son was not only as the spoken Word of life but also through the honor He gave imperfect fathers as a Son of Man.

Christ, the Son of Man, did not live in reaction to the darkness of the humanity of His spiritual family. He was so loved and secure by His heavenly Father that He could honor His imperfect spiritual father and mother who were born in sin. As He honored those incomparably less honorable than Himself, He was the light in their darkness.

If we do not learn to first honor the parents in our own house, we will likely struggle to honor those outside our house, or risk honoring spiritual fathers and mothers of other houses, in place of those in our own house! David did not call his prophet and king "father" at the cost of dishonoring Jessie, the father of his own house! The honor Christ gave as the Son of Man first began in the house of Joseph before He honored the fathers of other houses.

It is easier to honor spiritual fathers and mothers of other houses whom we can selectively reveal the areas of our lives we choose to, than to honor the spiritual father and mother in our own house who see what those outside our house cannot see!

###### Our home is where we first learn the ways of life through honor!

The honor that David learned to give Jessie as the father of his house was demonstrated with his prophet as a spiritual father, and even King Saul as the political father of the land. David honored King Saul in spite of him seeking to murder David. David called all three men "father" not because they were all godly and righteous, but because of their office and position.

David often referred to King Saul as "God's Anointed," not based on Saul's character, but rather the office in which he was anointed to be king! Daniel is also a powerful example in the honor demonstrated toward King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4. Through the honor he gave, the heart of the king turned toward the God of Daniel when he was restored to his senses after the season of his judgment was complete.

If we do not have the heart of a son and a daughter, we will be distracted by the darkness in our imperfect leaders in the faith. Instead of honoring them based on their office, position, and the gift and calling they carry, we will likely take offense and dishonor them for failing to meet our expectations and forfeit our spiritual inheritance as sons and daughters!

Jesus, the Son of Man, was also called the Son of David, despite David committing adultery and murder! Christ was both the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. As spiritual fathers, both Abraham and David carried a spiritual inheritance that Christ could only receive as the Son of Man, and not as the Son of God!

###### The honor our perfect heavenly Father gives to our imperfect parents on earth is revealed by making our inheritance of life conditional upon learning to honor them before Him!

Without this grace of life that comes through honor, there is no foundation for all other blessings to rest upon. In Psalm 133, we are commanded as brothers to dwell in unity. For brothers to be one, they will either be one in dishonoring their father, or they will be one in honoring their father. The one-third of angels who fell were one in dishonor, unlike the two thirds who remained one in honor. There can be no unity between brothers who honor the father of their house and brothers who dishonor the same father, as demonstrated by the prodigal son and his elder brother in Luke 15.

###### The unity of brothers can rise no higher than the honor each gives as a son in their family and spiritual family.

Any desire or demand from parents to receive honor from their children benefits their children incomparably more than it benefits them! Parents can live and survive without the honor from their children, but children cannot afford to live without their inheritance of life!

###### Our desire to instruct our children in the ways and culture of honor is to instruct them in the ways and culture of life that they cannot afford to live without!

Honor begins in the house as it did with Christ, the Son of Man. It also begins in the house of faith, especially if we have none at home! We need to understand the core values and principles of honor, which are the generational alignment for life on earth as it is in Heaven:

  * We honor from the revelation of our personal need for the inheritance received through honor, regardless of the expectation, obligation, and character of those we are called to honor!
  * It is of no consequence whether our parents or leaders have earned or deserve our honor, because our purpose for honoring is not a reward for their leadership. We honor based on the promise of life we cannot afford to live without as sons and daughters of the house, as demonstrated by Christ, the Son of Man!
  * The inheritance of life and our spiritual inheritance is received through the honor.

Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father (Proverbs 17:6).

If we do not recognize the value of what is most valuable, we will receive nothing. For lack of vision, people perish (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). This vision does not begin with what we see with our natural eyes or from the personal goals, ambitions, or agendas we set for ourselves.

Spiritual vision includes the insight, understanding, and revelation from the Holy Spirit to discern the gold beneath the surface of information. We must discern the gold of the ways of Christ beneath the humanity of the ways that are not in Christ in the parents and leaders of our home and house of faith.

Jesus Christ could do nothing where His identity, anointing, power, and authority were not recognized, valued, and honored. The blessing He was to others finally depended on their revelation and perception of Him.

###### Faith and unbelief often hang in the balance of revelation and perception.

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching (Mark 6:5-6).

Many were not healed through Christ because they lacked the revelation of who Christ was, not because He was unwilling or powerless.

###### The choice to believe is inseparable from our perception and revelation of Christ!

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8).

###### Seeing God is less about seeing Him when He comes or having visions of Him; seeing Him is more about having the wisdom, understanding, and revelation to see the Word as He is!

### The Glory of Life for Healing the Land

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).

###### The heaviest weight of glory upon the earth is upon our fathers and mothers, through whom we receive the glory of our Father in Heaven.

Until and unless we recognize the weight of the glory of our perfect Father in Heaven upon our imperfect fathers on earth, we will easily take offense and dishonor our fathers and spiritual fathers and rob ourselves of the life needed to shine in the darkness in our land.

And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:6).

This verse is not just speaking of two generations, but for each and every generation to honor their fathers and mothers as sons and daughters of the preceding generations, and to love their sons and daughters in the subsequent generations.

When each generation does not turn their hearts toward their fathers, the resulting dishonor will hinder the inheritance of life and glory needed to bless and heal our land! The glory we receive through honor as sons and daughters becomes the glory we carry as fathers and mothers for our sons and daughters.

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you (Isaiah 60:1).

Many of us begin reading the first verse of Isaiah 60 without connecting it to the preceding last verse of Isaiah 59:

"As for Me," says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and forevermore" (Isaiah 59:21).

The glory of the Lord is risen upon those speaking the Word of life as recipients of the life received through honoring the previous generations. Hence, life through the spoken Word and honor became the light of life, for the light of His glory to shine in the darkness!

### A Revelation of Faith

Not only does honor define the generational alignment of Heaven, so does faith. Jesus had seen no greater faith in all of Israel than in the Gentile centurion through his revelation of faith coming from authority!

"For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" (Matthew 8:9-10)

The centurion had the revelation that genuine and authentic authority flows from submission! He reveals this revelation through his words in verse 9. Here he declares that just as he is under authority, he too has soldiers under his authority! In other words, he would have no authority unless he himself was under authority. He recognized Jesus as one who was under authority like himself. Hence, the centurion's faith in the authority of Jesus' words came from his revelation of the authority he carried as one under authority. He fully expected Jesus' words to be honored because he recognized that Jesus' authority came from submission as the Son of God and Man.

###### Jesus' submission to His Father was not an excuse to disobey His spiritual parents!

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51).

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me (John 6:38).

Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Without honor, the house, city, and nation become divided between those who honor and those who don't. When dishonor prevails in the house, the darkness of lawlessness will prevail in the land. When there is honor in the house, the light of life will shine in the land.

### Restoring Wineskins

For many years I often wondered why an omniscient, all-knowing God and Father would command His blessing and pour out His Spirit upon the many wonderful renewals, revivals, and awakenings, despite knowing full well that the wineskin would split sooner than later!

Because God is an excellent steward, I had initially assumed that the reason must be for the "greater good" of the fruit that remains, despite the "collateral damage" through broken wineskins. The answer, I began to discover, was to be found in the purpose of His kindness and goodness:

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

When we understand that His goodness is not a reward of our repentance but rather to lead us to repentance because of our need for repentance, we will understand why He keeps pouring out His Spirit despite our lack of repentance and dysfunction!

Our heavenly Father does not command His blessing and pour out His Spirit as a reward for our spiritual disciplines, character, works of ministry, and good works. He pours out His Spirit upon us because of our need to have the mind of Christ so that we can walk in His ways, reveal our Father in Heaven, and receive healing for our land.

As our thinking changes through repentance, we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds to the mind of Christ the Son. Our mindsets will change from thinking as "fatherless" servants and workers to serve and work as sons and daughters of a good Father, with the mind of the Son.

Many, however, have generally failed to understand the purpose of His goodness. Instead of seeking His face to know His ways in each outpouring, we have wrongly assumed that the outpouring is a reward for our ways and fail to turn from those ways that are keeping our land in need of healing.

Because we have not known the purpose of His kindness, many have wrongly assumed that His kindness was a reward or consequence of their character.

Faith that moves mountains is not the evidence of love, and neither is faith the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit:

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).

The faith released in united, corporate city and nationwide prayer is not the evidence of the fruit of our character. Our heavenly Father does not respond to our corporate faith-filled prayers as a reward for our character. The purpose of His outpouring is to lead us to repentance because of our need to know and walk in His ways. Because of the darkness in the land, He must first pour out His Spirit upon us to bring light to His house!

Our heavenly Father pours out His Spirit so that we may repent from our wicked ways and turn to the ways of the Son for the healing of our land.

Repentance toward the mind of Christ the Son, is not the condition for a move of God but rather the purpose and intended fruit of a move of God. The outpouring of the Spirit is not a reward for our repentance, it is the demonstration of His mercy to lead us to repentance through His patience, kindness, and goodness.

The apostle Paul walked in the way of truth, which are the ways of Christ, the Truth. Paul did not have a "fatherless" mindset. His identity, security, and worth were not from His religious pedigree, education, or accomplishments, but as a son who revealed the Father by walking in the ways of Christ. Like Christ, Paul did not minister in reaction to darkness, but shone in the darkness through honor in word and actions. No wonder Paul was quick to repent for speaking against unrighteous leadership in Acts 23 and tells us to pray for kings and all in authority. He wrote this, despite the intense persecution by the government of his day!

Jesus Christ is, and served as, the Son of the Living God. He demonstrated truth as a Son who did not live in reaction to the works of the enemy but in response to His Father. As a Son of Man, He demonstrated honor as a Son in the house of Joseph, and as the Son of David and Abraham. As the Truth made flesh, Jesus was also the light, for He was the Word made flesh. He and His Word are Spirit and life, which are the Light of the world. As the Word made flesh lived and ministered in response to His Father, His Words were full of life that became the light in the darkness.

The ways of truth and life are the ways of those who humble themselves, pray, and seek the Father's face. They are free from the mindset and ways of the fatherless. They walk in the freedom of truth as sons and daughters who live and speak life in response to the knowledge of the Father's goodness. Becoming one on earth as it is in Heaven, begins by turning our hearts to the Father to know His love, that we may be healed and secure as sons and daughters. Only when we are healed and secure as sons and daughters of Abba Father are we positioned to turn our hearts to our imperfect fathers and mothers in our home and house of faith.

# Chapter 5

## Turning Our Hearts to the Father

Turning our hearts to the Father as face-seekers positions us to be healed and restored in order to turn our hearts toward our fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters in our homes and houses of faith. This generational alignment of Heaven on earth has been hindered and derailed through offenses, wounds, abuse, and betrayal.

By failing to humble ourselves and pray as face-seekers, we have not known the ways of the Father. Without knowing His ways, many of us live in reaction to what God has not done and is not doing, instead of living in response to what He has done and is doing. By failing to live in response to the knowledge of the Father's glory, we have struggled to forgive our fathers and sons in our home and house of faith. Therefore, the darkness in our house, city, and land has been empowered through dishonor by defining our fathers and sons by their offenses, instead of turning our hearts toward them.

For the body of Christ to be one, it must first be healed generationally. Before the land can be healed, we the body of Christ must first be healed to become one as it is in Heaven. We are healed as we turn our hearts to our Father as face-seekers.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations (Psalm 67:1-2 KJV).

As a face-seeker, David writes in Psalm 67 that when the glory of the Lord shines upon us, His ways will be known and His saving health will be known among all nations. Healing the land through the ways of the Father must be the foundation of all our evangelism, discipleship, ministry, and good works.

Despite all the good and supernatural works of God's people called by His name, many of our lands remain in darkness due to the mindset and ways of the fatherless that have kept His body from being healed and one.

Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people (Exodus 33:13).

As we grow in the knowledge of His ways, we will know Him and find grace in His sight: grace to intercede and seek His face; grace to turn from our wicked ways; grace to be heard and forgiven; and grace for our land to be healed.

### Grace to Pray, Seek, and Turn

Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2).

The first thing required of us in 2 Chronicles 7:14, however, is not the grace that comes by faith, but the grace that comes through humility:

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:4-6).

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).

We become powerless to shine in the darkness of our land if we love the darkness or are afraid or offended by it!

###### The power of influence to bring change is in its difference and not similarity to its environment!

Many have tried to influence the world to Christ by becoming like the world, only to lose their influence as salt and light. The grace we need to pray and turn from our wicked ways must begin with the humility to acknowledge our responsibility for the darkness, as God's people called by His name!

###### Darkness is the evidence of the absence of light!

Many believers blame the unrighteousness, ungodliness, evil, and wickedness of their government and land as the reasons for the spiritual darkness in the land. Until and unless we who are God's people called by His name take responsibility for our ways that has kept our light from shining, our land will remain in darkness.

If we do not humble ourselves by taking responsibility, we will not seek His face in humility and we risk seeking His hands of judgment upon the evil and wicked doers of the land. We risk becoming prophets of judgment, doom, and gloom upon those in darkness, rather than crying out for mercy upon ourselves for our dysfunctional fatherless ways that has empowered the darkness.

When we humble ourselves, we begin to seek His face in prayer that we may know His ways, instead of calling for judgment upon the ways of those in darkness. As His face shines upon us, His ways as our Father will shine in the darkness of our fatherless mindset and ways. As we grow in the knowledge of His glory and ways, we will be loved, healed, and secure to walk in the mindset and ways of sons and daughters, not as prodigals, elder brothers, the lukewarm of the house of Laodicea, or any of the other dysfunctional ways of the churches in the first three chapters of Revelation.

Transformation according to Romans 12:2 begins with renewing our mind, and a renewed mindset begins with a change of thinking or repentance. We must change our mindset from fatherless servants and workers to those who serve and obey as sons and daughters, through the revelation of the Father's love. His love is demonstrated through His patience, kindness, and goodness (Romans 2:4).

Of all the disciples, only one had a revelation of being loved by Jesus, and he became the last man standing at the foot of the Cross! We often call him the apostle of love, who is John the Beloved. The other disciples were trying to love Christ, but without first knowing by experience the love of Christ. Peter even boasted that he would never deny Christ, only to end up denying Christ three times (Matthew 26:33-35).

Because there is no fear in love, only John the Beloved was bold enough to remain with Christ till the end, standing before the Cross while all the other disciples had forsaken Him. Because there is no fear in love, only John the Beloved chose the seat of intimacy—to lean and recline on Jesus. To know the love of Christ that passes all understanding, we need the revelation of the Christ as the Son of God and man, that we may turn our heart to God as our Father, and to our fathers as sons.

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:15-16).

Many perceive Christ as the servant of the living God who served as a servant, rather than the Son of the living God, who did everything as a Son for His Father! If we do not perceive Christ as a Son, we are unlikely to perceive God as Father, but as a judge and rewarder. Rather than living in the love and rest of the Father, we live and serve from the fear of judgment, striving to obey and please God for reward, our sense of self-worth, identity, and security. The Father openly declared His love for His Son at His water baptism, even before Jesus began public ministry. Because the identity and security of Christ was as a Son and not from His accomplishments as a servant, He was willing to wait for thirty years before beginning public ministry!

For the first thirty years, Christ the Son had to put His public assignment on hold and let the sick remain sick and die, let the captives remain captive, the possessed remain possessed, and the dead remain dead! As a Son, He was not driven by the needs of those outside His house as a servant, He was led by the Father as a Son. He did not get impatient with the Father and question the integrity of the Father's timing, but He was patiently growing in wisdom, stature, and favor in the house of Joseph, while serving as the Son of Man and elder brother! Christ the Son was secure in His Father's love so that He could turn His heart to love and honor His own imperfect spiritual father and mother who were both born in sin!

Before we can turn our hearts to our imperfect fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, we must first turn our hearts to our perfect Father in Heaven, through the revelation of Christ as the Son of God and man. We need to humble ourselves to take responsibility for the darkness of the land because of our wicked ways, so we may know the Father-heart of God through Christ, His Son.

###### Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, and those called to be "salt and light" blame government and those outside the house for the darkness of the land!

That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).

The prayer of the humble begins with seeking the knowledge of the Father's glory, kindness and goodness, because it is His kindness and goodness that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4).

###### We seek His face by choosing to focus on testimonies, in the light of His promises.

When John the Baptist sent messengers to confirm if Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the response from Jesus, in summary, shifted John's focus away from his immediate circumstances of being held captive in prison to consider all those who were being set free through Jesus Christ outside his prison!

It requires humility to come before the Father with thanksgiving, instead of defining Him by the prayers He has not answered (yet) or the things He has not done (yet), but by the prayers that He has answered and is answering.

As we receive the revelation of His goodness and glory, His love will begin to heal our hearts and reveal any areas of darkness that brought pain, offense, wounds, and abuse from our fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, and sisters in our home and house of faith. The light of the Father's glory not only exposes and reveals darkness, but also brings forgiveness and healing without guilt or condemnation. As we acknowledge and receive healing, we will also be healed and secure to repent of the pain we may have caused others in our home and house of faith.

###### We are not responsible for the words and actions of others, but we are responsible for our response to their words and actions.

The choice is ours to stay bitter or to allow our heavenly Father to heal us and make us better. When we experience our heavenly Father's love, He empowers us to turn our stumbling blocks into stepping stones, and to turn our scars into stars for His glory. Many times, the pain we endure may not have been directly inflicted on us but on those we love through "second-hand offenses"!

It was mostly second-hand offenses through ministry leaders toward my father that initially kept me from desiring to serve with him in the ministry in Penang. I had seen the pain my parents had been through, and I did not believe I had what it took to cope with the dysfunction in ministry that they had endured.

Though appearing contradictory, the Lord in His mercy provided a "Jonah's whale" to keep me in Penang through two invitations within nine days to work abroad in ministry. In early January 1995 after graduating from Bible college, I accepted an invitation by the late Reverend Wynne Lewis of the Elim Pentecostal Church in the United Kingdom (UK) to serve as a youth and worship minister in Derby, UK. He was a good friend of my father and offered me an available position.

Yet nine days later, I received another invitation from Christ for All Nations to work for Reinhard Bonnke in Hong Kong! Because this second invitation was a confirmation of what the Lord had spoken three years earlier, I accepted it, assuming I would not be returning to Penang any time soon. Yet the Lord used the ministry of Bonnke as an anointed "Jonah's whale" to keep me from going to the UK and bring me back to Penang sooner than I expected. At the last minute before going to Hong Kong, after returning with the team from Ethiopia, the senior leadership were advised against setting up a foreign Christian office in Hong Kong because it would soon become part of China in 1997, another two years. Hence the position in Hong Kong suddenly fell through, and I had already turned down the offer with Elim UK. Hence the Lord in His mercy sent me back to Penang!

It was an extremely difficult time of ministry in Penang in 1995, but Abba Father used those years to change me and birth questions regarding unity, wineskins, and the Father's glory that would not let me go. He began to answer these questions in 2012. The answers to these questions have become my life message and the message of this book.

As it has been for many, the life of Joseph was an inspiration, given his response to his brothers. Soon after receiving the dream of his purpose and destiny, everything seemed to crash through the betrayal of those closest to him. Yet in the response of a guarded heart, every step that seemed to take him further away from God's plan was actually bringing him closer to fulfilling God's purpose for him.

The prison where Joseph may have felt furthest away from the Father positioned him near the palace, in fulfillment of prophetic destiny! Many times, the way to the "palace" of God's purpose, is through the "prison" of rejection.

Many, including David, Jesus, and the apostle Paul, experienced being forsaken by those around them. As the prodigal son experienced, it is often when we come to the end of ourselves, do we discover the fullness of the Father's love for us.

###### The abundance of our own achievements and accomplishments can easily blind us to our inward poverty of spirit, as it did for the prodigal son and the church of Laodicea.

As we begin to focus on the kindness and goodness of our Father's glory, we come to the revelation that no matter how bad something was, it could have been worse. No matter what our achievements and accomplishments, they far exceed what we deserve, and the grace we receive is to lead to repentance—not to reward our own abilities.

Our responsibility in the preparation must never rob the glory from God for the outcome.

The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the Lord (Proverbs 16:1; 21:31).

King David had this revelation whenever he inquired of the Lord. He refused to act independently of God's strategy for battle and he gave God all the glory for every victory. David refused to take any credit due to his experience or skilled men.

When we serve with the mindset of a servant, we mistakenly perceive favor as the reward of His hands for our good works and obedience. Hindrances are often perceived as a judgment for not doing enough to please Him and earn His favor. However, his favor cannot be earned!

When we serve with the mindset of a son and daughter, we perceive the blessings of the heavenly Father as an expression of His goodness and not ours. By His mercy we do not receive the judgment we deserve, and by His grace we are blessed exceedingly more than we deserve.

As we seek our Father's face, we reflect upon and rehearse His love toward us and upon us through the testimonies of His patience, kindness, and goodness to us as our Father. The knowledge of His kindness and goodness reveals His glory so that we may be filled with all joy and peace in believing and abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

The joy and peace of Romans 15:13 is from believing before we receive. As we seek the face of the Father, our God of hope will heal us with His love and fill us with joy and peace, that we may be faithful, meek, and self-controlled! All nine attributes of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) are interrelated and interconnected in and through the Spirit. As we seek His face and stay full of His Spirit, we are led to repentance through His patience, kindness, and goodness (the middle three fruit). We become living epistles and ambassadors of Christ through His love, joy, and peace (the first three fruit), to become faithful, gentle, and self-controlled (the last three fruit) in our love for one another.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

This powerful chapter of love in 1 Corinthians is sandwiched between the two chapters of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, even as the hem of the priests in the Old Covenant in Exodus 28 had bells and pomegranates alternating with each other. Gifts that are not rooted and grounded in the fruit of love are noisy gongs and clanging cymbals. Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians begins by revealing the evidence of love from verse 4 to 7.

We discover that the evidence of love is not based on the achievements, accomplishments, and success of our public ministry alone, but on the foundation of our personal relationships. The fruit of the Spirit, or lack of it, in our interpersonal relationships, beginning in our home and house of faith, determine if we are personally blessed from the fruit of our public ministry!

Our demonstration of patience and kindness in the absence of pride, envy, self-exaltation, rudeness, self-seeking, being easily provoked, and keeping a record of wrongs is not revealed in the context of public ministry—but interpersonal relationships!

No matter how many may be healed and saved through our public ministry, we are nothing and profit nothing if His love in us is not demonstrated relationally. The fact that multitudes may be blessed through us does not speak of our love or guarantee our blessing simply because others are blessed through us!

The demonstration of the gifts of the Spirit and the reward of public ministry (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) are not based on the results of our public ministry, but on the fruit of our personal relationships (verses 4-7).

###### The evidence of knowing we are loved is revealed and demonstrated by the love in our personal relationships, not by the works of our public ministry.

This is the difference between serving as sons and daughters and serving as servants. It is the difference between serving from our title, position, gift, and calling, or serving from relationship as beloved sons and daughters. Every time and anytime our love is tested, we need to run back to Him and seek His face till we learn to be loved, that we may love. We can only freely give what we have freely received.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love (Galatians 5:6).

### The New Commandment

As we spend time meditating upon His mercy, grace, goodness, and glory upon us, we freely receive what we have been called to freely give. There is a big shift between the greatest commandment and new commandment.

The greatest commandment begins with loving God, and the second with loving our neighbor on the basis of loving ourselves. The new commandment, however, begins with loving one another on the basis of His love for us, "as I have loved you."

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love (John 15:9).

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16).

The love of Jesus for us comes from His Father's love for Him. This is the same foundation for us to love others. We will keep failing the love test if we have not experienced and do not appreciate and know His love for us. If we have no revelation of His great love for us, we will fall short of loving one another as He first loved us.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another (John 13:34).

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12).

The first and great commandment was based on the law and the prophets. It began by commanding us to love God and our neighbor as ourselves, without the revelation of the Father's love. However, the law and the prophets were only until John the Baptist—grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Hence, Jesus needed to give us a "new commandment" that empowers us to fulfill the great commandment under grace and truth. The new commandment liberates us to love by first knowing and receiving His love so that our love for Him is revealed in our love for our spouse, family, neighbor, one another, and ourselves as He loves us.

When we freely receive His love, we can freely love Him whom we cannot see, by loving those we can see.

###### The great commandment is fulfilled in grace and truth through the new commandment!

If we do not know His love for us, we will only see and relate to the Father as servants and not as sons. Many have a head knowledge of His love, but have not experienced His love that passes knowledge, as John the disciple did. The fruit of not knowing His love is the love of the world, and the insecurity, intimidation, comparison, control, and competition rooted in fear.

For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13).

If we have been offended, wounded, abused, or controlled by those in authority, we can become easily suspicious of all authority, building walls that keep us from trusting and submitting again. Therefore, we need to abide in His love by seeking His face, that we may be healed. This may also involve or include ministry from others. Healing in our soul may occur instantly, but more often than not it is a process that need not be prolonged any longer than necessary.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake (Psalm 23:3).

As we minister healing and refreshing to others, we will be healed and refreshed in His presence! Our soul must first be restored to prosper, so we may be in health to not only prosper but to also minister life to others.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5).

As we seek His face, we come to Him for life and abide in His love and rest. As the light of His countenance shines upon us, His life, presence, and love will begin to heal us. The knowledge of His glory must turn our hearts toward the Father and not away from the Father. If we do not have the heart of a son and daughter, we will either assume we are blessed because of our works alone, or believe the lie that all our blessings are a reward for our good behavior and works of ministry. Furthermore, without turning our heart to the Father, we will react to the darkness in the land instead of shining in the darkness in response to the Father's glory.

Each time we partake of the bread and wine in communion, we taste and see that He is good. Every answered prayer and prayer that is being answered is the evidence of His goodness, not ours. He loves us more than we know; and until we experience His love that passes knowledge, we will strive in the flesh to love Him and others.

###### Jesus did not ask Peter to feed and tend to His sheep and lambs in response to his love for them, but in response to His love for Him, the Lamb of God.

Though we are called to love the sheep, our love for them must not be our primary motivation to serve them, or we will stop serving when they offend or disappoint us.

Before we can turn our hearts as fathers to our children, our hearts must first be healed with the love of Abba Father. Sons and daughters who are growing in the love and ways of the Father will be healed and secure to turn their hearts toward their fathers and mothers in their home and house of faith.

If we are to disciple as spiritual fathers and mothers in the Lord, we need to walk in the ways of Christ, which are the ways of truth and life. The ways of truth set us free to serve as sons and daughters, so that we may shine in the darkness by living in response to the Father's glory. As we walk in the ways of Christ, we reveal the ways of the Father as we disciple our spiritual sons and daughters in the Lord.

Therefore, before or while we make disciples as spiritual fathers and mothers, we need to be taught as spiritual sons and daughters who walk in the ways of Christ in our spiritual fathers in the Lord! Spiritually healthy sons and daughters become healthy fathers and mothers in the Lord. Hence, when we turn our hearts to our heavenly Father, we are healed and secure to turn our hearts to the generation before and after us.

As Timothy imitated Paul's ways in Christ, fully trained disciples reveal the ways of their spiritual fathers in the Lord. Paul walked in the ways of the heavenly Father through the ways of Christ, and Timothy also walked in the ways of the Father through the ways of Christ in his spiritual father, Paul.

We position ourselves to answer the prayer of Jesus through the prophecy of Malachi by humbling ourselves, praying, and rehearsing the Father's goodness as we turn our hearts to Him. When our hearts are turned toward God as our Father, we are loved, healed, restored, and secure to turn our hearts toward our spiritual parents and children in the Lord.

And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:6).

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one (John 17:11,22).

When we turn our hearts toward our Father in Heaven, we no longer come to Him on the basis of our works, accomplishments, and achievement. We no longer come to Him with guilt and condemnation for our sins, but with a godly sorrow that leads to repentance. We no longer carry a root of bitterness that defiles many through the pain and anger of the offenses we experienced in life and ministry. This healing and restoration of our souls comes as we humble ourselves to seek His face, soaking in the light and glory of His goodness and countenance. Our good Shepherd wants to lead us by still waters and make us lie down by green pastures to heal, restore, and prosper our soul.

It is easy for the offenses against us to blind us to the offenses we have committed against others. We often spend so much time rehearsing what others have done to us, without realizing the pain we have caused others, which is often the result of the pain we feel! There is a saying, "People who are hurt, hurt others, and people who are offended, offend others." When we are healed by Abba's love, we will be secure to confess our sins toward those we have sinned against.

The humility to acknowledge and confess our sins before our fathers and sons in our home and house of faith without blame-shifting and self-justification is the beginning of the healing process. This must begin generationally for the body of Christ to be healed, reconciled, and restored so that the land may be healed.

The grace for His body to be healed is received and released through humility, for He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humility must first be demonstrated by humbling ourselves before the fathers and mothers we have dishonored and toward the sons and daughters we have provoked through our fatherless mindset. Such reconciliation will not and cannot happen until and unless we have first been healed and restored by the Father's love through the revelation of His Son, for we can only give what we have freely received.

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24).

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses (Mark 11:25).

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16).

It takes much less humility to only confess our sins before God than it does before people. When our sin before God is the result of our sin against His body, we need to humble ourselves before them by acknowledging and confessing our sin to those we have sinned against in word and deed (see Matthew 5:23-24; 18:15 and James 5:16). Grace through faith results in salvation and righteousness, but grace through humility results in reconciliation and restoration and healing to be one.

As we humble ourselves to take responsibility for offenses caused by our actions and reactions, the light of His goodness will shine in the darkness of our mindset and ways. As we seek His face, we will have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, as sheep who hear the Shepherd's voice. As we seek His face, we will be led by His Spirit as sons and not driven by fear as servants. As we seek His face, we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, staying full of the Holy Spirit till His desires become our desires, as we delight ourselves in Him.

King David is called a man after God's heart for doing all the will of God (Acts 13:22). His heart is powerfully demonstrated and revealed in His response to the death of King Saul. A common man would immediately rejoice when his enemy is dead, but David was no common man. Not only did David weep and mourn at Saul's death, but executed those who rejoiced at the death of his enemy. David was more grieved that the enemies of his God would rejoice at Saul's death, than he was at his own deliverance.

As a man after God's heart, David saw Saul with the eyes of his heavenly Father. The Father was grieved at Saul's fall, like the father of the prodigal son. Perhaps David's heart became like His Father's heart as a face-seeking worshipper who spent much time in God's presence, as we read in the psalms. As David honored Saul as a son, David was himself honored by the greatest Son. As one whose heart was turned toward His perfect heavenly Father, David was secure in His Father's love to also turn his heart toward his imperfect fathers and sons, becoming generationally one on earth as it is in Heaven.

# Chapter 6

## Turning Our Hearts to Our Fathers and Sons

As we humble ourselves and pray as face-seekers, we will be loved, healed, and secure to know the love and the ways of the Father. This is Heaven's family alignment for earth, prophesied by Malachi and prayed for by Jesus. This is the generational alignment of Heaven by which we walk in the ways of Christ that reveal the Father. By walking in the ways of Christ as sons and daughters, our land will be healed.

As we humble ourselves and pray in response to the Father's kindness and goodness, His ways will be known for the saving health of the land. The place where His face shines upon us is the place of fellowship. The Lord is waiting for us as He stands at the door of our hearts and knocks so we hear His voice and let Him in. This is where we abide in the peace and rest of His love, even as Christ abides in the love of His Father. This is the alignment of hearts that we may love and honor our fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters in our home and house of faith, even as Christ loves us, as He is loved by our Father:

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (John 15:9-10,12).

It is in this place of seeking His face in humility that we are loved, healed, and secure enough to turn our hearts toward our imperfect fathers and sons in our house and house of faith. As we are rooted and grounded in His love that passes knowledge, we will know His love to become generationally aligned according to the apostle Paul's model of discipleship in 1 Corinthians 4, which is our heavenly Father's alignment and template for oneness on earth.

### Turning Hearts through Forgiveness

As our hearts turn toward our Father in Heaven and the revelation of His love grows in our hearts, we will no longer define our fathers and children on earth by their offenses, especially through the offense of unmet expectations and disappointments. Offenses often begin through the disappointment of unmet expectations and the offense of presumption, without healthy communication and information.

It is easy for the offenses of others to blind us to our own offenses toward others, beginning with our reaction toward those who offend us. Though an offense may be unintentional, it is no less painful. Jesus tells us that offenses will come, especially as His return draws nearer (Matthew 24:10). Yet it is written in 1 Corinthians 13 that love is not easily provoked.

###### It is the responsibility of the person being provoked to love!

Forgiveness is a choice by faith and not by feeling—it is a response to knowing Abba Father's love as His sons and daughters. We will struggle to forgive others if we do not fully appreciate His forgiveness, mercy, and grace. The healing of all our hurts, wounds, and offenses begins as we seek His face and turn our hearts toward Him. Only when we know the love we have freely received can we freely forgive our fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and ourselves. For some, this may begin by no longer desiring judgment, vengeance, or punishment on those who sinned against us.

Jesus experienced the most painful rejection of His Father on the Cross so that we may be reconciled not just to our heavenly Father, but also to our fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters in our house and house of faith!

Except for the Father's love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, none of us have any love in ourselves to truly forgive. It was because of His mercy that we did not die in our sins. Instead, He preserved and kept us until we believed, despite our repeated failures and shortcomings. If judgment triumphed before mercy, we would all be dead before we were saved!

If the mercy of God could turn the heart of King Nebuchadnezzar and the heart of Saul of Tarsus, then the love of God can turn our hearts toward those who need our forgiveness and those we may have sinned against, beginning with our family and family of faith.

Forgiveness does not justify or condone the offence. It releases our offenders to experience the Father's mercy through us, that they may be led to repentance.

###### Choosing to forgive begins with choosing mercy instead of judgment—until we no longer resist or oppose reconciliation and restoration through repentance.

Forgiveness was made possible to the soldiers who spat on Christ, tore His beard, stripped the flesh off His back, and pushed the crown of thorns into His head. Forgiveness was made possible to all the Jewish religious leaders who plotted His death. None could or would be forgiven had they not done what they did! Yet on the Cross, Jesus asked His Father to forgive them for not knowing what they did!

###### Though we are offended by flesh and blood, our battle is not against flesh and blood.

The enemy may score a "victory" when we are offended. Yet his ultimate purpose in every offense is to bind, oppress, and defile the offended, with a root of bitterness.

Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled (Hebrews 12:15).

It is said that holding on to offenses is like drinking poison while wishing the offender suffers! We must first be forgiven and healed in our soul and emotions by our heavenly Father's love. This is vital for generational reconciliation and restoration in our own families and in our local church families of faith. Forgiveness must begin in our home and continue in our house of faith.

Some may need to ask forgiveness from those under their authority, and some may need to ask forgiveness from those who are over them in authority—especially if the offense caused or contributed to division.

David was the anointed and appointed successor to King Saul, yet he did nothing to remove or replace Saul, despite Saul's repeated attempts to murder him! David demonstrated honor toward Saul's position as king, based on the office and position that had been given to Saul by God. David's honor for Saul was not based on Saul's character or lack of character. David could have wrongly justified rebelling and usurping the authority of Saul simply because Saul desired to kill him. Yet David repents for cutting a piece of Saul's robe! He refused to touch the one anointed as king. God, who anointed Saul as king, needed to remove Saul as king. Saul did not make himself king, and neither would David become guilty of such presumption, even though he was anointed as Saul's successor by Samuel.

Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:13-14).

Unlike David, those who do not walk in the ways of Christ often fight for titles and positions, undermining their own spiritual authority.

###### Genuine and authentic authority is never taken, but is received by those under authority who walk in the ways of Christ.

For our house and land to be healed, reconciliation and restoration with the fathers of the land must begin between the fathers and sons in our house and our house of faith.

###### The honor we sow toward our fathers and mothers through repentance and forgiveness may become the harvest we reap from our sons and daughters.

Before learning to honor our perfect Father in Heaven, He instructs us to honor our imperfect fathers on earth! If we do not turn our hearts toward our fathers on earth, we are unlikely to turn our hearts toward our sons and daughters on earth!

There is no foundation to become one as brothers in a house when there is no honor as sons and daughters toward the father of our house and house of faith. Without the context of a house and family of faith on earth, we will not learn to honor and risk failing to become one as brothers and sisters.

### The Inheritance of Fathers

The first commandment with a promise is the inheritance of life, grace, and favor for all who have fathers and mothers.

Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth (Ephesians 6:2-3).

This promise of life is received and given as an inheritance through honoring our earthly and imperfect parents. It is not based on the character of our parents but on their position as our parents, whether they are saved or unsaved. There is also a spiritual inheritance to be received through our spiritual fathers and mothers that must first be recognized or perceived.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David (Luke 1:32).

As a son of Jessie, David became a "father" whose throne became the inheritance for Christ his "Son." Christ, the Son of Man, did not receive the throne of David as the Son of God, but as the Son of David.

###### The inheritance from our Father in Heaven is received by honoring our fathers on earth.

The inheritance of life available to every son and daughter does not begin by honoring our perfect Father in Heaven, but by honoring our imperfect fathers and mothers on earth.

He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward (Matthew 10:41).

###### At the very least, we receive the inheritance of life. At most, we also receive the reward of the righteous, the reward of a prophet, and a spiritual inheritance that we value and honor through revelation.

Besides the inheritance of our fathers and our fathers in the faith, we also have the inheritance of Abraham that Jesus received as the Son of Abraham. All who are in Christ also receive the blessing of Abraham:

Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:7-9,16,29).

The inheritance of Abraham and David was received by Christ as the Son of Man, not as the Son of God:

  * If the Gentiles were not justified by faith, then only the natural seed of Abraham would be blessed. Because the Gentiles are justified by faith, they are positioned to become a blessing to all nations as sons of Abraham through faith.
  * If not for a son of Abraham called Joseph, Egypt would not have prospered in the famine. Through a son of Abraham (not through the Egyptians), the nation of Egypt prospered and the house of Abraham would also prosper because of the Father's covenant promise.

Without the knowledge of our inheritance through our covenant promises, we will depend only upon external factors for our blessing.

###### Abraham and Isaac prospered in times of famine because their prosperity was not dependent on external circumstances like the fertility of the land, but on the inheritance of their covenant promises.

Hence, it is possible that Abraham permitted his nephew Lot to make the first choice, because Abraham knew his prosperity did not depend on Lot's choice, but on the Father's promise! Likewise, Lot's prosperity was not only based on his choice but on his relationship with Abraham and the promises made to Abraham!

When we recognize our inheritance as sons, we will realize that our family, church, employment, city, and nation is blessed because of the inheritance we walk in through the honor that comes from revelation.

###### The seed of Abraham is not primarily blessed because of a nation's prosperity—the nations prosper because of the covenant promises made to the Seed of Abraham!

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not perfect men. They all made mistakes. The costliest decision of Abraham resulted in Ishmael; and we see examples of the lack of character in Jacob as revealed in his name. Yet Isaac, Jacob, and the descendants of Abraham were blessed exceedingly not because of their character, but because of their inheritance as sons of Abraham.

The blessing upon children is not limited to their character or the reward of their hands, but primarily because of the love of their parents through relationship and through inheritance in the natural and the spiritual.

The blessing children receive far exceed what they deserve and is not based on their goodness, but on the goodness and generosity of their parents. How much more we as children of our good Father in Heaven! The heart of a parent to bless their child is not a reward for their child's performance or accomplishments, but exceedingly above what their children deserve based on their love from relationship.

In a healthy family, children do not seek to please their parents in order to earn their parents' love, but in response to their parents' love. Likewise, the blessing of God upon us is not a reward for our character or repentance, but to lead us to Christlikeness through repentance. By His grace, the blessings we receive far exceed what we deserve!

Living a godly and holy life by faith working through love should be a response to His love and not to buy His love as a reward for our good behavior! Just as the sons of Abraham walked in the blessings of Abraham because of faith in their covenant promises, so should it be with us as sons of Abraham by faith. If Jesus needed to walk in His inheritance as the Seed and Son of Abraham, how much more we!

The strategy of the enemy is to keep us blinded to the revelation of our inheritance. He seeks to keep us bound with a fatherless mindset and mentality so that we do not walk in the ways of the Son. The enemy wants us to walk as servants and consumers who only live by reward and not from inheritance.

###### The enemy seeks to keep the generations divided and fatherless through the lie that we can fulfill our heavenly Father's plans and purposes without the inheritance from honoring our fathers on earth.

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations (Psalm 33:10-11).

The ultimate agenda of the enemy is to keep us bound in the mindset and mentality of fatherlessness so that we may forfeit our identity and inheritance to keep us from becoming one and our land from being healed.

Many fathers have been absent due to divorce. Other fathers may be present but they remain passive or irresponsible. More recently, however, children have been robbed of fathers and mothers through the redefining of marriage and same-gender parenting. At the end of the day, the enemy's agenda is to keep fathers from receiving their inheritance as sons and to keep them from turning their hearts toward their own children.

Before we can turn our hearts toward our children, we need to have the heart of a father. There are many who fulfill their financial and physical responsibilities as a father but without a heart turned toward their sons.

To have the heart of a father we first need to have the heart of a son, because like Christ, sons reveal their fathers, which is the foundation of fatherhood! To turn our hearts toward our children, we need to be healed, rooted, and grounded in our heavenly Father's love, that we may forgive, love, and turn our hearts toward our fathers and sons. As Christ the Son demonstrated, the key to transformation has less to do with the character of our fathers, and more to do with our character as sons and daughters revealed in our response!

And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own? (Luke 16:12)

### The Purpose and Process of Discipleship

Our heavenly Father had a vision, purpose, and plan for His Son on earth.

###### Our God is the God of destiny, purpose, plan, process, and timing!

God's ultimate purpose for Christ to die and rise from the dead, to make disciples, perform many miracles, and minister many great messages, would first require His Son to submit and yield to the thirty-year process between being born as a "Child" and being given as a "Son" (Isaiah 9:6).

Patience had to have its perfect work. The Child who was born needed to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man, and become the Son who was given. For thirty years, Christ the Son demonstrated and practiced what He would receive, from the time of His public ministry:

  * Before making disciples, Christ was first taught as a Son. 
  * Before teaching the multitudes, the only perfect Teacher was taught by imperfect parents in the faith. 
  * Before He served outside His house, He first served as the eldest Son and brother in an imperfect family. 
  * Before He received honor as the King of kings and Lord of lords, He honored His imperfect father and mother in the faith. 
  * Before building us a place in His Father's house in Heaven, He helped as a carpenter in His father's house on earth. 
  * Before building His house by wisdom, He Himself grew in wisdom in a house.

Christ the Son of God became our ultimate role model and example of a disciple, being transformed as the Son of God and man in an incomparably less perfect family of faith.

This is the process of discipleship in the context of family that is needed for our transformation. Many desire to be fathers but have not learned to be sons of the house. Many desire to receive honor but have not passed the test of giving honor as a son of the house. Many desire to teach but have not passed the test of remaining teachable. Many desire to build houses but have not been built in a house themselves.

The foundation of Jesus' public ministry was His ministry with His imperfect family in the house of Joseph. He was a "minister of home affairs" for approximately 90 percent of His time on earth, tithing the approximate last three years in public ministry. His personal ministry to His family was no less a ministry than His public ministry, which was built on the foundation of family ministry!

There is no division between family and ministry, sacred and secular. There is no question about which comes first, because family is ministry; and our first ministry, as it was for Christ, begins with family at home. Hence, the qualifications for leadership in the house and family of faith are based on our leadership as husbands and fathers in our own house and family.

According to 1 Peter 3:7, the effectiveness of praying as a husband, does not begin with our theology of prayer, but on loving our wife as Christ loves the church! This is where our theology must first be practiced as a husband, for everything rises and falls on the effectiveness of our prayer.

Church leadership has less to do with gender than it has to do with representing Heaven's generational alignment on earth as it is in Heaven!

###### Our ministry and testimony in our house and household of faith is our foundation and authority for our ministry outside the house.

Many unbelieving spouses could be won by the love of their believing spouses if not for the neglect of family responsibilities in the name of "ministry" outside the house!

We cannot justify neglecting our responsibility to love our spouse and family because we are too busy serving God, but neither can we neglect ministry outside the house because we are too busy with our spouse and family.

May we have the wisdom to prioritize our time accordingly, that family members who are yet to be saved will experience His love through us. May the Father's love through us lead them to repentance without being hindered by a poor testimony at home, no matter how anointed we may be outside the house!

As Christ the Son grew in wisdom in the relational context of family, His disciples were also transformed as they followed Him, becoming evangelists without teachings on evangelism! They learned how to evangelize by becoming fishers of men, as they followed the greatest Fisher of men!

We become who He has called us to be, as we serve and "do" what He has called us to do. May we become like Him as we do what He has called us to do as sons and daughters, without replacing "becoming" with "doing," and without replacing transformation with achievement and accomplishment as servants and workers.

We were never meant to replace or substitute transformation with ministry, but to minister out of who we are becoming. As parents, we should be more interested in the character our children demonstrate at home and in public, than only being concerned with their public achievements.

Fishing is most frustrating for a non-fisherman, but is second nature to a fisherman. Instead of teaching His disciples how to minister, Jesus simply asked them to follow Him so that they may learn how to minister as they became like Him, the greatest Fisher of men on earth.

Before the prodigal son left his father, he said "Give me." After returning to his father, he said "Make me"! (Luke 15:12,19)

But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel (Philippians 2:22).

Being like-minded through the mind of Christ helps complement our unique gifts, calling, and differences, so we may complete one another instead of competing and being in conflict with one another.

###### Being one is not about uniformity at the expense of diversity, it is rather a unity and harmony through diversity that does not compete, but completes.

Without the unity of diversity, there would be no harmony of sound, the great taste of different ingredients blended together, or even the colors of a rainbow!

Paul mentions the "proven character" of Timothy who served with him as "a son with his father." How we serve under authority will greatly influence our own influence, and how well and how long we serve.

###### Authority, whether good or bad, has a way of revealing the character of those under authority.

The perfect character of our heavenly Father revealed and surfaced the lack of character in Lucifer and his angels. The perfect character of Christ revealed and surfaced the character of His disciples. The evil and wicked character of King Nebuchadnezzar and King Saul surfaced and revealed the excellent characters of Daniel and David respectively. Even the priest who ordered the apostle Paul to be struck revealed the character of the apostle Paul in his response to those in authority.

Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people'" (Acts 23:5).

Even Michael the archangel refused to bring a reviling accusation against the devil himself:

Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1:8-9)

Most of all, the proven character of Christ the Son, was revealed during His years serving as the eldest son and brother in the house of Joseph.

###### The character of a man is revealed by his history under authority, as a son in his house and house of faith.

The authority by which Jesus sent His disciples came from the authority He received as the One sent by His Father!

So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21).

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus (Acts 13:2-4).

Those who were sent out by the Holy Spirit, were sent out through the laying on of hands and the commissioning of men. Even the apostle Paul states in Galatians 1:1 that though he is an apostle through Jesus Christ and the Father, he still needed to be commissioned and sent together with Barnabas. He did not use His apostleship with the Father as an excuse for independence. He knew that to be sent out by God, was to be sent out through men, despite how noble and powerful His calling, appointing, and anointing for ministry was. Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit, through the laying hands of men.

###### The Holy Spirit must not become an excuse for independence, as we recognise the need, security, protection, and wisdom from having fathers in the faith.

The disciples were sent by the Son who was sent as a Son. Servants without the mindset of a son tend to walk out from under authority in reaction to offense, but sons of God and sons of man are not just sent by their Father in Heaven, but also by their fathers in the faith on earth.

And how shall they preach unless they are sent?... (Romans 10:15).

As noble as the preaching of the gospel is, even the gospel must be preached by those who have been sent not just by God, but also through men. Those who went are many, but few are those who are sent.

Like Christ the Son, Timothy did not serve Paul as a servant like the elder brother in Luke 15, but as a son. Timothy did not learn from Paul as a student only for information and skills, but as a son who was transformed by the ways of Christ in Paul. Sons take the initiative to respond to the needs of their fathers not because they have to or out of obligation, but because of faith working through being loved and the revelation of inheritance.

The identity, security, worth, and value of servants with a "fatherless" mindset comes from their accomplishments and achievements. They seek value from what they can do and have done and are motivated by reward and recognition on which they thrive.

Those who serve as sons and daughters, however, serve from the place of inheritance and not just reward. They serve knowing how much they are already loved and do not serve to earn or deserve what they have already received through relationship. They serve from the grace they have received and are receiving from Abba, and not for man's recognition or reward. They are more concerned with pleasing the Father than with pleasing man at the expense of displeasing the Father.

Those who received the ministry of Timothy saw the ways of Christ in Paul. When we see Christ, we see His Father. When we see fruit, we see the tree. When we see a son, we see his father in the faith, who may also be his own father, as mine was.

This turning of hearts toward our fathers and sons begins by turning our hearts toward our Father in Heaven. As we grow in knowing by experience our heavenly Father's love, we will be empowered to freely love our imperfect fathers. We become positioned to lead as spiritual fathers in Christ when we learn to lead as spiritual sons of God and man, in the image of Christ the Son.

# Chapter 7

## The Family Wineskin of Our Kingdom Assignment

In this chapter, the relational context of the local church as a family of faith is discussed. The local church is a family of families, where spiritual sons and daughters to be matured to lead as spiritual fathers and mothers, resulting in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Such disciples walk in the ways of Christ that reveal the Father for the healing of the land. Jesus Christ the Son reveals this wineskin by revealing what the gates of Hades shall not prevail against:

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

Jesus does not say that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against His Kingdom. He says that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the church that He is building. This is a church built on the rock of revelation from hearing the Father. Jesus is King of His Kingdom, but rules and reigns as a Son in His Father's Kingdom!

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name (Philippians 2:8-9).

###### Our King Jesus rules and reigns over His Father's Kingdom as a Son receiving His kingly glory as a Son from His Father!

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.... "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:22,24).

Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father (Proverbs 17:6).

Like Peter, the foundational revelation we need is that Christ is the Son of the living God, as opposed to "Christ the Servant of the living God." The difference determines the foundation of our identity and security in ministry, and whether we walk in the dysfunctional mindset and ways of those who empower the darkness in the land. We need to have the mind of Christ the Son to shine in the darkness with the light of His glory.

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain (Psalm 127:1).

First, not every church that has been built has been built by the Lord. Second, though the Lord is building His house, He still needs laborers who will not build in vain by might and by power, but by His Spirit!

Only when the church is built by the Lord do the laborers not labor in vain. Hence, Heaven's wineskin for our Kingdom assignment is nothing less than a church built on the template and blueprint of family on earth as it is in Heaven.

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (Ephesians 3:14-15).

Heaven is led by the Father, and fathers lead families. The Lord, who is building His house on earth, is building His house as the Son in order that His Kingdom will come through sons and daughters, as it is in Heaven!

Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 28:14).

### The Foundation of the Kingdom

Our heavenly Father is the Father of our King of kings and Lord of lords. Heaven is both a family and a Kingdom. Jesus Christ is the King who reveals and represents His Father! Before David became king, he was raised as a son in the house of Jessie. Before Jesus was exalted to rule and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords, He was raised as a Son in the house of Joseph.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32-33).

The church, as the house of God, is designed to be a house where sons and daughters can be discipled with the revelation of Christ the Son through spiritual fathers and mothers who walk in the ways of Christ the Son!

These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:14-15).

Christ learned obedience though He was a Son; He grew in wisdom and stature in the house of Joseph. The house of Joseph became the pillar and ground for Jesus Christ the Truth, to grow in wisdom from a "Child who was born" to a "Son who was given" (Isaiah 9:6).

Likewise, when the local church becomes a generational Kingdom family of faith as it is in Heaven, she functions as a foundational pillar and ground of truth to facilitate transformation and revelation to walk in the ways of the Father.

Our God is the God of purpose, plan, and process. If we do not understand His purpose for the local church, we will not understand the process needed to raise up sons and daughters who walk in the ways of the Father, which is our Kingdom commission! Without this understanding, we risk questioning the relevance of the local church and attempt in vain to fulfill our Kingdom assignment without the family alignment of Heaven's wineskin of Kingdom-family.

Our lack of Christlikeness can be easily hidden behind the busyness of our marketplace or "kingdom ministry," but is exposed and revealed in the relationships of our home and family of faith, under fathers and mothers.

Even Christ the Son could not be planted in the womb of Mary before she was betrothed to Joseph! The house in which He would be raised needed to be led by both a spiritual father and mother who together reveal the image of God:

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27).

The value, worth, and significance of a husband and wife is not based on gender, it is rooted relationally as sons and daughters who together represent the image of God.

###### Both male and female together, reveal the complementary aspects of His image!

### Christ and the Church

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31-32).

Marriage reveals and demonstrates the relationship between Christ and the house He is building. This truth also reveals that the church He is building will continue to remain relevant and needed as long as men and women are given in marriage! Paul compares the relationship between the husband and his wife to Christ and the church:

For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:23-25).

The word "head" is a word used both in the context of authority and government, but also in the context of order, such as the beginning or "head" of that which follows. However, greater than the context of the word in itself, is the metaphor of Christ and the church, which establishes the primary context of "head." This is further established by the word "subject" in verse 24.

To avoid the abuse of a husband's authority, this context of marriage in the fifth chapter of Ephesians, begins after establishing the need to stay filled with the Holy Spirit and submitted to one another. The chapter concludes with husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the church.

###### Mutual and loving submission between a husband and wife who are filled with the Spirit is the context for healthy leadership and government in the home.

The best preparation and foundation for any marriage is to be a fully trained disciple or matured son and daughter in the Lord. Pre-marriage counseling was never intended to be our only subject in discipleship. It was never meant to fill the void in those who have not been discipled.

###### Foundational to a husband's relationship with his bride is his relationship to Christ as a bride, and to the Father as a son.

If a husband does not know the love of Christ as the bride of Christ, he will struggle to love his wife as Christ loves the church. The new commandment from Jesus requires us to know His love for us, so we can love one another as He loves us!

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another (John 13:34).

Only those who know the love of Christ can freely give what they have freely received, to love their wives as Christ loves the church.

###### A husband who misuses and abuses his authority over his wife has not understood or experienced the love and headship of Christ over himself!

Just as we are to love because we have been first loved, so too must the love of a husband not be conditional on his wife's submission, but in response to knowing and receiving the love of Christ that passes knowledge. Just as our submission to Christ should be our response to His love, so too should the submission of one's wife be a response to her husband's love, and not a "positional demand" in the absence of love. A husband is to love his wife as a recipient of the love of Christ Himself, and a wife is to be subject to her husband as one who is subject to Christ.

Hence, the greatest hindrance of a husband loving his wife is not knowing the love of Christ, and the greatest hindrance to a wife being subject to her husband, is not living under the lordship and authority of Christ (in response to His love). Daughters who have the mind of Christ and walk in His ways know the love of Christ and are secure to be subject to her husband as unto the Lord. A wife who does not know the love of Christ is at great risk of using control and manipulation to influence her husband out of fear.

It is possible that the emphasis for a husband to love his wife as Christ loves the church, and for the wife to respect her husband as unto the Lord is based on their unique different weaknesses and vulnerabilities. A husband's eyes may be more prone to wander than the eyes of his wife, and a wife may be more vulnerable to dishonor her husband than for him to dishonor her. Hence, loving our wives as Christ loves the church helps guard the eyes and hearts of husbands, and respecting their husbands as unto the Lord helps wives honor their husbands both privately and publicly, especially before their children.

### Heaven's Family Template for Church Government

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach...one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?).... Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well (1 Timothy 3:2,4-5,12).

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination (Titus 1:5-6).

The criteria for potential church leadership does not begin with academic qualification, ministry skill, and experience, but on family relationships as a husband and father—reflecting Heaven's family wineskin for the local church as defined by the generational alignment of family on earth as it is in Heaven.

When one is a perfectly or fully trained disciple according to Luke 6:40, he will walk in the ways of Christ toward his wife, loving her as Christ loves the church. In the ways of Christ, he will also reveal the heart and ways of our heavenly Father toward his children. By discipling them as a father, his children will learn not to dishonor him because of his ways that are not in Christ, but they will honor him for his ways that are in Christ.

As an apostolic father, Paul reveals that healthy church leaders must be found among those who lead healthy (not perfect) families, which is Heaven's template for the local church! Hence, the outworking of our relationship with our heavenly Father must begin and be evident in our leadership as husbands and fathers, since we are called to disciple as spiritual fathers in the Lord. The emphasis of leadership is not based on gender, but on the generational alignment of family, as it is in Heaven: Christ the Son was not only subject to Mary as a twelve-year-old, but also responded to her faith as a 30-year-old when He performed His first miracle of turning water into wine!

###### Christ the Son was not subject to a female, but to a mother!

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [to be] discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed (Titus 2:1-5).

It is good to note that between the older men and women, only the older women are encouraged to be "teachers of good things," not the men! I mention this to simply say that just as men can obviously teach, though it is not mentioned in this passage, we cannot use this same passage to say that older women can only teach younger women and no one else. Also because the Greek word used for "teach" in verse 3 is not the same as in verse 4, and hence specifically used toward younger women.

Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

Even the book of Proverbs talks about heeding a mother's law. It is very significant that the last thing Jesus did on the Cross before expressing His thirst was to give His beloved disciple to His mother, and His mother to His beloved disciple (John 19:26-28). Mary already had her own sons with Joseph, and John already had a mother—yet the generational alignment needed to be made before His assignment was finished. John took Mary to his home, and shared in the inheritance of the Son of Man by honoring the same spiritual mother as the Son of Man. That inheritance is nothing less than life, which may be the greater grace upon John, to be the only disciple many believe was not martyred, but who died of old age!

The issue of women in leadership is not about gender but the generational alignment to lead as spiritual mothers in the Lord, who have been tested and proven under authority.

True and authentic authority of spiritual fathers and mothers is proven and tested under authority as spiritual sons and daughters in their leadership of family as husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers.

The King of Heaven's Kingdom is not fatherless; He rules and reigns over His Father's Kingdom as a Son!

###### The apostle Paul was concerned that there were countless teachers but few fathers, not few men or few leaders!

There were many male teachers and leaders, but few who taught and led as spiritual fathers in the Lord! The issue is not about gender, but about leading from the generational alignment of Heaven by which family is defined.

Our authority to lead as fathers and mothers must flow from our honor as sons and daughters of the house, not just from organizational and managerial positions of hierarchy, responsibility, and authority.

Though the apostle Paul mentions church leadership titles and positions like bishops, deacons, and elders, he himself urges us to disciple relationally as a spiritual father, just as he did with Timothy, despite being a senior apostle.

What these "titles" and "positions" of church leadership reveal more than anything else is that genuine and healthy authority is not taken or self-appointed but given and received.

Authority to lead in ministry that is not received through man (though given by God), as Paul demonstrated, is not authentic or healthy because the foundation of authority is honor through mutual submission.

With the exception of nations where the open practice of Christianity is forbidden, many have replaced the local church in their community with home meetings, rather than being planted and rooted in a local church led by appointed leadership. As demonstrated by the first century church in the book of Acts, home gatherings should complement and supplement the local church, but not replace or substitute the need to be planted and rooted in a local church led by spiritual fathers and mothers in the Lord, whose leadership has been tested and proven, and not taken or self-appointed.

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47).

We see that the disciples continued daily, both in the temple and the house. Neither the temple or the house replaced the other, with the Lord adding to the church and not the house, daily those who were being saved.

The purpose and role of family in church leadership also reveals where the health of our theology and doctrine must first be practiced and demonstrated, as it was by Christ the Son of Man in the house of Joseph. The thirty years or 90 percent of the time Jesus had on earth was lived as a son in the house of Joseph, faithfully serving as the eldest Son and Brother!

If we do not have a family in the natural to disciple or know not how to disciple a healthy (not perfect) family, we must as least be connected in a family of faith, where we can matured from spiritual children in the Lord to spiritual parents in the Lord. This is the preparation to lead the church as a healthy family of faith, as spiritual fathers and mothers in the Lord.

Family and ministry cannot be separated; family is ministry, and ministry begins with family, as the "Jerusalem" where discipleship begins. Potential church leaders are proven and tested as husbands and fathers, because the wineskin for the church is family. This is defined by the generational alignment of Heaven on earth!

Our Father in Heaven is more interested in who and what we are becoming than in what we accomplish for Him. After all, Jesus only began "accomplishing" great things during the last three years of His approximately thirty-three years on earth! His last "super" three years capped His first "natural" thirty years! Leadership is less about gender than it is about revealing the Father as sons and daughters through the mind and ways of Christ the Son. Through marriage and fatherhood, the family becomes the leadership training center of the local church family, as it is in Heaven.

In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God'" (John 14:2; 20:17).

###### First Relationship: "My Father and your Father"; then Position: "My God and your God."

### Guarding Cities and Nations

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain (Psalm 127:1).

This first verse in Psalm 127 reveals that the protection of our cities, and hence our nation and land, is based on who is building the houses within the cities of our nation:

###### A city of houses built by the Lord is a city guarded by the Lord. Cities that are guarded by the Lord form nations that are guarded and healed by the Lord.

The foundation and health of a nation is a reflection of the builder of the houses within its cities. A spiritually healthy house built by the Lord is built according to the template and wineskin of Heaven. The wineskin of Heaven that marks the house built by the Lord is the generational alignment that defines family on earth as it is in Heaven.

### A House Built by the Lord

The first mention of the "house of God" in Genesis 28 refers to the house as the "gate of heaven."

And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You" (Genesis 28:17-18,22).

### A Generational House

In Genesis 28 where the house of the Lord is first mentioned, the Lord did not address Himself to Jacob as His Lord and God, but as the Lord God of his father Abraham and Isaac.

And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: "I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants (Genesis 28:13).

A house established on the generational family alignment of Heaven becomes the gate of Heaven to earth. Even the Lord honored the imperfect fathers of Jacob before Himself, because imperfect fathers who walk in the way of our heavenly Father reveal and represent the Father's heart and ways on earth, as spiritual sons and daughters.

### A House of Spiritual Inheritance (Legacy)

Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 28:14).

###### Our inheritance is not received directly from our heavenly Father as His sons, but as sons of our fathers on earth, as revealed in the first commandment with a promise.

Jacob was identified as a son of Abraham for the same reason Jesus was also called the Son of Abraham. Through faith as the Son of Man and Son of Abraham, Jesus received the inheritance of the covenant promises made to Abraham as the seed of Abraham, though He was also the Son of God. Likewise, the inheritance of Jacob was not based on his relationship with God independent of his earthly fathers, but as a son of Abraham and Isaac!

As the only member in the first house of God on earth, Jacob was a son who was one with his fathers on earth, just as the Father and Son are one in Heaven.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations (Psalm 33:11).

### A House of Rest

The first mention of the house of God was the place Jacob rested. Jacob then anoints his pillow, making his pillow a pillar to represent the house of God. This is not coincidental, because the house that God builds is a place of rest!

Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? (Isaiah 66:1).

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:1,9-11).

The rest of God is the rest of faith that comes by ceasing from works done in our own strength and ability. Instead, we are to be led by His Spirit and voice. We are called to work from the rest of faith that bears fruit for eternity.

Works of faith from His rest are works that are not born out of our own good ideas, they are led by the Spirit even as Christ the Son was led by His Father and not by the needs around Him or His own good ideas. The works that are led by His Spirit are not done in the might and power of our flesh, but by His Spirit! Hence, the urgency and priority to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to understand the times and seasons in which we are living.

We can accomplish so much without the Lord, which makes it too easy to become secure and contented in the accomplishments and might of our arm and flesh that has not been built by the Lord. The elder brother in Luke 15 and the church in Laodicea failed to work from this rest of faith. The success of our achievements and accomplishments produced without His presence are at risk of becoming works that will be consumed.

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

Resting is not just about ceasing from physical work on a particular day of the week, but more about working daily from His rest. Ceasing from physical work is not the evidence of abiding in His rest, just as work is not the evidence of not being in His rest. Man was created on the sixth day of the week, that he may begin his first new day on the seventh day of rest. He was created on the last day after the completion of all that had been provided during the first six days before his creation. The Hebrew day also begins in the evening so that we may begin each new day from the place of rest! God neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4), and did not rest because He was tired, but because He had completed His work!

###### Faith without works is dead, and so too are works without faith!

Many assume they are pleasing God by all their good works and spiritual disciplines, but they fail to realize that God is not pleased by any work that is not done in faith, no matter how good that work may be! He desires the obedience of Abel, not the sacrifice of Cain! The reading and study of His Word without faith does not please God if we read in unbelief, without reading to hear His voice as we read.

More important than the accuracy of our translation or our knowledge of the original text or language is to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying as we read His Word. Though the existence of Lucifer began in the very presence of perfect and complete truth, his knowledge alone did not prevent or protect him from a fatherless mindset and ways to become the father of lies!

###### Any spiritual discipline or work of ministry becomes a sacrifice without obedience and a form of godliness without power in the absence of faith working through love.

Hence, the evidence of faith is not just revealed by our works, but by faith working though love, with the peace, joy, and rest of His presence through faith.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

As we humble ourselves and pray before His presence as face-seekers, we come to Him for life to hear His voice. With faith that comes by hearing, we will be filled with all joy and peace and abound in hope!

So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).

Any work not done in rest of faith is done by the might and power of the flesh. A work of the Spirit is done in the rest of faith.

The house built by the Lord becomes a house of refuge as the ark of Noah was to Noah, to his wife, and to his second generation. The Hebrew name "Noah" means rest! Noah's ark was a house of rest and refuge during judgment. The grace upon his wife, sons, and daughters-in-law was not because they had each found favor with God personally as Noah did, but because they honored Noah, the one who had found favor, and received as an inheritance, the favor that was upon Noah and not themselves! Only Lot was found righteous, yet the grace and favor upon his daughters was not because of their own righteousness, but as an inheritance from their father.

This principle was also demonstrated during the Passover and the destruction of Jericho through Joshua. Only those who remained in the house of Rahab on the walls of Jericho, were saved (Acts 16:31-34). Only those who remained in their houses with the blood on the doorposts during the Passover were saved. Even though we only read of the salvation of Zacchaeus the tax collector (Luke 19:8-9) and the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:30-33), we see that grace was not just upon them, but upon their household.

The family members of the house of Zacchaeus and the Philippian jailer were not saved because of their personal faith, but through the grace upon the head their house. The blessing through the faith of Zacchaeus and the jailer became the inheritance of life for their respective households.

The inheritance of the house was made available to those who were aligned not just as children, but also as siblings. Even as children of God, Jesus did not teach His disciples to pray, "My Father," but "Our Father"! We cannot separate the house from the father of the house! Christ the Son had to learn to honor the spiritual father who came with His house on earth. He was not given a list of fathers to choose from; He was given a family, and as the Son of Man, He learned to honor the father of His imperfect spiritual family.

There are some who want the blessings of the house without honoring the father of their house. There are others who want the blessing of fathers of other houses, without any revelation of the inheritance upon the father of their own house!

May we not forfeit our inheritance by being distracted by the ways of our spiritual fathers that may not be in Christ. Instead, may we walk in the inheritance of our spiritual family by learning to honor the imperfect spiritual fathers and mothers of the home and house of faith we are in, and receive the inheritance of the house that they carry by honoring and serving in response to the Father's goodness as face-seekers.

### The Days of Noah and Lot

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all (Luke 17:26-29).

###### Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

Our refuge and protection during times of darkness and judgment is the family of faith as a house of rest in times of stress and judgment! The families of Noah, Lot, the twelve tribes, and Rahab were protected from judgment—provided they remained in their father's house!

As the second generation in each house honored the head of that house, they received the inheritance of life to be blessed and not judged. Within the families of the twelve tribes, there was not a lamb for every member of each household, but one lamb per household, according to the house of his father.

Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: "On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it (Exodus 12:3,7).

The blood of the lamb was not placed on the foreheads of each and every individual in each household, but on the doorpost and lintel of each house. The safety and protection from judgment was conditional on remaining under the covering of their father's house.

Like the ark of Noah, each house during the Passover was marked by the generational alignment of Heaven, making it a house of rest and refuge in the time of judgment.

###### The glory upon the children was not their own but their father's!

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

Though every believing parent can stand on this promise for household salvation, we see a warning with Lot's sons-in-law and wife. Grace does not excuse us from our personal responsibility to believe and obey.

So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, "Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking (Genesis 19:14).

Though grace was extended to them, they did not honor the word of their father-in-law because of unbelief.

So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed." But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:17,26).

Though grace was initially extended to Lot's wife, it was conditional on looking forward, not looking back. Yet her eyes must have followed her heart as she looked back and fell short of the grace that could have been hers.

### The New Wineskin of a House Built by the Lord

The wineskin of Kingdom family is the pattern of Heaven for the house that the Lord is building on earth. This defining family wineskin and house built by the Lord is generational and led by fathers and mothers who lead as sons and daughters. The gender of church leadership is secondary to leading a family of faith as spiritual fathers and mothers, which requires us to lead as a spiritual sons and daughters!

###### A city of houses built by the Lord is a city guarded by the Lord. A land whose cities are guarded by the Lord is a land guarded by the Lord.

Many believers are the only ones who are saved in a household with other unbelievers. Such a household may be their primary mission field, which makes their local church the family of faith that they do not have at home. Others who are blessed to be part of a Christian family at home become spiritual sons or daughters in a family of faith through the local church.

### A Culture of Honor

The culture of honor is the primary culture of a family wineskin. Those who are discipled as sons and daughters, will be loved, secure, and matured to honor their imperfect leaders as spiritual fathers and mothers in the faith like Christ the Son, Timothy, David, and Daniel. Those who are discipled as students, servants, and workers are easily offended at their leaders, without the revelation of inheritance and honor. A house that is not built on the generational Kingdom family alignment of Heaven will be full of servants, students, and consumers who do not honor their leaders as spiritual fathers and mothers. Without the revelation of their inheritance, they will be provoked to dishonor, sow discord, and forfeit their inheritance.

If we believe the lie that we can fulfill the counsel and plans of the Lord without the glory of our inheritance and simply by the work and reward of our hands, dishonor will break the wineskin of our house of faith through offense or remain old with stale wine!

As revealed and demonstrated in Genesis 28, the inheritance of the land given to Jacob was not based on his relationship with God alone, but first as a son of Abraham and Isaac. The inheritance was not given independently of his generational alignment, but in and through "all the families" of the earth!

Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 28:14).

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed" (Galatians 3:8).

Our spiritual inheritance is not independent of our spiritual fathers in the Lord but based on our ways as sons and daughters who honor the inheritance they carry from their office, position, and responsibility in our house and house of faith as those who must give account for us.

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you (Hebrews 13:17).

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

Where there is no honor, there will be no life—only the fruit of our labors without His life-giving presence.

###### Elisha had to see the glory of Elijah, for he could not inherit what he did not perceive, honor, and value.

Jesus did not live in reaction to what the enemy was doing, He lived in response to His Father. This is the generation of face-seekers who live in response to the Father's goodness of who He is, what He has done, what He is doing, and what He said He will do, which is the knowledge of His glory! They do not live in reaction to what He has not done or what is not happening yet. When we learn to live in response to the goodness of our heavenly Father, we are loved and secure to honor our imperfect fathers and mothers in our house and house of faith and those in our city and land.

The last prophecy of Malachi in the Old Testament reveals the blessing of inheritance upon the land through each generation whose hearts are turned toward their spiritual fathers and mothers as spiritual sons and daughters in the faith!

At the very least, the foundational inheritance carried by every father and mother is the inheritance of life. This is based on their position and office as a father and mother, not on their character. If we do not value this inheritance of life that we cannot afford to live without, we will be tempted to dishonor them when disappointed and offended. When the local church relates and functions as a family of faith, they are receiving their inheritance as spiritual sons and daughters.

The enemy knows more about the spiritual inheritance of fathers than many in the body of Christ! If he can keep us from this revelation, he keeps us from walking in our inheritance. Many are blinded to this revelation by having the mind and ways of a servant in churches that are not established on the generational wineskin of family. Those with the mind and ways of a servant, do not have a revelation of the Father-heart of God, and hence do not have the revelation of the mind and ways of the Son to honor as spiritual sons and daughters who walk in the ways of Christ. Hence, they do not honor their leaders as fathers and fall short of their family inheritance.

The anointing, gifts, and calling within a house has less to do with the reward of all our prayers, fasting, and spiritual disciplines than as an inheritance received by honoring the father of our house and house of faith.

If the enemy can divide the generations in a family and family of faith, the glory departs and the inheritance of the house is lost. Many, who have dishonored and rejected their spiritual fathers, strive in vain to earn as a reward that which was once received in the house through honor.

The inheritance and glory that departed though dishonor can never be regained through our works or spiritual disciplines, they must be restored through honor. God, our perfect Father in Heaven, does not bypass our imperfect fathers on earth; He releases His glory through our imperfect fathers, for the glory of children is their fathers.

When we know the value of our inheritance, we will be extremely slow to take offense and dishonor the vessels and channels of our spiritual inheritance. Without the revelation of inheritance needed to honor, we will not be thankful. We are only grateful for what we value or honor, and we can only value and honor what we can "see" through the revelation of the Father's glory upon our spiritual fathers.

The culture of honor and gratitude begins with the revelation of the glory of our Father in Heaven as face-seekers. This empowers us to relate and serve our imperfect fathers and mothers in response to the Father's goodness and not in reaction and offense to darkness.

This is the culture by which we are transformed, as we serve and are taught as sons and daughters. This is the culture that protects us from the offense of truth through correction and reproof. This is the culture by which the Child who was born was given as a Son thirty years later at His water baptism. It was in such a family culture that Christ the Son of Man grew in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man. Though He was a Son, He learned obedience without offense or dishonor.

As we serve in the context of family relationship under authority, we discover any mindsets and ways of a servant in us that need to be uprooted and pulled down, so we may have the mindset and ways of the Son. We discover the ways of Christ the Son in our spiritual fathers and mothers and walk in those ways as we become fully trained disciples (Luke 6:40). These are the ways that reveal the Father and bring healing to our homes, cities, and land. Becoming a spiritual father and mother in the faith begins by honoring, serving, and learning as sons and daughters in an imperfect family of faith. May we seek the face of God that we may know His ways so that His goodness leads us to repentance and transformation.

### The Kingdom-Family Government of Heaven's Wineskin

The context of discipleship to fulfill the Great Commission is family, and families are led by fathers. Hence, the apostle Paul urges us to make disciples by teaching as fathers. Jesus revealed His Father on earth as He made disciples in the context of fellowship, as they walked and ministered together. From day one, the disciples learned by doing. Christ the Son created a safe "family environment" to fail and learn from mistakes.

Like a family, the local church is like a pot of earth, and new family members begin like seeds on top of the soil when they are new to a church. The challenge is to not stay on top of the soil, but to be planted and rooted in order to become fruitful. To be planted and rooted requires us to deny ourselves and take up our cross. It requires us to risk being offended and choosing beforehand to forgive and learn from our mistakes and the mistakes of others, even as Christ the Son did for His first thirty years on earth.

The prodigal son and his elder brother were positioned as sons in the house but were not planted and rooted. Many are positioned in the house of God but not planted. Many attend churches with pastors, but not many desire to be spiritual sons and daughters. Only seeds that are planted bear fruit. Seeds that remain on top of the soil are easily displaced by the winds of circumstances.

Only those who choose to be planted and rooted will benefit most from a church that is led by spiritual fathers and mothers in the Lord, as a generational family of faith as it is in Heaven. Those in the house who desire to be fruitful will need to do what Jesus said was necessary to follow Him—deny ourselves and take up our cross. It takes humility to put the family before ourselves.

Servants and workers use the church for their own personal ministry agendas and ambitions; sons and daughters embrace the vision and mission of their spiritual father and church family.

Family is not all about leadership or those under leadership. It is about leaders revealing the Father as sons to a fatherless world, and those under leadership walking in the ways of the Christ the Son on the journey to fatherhood in the faith! The time between being planted in the house and being fruitful is the process through the waiting time for the fulfillment of His promises as we are faithful in little and faithful in what belongs to another. We "wait" in the house in the same way Christ the Son "waited" before His public ministry began. He was faithful to serve in His house as the eldest Son and Brother of an imperfect family.

Everything Christ did as the Son of Man became the foundation for His public ministry, where the honor, submission, and service that He sowed as the Son of Man He would later receive. As He submitted, served, and obeyed as the Son of Man, He grew in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man.

According to James 3, wisdom is not about intelligence or intellect, but Christ-like character! Though Christ was God's Son, even He had to learn obedience. Our God is the God of purpose, plan, process, and timing. His purpose is to conform us to His image, which is the image of Christ the Son (Romans 8:29). The process needed to grow in Christlikeness is fulfilled in the wineskin of family, led by fathers and mothers in the faith.

###### The Builder of His house was first built in a house—and is even now preparing a house for us!

As we are planted and rooted in our family of faith, we will learn to walk in the ways of Christ in our spiritual father and mothers who reveal our heavenly Father. As a family of faith, we have the choice to become spiritual sons and daughters who mature to become spiritual fathers and mothers so that we may disciple other sons and daughters in the faith.

The family and family of faith is the context for turning our hearts toward our fathers and sons in fulfillment of the prophecy of Malachi in the prayer of Jesus. In this generational context of family, we can become one as fathers and sons on earth, just as the Father and Son are one in Heaven in answer to the prayer of Jesus.

By this, the world will know that we are His disciples, as we arise and shine in the darkness of a fatherless world with the Father's glory. When the body of Christ is healed to become whole and one as it is in Heaven, so will the land be healed.

# Chapter 8

## Our Kingdom Mandate and the Father's Glory

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).

The response of God our Father to a world in darkness was not offense, anger, or judgment—it was love. His love for the world was revealed and demonstrated by sending us His Son to reveal and represent Himself as the light of His glory in a world in darkness.

###### The Son was the Father's Love-Response to a world in darkness!

The Father also sent us His Son that we may become the first-fruits of many sons and daughters who would reveal and represent Him just like His Son, as salt in a decaying world, and as a light in the darkness. As Christ the Son was, we as matured sons and daughters are now the Father's love response to shine in a world in darkness. This is the purpose of discipleship and the Great Commission!

Our ministry of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 can only happen when we no longer represent ourselves, but rather represent the Father by walking with the mind and ways of Christ. This is the purpose we have been called to conform to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). This is the purpose why we must disciple as fathers in the faith and be discipled as sons in the faith who reveal the ways of Christ the Son in our imperfect fathers in the faith!

###### As Timothy revealed the ways of Christ in Paul, he was being conformed to the image of the Son to reveal the ways of the Father to a fatherless world!

The heart of a fully trained disciple is turned toward his spiritual father and sons so that he may be one on earth, just as the Father and Son are one in Heaven. When our hearts are turned toward our natural and spiritual fathers, we receive and walk in the glory of our inheritance for our land to be blessed (Malachi 4:6).

"Do you not say, "There are still four months and then comes the harvest"? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors" (John 4:35,37-38).

The nations are not a reward for our labors but an inheritance received by matured sons and daughters from the labors of our spiritual fathers. Matured sons and daughters enter into the labors of their fathers and mothers who have gone before them; they labor not for themselves, but that their spiritual sons and daughters receive as an inheritance.

### Our End-Time Message

Everything in Scripture is equally true, but not everything in Scripture is equal in priority or emphasis; hence, not all Scripture is equally important. There are many things that interest believers today and that stir our curiosity. However, there is a message that was not only the message of Christ the Son, but also the message of His disciples and the message that has been assigned to us to preach to all nations before the end comes. This message is nothing less than the gospel of the Kingdom that is needed to fulfill the Great Commission on the foundation of the new commandment under grace and truth.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

This is not only the message we have been assigned to prioritize in all nations till the end comes, but it was also the message preached by Jesus and His disciples. He taught His disciples to pray that His Kingdom and will come on earth as it is in Heaven, and to seek His Kingdom and righteousness first!

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:10,33).

Our present end-time message is not for us to choose but to know it has been chosen for us. Jesus not only preached and taught the Kingdom, but He expects us to continue His message and ministry until the end comes:

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people (Matthew 4:23).

But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him (Luke 4:43; 8:1).

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God (Acts 8:12; 19:8).

The Kingdom message is only possible with and through the preaching of the Cross, but we cannot preach the Cross and Christ crucified without the context of the gospel and power of the Kingdom.

Unfortunately, many seek to know more about the enemy, the false prophet, the anti-Christ, than about Christ and His Kingdom! We do not learn to discern the counterfeit by becoming experts in what is false. When we know the truth, the truth we know will expose and reveal what is false. The key to discernment is to be accustomed to the voice of our Good Shepherd.

###### The enemy can only disguise his appearance, not his voice!

Every wolf in sheep clothing stills sounds like a wolf and does not respond to the voice of the Shepherd!

### The Glory of His Kingdom

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you (Luke 5:17; 11:20).

###### The gospel and power of the Kingdom must be a priority in ministry, because it is the knowledge of the Father's glory that leads to repentance!

Through the gospel and power of the Kingdom is the knowledge of His glory. Through the knowledge of His glory is the knowledge of His ways for the saving health of the nations. The knowledge of the Father's glory is to be revealed through spiritual fathers and sons who are one on earth as it is in Heaven. Such are ministers of reconciliation. When the fatherless see a minister of reconciliation, they see a spiritual son or daughter who reveals the Father who walks in the ways of Christ, which are the ways of truth and life.

We are not healed and delivered because of our own goodness or character. Every good father desires his children to be healthy, whole, and blessed because of relationship, not as a reward for the child's behavior or performance! The correction, admonishing, and chastisement of a father never includes deliberately inflicting sickness and disease or child abuse! God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), but He is not the author of all things. Jesus clearly distinguishes what the enemy does and what He came to do:

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

The blessing of a father is to reveal his heart and ways to his children so that his children will know his heart and ways, and turn their hearts to him. This is the very nature and character of our perfect and good Father in Heaven! May we never judge His character by what He permits, but believe He is good, just, and righteous, especially when we don't have answers. We must rest in the assurance that He knows the end from the beginning.

The gifts and power of the Holy Spirit are not validations of our spirituality or maturity, because they are without repentance. The Father's purpose for the gifts and power of the Spirit is to reveal His heart and ways through His sons and daughters so that the fatherless may be reconciled to Him.

The ministry of Christ was never about Himself, but about His Father! Everything Jesus said and did was to reveal the heart and ways of His Father so that we may turn our hearts toward His Father. We, who are God's people, called by His name, are called to seek His face. We seek His face to know and reveal His ways through the gospel and power of the Kingdom, which is the knowledge of His glory!

The purpose of the Kingdom message is for the knowledge of His glory to change our thinking through repentance. The purpose of repentance is to change our thinking and identity from a fatherless mindset so that we serve from the identity of sons and daughters with the mind of Christ the Son.

As we begin to think as sons and daughters, the truth sets us free from a dysfunctional mindset in order to live in response to the Father's goodness and shine with the light of His glory.

Those who humble themselves and pray in response to the Father's glory focus on His kindness and goodness and respond to darkness with the gospel and power of the Kingdom!

The message of the Kingdom is the message of the righteousness of God through faith, which is the message of the Cross and Christ crucified. The message of the Kingdom is the message of peace, joy, and power of His presence. It is a message of hope in the face of hopelessness and the good news of peace and goodwill to shine in the darkness of hopelessness and bad news. It is a message that comes by living in response to what God our Father has done and is doing and saying, not in reaction to what the enemy has done and is doing. The gospel of the Kingdom is the message of those who humble themselves to pray as face-seekers so that they may shine in the darkness with the message and power of the Kingdom!

### Before the End of Time

We understand that there are at least three things that must happen before the very end of the last days. First, the hearts of each generation will turn toward each other (before the great and terrible day of the Lord) in answer to the prayer of Jesus and prophecy of Malachi. Second, the Kingdom will be preached and demonstrated as a witness to all nations (until the end comes), and as the days of Noah and Lot, so will the days of the Son of Man be. Lastly, the nations will be healed as God's people called by His name, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways. As they know and make known the ways of the Father, they will shine in the light of His glory!

For our land to be healed, the body of Christ must first be healed to be one, which begins generationally as it is in Heaven. Those who are one as fathers and sons, will pray and minister in response to the Father's goodness. They live in response to the Father's promises, in the light of their testimonies. The greatest testimony after salvation is a life being transformed.

As fathers who are also sons, and sons who are also fathers humble themselves and pray in response to their heavenly Father's goodness, their hearts will turn toward the Father and to each other. This alignment is the context of discipleship in the family of faith that the Lord is building so that we will be an "ark of rest and refuge" in times of stress and darkness, as it was in the days of Noah.

As face-seekers, leaders will disciple and teach as spiritual fathers and mothers in the Lord. Consequently, disciples will serve and learn as spiritual sons and daughters in the Lord. From this generational alignment of Heaven, the Lord will build His house on Heaven's wineskin of family that is generationally led by fathers and mothers. As the fatherless experience the Father's love through sons and daughters who reveal the Father, their hearts will turn toward the Father.

### The Wineskin of Kingdom-Family

The appointment of the apostle Peter to his senior position of leadership was in response to hearing from the Father, not a recollection of something written in the law and the prophets. Peter needed the revelation of Christ the Son and not Christ the Servant, because the Father is revealed and represented by those whose identity is rooted and grounded relationally as beloved sons and daughters and not from their works of ministry as servants.

Before Jesus would rule as King of kings and Lord of lords, He was raised as a Son of Man in the house of Joseph. Before David would rule as king, he was raised in a house as the son of Jessie who honored Nathan and Saul as spiritual fathers. David honored all three as fathers and was honored as a father of the greatest Son: Christ, the Son of David! David was not defined by his adultery and murder, but as a man after God's own heart.

Before Israel was led by judges or kings, she was a family of families, led by fathers and sons as it is in Heaven! The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the Father, which makes it a Kingdom family, where the King rules and reigns as a Son with His Father!

The home is where sons and daughters are raised; it is a place of rest, nourishment, and refreshing. It is where we fellowship, eat, drink, serve, and learn under the authority and leadership of a father and mother. The Greek word for "church" speaks of being "called out."

The church has been called out of a fatherless world and mindset to a family—not just the family of God through salvation, but also into a Kingdom family of faith, as the training center to fulfill the Great Commission.

Just as children are born into a family led by a father and mother in an ideal world, those who are born again are meant to be born into a family of faith as Jesus was, not into a fatherless institution, organization, or society that is absent of spiritual fathers and mothers. Transformation occurs in the relational context of family led by spiritual fathers and mothers. Just as the home is not replaced by the marketplace or mission field, neither is the church replaced by Kingdom ministry, but is the training and transformation center for Kingdom ministry.

### A House of Prayer for Healing the Land

Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves'" (Mark 11:17).

Our primary purpose that defines us as His house, personally and as a family, is prayer. Anything not birthed from prayer is a work of the flesh, no matter how successful it may be. Before a house becomes a "den of thieves," it often begins as a house of merchandise in the absence of prayer. The house of God must be known for its prayer, not by anything else necessary that is also present. We are to be a people and house who not only pray for all nations, but also a house that welcomes the stranger and the foreigner to pray as part of the church family.

Revivals, awakenings, outpourings, and renewals that have been birthed through prayer have nonetheless not been sustained for long.

###### Prayer that births a move of God, is not sufficient to sustain what is birthed, if our ways do not change!

Prayer that heals the land must first bring healing to the body of Christ to become one on earth as it in Heaven. Those who are generationally one are positioned to become one as brothers and sisters of the house.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The humility of prayer that heals the land does not blame those outside the body of Christ for the darkness. They take responsibility for their ways in the body of Christ that have empowered the darkness and kept His body from becoming one as it is in Heaven.

The light of the Father's glory in our land must first shine in the darkness of our mindset and ways so that we may become the light of His glory in the darkness. According to Psalm 133, life is commanded to a house of brothers who dwell together as one.

Those who are one as sons to the father of the house will be one as brothers in the house. When the houses of a city are built by the Lord, the houses of the the city will be healed to be one, and the city guarded by the Lord!

Our dysfunctional ways as God's people have kept us divided generationally through a "fatherless mindset" between those in leadership and those under leadership in the house and house of faith.

The gap for intercessors and the breech that needs repair does not begin between the church and the world, but between the generations in the house of God, between fathers and sons, and between those in authority and those under authority.

As we humble ourselves to seek the Father's face, we will be rooted and grounded in His love to turn our hearts toward our fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters in our home and house of faith. The Father's love will heal and restore our hearts to forgive, honor, and to desire mercy before judgment. When we begin to love as we have been loved, we can turn our hearts to our fathers and sons without judgment, imitating their ways that are in Christ.

As we seek His face, we protect ourselves from seeking His hands to judge the land out of self-righteous pride and offense and we will pray with the heart of the Father who desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth! Salvation among all nations begins with the revelation of the ways of the Father, revealed to those who seek His face!

This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek." God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations (Psalm 24:6; 27:8; 67:1-2).

Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people (Exodus 33:13).

After Jacob's encounter in contending for a blessing, he was no longer defined by what his name meant from birth. He was described as one who contended and prevailed with the angel of the Lord. Not only was his birth name changed to Israel, but his birth name was also redefined to represent the generation of those who seek Him! The name Jacob no longer represented a deceiver, but a generation of face-seekers who reveal the way of the Father upon the earth.

Face-seekers turn away from the wicked ways of a fatherless mindset and mentality that empowers the darkness of our land. They turn away from the ways of those who serve as servants like the elder brother in Luke 15, or like the dysfunctional ways of the churches in Revelation 2 and 3. They turn away from the ways of consumers like the prodigal son.

Instead, face-seekers walk in the ways of the Father with the mind of Christ the Son, in the ways of truth and life. They become channels and vessels of the Father's kindness and goodness to lead those deserving of judgment toward repentance.

### Discerning Treasure in Earthen Vessels

Being distracted by the darkness is as easy as being distracted by the dirt that covers gold and robs the glory beneath the dirt!

###### Gold can only be discovered by looking beneath the dirty surface.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7).

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

Those who are offended by the darkness in others risk praying judgmental prayers in opposition to the purpose of intercession. Those who pray in response to the Father's goodness stand in the gap as intercessors and repairers of the breech. They pray for mercy instead of judgment. They do not agree with the accuser of the brethren who desires judgment and not mercy. Rather, they agree with the High Priest of our intercession who desires mercy before judgment.

###### When the gap between the generations in the body of Christ is closed, the gap between the church and land will be closed for the land to be healed.

The fourth chapter of Daniel reveals the heart of Daniel who sought mercy and not judgment and vengeance upon King Nebuchadnezzar! There is a very important lesson revealed in Daniel's response to the interpretation he was given of the king's dream. Three times in Daniel 4 (verses 17, 25 and 32) it is written that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He chooses!

And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (Daniel 2:21).

The context of Daniel 2:21 concerns King Nebuchadnezzar who was not a righteous king! Hence, God permitted this evil, ungodly, and wicked king to be raised up and rule in the kingdom of men, deposing him during the time of judgment, and then raising him back up again! His judgment was not permanent!

It could be that God permits unrighteous authority to come into power, not to condone or affirm their character, but so our prayers for them as intercessors would cause their hearts to turn toward Him, like King Nebuchadnezzar experienced as a result of Daniel's honor and intercession!

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1).

Even Naaman, a Syrian army commander, was healed as a consequence of the advice from an Israelite who was taken captive. Instead of seeking his judgment though she was a captive, she informed Naaman's wife about the miracle-working prophet of God! Because of the slave girl's kindness and desire to see her master healed and not judged, Naaman was healed, and his heart was turned to acknowledge the sovereignty of the God of Israel!

And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant" (2 Kings 5:15).

Through the "intercession" of Daniel and a slave girl, the heart of King Nebuchadnezzar and Naaman were turned toward the Lord. This is the spirit of intercession toward "kings and all who are in authority" not to be judged, but to be turned toward the Father, regardless of how unrighteous, evil, wicked, or corrupt they may be!

### Spiritual Climate-Changing Prayer

And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace (Jeremiah 29:7).

The natural reaction of those who react to darkness would be to desire God's judgment upon those who represent the place of our offense. The way of the peacemaker is to pray for the peace of those in our city, not for judgment on the government or people of our cities or nation! Concerning the evil and wickedness in our cities and nation, the apostle Paul clearly states our responsibility is toward those in the house of God, not those outside:

But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person (1 Corinthians 5:11-13).

We see this distinction made toward Zacchaeus who was "outside," and Ananias and Sapphira who were "inside." All were dishonest, yet the consequences they faced were extremely different. Some say that Ananias and Sapphira were judged because they were not saved. If they were not saved, then there can be no expectation for them to tell the truth, without the Spirit of Truth in them. Others say that they were not judged for lying, but for withholding the money, because many believers lie today and seemingly are not judged.

Yet we see that with great power comes great accountability, and until the power of God is released as it was in the book of Acts, He is patiently waiting for all to come to repentance. His patience is not a license to sin, but to repent within the period of grace before judgment.

Praying for our cities and nations begins with praying for those in authority, according to the first four verses of 1 Timothy 2. This is the prayer of 2 Chronicles 7:14 of those who humble themselves, which leads to a spiritual change of climate and environment for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul wrote this instruction without offense at the darkness of the ruling government of his time that persecuted the church. The apostle Paul gave the response of a spiritual father in Christ, as one who carried the heart of his heavenly Father, even as David's heart was revealed toward King Saul, especially when Saul died.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

The first two verses reveal that peace in our land has less to do with the character of those in authority, than it does with us who pray for those in authority.

###### Peace has more to do with the character of the intercessor than the character of those in authority.

This spiritual climate of peace is the fruit of such intercession, especially for kings and all who are in authority—not only for the good leaders, but also the not so good ones! It is good and acceptable to God because He desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. To supplicate, intercede, and be thankful for unrighteous and corrupt leaders requires us to humble ourselves and pray as face-seekers, so we shine in the darkness instead of reacting to it.

Those who pray in response to the Father's mercy, grace, and goodness will not pray out of pride to desire judgment on evil, wicked, and unrighteous kings and authorities. Instead, they will humble themselves to desire mercy from our God and Savior who desires all to be saved, even as He saved us when we deserved judgment! Our heavenly Father turned the heart of King Nebuchadnezzar through the honor of a face-seeker like Daniel. He turned the heart of Saul of Tarsus, a terrorist who persecuted the church, to an apostle who wrote the most number of books in the New Testament!

No wonder Moses was described as the meekest of all men. He is known for his remarkable response regarding the possible and potential judgment of God upon the children of Israel, and to the personal accusations against him by his own brother and sister! Any other common leader would have immediately agreed with God to wipe out and destroy a most ungrateful and unbelieving people! Yet Moses did not desire judgment upon them, he humbled himself to desire mercy before judgment. His intercession was based on the covenant promises of God, and God's "reputation" before the nations.

Moses' intercession on behalf of an unbelieving, stubborn, and rebellious people had less to do with whether judgment was deserved upon them, and more to do with the meekness of his heart as an intercessor and for God's reputation, not his own comfort and convenience. Moses desired mercy instead of judgment.

The patience of our heavenly Father upon the wicked is not an acceptance of their sin but rather His patience for them to come to repentance. As recipients of His mercy upon our own lives, we have no option but to desire no less mercy than we have receive. We must desire the salvation of our leaders, especially those in government.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Out of at least the two new covenant witnesses in 1 Timothy 2 and 2 Peter 3, the desire of our heavenly Father for all is revealed. He desires that all, not just the ones we think are good and deserving, be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.

This truth is in direct opposition to prophecies of judgment over cities and nations, if one presumes that judgment is preferred before mercy.

We are not called to react to the enemies of God and the evil and wicked in the land from an old covenant perspective under the law and the prophets. We are called to respond under the new covenant response of grace and truth, by those who humble themselves, pray, and seek His face to turn from their own wicked ways.

Moses did not desire the Israelites to be judged and destroyed, as challenging and frustrating as it was to lead them. Instead, like Abraham's response to the impending judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, Moses took the place of the intercessor. He stood in the gap for mercy instead of judgment in response to hearing the call for judgment. Even Jesus goes on to say that Sodom would have remained, if they had experienced the mighty works that were done in Capernaum. For that reason, Sodom will not be judged as severely as Capernaum on the day of judgment.

And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you (Matthew 11:23-24).

The judgment on the people of Sodom was not only based on their sin, but on how they would have responded if had they experienced the mighty works that were done in Capernaum! Despite the sin of Sodom, the people could have been saved if there was a righteous remnant of ten.

Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake of ten." So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place (Genesis 18:32-33).

Judgment was not only based on their sin, but in the absence of a righteous remnant to stand in the gap and the absence of mighty works as was done in Capernaum. This comes down to the ways of God's people who could have prevented the judgment that Sodom deserved.

Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore, I took them away as I saw fit (Ezekiel 16:49-50).

On top of the list of the sins of Sodom was not sodomy, but pride, gluttony, idleness, ignoring the poor and needy, and haughtiness. All of these sins were listed as abominations! Based on these sins, many of God's people called by His name are more deserving of judgment than Sodom was—to us whom much more is given! For to whom much is given, much is required!

If the body of Christ were to first examine ourselves, we would see those overcome by darkness in the land through the Father's eyes of love and grace. We would remember that they are needy recipients of God's mercy, just as we ourselves were! Responding in the opposite spirit to our enemies begins with forgiveness and demonstrates the kindness and patience we received from our heavenly Father prior to our salvation. The purpose of responding with the opposite spirit to those who persecute and come against us is to reveal the Father's heart so that they may experience His kindness through us to come to repentance.

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

###### The goodness of our Father is revealed by loving our enemies so that His kindness through us may lead our enemies to repentance.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:43-45).

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:35-36).

When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7).

###### The measure we know our heavenly Father's love is our ceiling to love those who are against us and oppose us.

Our heavenly Father is not double-minded to speak judgment against those deserving judgment in our land today. His Word clearly indicates His desire is first for all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, before judgment.

###### The land is in darkness, because the house of God remains in darkness. When the ways of God's people change, the glory of the Father will shine in the house to shine in the land.

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19).

May the power and glory of our Father's Kingdom distract and overwhelm us to shine in the darkness. May the knowledge of His glory be revealed in the message and power of the Kingdom, that all may taste and see that the Lord is good and turn their hearts toward Him. May we walk in the mind of the Son in the freedom of truth so that our words of life will shine in the darkness in our conversations and prayers. This is the response to those who are discipled and who make disciples as spiritual fathers and sons in the Lord, defining the generational alignment of Heaven, in the house and wineskin that the Lord is building on earth.

As the Lord builds His house upon the generational alignment of Heaven, we will not labor in vain, and neither will our watchmen watch our city in vain. As He builds His house on the Kingdom family wineskin of Heaven on earth, He will watch our cities so that our land may be healed.

# Chapter 9

## Inheriting Nations

The nations are an inheritance we are to reap from what has been sown before us. Essentially, one generation sows in a nation and the next reaps from the labors of the previous generation.

"For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors" (John 4:37-38).

"I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession'" (Psalm 2:7-8).

The nations are not a reward earned through the work of our hands, but an inheritance received from the Father through the inheritance of our spiritual fathers in Christ who have labored before us.

Servants work for reward, but sons work from inheritance. The miraculous harvest of fish caught by Simon Peter at the beginning and conclusion of Jesus' ministry prophesied of the inheritance of nations that would begin on Pentecost. We are simply required to submit our own experience, skill, and ability to the leading of His voice, and not lean on our understanding from our past "successful" techniques, methods, experience, and knowledge.

On the first occasion, Simon Peter toiled all night but caught nothing. Yet at the Word of the Lord, not the might and power of Peter's experience and education in fishing, he was led to a harvest of fish that was pulled into his nets by the Lord's Spirit. This miraculous harvest not only broke the fishing nets but began to sink two boats!

On the second occasion after the resurrection of Christ, Simon Peter again catches nothing. Unlike the previous time of launching out to the deep, this time he had to cast his net on the "right" side and he caught 153 large fish less than 100 meters from the shore! The "right" side is the side of the Spirit at the Word of the Lord. The "wrong" side is the might and power of one's own strength, experience, techniques, and methods, without His voice and leading. Like the first catch, this was nothing less than miraculous to draw large fish merely 100 meters from the shore. Like this supernatural harvest of fish, a catch of 3,000 "fish" from a "sea" of nations were added on the day of Pentecost, then 5,000 were added, and the rest is history.

To enter the labors of those who have gone before, we need to recall, rehearse, and value the labors of our spiritual fathers and mothers in our cities and nations who first dug the wells of revival. We cannot enter the labors of those we don't know or know but do not recognize and honor. As we honor the fruit of their labors, we begin to unstop wells of revival that have been stopped through dishonor.

Isaac first re-dug the wells of his father that had been stopped. Isaac entered into the labors of his father before he would dig his own new wells!

And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them (Genesis 26:18).

As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools (Psalm 84:6).

Our valleys of Baca are still wet with the former rains of wells that have been dug by our fathers in the faith. They are waiting for us to break up the fallow ground and unstop these wells. It is our desire that the water of life from these past wells of revival will attract the rains from above, as Abba rains down righteousness upon us.

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you (Hosea 10:12).

The nations are to be inherited by each generation through what the previous generations have planted and watered, that they may sow, plant, and water that which will be reaped by the next generation.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance (Psalm 33:11-12).

I was in Bible college in Johannesburg, South Africa, for two years in 1993 and 1994, during the last year of F.W. de Klerk's administration and the first year of Nelson Mandela's administration. I was also in Hong Kong three years later in 1997, where I witnessed the handover and restoration of the Hong Kong administration from Britain back to China. Both handovers of government in South Africa and Hong Kong involved a restoration of governments back to the sons of the soil. Yet more than twenty years later, we are seeing the limitations and shortfalls of legislative changes—as the heart and ways of God's people called by His name do not change, despite the increase of knowledge, signs, and wonders.

### A Vision for Penang, Malaysia, and Your City

It was the summer of 1980 when my sister and I accompanied our parents to the United States. It was the second visit for my father, but the first for the rest of us. We were living in Kuala Lumpur at the time. The Charismatic Renewal was beginning to grow, led by a few bi-vocational marketplace leaders including my father. He was one of the spiritual fathers of the Charismatic Renewal in Malaysia and is mentioned among others in The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements (edited primarily by Stanley M. Burgess).

Miracles were occurring daily if not weekly at the Christian Medical Practice where my father worked as a General Practitioner. He saw many of his patients healed and saved by the Lord. We had a home fellowship that met every Tuesday night. Close to one hundred would come from various denominations. This included Protestants and Roman Catholics who all wanted to learn and experience more of the Holy Spirit. It was an exciting time, and there was no reason to leave Kuala Lumpur.

We spent a few days in Rochester, New York, with our host pastor, the late Donald Riling who first met my father two years earlier during a Global Convocation of Christian Leaders in Singapore. That was where my father was filled with the Spirit through the late "Mr. Pentecost" aka David du Plessis. Pastor Don took my father to Lake Canandaigua for some fellowship and rest. There, my father received a vision of the island of Penang, which is the capital city of the State of Penang.

In the vision, he saw the island filled with triangular flags, and on each was written: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" from John 14:6. Those who have been to Penang, will notice numerous flags and banners that line many streets where Taoist temples and shrines are located, especially during one of the many Taoist festivals that are held on the island. My father knew this vision was speaking of a coming move of God that would cover the whole island-city of the State of Penang. He had no idea, however, why he was receiving this vision. He was happily settled in Kuala Lumpur where the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully.

The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land (Zechariah 9:16).

Little did we realize at that time the significance of this verse that speaks of the ways of truth and life, which are the ways of Christ that reveal the Father! Within a few months, my father received a call from a Christian doctor in Penang with the request for him to come and help equip the doctors and nurses at a Christian medical practice in Penang and to minister as he was in Kuala Lumpur. Intercessors from Penang had been praying for the state, and all kept "seeing" my father in Penang and asked him if he bore witness to move to Penang.

The call to Penang was confirmed, leading us to leave Kuala Lumpur. As it was in Kuala Lumpur, many signs and wonders were done in the medical practice in Penang. For the first six years until 1986, my father ministered in a Christian medical practice for three and a half days a week, releasing more of the presence and power of God in the clinic than treating patients medically. He completely released the practice of medicine by the end of 1986 to minister full time locally and globally.

Many spiritual wells were dug in the 1980s and the early 1990s in Penang, resulting in churches being planted and many leaders coming into their calling in Malaysia and other nations through my father's ministry. The Full Gospel Assembly movement in Kuala Lumpur began as a fruit of a prophetic word he gave to the founding elders. They were also serving together as part of the founding committee of Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship in Malaysia where Dad was a director at large. Dad eventually became the first lead minister of Full Gospel Assembly Penang.

Thirty years after receiving the vision of Penang in 1980, another word for Penang was given in 2010 by Julius Suubi, a Ugandan from Kenya who has been regularly hosted by the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) of Malaysia. During a School of Prayer at the Trinity Methodist Church in Penang, he prophesied:

Penang is like the umbilical cord. Just as an umbilical cord supplies nourishment to the baby, Penang provides life to sow prayer and seeds for the revival in Malaysia. The baby about to be born is the revival that God has planned for the nation. The Lord is asking the Church in Penang, "Are you willing to pay the price for the revival to come?"

One of the strongholds in Penang is abortion, both physical abortion of life in many medical practices, but also the spiritual abortion of the Father's glory through the dishonor of spiritual fathers in the Lord that has been the root of many broken wineskins in the island.

Intercessors from NECF were led to pray and bless each state of Malaysia and were in Penang praying together with the committee of Prayer United Penang. We were asked to intercede and repent of various strongholds in the city, and the Lord prompted me to repent for both the physical and spiritual abortions in this city and state, though I did not remember the word by Julius Suubi at the time. A few days later I realized the connection between the purpose of the church of Penang, and the need to repent for the physical lives lost and the wells of revival that had been stopped in the mid-1990s.

An umbilical cord aligns two generations where life is received—by the second generation from the first generation. This reminds us of the inheritance of life received by each generation who walks in the way of truth and life, as they turn their hearts to their spiritual fathers in the Lord. As face-seekers, they walk in response to the goodness and glory of the Father and in their spiritual fathers in Christ. They shine in the light of the Father's glory, received through giving honor, speaking, and praying words of life that shine in the darkness.

As each generation honors the preceding generation of spiritual fathers, they receive an inheritance of life (John 4:37-38). This is the inheritance needed to fulfill the generational plans and purposes of the Father for the healing of the land. For our land to be blessed, the hearts of each generation must turn toward the previous generation, through the revelation of the Father's glory.

This word through Pastor Suubi complements another word given to two ministers from opposite coasts of the United States. This happened several years ago regarding their respective cities. I had the privilege of speaking with one at a conference in Singapore, and the other at a conference in Sydney at different times. Many years before meeting either of them, they had both met each other at an all-day prayer meeting in the US, where one shared with the other: "God is looking for a city that would belong entirely to Him. And once He gets that one city, it will cause a domino effect across our nation" (Bill Johnson, "Appetite for the Impossible," MinistryToday magazine, 26 April 2012; https://ministrytodaymag.com/281-features/19494-appetite-for-the-impossible; accessed 19 March 2018).

A city that belongs entirely to Him is a city whose houses are built by the Lord! When the houses of a city are built by the Lord, that city will be watched over by the Lord, becoming an example and template for the houses in each city, throughout a nation.

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain (Psalm 127:1).

###### The watchmen of a city will not stay awake in vain when the houses within the city are built by the Lord!

Though many wineskins of revival in our cities may be broken and many wells stopped, the spiritual ground is still wet from the former rain of past outpourings of the Holy Spirit. Our land is wet from the former rains and from tears of intercession—beyond words that can be uttered. There have been many tears of sorrow over broken wineskins, where there were defining moves of God. The fallow ground of previous wells shall become a spring for the rain of the Holy Spirit to fall, even as the new wine begins to refill and overflow through new wineskins.

### Restoring the Father's Glory

The glory that departed is being restored as the hearts of the fathers and sons turn toward each other through honor. From this generational alignment of Heaven, families of faith will be planted. Such families will be led by spiritual fathers in Christ who lead as sons. Those in the house will be discipled as spiritual sons and daughters in Christ who walk in the ways of truth and life, becoming positioned to make known the ways of the Father and shine with His glory.

And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (Joel 2:28).

We must note that Joel 2:28 does not state "My," but "your." This does not refer to our relationship with God, but with us as spiritual sons and daughters, and with our spiritual sons and daughters in Christ.

Present in the Upper Room for the ten days leading to Pentecost were at least two generations from the house of Joseph, given that Mary the mother of Jesus and her other sons were present, as well as the disciples. Mary was also the spiritual mother of John the Beloved, a generational alignment established by Christ the Son just before crying out, "It is finished!"

Before the end of time and before all is "finished," the prophecy of Malachi revealed in the prayer of Jesus shall be fulfilled through fully trained disciples or spiritual sons and daughters who make known the ways of the Father by walking in the ways of truth and life, which are the ways of Christ the Son. They walk in humility as they pray and live in response to the Father's glory.

The first miracle performed by Christ was an alignment of the new and the old. The wine He created was new in time but old in season. Using the Greek words for time and season, the wine was new in chronos or time, but old in kairos or season. All that was created including humankind in the Garden of Eden was new in chronos but old in kairos.

Adam was not created as a newborn baby but as a physically mature man. Seeds were not given to be planted and watered; rather, mature fruit-bearing trees were already created before Adam was created. As with creation, the glory that is about to be poured out will be poured out upon the "younger" sons and daughters, with an inheritance from the glory of their "older" fathers and mothers. Just as aged or matured wine was created in a moment, there is an acceleration and changing of the times and seasons toward the fulfillment of the prophetic purposes and destinies of God for cities and nations.

And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (Daniel 2:21).

"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it" (Amos 9:13).

When the heart of each generation is turned toward their fathers as written in Malachi 4, they will walk in their father's glory for the healing of the land. They will receive the Spirit who will be poured out on all flesh as spiritual sons and daughters in Christ. As sons and daughters and as fathers and mothers, generations will prophesy the knowledge of the Father's glory, as it was declared generationally in Isaiah 59:21-60:2, and from the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost.

Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God (Acts 2:11).

Our Father in Heaven is the Father of a heavenly family and sent us His Son as the Seed and Firstborn of a family on earth as it is in Heaven! This was His desire, that His Son would be the first fruit of many sons who would reveal His heart and His ways for the saving health of the nations.

As sons, we envision the dreams of our fathers; and as fathers, we dream dreams for our sons. Our spiritual inheritance as sons and daughters becomes the foundation and inheritance for our sons and daughters to build upon.

### "Pearly Gates" of Great Price

Not only was the first mention of the "house of God" called "the gate of heaven," but it is also significant that each gate in Heaven is formed from a pearl.

And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" (Genesis 28:17)

The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass (Revelation 21:21).

As a gate, the purpose of the house of God is needed to fulfill the prayer that the Lord taught for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven. It is the place of spiritual authority, as a spiritual thermostat that sets the spiritual temperature of our cities and land. The significance of being a pearl is revealed in the formation of a pearl on earth.

The formation of natural pearls begins with an irritant that lives off its host. In reaction to this irritant, layer after layer of a fluid is released from the oyster, until a beautiful and costly pearl is formed. When we seek the Father's face in response to the surrounding darkness with praise, our praise becomes a pearl-gate through walls of salvation.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." ...But you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway! Take out the stones, lift up a banner for the peoples! (Isaiah 40:3-5; 60:18; 62:10)

The crooked paths shall be made straight on a highway of holiness, and the stones or hindrances shall be removed as banners of the Lord arise throughout this land.

The Lord their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, lifted like a banner over His land (Zechariah 9:16).

These jewels and banners represent fully matured disciples or sons and daughters who reveal the Father in the ways of truth and life. These are the ways of Christ the Son that reveal the Way of the Father for the healing of the land.

Though darkness covers the land, the Father's glory shall rise upon a generation of face-seekers who walk in the ways of the Son. They shall be lifted up as banners in the ways of truth and life.

So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).

This verse was often quoted and declared by my father. His life was a testimony of this Scripture. What the Lord desires to do through us in our community, city, and land is impossible without Him. The work of the Lord will and must be marked by His Spirit, so all will know that is not by the might and power of the flesh!

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

I returned and saw under the sun that—the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:3).

The Father makes all things beautiful in His time. Many times, we read of "the fullness of time," "the appointed time," in "due season," etc. The apostle James reminds us to let patience have its perfect work. The work of patience occurs between the promises and their fulfillment, as we are transformed through the process so that we may steward the fulfillment without being overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility.

Even Christ the Son of Man was transformed by the thirty-year process between His birth and baptism. For Joseph it was thirteen years, for Abraham twenty-five years, and for Moses forty years!

###### During the journey we are transformed through the process, in preparation for the fulfillment of our purpose and assignment.

The process for transformation is the context of generational alignment in the Kingdom family of faith, defined by the generational alignment of Heaven in the house that the Lord is building. If we fail to understand the purpose of God's house and the generational alignment that defines it, we may end up resisting the work of transformation that is preparing us for the fulfillment of our promises!

Written on a world map clock at home, are three lines that say: "Life is all about Timing!" Patience must have its perfect work, while we are tested and proven in character and integrity as sons of the house, becoming mature, complete, and lacking nothing for the fulfillment and performance of His Word.

For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Yesterday is past, tomorrow is the future, but today is a gift we call the "present"! God is called "I Am that I Am," not, "I Was that I Was," or, "I Will Be that I Will Be"! The future is rushing through the present to become the past every 24 hours! May we redeem the time and occupy till He comes, not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit as Jesus is.

May our wounds and testimonies from our past not keep us from the new things that are springing up. We are called to both remember and forget the former things. We are to remember what the Lord has done and said He will do to help heal us, from the pain attached to past memories, and be filled with all joy and peace in believing as we come to Him for life to hear His voice, abounding in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are many sons and daughters of the womb whose hearts are not one with their fathers and mothers. Yet more shall be spiritual sons and daughters in Christ whose hearts are one with their spiritual fathers and mothers in Christ:

"Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman," says the Lord (Isaiah 54:1).

Those who may not have children of their own, can have many spiritual sons and daughters in the Lord. Many fatherless shall be drawn to the Father through ministers of reconciliation who walk in the ways of Christ in truth and life. The spiritual wombs of intercessors and the natural wombs of the barren shall both be open supernaturally to birth cities and nations that would not be possible without the Spirit of the Lord.

The wombs of the wives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all barren, though their prophetic destiny was to father nations. The purposes of God will always look impossible without Him, that all may know it is only because of Him that His purposes shall come to pass.

"Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before her pain came, she delivered a male child. Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the Lord. "Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?" says your God (Isaiah 66:7-9).

Just as Peter toiled all night twice and caught nothing. Yet, at the Word of the Lord, Peter launched his nets into the deep. The second time Peter cast his nets on the right side, there was a supernatural harvest, prophetic of the harvest of "fish" on and from the Day of Pentecost.

My late father often said that God can do whatever He pleases, however He pleases, whenever He pleases, wherever He pleases, through whomever He pleases, and requires no one's permission to do so! Just as Peter experienced a supernatural harvest of fish after toiling all night, a nation can be born at once, even as the first century church was birthed on the day of Pentecost.

May our history and expectations never become the ceiling of our expectations from the Lord of the harvest who desires to give us the nations as an inheritance so that we may plant and sow for the generations after us.

## Conclusion

The generational alignment between Jesus Christ our King, and His Father reveals Heaven's Kingdom-Family Alignment for earth. This was the alignment in the Old Covenant between the Kingdom of Israel and the House of Israel, and also the alignment in the New Covenant between Kingdom builders and the house that the Lord is building.

As the Son of Abraham, the Lord will build His house. As the Son of David, He is enthroned as King. The Kingdom does not replace the family, but is a Kingdom of church families. When we become sons and daughters of the house that the Lord is building, we receive the family alignment to fulfill our Kingdom assignment in the Kingdom-Family Alignment on earth as it is in Heaven.

Our Father in Heaven began with a father on earth named Abraham, who became the father of the House of Israel. This was the training ground for the kings of Israel. The kings of Israel received their training for reigning as sons of the house and learned the ways of the Father through their fathers on earth. David, the son of Jessie, became the king of Israel, and the house of the Lord was built through King Solomon, the son of David. Likewise, in the New Covenant, the house that the Lord is building is being built by the Son, upon sons who make up the living stones of His spiritual house:

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5).

This alignment between living "stones" and the "sons" who make up each stone and house is revealed in Hebrew: the word for "stone" is e'ben, and the word for "son" is ben! Spiritual sons make up the living stones of the spiritual house that the Son is building! Spiritual sons and daughters make known the ways of the Father by walking in the ways of Christ.

Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel (2 Chronicles 17:3-4).

As Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of David, and as Timothy walked in the ways of Paul that were in Christ, may we become fully trained disciples who walk in the ways of our spiritual fathers who are in Christ. May we reveal the ways of the Father as peacemakers, as catalysts of the Father's glory, and as ministers of reconciliation to bring many who are fatherless to the Father through Christ the Son. May we walk in the freedom of Truth to shine with the Father's glory and fulfill our Kingdom assignment and mandate!

When brothers of a house are one as sons, they will also be one as brothers, attracting the commanded blessing of life as written in Psalm 133. The second chapter of Joel speaks about the outpouring of the Spirit upon our sons and daughters and the generational alignment on earth as in Heaven. Hence, the Spirit of the Lord will be poured out upon us in order to reconcile others to the Father as we make His ways known.

The catalysts of the Father's glory in 2 Chronicles 5, Isaiah 59:21, and in the Upper Room on Pentecost was not just being one with God, but also being generationally one on earth as in Heaven.

May the light of the Father's glory upon us increase throughout our cities until the knowledge of His glory fills the lands as the waters cover the sea. When the light of the Father's glory is restored to His house, the darkness surrounding us will be displaced and replaced! May we, as the generation of Jacob, focus on thanksgiving to guide us as we pray, speak, and serve in response to the Father's kindness.

As His face shines upon us, may we know and make known His ways as sons and daughters, so that His saving health will flow through us in our house, city, and nation. May we fulfill our Kingdom mandate and assignment, following the divine strategy of Heaven's family alignment that His Kingdom come and His will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

## Song for the Nations

Lyrics by Chris Christensen

May we be a shining light to the nations,

A shining light to the peoples of the earth

Till the whole world sees, the glory of Your name,

May Your pure light shine through us.

May we bring a word of hope to the nations,

A word of life to the peoples of the earth

Till the whole world knows, there's salvation through Your name,

May Your mercy flow through us.

May we be a healing balm to the nations,

A healing balm to the peoples of the earth

Till the whole world knows, the power of Your name,

May Your healing flow through us.

## About the Author

Reuben Seevaratnam is a second-generation minister with a rich spiritual legacy. His late father, Dr. Joy Seevaratnam, was one of the fathers of the Charismatic Renewal in Malaysia in the 1970s, when Reuben experienced the power the Holy Spirit. After seven years abroad attending university and Bible college, Reuben served with his father for more than ten years.

Reuben is a council member of Asia for Christ Movement based in Manila, Philippines, and ministers in the prayer network for the State of Penang through Prayer United Penang. Reuben and his wife, Shantel, have four children, and together lead Global Harvest Assembly, planted by Reuben's father in Penang, Malaysia.

# Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Acknowledgments
  4. Endorsements
  5. Peace Prayer
  6. Contents
  7. Author's Note
  8. Foreword
  9. Introduction
  10. Chapter 1
    1. The Healing Ways of the Father
  11. Chapter 2
    1. The Generational Alignment of Heaven for Healing 
  12. Chapter 3
    1. Truth for Transformation
  13. Chapter 4
    1. Shining with the Light of Life
  14. Chapter 5
    1. Turning Our Hearts to the Father
  15. Chapter 6
    1. Turning Our Hearts to Our Fathers and Sons
  16. Chapter 7
    1. The Family Wineskin of Our Kingdom Assignment
  17. Chapter 8
    1. Our Kingdom Mandate and the Father's Glory
  18. Chapter 9
    1. Inheriting Nations
    2. Conclusion
  19. Song for the Nations
  20. About the Author

## Landmarks

  1. Cover
  2. Backmatter

