Yesterday, in the course of a conversation with a friend about business and life and reformation, I mentioned courts and council as great kingdom tools. This morning the Lord tweaked me and said, “The council is not just a tool, it’s your home.”
The highlight of 2018 was learning to appear in His Council, activating seer gifts and taking others there too. It was amazing to see the welcome mat out for this invitation to the courts and council in Europe this fall. Six times we took groups into the courts and council, and people loved the experience of it. It feels like the good news of the Kingdom, and everyone is forcing his way into it (Lu. 16:16). Amazing!
Yes, this is a shameless plug for Seers and Doers. It’s a “must read” I recommend for everyone. The book includes a dozen videos to help experience it. 2019 has an exciting next step we’ll discuss in a minute.
Ps. 84:7 – They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. NASU
As I think about 2018 and the experience of entering His Council, the concept that God (and all creation) has been waiting for us to appear before Him in Heaven came like an assignment. It’s how the Kingdom works. Appearing before God in Zion is what Sons do. We ascend, see what the Father is doing and saying, and bring back the goods. It’s not passive; it’s participating in a conversation; feeling the freedom to ask questions; embracing the initiative to collaborate and co-labor. It’s alive!
From strength to strength – This morning, I saw strength to strength as a whirlwind! Chayil (H2428) means a force of men or means and translates as an army, wealth, resources, virtue, valor and strength. Sounds like ecclesia, doesn’t it? In Joshua and Judges, it translates as mighty men of valor. Strength (Chayil) comes from Chul (H2342) which carries the connotation of a whirlwind – to whirl, dance, give birth, travail with child, bring forth, grieve. Whirlwind is a common term in the old testament that suggests the activity of the Holy Spirit. Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kgs. 2:11).
When we’re at home, seated in heaven’s council, we’re enveloped in this whirlwind of God’s spirit. It’s a dance or travail that gives birth to new things on earth. We go from strength to strength as we go from one exploit to another; one birth to another; one creation to another. First, we experience the wind in the council, and then we manifest it on earth. That’s what sons do. We’re bringing the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. For sons, it’s no longer an option. It’s a lifestyle, a home, a mandate. We are not waiting to go there. We are not trying to go there. We appear there regularly. I’m in a seat with my name on it, and I’m participating.
Ps. 84:6, and 11 – Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings. . . 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. NASU
Obstacles – We all have trials and difficulties to navigate in life which try to shame us out of the council. The valley of Baca is a place of weeping. We all go through this valley! Sons “make it” a spring. God works everything out for good for those who love him (Rom. 8:28). Sons don’t wait for God to make it all better. They cooperate and make it better themselves. Sons know how to resurrect and gain strength in weakness.
Dan McAdams is a professor at Northwestern who studies “narrative identity.” We each have an internalized and evolving story that integrates our past, present, and future aspirations into a theme with a purpose and a destiny – our identity. He found a trend in the stories that people with meaningful lives tell themselves. Their lives, or stories, have a “redemption ingredient.” They suffer the same setbacks as the rest of us. They find purpose in those setbacks that makes them wiser and stronger and supports the theme of their story. They resurrect from their deaths. Their fellowship with suffering adds power and authority to their story and their destiny. Trials are chapters in books that end in triumph!
What’s coming in 2019 – I’m very thankful Jesus walked me through Courts and Council in 2018. I’m thankful for the clarity in Seers and Doers. It is a book I had not planned to write, and it’s more an experience than a book.
This year (actually this morning) I asked the Lord to teach me more about bringing back what I see. There are lots of gaps in the Kingdom on earth – healing, reformation, wealth creation, Releasing Kings, Europe, etc. I want to be a son who makes a real difference. A son who can manifest on earth what he sees in heaven. Here’s what the Father gave me for 2019 when I asked: “how, Lord.”
- Be present – don’t take my council for granted. Be there, go there, occupy your seat.
- Prophecy what you hear – Just as Ezekiel “prophesied as he was told” (Ezek. 37). Decree!
- Implement what you see – Act on what you are shown and bless nations.
Ezek 37:9-10 – Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet — a vast army. NIV
PS: This is my little graphic reminder of who is present in the council. It’s always in my notebook along with a pen to write what I see. Don’t take it as a doctrinal statement; It’s just my usual and personal setting. There is much more up there. Feel free to use it yourself.
Suggestions:
- Seers and Doers, Sons Bringing Heaven to Earth
- Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace
- From Desire to Destiny, Seven Keys to Your Marketplace Ministry
For those of you who own a Business, join Larry Nault and me at Building A Kingdom Company.
If you’re in education, please get acquainted with David Nycz at http://www.educationviaheart.com/
Releasing Kings is available in French “Libération des Rois pour le ministère dans le monde du travail” ISBN: 978-90-78643-08-1
