God is looking for a church that will influence the entire Northwest Georgia region! I want to be that church, how about you? In order to be that church we have to expand our thinking. Let me give some background information.

7 Authority Structures

There are seven authority structures that God has set up. He has limited Himself to work through these structures. These seven authority structures are: The Godhead, Individual, Marriage, Family, Civil, Work, and Church. Six of these structures are the responsibility of mankind. That means we are the ones to implement the principles of God in these structures. When the principles of God are implemented into these six authority structures there will be peace, order, and the life of God. If you notice church is only one of the six. Many times, as Christians if we think that everything is all right with church then that is all God is requiring.

What God wants to do is to invade the earth with His kingdom.

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10

The fundamental question that most Christians don’t understand is, “what is the kingdom”. The kingdom is simply this—it encompasses all of the six authority structures listed above. God doesn’t just want the church operating in His principles correctly. He wants our civil government, work places, marriages, families, individuals, and the church operating in His principles. When this happens then the kingdom of God has come upon the earth. And wow, what a change that will be!

Can you imagine Godly principles being walked out first in individuals, then marriages, then in the family, then in the work place, and finally in the civil government? This is what God wants to birth in you!

The church structure is only one part of our lives that God wants to touch. But after He touches the church and sets it in order, He will then turn us loose to set in order the other authority structures. This is why there is so much change going on in the church. We often think why is God making such a big deal out of getting things in order in the church. The big deal is that He sees that the seed He places in the church will grow to influence the whole earth! Open your eyes and see the ramifications! Open your eyes to see the bigger picture. It’s not just about us! It’s about us being the hands and feet of Jesus to influence all areas of society!

If the church doesn’t do it, it won’t get done. Well, Craig, you are being a little dramatic, aren’t you? What about the sovereignty of God? What about it? He has deliberately laid it at our feet in His sovereignty. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21makes it clear that we are His ambassadors that have the ministry of reconciliation. What does this ministry do? Changes what is not correct in each authority structure to the way God wants to see it (reconciles it).

Jesus has Entrusted the Kingdom of God to His Church.

You are not set in place in Northwest Georgia just to have great relationships and celebrations with other believers. You are entrusted with the great responsibility to bring the truths of God into every area of life in this area.

What does this mean? It means we think about how would Jesus be if He was in my job? How would Jesus run this city if He was the mayor? What kind of husband would Jesus be if He was married to my wife? What kind of Mother would Jesus be to my kids? When we start asking these types of questions and acting on what the Holy Spirit gives us this, area will start birthing the kingdom of God —and not just church.

“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. Luke 16:16

“forcing”means to seize. The King James uses the word “presseth”. In other words, it will not just happen. We have to make up our minds to seize and press in with the truth of God into all areas of our lives and society. Jesus gave His church the ability to use His authority to resist demon principalities and powers, command, and influence in His name.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,[no place is off limits]baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything [the Bible is filled with commands for all 6 authority structures] I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Church is to be a place where prayer, instruction, wisdom, insight, strategies, and prophetic words are given to believers in order to be victorious not only in their own life but in every sphere of life they come into contact with. God wants us to take back every corruption that sin has caused on the earth!

The church is the “gateway” between the spiritual and the natural. We have to take what we learn in the spiritual and birth it in the natural. That is why Paul said the following:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Paul then informed us of seven weapons we have (including prayer in verse 18) that will cause us to overcome! The devil hates when Christians break out of the religious mindset that only wants to maintain the status quo. See this is one of the primary assignments of the devil—convince Christians to maintain the status quo!

Whenever you hear the words to backup, back off, slow down, etc. it is usually the devil scared that you will get and keep a kingdom mindset!

…and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  Matthew 16:18a-19

Notice Who Has the “Keys” of the Kingdom of Heaven!

Notice who does the binding and loosing. Yes, God in His sovereignty has given it to us. That is why the devil tries so hard to talk Christians out of it. But He is not going to talk us out of it. In Jesus name, we are going to rise up and be a kingdom minded church that will influence the region!

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was a major force behind the Great Awakening revival in the 1700’s. This was one of the greatest revivals ever that impacted all of society. I am going to close out with his 250-year-old words on Luke 16:16that we quoted on page 2. From his words you see the godly attitude that is necessary to change a society. Father, let this attitude be birthed in us!

“By pressing into the Kingdom of God is denoted a breaking through opposition and difficulties. There is in the expression a plain intimation of difficulty. If there were no opposition, but the way was all clear and open, there would be no need of pressing to get along. They therefore that are pressing into the Kingdom of God go on with such engagedness, that they break through the difficulties that are in the way. They are so set for salvation that those things by which others are discouraged, and stopped, and turned back, do not stop them, but they press through them. Persons ought to be so resolved for heaven, that if by any means they can obtain, they will obtain. Whether those means be difficult or easy, cross or agreeable, if they are requisite means of salvation, they should be complied with. When anything is presented to be done, the question should not be, is it easy or hard? Is it agreeable to my carnal inclinations or interest, or against them? But is it a required means of my obtaining an interest in Jesus Christ, and eternal salvation?”

God is pouring out grace on all believers that will take His kingdom to the whole of society. The gates of hell have stopped many local churches and people in this area from doing this through fear, intimidation, and even doctrinal teachings against it. But now is the time that apostolic grace is pouring forth to break through all spiritual resistance. Jesus wants to establish a strong governing church with Him as the Head!