When I think of the word ‘released’ I think about being set
free; no restrictions from anything or any person that tries or tends to hold
us back.
Sounds wonderful, but spiritually speaking, being released is
not a frivolous matter; it’s something to be taken seriously, not lightly and
definitely not something to take undue advantage. Releasing the kingdom of God, is releasing
the governing power of God’s kingdom over the spheres of our life, and over the
atmosphere that surrounds us. It’s
infiltrating the world with the knowledge of God in word and in deed.
We, the body of Christ, we’re the ones – we’re the ones who’re
to be releasing the kingdom of God in the earth at this time. Our responsibility as kingdom citizens is to release:
Ø
The means of escape through salvation, and
Ø
deliverance, and
Ø
freedom from bondage, and
Ø
the power of God being evident everywhere we go,
and
Ø
the glory of God’s Holy Spirit . . .
We do this not only in our acts but particularly through our
words . . .
We’re to release the Kingdom of God in the earth. We’re to be the salt that flavors and the shining light that brings
Ø salvation, and
Ø healing, and
Ø miracles, and
Ø the word of God coming to pass, and
Ø the promises of God coming to pass, and
Ø the presence of God in the earth
with the word and will of God.
Ø we’re the representatives of God in the world,
Ø we’re filled with His Holy Spirit,
Ø His presence encompasses us and we’re anointed to release the things of heaven in this world.
The last one is symbolic of many releases recorded in the bible: The exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt, the crossing of the red sea, the fall of Jericho’s wall, and the advent of the church and others. All these accounts reveal the children of God in various dispensations being released to reveal the glory of God in the earth.
I see all this in the account of the coming down of Jericho’s
wall by the children of Isreal. You can
read this account in Joshua 6. The bible
says that
Jericho was shut up because of the
children of Israel: they couldn’t go out and no one could came in. And
the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho,
and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. 6:1-2
The Israelites had to conquer Jericho as the first city on
their way to Canaan, because it was the best way for them to enter the Promised
Land. In order to conquer the city, the
great wall of Jericho had to come down and for this, Israel needed instruction
from God. There was a literal wall
blocking Israel. There are figurative
walls blocking us today. Walls can be
seen as a source of imprisonment and division, a hindrance keeping us from
getting where we need to be; too high we can’t get over it, too wide, we can’t
get around it and too low, we can’t get under it! Walls are often symbolic of things we need to
break down and overcome. By following the directions from God, just
like the Israelites did, we can breakthrough the wall; be released to
release. If we’re to release the kingdom
of God within, we have to follow the specific instructions of God. God is the answer to our being released;
being obedient to His will frees us to release what God has placed within us. The Israelites had to work together, be in
unison, on one accord in their obedience to God. Not one of them could go off on their own and
do their own thing – and neither can we.
This is not the time to showcase our talents, anointing or whatever we
have or think we have. This is a time
for unity for the body of Christ; all of us together on one accord! God gave specific instructions to Joshua that
included all of the Israelites; not just some, not just to the ones with titles
and positions – they all had a role to play and so do we. He told Joshua;
And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; [3-5]
The instructions weren’t just for Joshua, it wasn’t just for
the mighty men of valor, the priests and the musicians, the instructions were
for everyone; everyone had a part to play; just like we in the kingdom of God
do today. This wasn’t a one man show;
everybody had to be in alignment with the instructions.
Through this account, God shows us how to release the kingdom
of God in our life, to have victory over the enemy with our mouth decreeing and
declaring the Lord's principles over our life and over those atmospheres He
directs us to release it! Kingdom
Release is not about our individual time to shine, it’s about us, as a whole,
the kingdom of God citizens, being released to go and invade this present
culture by releasing the good news of Jesus Christ, shedding the light of God
on a sin-sick darkened world! It’s the
kingdom of God in unison with the King.
This Release is necessary.
We can no longer sit back and do nothing, watching passively and saying
a silent prayer while our children, our loved ones and the world are being
swallowed up in the depravity and darkness that’s overtaking the world! It’s
time to rise up and declare the kingdom of God, release the kingdom of God with
our mouth, our actions and through the word of God.
Our mouths are powerful godly weapons when used the way God
intended. We daily should be declaring
and decreeing, in the name of Jesus:
® that
every ungodly act; the very spirit of adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,
strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and all
other ungodly acts and emotions are broken by the power and the authority of
Jesus Christ.
® We’re to
declare and decree that every ungodly principality, every power, every might,
and every dominion is stripped down from the atmosphere around us in the name
of Jesus, and we bind them and cast them out, even as we release the healing
power, the authority, and the rule of God‘s kingdom in and over our life, in
and over our family, in and over our church, in and over our community, in and
over our nation and the world in Jesus name!
® We’re to
declare and decree that our emotions, and that our feelings, come into
alignment with the holiness of God, with the authority of God, and with the
word of God, so that we’re not ruled by our feelings and our emotions, but we’re
ruled by the fruit of the Spirit of God.
Don’t downplay the fruit – they’re an essential set of characteristics
that sets us apart from the world. They
counteract the works of the flesh.
This is what kingdom release is all about, but
we know that Satan is on his job striving to halt or slow down the release so
he constructs walls that are impossible without God to surmount.
The children of Israel had to bring the wall down if they were to conquer Jericho and enter the promised land. What walls in our life need to come down in order for the Kingdom of God in us to be released? What walls haven’t we dealt with and brought down that’s hindering the release of the Kingdom? Just like Jericho, there’s no wall that’s too tall, too wide or too deep that God can’t get us through, over or under! All we have to do is
Ø Approach God with a Repentant and Humble Heart
The Bible says that God resists the proud. Throughout scripture, we see those who humbly come to God in faith, trust in who He says He is, and receive breakthroughs. The Bible says we’re healed when we confess our sins, humble ourself, turn from wickedness, and seek God. That’s when He responds and releases and delivers. Kingdom authority in conjunction with God’s spirit brings healing to both the soul and the body but it is always preceded by repentance and humility.
Ø Know Our Identity in Jesus
Our identity in Jesus is the starting point to everything. Our
spiritual identity speaks of protection, provision, covenant relationship,
Kingdom authority, and eternal destination.
Ø Speak in Accordance with God’s Word
Just as Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus used God’s Word to battle. He proclaimed, “It is written…” over and over. God’s Word is a two-edged sword
·
capable of pulling down strongholds and
· powerful enough to cut down lies of the enemy.
But oftentimes we just sit back and allow the enemy to trample
all over us:
• We let him make us discouraged.
• We let him make us defeated.
• We let negativity control our thoughts.
• We allow our emotions to rule over us.
• We let the circumstances of life rule over us.
But it shouldn’t be this way!
We’re the representatives of God in the earth, and we’re given the power
to pray the kingdom of God into (somebody said) into reality in our life, and then
release it through our words into existence in the world. Because we’re the representatives of Jesus
Christ… And we’re given the authority… Jesus gave us his authority in His name
and power through His Holy Spirit!
This is why God’s Word is the offensive weapon in our
spiritual armor (see Ephesians 6:17). We’re to pray it and speak it in the
Spirit: “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”
(Ephesians 6:18).
If we want to release Kingdom authority, start speaking the
words of the One in ultimate authority.
Our prayer needs to be, “God, let your kingdom come… And then
release Your kingdom into my life that I may release it to the world.”
Kingdom authority means having dominion, the ability or power
to do something based on a higher power – of course, that power being God. The
Bible is clear that we’re given Kingdom authority through Jesus and the
indwelling of His Holy Spirit and, get this, it only comes
through a relationship with the One who has ultimate authority. To bring down the wall for Kingdom release, we
must…
• Have a
repentant and humble heart
• Know our
identity in Jesus
• Speak
according to God’s Word
This is what the devil wants to stop! The enemy wants to shut
our mouth! The enemy wants to silence our voice! In prayer… In declarations… And in decrees… If
the enemy can get us to come into agreement with pride, not stand firm on our
identity in Jesus, or speak according to our own desires rather than God’s
Word, he knows we can’t release the Kingdom authority we have in and through Christ.
We all need to stand in unison in our Kingdom
authority in this season. God is looking for those of us who’ll do His will on
earth as it is written in Heaven. The
earth, this world, is ripe for Kingdom Release.
The Israelites were obedient to the directions. It is recorded that they followed the
instructions as given:
So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets:
and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the
people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the
people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the
city. Joshua 6:20
They were released; the hinderance to the promised land was
destroyed! Are you ready? Have you prepared yourself and followed the
directions given us by God?
