🔥 Out of the Letter and Into the Spirit

We all have roots in the Spirit of Religion… where we had the answers, proof texts, and knew what to do because we know what God wants without talking to Him. We’ve read His book, have systematic theology, know all the principles and promises! Sonship starts when we admit we don’t know what to do… and ask Father to show us what He is doing.

Mt 7:22 – Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name,
and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23) “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; LEAVE ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

The religious spirit is defined by all the things we do when we haven’t had a conversation to hear what Father is saying and to see what He is doing. The nature of iniquity is its independence. Here are a few of the trademarks of the religious spirit:

It backfills lack of purpose with works and recipes (performance orientation, to the letter)
The sense of needing to work for God, know Him intellectually, but not from the heart
Emotionally rigid, lack of transparency, disconnected from deep relationships, poor listening skills
Argumentative, judgmental, controlling, focused on being right over having heart connection
Outward appearance, does some of the right things outwardly, but out of self-will

The Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Jesus has an entirely different feel. It is healing, forgiving, and loving when we first experience Jesus. As we move into His Kingdom, love feels more like the respect or honor from seeing the majesty of Father’s purpose, then seeing our purpose; the one Father wrote in our heart. We do let go of performance orientation, yet our identity is shaped around discovery of our purpose. Relationship grows from revelation to include co-laboring. Intimacy and greater works flow together.

Kingdom business relationships are loving because we are aware of one another’s Purpose and have an appreciation for the anointing, talent, and unique calling Father has invested in each of our team. We can see one another’s hearts, the fig leaves are off, and refreshing transparency is normal and helpful.

Rules for Relationships is an oxymoron. Love only happens when we can see purpose in hearts. The discipline to love one another doesn’t come from self-discipline, it originates with hearing Father, seeing why, and co-laboring on shared purpose. That’s the Kingdom business definition of Eccelsia; we are sharing Father’s purpose and Father’s works. That’s the storm-surviving rock beneath our business and relationships. I don’t know Father until I know His heart’s purpose; I don’t know you until I know the purpose in your heart. Kingdom business culture starts with hearts.

Jn 5:17 – “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
19) Therefore, Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you,
the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing;
for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.
20) “For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing;
and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

The Rock is a more than a metaphor. Jesus is building his Ecclesia on a rock (Mt 16:18) and we’re advised to build our house on the rock (Mt 7:24). The rock is Jesus, also Mt Hermon, Mt Zion, Heaven, etc. The real picture is that Jesus’ atonement gave us access to Father. Jesus is the ascension bridge to the Courts of Heaven and Father’s Council.

Jn 1:51 – He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open,
and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.

Sonship and Conversations – We tell businessmen, “We all need to hear from God.” That’s true but it’s time to tell them how. Kingdom is the modern era of sonship, it’s new! God is moving us from charismatic Crumbs to Conversations and from obedient, letter-bound Serfs to Sons.

It’s business wisdom to leverage what Jesus has made available to His sons:

Spiritual Warfare – now we can take enemy accusations to the Courts of Heaven and let our advocate (Jesus) take them to the cross. We can release Father’s prophetic decrees in their stead.

Seers and Doers – Jesus wants to show us our seat in heaven at Father’s council so He can show us what He’s doing, share the conversations with Jesus and His 7 Spirits, and bring heaven to earth.

Sonship – Ascension is the consummate relational act of honoring Father by seeing His purpose. Bringing heaven to earth in business is worship; our work becomes worship and the end state is a Reformation that blesses Nations.

Ps 84:7 – They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.

2 Cor 3:5 – Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves,
but our competence comes from God.
6) He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—
not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

We help Kingdom Businesses find and fulfill their unique purpose while producing value and cash flow. We integrate Father’s Courts, Council, Purpose and Passion for Business leaders in a 1-on-1 format.
Axiom – Have fun, make money, love people, and build the Kingdom!

Get on our mailing list with a free copy of Intentional Reformation.
Get on John’s calendar for a Zoom consultation.
1. We start with a Purpose Profile to get your Kingdom purpose in writing.
2. Have DIY options and a fleet of coaches with different specialties to choose from.
3. We’re partnering with Larry Nault at BuildingaKingdomCompany.com

This blog was inspired by two of my own Council sessions which have much more that I think you will enjoy. Also great example of the Council with links so you can “go” as well.

An added discussion on this topic we used as a FaceBook live event, Full of additional insights.