We’re going to begin in Matthew 4 but I want to read again, the first two paragraphs of a prophecy that Pastor read a couple of weeks ago. It’s title “Climb Higher and Believe Me.”
“I simply want My body to believe Me. I want those who are Mine, to take My Word as if they know nothing else, (Let me say that again, “as if they know nothing else.”) to place it at the forefront of their thinking and to believe Me. This is the life in the Spirit. My Words are spirit and they are life.”
“I desire My Word,” second paragraph, “to be primary in your thinking. Kingdom thinking includes refusing to receive thoughts and imaginations that do not agree with My Word and My ways. (This next sentence is really where my message is going tonight.) If something does not agree with My Word and My ways, I do not agree with it. Be challenged by these things and come up higher in Me.”
Recently, the special teams coach for a professional football team was suspended for three games for homophonic remarks he made to the team’s former punter. In a team meeting he said, (And ladies and gentlemen, this guy was a Christian.) “We should round up all the gays, send them to an island, and then nuke it until it glows.”
“In this instance,” the team owner and president said, “the coach fell short of what is expected.” Now this is what I want you remember about this part of what I just read: The team owner and president determines what is acceptable speech and what is not acceptable speech.
“We will continue to hold all team members accountable,” he said, “and take the outlined critical steps to further educate everyone within our organization both individually and collectively.”
Educate them about what? How the team views the gay and lesbian community and how the team responds toe the gay and lesbian community.
The team also contributed $100,000 to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights groups. The owner and president, and I’m going to use a word we use in church, “blessed” what he supported.
This is classic reputation management. Reputation Management says that everyone in the organization understands and is in agreement with the beliefs and values important to the organization and how those beliefs and values are to be communicated. That’s what reputation management is. Everyone speakers the same thing and everyone is on the same page when they are talking about the organization.
In this instance, the team told the world that what the coach said did not reflect the beliefs and values of the team. In other words, the coach does not speak for us.
The majority of Christians today are not speaking of the kingdom of Heaven. The beliefs and values we are hearing from the body of Christ today – God would say, “They do not speak for me.” Pick any subject you like – faith, tithing, repentance, same sex unions, healing, abortion, responding to authority – and you will see that what most Christians are saying is not what God would say.
There is a church in Denver that is now permitting those who profess to be homosexual and those who profess to be transgender to serve in leadership positions in the church. Now, based on what you know about scripture, is that church speaking for God? No.
Based on what I just described, is it possible, ladies and gentlemen, that a lot of children and young people that we see today are “speaking” – through their speech and actions – the reputation they have learned from their parents?
Turn to Matthew 4, verse 17. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Everything Jesus taught and everything He spoke established for the listener the kingdom of heaven’s reputation.
Let me read what reputation management is one more time. Reputation Management says that everyone in the organization understands and is in agreement with the beliefs and values important to the organization and how those beliefs and values are to be communicated.
And those who believe on Him salvation and eternal life are supposed to manage that reputation by teaching and saying the same things He said. If we are following Jesus, we do not have the liberty to teach and say something He wouldn’t teach or say. Are you with me?
Bro. Barry, why can’t we teach anything other than what Jesus would have taught? Remember I said earlier that the team owner and president determines what is acceptable speech and what is to acceptable speech?
God, in the kingdom of Heaven, determines what is acceptable speech and what is not acceptable speech.
Remember how I also talked about how the owner and president “blessed” the organizations it supported?
God will bless what He supports.
But do we see this happening in the body of Christ today? No, we don’t and neither did the leaders of the early church. Managing the kingdom of heaven’s reputation – saying what Jesus and the apostles would say if they were here today – has been a problem for the church since day one.
Let’s look at some passages that showed division in the early church.
Turn to First Corinthians chapter one.
(9) God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
I want you to notice something, ladies and gentlemen. It says “fellowship of” not “fellowship with.” Bro. Barry, why is that important? Because the word “of” implies origination. We have the same fellowship with Jesus that He had with His Father. In other words, we were born into this fellowship! You can fellowship WITH someone and not be in agreement with that person.
(10) Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
We’re looking at examples of division in the early church. Turn to Romans 16:17. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
You don’t avoid someone, ladies and gentlemen, because they don’t agree with your politics. You avoid people because of the doctrine that they are teaching. I don’t have time to sit and listen to someone who may not be teaching sound doctrine. I’m very selective of the people I will listen to. When I listen to people who are teaching sound doctrine, my spirit is not being polluted. Now, if you want to take a chance and pollute your spirit, that’s up to you,
Look at Galatians 1:6 – “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.” Ladies and gentlemen, the question of the day: Why can people be moved to accept another gospel? That other gospel satisfies what they want. It satisfies thee flesh. It allows them to continue to do what they are doing and believe they are serving God,
Now look at Philippians 2.
(1) If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercies,
(2) Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
(3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in low lines of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
(4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
(5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
What mind was in Christ Jesus that should be in us? I’m going to make this one easy, ladies and gentlemen. Remember when God approached Cain after he had killed his brother? And what did Cain ask God? Am I my brother’s keeper? What did we just read? We are our brothers keeper.
One more looking at division. Turn to Second Thessalonians 3:6 – “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh has disorderly, and not after the transition which he received of us.”
We have seen that since the early days of the church that there has been divisions. We see people speaking for God but not the way God desired them to speak.
The Bible tells us what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in the kingdom. Do you realize that the New Testament, in a nutshell, describes why many Christians are not living in the inheritance their Father has provided for them? That’s why every interaction with Scripture is an opportunity for self-examination.
My question, ladies and gentlemen, is are you speaking for the kingdom? Remember God is the one who determines what speech is acceptable. And God is the one who determines what speech is not acceptable. And God rewards speech that is acceptable.
Now, let’s talk about speaking for the kingdom.
Turn to Second Corinthians 5.
(19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
(20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Let’s say you are the ambassador to France for the United States of America. When you move to France, and you are the ambassador to France from the United States, everything you say represents the United States of America. Everything.
If you are not in agreement with a particular United States’ policy as it relates to France, you may be in France and you may occupy the living quarters of the ambassador, you will not be an ambassador. You are in disagreement with the country you are supposed to represent.
If we are ambassadors for Christ, we have no choice but to speak for the kingdom of heaven. None. We’re going to speak “kingdom speak” or we’re not. We may think we’re ambassadors because that’s what the Bible says. But if there’s anything in you that disagrees with what the Bible says, you are not an ambassador.
IF we are, in fact, ambassadors for Christ, look at what we read in First Peter 4:11 – “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
We are ambassadors for Christ so God can receive the glory! Why? Our lives are lining up with what He expects of His ambassadors.
Turn to Ezekiel 18. When people see us, we are supposed to be representing the kingdom of heaven.
(30) Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
(31) Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
(32) For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourself, and live ye.
I know God is talking to Israel, the people He has chosen, but let me ask you something ladies and gentlemen. If He’s telling Israel to turn from their wickedness, because He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, when an Islamic extremist dies and we say he has gotten what he deserved, we are not speaking for God! When that coach said all homosexuals should be taken to an island and nuked, he was not speaking for God! God’s heart is to have all men saved.
So, if you have pleasure when someone dies or someone has problems, or if you say they are getting what they deserve, you are not speaking for God. I don’t care how good you make it sound, you are not speaking for Him.
Ezekiel 33:11 – Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
This is how God feels about things today. Why does God not want the wicked to die? Now listen to me: God does not want the wick to die in their state of wickedness because the lake of fire will be their next destination. God does not want that. But there are too many of in the body of Christ – we want that.
Look at Second Corinthians 6.
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked with together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
(15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17) Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
If we do not come out and separate ourselves from the unclean thing, are we representing God? No we are not,
Look at Colossians 2.
(9) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,
(10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
The word “complete” in verse 10 is the same Greek word as “fulness” in verse 9. Both words means “nothing more can be added.” If we confess financial lack, we were not speaking for God. If we confess a lack of healing, we are not speaking for God
Colossians 3.
(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
(2) Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth,
(3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
You are dead. To what? To the things of this world. And he tells us that our lives are hid in Christ. Who you really are is hid in Christ! When we get to the point of being “dead to the world,” no one will recognize you and you won’t recognize you! When this happens, the world will simply become a nuisance.
Look at verse 17. “And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
I’m not going to belabor this point, but when you are not doing things that represent the kingdom, you are out of fellowship with God and the kingdom.
Look at James 1.
(5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
(6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
(7) For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
(8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Do you see what God is telling us? When you come to Him asking for wisdom, come with faith and not doubts. Because the kingdom says you will receive from God if you don’t doubt. You get what you pray for if you have no doubts. Always.
Turn to First Peter 1.
(13) Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
(14) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance;
“Former lusts.” Lusts should be former for us. Say it with me: Lust should be former for us. If lusts are not former for you, go back to verse 13 and gird up your minds!
(15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.
We are to be holy in every aspect of our lives. And if God says we are to be holy, remember how the owner and president of the football team rewarded what he supported? If God tells us to be holy in everything, we will be rewarded for that in this life.
(16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Turn to chapter 3, verse 7. This one is very important to me. He’s talking about the relationship between husbands and wives. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
Two points I want to make.
Do you see this word “honor?” In chapter 2, verse 4, it’s the word “precious.” In chapter 2, verse 6, it’s the word “precious.”
“Giving honor to your wife” – Husband. Would be husbands. Your wife, according to the Bible, apart from Jesus, is precious to you. And that is the way you’re supposed to treat your wife, as someone dear and precious to you, You treat her like she’s the most valuable gem you can buy.
And I will tell you ladies and gentlemen, a lot of the problems in most marriages start with the husband. The Bible doesn’t say we honor our wives if they act right, if they do what we say. The Bible says the is what we’re supposed to do. Our wives should never have to think about their relationship with their husbands. She never have to think, aside from Jesus, who is the most important in your life.
Now here’s the big one. Notice he says “Likewise husbands.” And he says you honor your wives husbands because when you honor your wife, and you have that relationship with your wife that’s good and solid, your prayers won’t be hindered. Did you see that?
Husbands, if you don’t have the type of relationship with your wife that God desires, your prayers are going to be hindered. All because you are not treating your wife the way the Bible says you should.
One more verse. Look in Second Corinthians 1, verse 20. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
This message tonight has been about speaking for the kingdom. In order to speak for the kingdom, you have to be in agreement with the kingdom. Is that not true? I encourage you, get into agreement with your Father because He needs your voice to be His voice in this world. He needs you to speak for Him! Amen!
