Charlie Lewis

The challenge and the dilemma the first man and the first woman on this planet faced was their identity, their origin and their purpose. Their desire to know and to understand who they were, where they came from and why they were here presented them with profound choices they would have to make. Whether to choose or not to choose was not optional. They would have to choose. That was the plan.

They could choose to take these questions to their minds and to allow their intellect, their emotions, and their feelings to determine their choice. They could gather all of the information they had observed and learned from their environment and the physical universe that they had seen, and what they had heard to be the basis and the foundation for their existence.

Or, they could choose to believe and to accept their relationship with their Friend whom they had spent hours in the garden walking with, talking with, and learning from Him. They had enjoyed fellowshipping together. They could choose to trust their experience, the results of what He said to them and to allow His Words and their relationship to be the foundation for their existence.  

From humanity’s very beginning our lives and our outcomes are based on choices. Our choices determine our outcomes. Our life experience is determined completely by our choices of conduct and behavior. Our charge and our challenges were, are and will always be to make informed, qualified choices. Our Choices are interactive Dynamics that contain within them the inertia for the outcomes we are designed to desire and to accomplish.

So, let me ask the question: as you live your everyday life, how are you making your choices? Are you relying on your intellect, your emotions, and all the information you can gather about your situations and circumstances? Or are you using a Higher metric? Are you basing your choices on the One who created it all, who sees the end from the beginning, and with whom you have a relationship and constant fellowship? It is a question worth reflecting upon. My prayer is that you are led by your Creator and Designer in everything you do, and every choice you make.

Johnny Enlow is my friend, and a wonderful prophetic minister. He is doing the work of a reformer — calling this nation, among others, to renewal and societal transformation through the power of God’s Kingdom. Each year, Johnny spends time seeking and listening to the Lord for vision and direction concerning the year ahead. His prophetic track record is amazing.

Johnny recently released the first part of his prophetic word for the year 2020, and as always, it is powerful, stirring, and very encouraging. If you find yourself anxious about the state of affairs in our nation and the world, then it is very important for you to read this message.

The text of Johnny’s word is below. You can also find it on his website at Restore7.org. I encourage you to browse his site, and to check out Johnny and his wife Elizabeth’s amazing e-course called RISE.

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2020: A YEAR OF ROARING JUSTICE AND RAGING HOPE

“The mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment…THE HEAVENS WILL EXPOSE HIS GUILT; the earth will rise up against him.” Job 20:5, 27

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may OVERFLOW WITH HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

I have been in much earnest prayer for the beginning of the year word for 2020. There is much going on, and it becomes a personal challenge to only report what God says to report on. It has always been most important to receive reporting directives from the Lord as His truth often omits seemingly important realities. The 10 spies thought it important to report on the astronomical challenges they assumed the giants in the land would present to the children of Israel. Caleb thought it best to report only on the “milk and honey” of Canaan, totally minimizing the giants in the land, except to say of them, “they will be bread for us.” Forty years later he was proven to be right—the oversized enemies, though theoretically daunting, ended up being just a forgettable “snack.” The God-ordained circumcision Israel had to experience after crossing the Jordan River ended up being a much more significant event than the totality of resistance of all the giants.

Today, we have a similar scenario. We are close enough to a present Promised Land to see the actual size and layout of the enemy. We comparatively are “as grasshoppers” to what is straight ahead in our paths. If we get into comparing “us versus them” then all courage will depart. However, when you (as Caleb did) compare the enemy versus our God, the enemy so pales in comparison that he is dismissible. “The Swamp”, “the Deep State”, the Soros “Open Society” agenda, the Illuminati, the Freemasons, the Bilderburgs, The CFR, the organized sex traffickers, etc. etc. are altogether a laughable resistance—when compared to our God, I mean truly laughable (Psalms 2:4). These all presently occupy the Promised Land of the tops of the 7 Mountains—Media, Economy, Government, Education, Family, Arts and Entertainment, and Religion. We will not enter “Promised Land” territory by studying and trying to dismantle the evil occupiers. We will enter the “Promised Land” of the 7 Mountains of cities and nations by studying and “mantling” ourselves with who God is in each Mountain. The difference between the two approaches is enormous and the absolute “game-changer.”

2020 CORRECTIVE LENSES: GOD IN THE EQUATION

The reason 2010-2020 has been a decade with an emphasis on SEEING is because that is the entire key to victory. Battles are won and lost at the point of observance—not at the point of engagement. Caleb saw God as supreme and the giants as “bread for us.” Once you SEE God in the equation the enemy ALWAYS seems smaller. David’s initial observance of Goliath was a belittling, “who is this uncircumcised Philistine?” Why? Because “he had defied the armies of the living God.” Being able to see the juxtaposition fueled his easy anti-climatic beheading of Goliath. David’s biggest challenge of the day was not Goliath—that was his “piece of cake” assignment. David’s biggest challenge of the day was, in fact, the attempted shut down by an envious older brother who called for David to go back to watching his “few little sheep” (1 Sam. 17: 28). Similarly today the 7 Mountain Reformation message is under assault by the “older brothers” (old wineskins/denominations) who want to chase us all back to just watching our “few little sheep”—even as they give up more time and more territory to the Goliath criminals on each of the 7 Mountains or Spheres. Some have said that David is Jesus and we win when HE returns. Jesus has said WE are David and we win when WE RISE UP in HIS strength. “The God of Peace will crush Satan under OUR feet” Romans 16:20. Yes, it is God who does it—but it is “Christ IN US” that is the hope of glory. Yes, God provides all the meaningful power, but He does it when WE engage with Him. God did provide the power for Goliath to be killed—but it was David’s ability to see Him that activated God. God had the power the previous 40 days of Goliath’s siege but was NOT going to intervene until someone could first SEE that and then be moved by this SEEING of God in an exalted place of power. It is NOT, “God helps those who help themselves,” but “God helps those who properly see Him and thus bring Him into their fight.” 

SEE THE TWO DITCHES

We have two ditches to avoid. On one side of the road is the ditch of “in the millennium—one day God—after the rapture,” perspective. That is a disempowering ditch that is the “old guard’s” territory-ceding narrative. David’s older brother Eliab was never going to be a part of anything other than fearful survivorship. His kingdom footprint was always going to be small. The ditch on the other side of the road is self-determinism and self-empowerment. It says, “God is not going to do anything and so WE had better unite and do what needs to be done because that is how God does things.” This is just as dangerous of a ditch and it is delusional “self- empowerment.” Many proponents of 7 Mountains perspectives tend towards this approach as the cure to the other ditch—but it is just another ditch. Neither Caleb nor David was mighty because they sufficiently believed in themselves, or even in Israel’s ability to unite and defeat the enemy. Their gifting was in SEEING GOD and His accompanying story-line—not in their Type A, self-deterministic personality, which tends towards orphan-like thinking, where you are relying totally on yourself. When you are SEEING properly (20/20 vision) everyone is in perspective—you, the enemy, and God. YOU have participation. The enemy is the least important detail, but his comparative size TO US is designed to shock us out of “self-help” into a search for God. The God-view is the most important. He is neither absent nor totally accomplishing everything without you. He fights your battles, but responsive obedience that shows you see Him is required. Without Him you can do nothing. With Him all things are possible.

2 CHRONICLES 20:20

“…Believe in the Lord God and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”

It is not coincidental that this passage is 20:20 and it is to be of special attention in 2020. In this chapter, multiple armies have come up against King Jehoshaphat and the people, and this has terrified him. In an almost apocalyptic statement, he is told by messengers, “A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.” Jehoshaphat follows the first advice of 20:20 and cries out to God, having the people joining him with prayer and unity. Of course, the reason to turn to God with fasting and prayer is so you can SEE Him. Appropriately, a SEEING prophet stands and gives the word that Jehoshaphat refers to in 20:20.

JAHAZIEL: “To see God or His Perspective”

In verse 13 of this chapter, it is the prophet Jahaziel that stands and gives the word that will allow them to not only stand defensively, but to offensively succeed. The first part of his name comes from a root word that means, “to see (as a seer in an ecstatic state) with intelligence.” The second part of his name means, “God” or “God-like.” The key to every big victory is here. His words in 2 Chr. 20:15 were, “Listen!… this is what the Lord says, DO NOT BE AFRAID! DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY THIS MIGHTY ARMY, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GODS. TOMORROW MARCH OUT AGAINST THEM…” The nuance here has to be picked up. “The battle is the Lord’s,” but, “tomorrow march out against them.” They were not to fall in the ditch of, “God is going to do it all.” However, the next instructions made it clear this was not “war as usual”, nor were they to head to the orphan ditch of, “if we don’t do it it won’t get done.” They were to “take your positions” ON THE BATTLEFIELD, but then, “stand firm and see the deliverance of God.” Jehoshaphat, in order to properly position the people’s mindset, then sent praisers and singers ahead of the army so that their awareness of dependence on God would remain uppermost in their minds, even while they were participating on the battlefield. 

The wisdom for 7 Mountain deployment is immense from this story. We have to engage on the battlefield for every mountain—because the enemy has raised a huge army to come take us out. This battle cannot be won by good church meetings. Praise and worship were key but were to be done from the battlefield position. It is one thing to praise the greatness of God in the confines of a church meeting. It is another to praise the supremacy of God while actively standing against the enemy on the battlefields of media, government, education, the economy, family, arts, as well as religion. It takes more nerve to do the latter and that is now what the Lord is requiring of us in 2020. Quit being overly excited about big events that happen away from the battlefield where the enemy has gathered. Any stadium event that is not connected to, at minimum, inspiring us for 7 Mountains participation is just so much less than it could be and destined to be forgettable. It does not take courage to feel like the majority. It takes courage to be up against a great majority. 

ROARING JUSTICE AND RAGING HOPE

Since this was the title of this word it is time to expound. JUSTICE continues as a major theme, as it has been the last few years, but it now gets to the next level of progressive intensity. The theme of justice will roar in our nation and then around the world as our God’s heart for the used and abused is made evident before all. Justice is not the opposite of mercy, but rather justice is God’s mercy on the abused and downtrodden. It is when a line is drawn in the sand against evildoers where there is no more mercy for them apart from wholesale repentance. The execution of this kind of public justice causes hope to ignite and rage against all doubt, unbelief and limited thinking. Raging hope will burn up disappointment and delay, and it will secure a heart in a big, good, and present God.

Job 20 is very relevant for 2020. At the beginning of this word I already mentioned verses 5 and 27. What I will now say I release as a prophetic word over all those who represent “the swamp” of this, and even every nation. This is next in 2020.

“Though the pride of the wicked reaches to the heavens and their heads touch the clouds, yet they will vanish forever, thrown away like their own dung. They will fade like a dream and not be found. They will vanish like a vision in the night… His children must make amends to the poor. His own hands must give back his wealth…He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up…What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading. For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute…he cannot save himself by his treasure…his prosperity will not endure. In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him, THE FULL FORCE OF MISERY WILL COME UPON HIM…GOD WILL VENT HIS BURNING ANGER AGAINST HIM AND RAIN DOWN HIS BLOWS UPON HIM. THE HEAVENS WILL EXPOSE HIS GUILT AND THE EARTH WILL RISE UP AGAINST HIM.” Job 20: (from 6-27)

In 2020 another line in the sand will be drawn against organized darkness in the 7 Mountains of society. When this kind of deep justice takes place, the effect among the people is to release abundant, raging hope. A working definition for real hope is “the expectation of good from God in every area.” Seeing deep darkness come to justice promotes a growing, hope-filled expectation for life in general. It confirms that there is a right and wrong and it confirms that God looks out for the abused and downtrodden. It confirms specifically that God cares enough, is involved enough, and is big enough to address what is too big for us. IN 2020 LET JUSTICE ROAR AND LET HOPE RAGE OUT OF CONTROL.

(A PART TWO TO THIS WILL BE COMING. THE ELECTION, ISRAEL AND THE STOCK MARKET WILL BE COVERED)

It is a privilege to live in a county where there is a day set aside each year to give thanks. Early in our country and even recently, as a nation we have been called to fast and to pray and to engage Heaven in our life experiences on planet Earth. What does that mean? Why is that important?

Fasting, praying, being thankful and calling Heaven to the Earth are chosen Dynamics of our Conduct and our Behavior that have huge impact on the outcomes of our lives on Earth and forever. A Dynamic is defined as an interactive system involving completing or conflicting forces. This simply means that for our being thankful there is a corresponding reaction. We choose our outcomes by the actions that we freely and completely select to follow. These actions impact the Earth and our life experiences on this planet. Our present life experiences are entirely the result of the actions that we have chosen previously.

I have often asked myself how important is being thankful to our Creator and our God, and what does the Manufacturer’s Handbook say about thankfulness?

The words “thank,” “thanks,” and their variations are used 139 times in the King James Version of the Scriptures. In the New Living Translation they are used 168 times.  That amount of usage makes the word, its variations and their meanings and usages, important to the Author of the writings. If it is mentioned that many times by our Creator and our God, then we must determine why it is used, how that pertains to us as Humanity, and how this understanding impacts us as Humanity. I believe this is important, particularly in the understanding of our likeness to our Creator.

In a very large majority of the usages of the words thanks and/or thanksgiving, there is the pairing of the admonition or directive to combine thanksgiving with the presentation of our praise to our God and our King. I have often been intrigued by the record in the letter to the Romans identified as Chapter 1 verse 21. There is described here a very clear picture of how our God looks at thanksgiving and praise from Humanity.

The King James says –

“Because that when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful…”

The New Living Translations says –

“Yes, they knew God, but they would not worship Him as God or even give Him thanks…”

There appears to be several things that are identified here as important.

• Recognition – our Creator wants to be recognized as God. Knowing does not appear to be enough.  There is an element of recognition.  Recognition is defined as the act of identifying someone or something because of previous knowledge, or to formally acknowledge someone. Our Creator God wants Humanity to formally acknowledge Him as our Creator and our God.

• Acknowledgement – to acknowledge means to accept or to admit the existence, the reality or the truth of someone or something, and to recognize as being valid and as having force or power.

• Worship – a feeling or expression of reverence and honor and adoration for Deity. To reverence is to show deep feelings of respect/regard and devotion. Devotion is a large expression of dedication and of loyalty.

• Glory – exaltation. The fame, admiration and honor that is given to someone who does something important. Praise of Deity. Praise and thanksgiving offered as an act of worship to Deity.

• Thankfulness – gratefulness. Warm, friendly feelings of gratitude.

These terms are key indicators of the personality of our God.  To many it may be difficult to believe that our God has a personality.  In different places He refers to His mind.  As like-produced beings we understand that we have a mind, and that is where our emotions, our feelings, and our personality are developed and where they are housed. Being created in His likeness and His image, for us to have a mind and a personality, He would have to have a personality first.  Often Humanity can only see God as some austere, non-concerned Being that has no interest in individuals, much less any interest at all in all of Humanity. I’m not sure where that perception comes from, but a casual observance of our God will dispel any such nonsense.  He is the God of great compassion and provision. Even before the foundations of the Earth, He had greatly detailed plans for each member of Humanity.

A summation of this passage would indicate that our God wants each of us to formally recognize Him as our Creator, to accept and to admit His existence, and to accept and to declare His power in our lives. We are to do this by our expression of reverence, honor and adoration. This expression is to be an exhibition of dedication and loyalty wrapped up in praises that are warm, friendly feelings of gratitude or thankfulness. This is what Jesus was telling the woman at the well in Samaria. This kind of relationship and this kind of praise and worship only comes from a thankful spirit and is received by a thankful God.

Why is a thankful spirit important?  In our World today, especially in the United States, we are a people who often find it easier to recognize what we do not have more than to recognize and to be thankful for what we do have. We are constantly being bombarded by all of the different media forms with things that appear very enticing, and they are presented as things we cannot live without. The reality is that when we get them, they do not look at all as they did in the marketing.  Passing through the Atlanta Airport recently, Fran and I stopped to get a quick sandwich.  As we sat at the table a gentleman came and sat at the table next to us. As he opened his sandwich, he looked at us and said, “Boy, I wish it looked like they show it in that photo on the wall.” It did not. Not only sandwiches, but most everything that is being marketed is shown as something that will change your life. Your life will be enormously enhanced by the experience of owning and enjoying this product.  We purchase them only to learn that the glitter is gone very quickly. My Brother once said to me, “do not buy any of those exercise products you see on television.  I have them all in my closet.  They are unused and I will let you have them at half price.” I am sure that was not totally correct, but much too much of it really is.

What are we looking for?  What is it we want, and why do we want it?  Is it possible that we are unhappy with whom we are and what we have, and all of this feeds our discontentment? “If I could only lose ten pounds;” “If I could only get a new car, a new house, a new spouse, a new job, make more money, move to a new town;” and a whole array of “other things that I do not now have.” The displeasure appears to be with ourselves, but we are led to believe that obtaining something outside of ourselves will provide the answer.  Is that a reasonable conclusion?  Is that reality?

All of the marketing we see presents us with unreasonable expectations.  Everything we are shown is perfect, without fault, without blemish.  Our skin, our bodies, our relationships, our cars, our homes, our children, our teeth, our food, and on and on and on, and we are presented with examples that are supposed to be natural, but they are all without blemish.  That does not exist.  If we can understand that we are eternal spirits that live in a body, and that we are managed by our minds, we then can set priorities and reasonable objectives with acceptable time projections for accomplishment.  All of the marketing is very one-sided.  Very little information is offered about products that are available to enhance our spirit’s relationship with our Creator.  Very little is offered to develop correct thinking that is in agreement with our Creator’s plans and the way to look at things His way. Most marketing addresses the body and satisfying the senses. This is the most temporal of all of our being.

Just as the previous terms that describe the personality of our God, they are also a part our make-up and our personality and they are not wrong.  We want to be recognized, our influence for good to be honored, our contribution and participation to be revered by the expression of loyalty and appreciation.  This is important.  It is important to our Creator, and it is important to us as Humanity.  I believe it is false humility to act like this does not matter.  He has said that we are made like Him, and what matters to Him matters to us, and what matters to us matters or is important to Him.

A spirit of thankfulness is very important to our God.  He follows this presentation in Romans with very specific outcomes and actions that are the results for those who do not honor Him as God, who choose to not worship Him, and who are not thankful.

We are told to enter His gates with thanksgiving and to come into His courts with praise.  We cannot be unthankful and constantly complaining. Our God is good and His mercy endures forever.  Be thankful unto Him and bless His Holy name forever and continually.

As the old hymn says, “Count your many blessings, count them one by one.” Make a list of the good in your life and it will overwhelm the bad or challenging.

“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”

Philippians 4:8-9, The Message

Have a Happy and Thankful Thanksgiving, today and forever!

The difficulty humanity — you and I — have with thinking, acting, and living our lives based on our eternity and on our eternalness (instead of founding our actions completely on our here and our now, the present component of our eternity in which we live) is because of our lack of understanding of what our eternity is, how it is designed, and how it works. If we believe in God, and we do, then we believe, and we understand that there is a “here-after” component to our eternity. Our “here” is not all there is to us. When our spirit leaves our body and our body ceases to live, we do not die. The real us, the eternal us, our spirit continues to live in a place where times does not exist. The real us, the forever us is not a “time” creature/creation. We are from our eternity, and we return to our eternity without time when our spirit leaves our body. The reason we have difficulty living our present lives based our eternity, who we are forever is founded in our lack of understanding and our lack of recognition of the reality that there is a component of our eternity that we do not talk about because we do not know about it.  That component is the “before-here” portion of who we are, who we really are. Our Constitution, the scriptures, the values, the principles and the “precedents” that we choose to govern our lives in time by, is very clear about the “before-here” component of our eternity:

5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5-7 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

Before our body was, we were. Our spirit existed and lived in our eternity before we entered time. We did not begin here, and we will not end here. How important is this knowledge, you ask? This knowledge, this fact provides us with the wisdom and the power to know how to live successful and meaningful lives while we are in time. Our life in time must be based on our awareness and our understanding that in our before-here, before we entered time, we were separated and prepared for a divine purpose. We were “consecrated”, set aside for a divine purpose that we are to live in and we are to experience in the in-time portion of our eternity.

10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [a]recreated in Christ Jesus, (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Ephesians 2:10 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

Our lives in time are to be guided and to be directed by the amazing plans that our Creator and our Designer made for us, before we were born. There is a “good life” prepared for us in our before-here. To experience and to enjoy who we really are, and who we are designed to be for our enjoyment and for our pleasure, we must live our lives based on the plan prepared for us before we entered time.

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun, but God alone can satisfy],

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

Eternity is who we are and what our lives are to be based upon, now in our here. This is how we are to live successful and meaningful lives in the in-time component of our eternity. Our before-here is the most impactful and the most influential part of what we are to consider for our direction and for our understanding of who we are designed to be in our here and now, and that impacts our here-after more than anything else about us. We must engage our now life from the understanding and from the perspective of eternity, because we are more than just the in-time portion of our eternity. We are forever.

Foundational Scripture: Psalm 1

Oh, the joys of those Who do not follow the advice of the wicked or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers, but they delight in doing everything the Lord wants, day and night they think about His law, they are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail, their leaves never wither and in all they do they prosper.

Association, definition:

• To associate
• To link or connect in the mind or imagination
• To keep company, mix socially
• A companion, comrade
• Following or accompanying, concomitant (naturally together}
• To bring into friendship
• A friend who is frequently in the company of another, drinking companion, comrade in arms, soul mate

With whom do you associate ?

• Those to whom you listen
• Those with whom you spend your time
• Those with whom you share your thoughts and ideas
• Those with whom you value the time spent together

It is said that time and words can never be recalled. It is said that time is our most valuable asset. There is a saying that says, “What I do today is important because I am paying a day of my life for it. What I accomplish must be worthwhile because the price is so valuable.”

Jim Rohn, one of my favorite life teachers, has much to say about the time we are given and how we choose to spend it. His observations are so simple and so fundamental, and yet so profound. I find myself saying, “Yeah, I have thought of that or I know that.” The next question that naturally follows and begs to be answered is “Why haven’t I done something about it?” or more importantly, “What is wrong with now? What am I waiting for?” And I am sure I am the only person who says, “I am, just not now.” The timing is not right, or I have to do this first, and THEN, I will… and before I know it, a great amount of time has passed and I have yet to respond to the obvious awareness that I have and know that is waiting and begs to be addressed.

One of the greatest challenges we ever face is the choice of those with whom we choose to associate. Probably some of the most traumatic circumstances I have ever faced in my life are dealing with the impact of those with whom I have chosen to associate. Here are a few:

1. My Church – The Church I grew up attending
2. My Friends- Many I had known most of my life
3. My Work- It did not take me where I believed God wanted me to go
4. My romantic attachments – lovely and beautiful, but not who God had chosen for me
5. My Pastor- a man I loved, believed in and cared much for, but his heart was unclean and his motives impure
6. Family members – Sometimes may have difficulty seeing who we have become because they remember who we were

And there are many more. How many traumatic experiences have you had because it was necessary to change an association?

With whom we associate is very, very IMPORTANT. It influences and directs and determines our DESTINY, and the destiny of posterity. Examples – Good and Bad:

• Adam/Eve – ultimately everyone born after them
• Moses/Joshua
• Elijah/Elisha
• Paul/Timothy
• Jonathan/David – Mephibosheth
• Samson/Delilah

What is our belief? Where did we get our belief? What is an Idea? Where do our beliefs and ideas come from? What makes us who we are?

Dr. Myles Munroe, the late master teacher of the Kingdom, provided his thoughts about our ideas and the source of our beliefs. These observations are worthy of consideration and evaluation. They are as follows:

Our beliefs are developed by the ideas to which we are exposed. The process can be outlined like this.

1. An original thought is a precept
2. A conceived precept is an idea
3. A conceived idea is a concept
4. An accepted concept becomes a conviction
5. An accepted conviction becomes a belief
6. An accepted belief becomes our ideology
7. An accepted ideology becomes philosophy
8. An accepted philosophy becomes a lifestyle

Understanding the source of our beliefs is very, very important. It is so easy, so natural to absorb our beliefs almost as if by osmosis from our surrounding – our Family, our Friends, our Church, our Schooling, our Government, the Media. Many people do this and never consider if what is being said or portrayed is correct. Why? It was what my Parents believed, and they did alright.

All of these influences are better described as culture. Culture can be defined as the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group. It is defined by the shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize that group. The challenge with that approach to our beliefs is that it is not stable. It constantly changes. Can anyone dispute that the attitudes, values, goals and practices of our nation and our world have changed constantly over your lifetime? Our beliefs must be established on a Culture that is based on Truth and does not change. Truth is not situational. It does not change with circumstances. As Citizens in the Kingdom of Jehovah God our Creator, we must not be swayed by the Kingdom of Darkness and what we see around us. Our Citizenship is of a nation whose government and its community and culture do not change. It is the only place a person on planet earth will ever find a stable government and a community and culture where the values, the laws, the moral standards, the ideals, the norms and the true spiritual authority that is constant and it does not change. Humanity longs for this place and we have been charged to deliver this (Heaven) to earth and to show this Kingdom to those who dwell here. How serious is this? How important for humanity?

Read Romans 8: 19-22 KJV/NLT:

Where are we Citizens? Are we in this world but not of this world? Are we showing forth His praises until He comes? Are we living a life of victory different than those around us? Do they see the Kingdom Government of our God demonstrated in our lives both in our community and our culture?

For the earnest expectation of the creature is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. The entire of creation (humanity) groaneth and travaileth in pain together.

What are we telling them? What are we showing them? Or, are we the ones being told and shown? All of humanity is looking and longing for the Kingdom. The Kingdom has been given to us. It has been placed inside of us; God has called us to be Kingdom Birthers. Everywhere we go we must share the Good News of the Kingdom of our God. As Dr. Munroe has said, the Kingdom was God’s big idea from the beginning. It is a powerful thought. It is the idea that will change our world into the Kingdom of our God. Share the Good News.

Ideas are powerful.

The Influence and Impact of Ideas:

1. The most powerful force on earth is an idea
2. Everything on earth is the result of an idea
3. Everything began and begins as an idea
4. Ideas produce everything
5. Ideas are more powerful than death
6. Death cannot kill an idea
7. Ideas cannot be destroyed
8. Ideas multiply when attacked
9. Ideas submerge and reemerge
10. Ideas are the source of belief
11. The world is ruled by dead men’s ideas
12. Ideas are stronger than death

Dr. Jerry Horner used an illustration appropriate here. Place a boat in the water and it floats. Place too much water in the boat and it sinks. Place the Citizens of the Kingdom in the world, and they will rise above it. Place too much of the world in the Citizens and they sink.