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Essay 1: Integrity or Hypocrisy Towards God?
Copyright © 2005-2025 by Terry E. Manning
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV, [emphasis added]
The kingdom of God is a spiritual entity where personal submission to God's authority and rule are primary. This kingdom is something magnificent and real that cannot be fabricated nor overrun by the carnality, hypocrisy and self-will of man nor destroyed by the schemes and attacks of rebellious spiritual beings (John 1:5; 18:33-40; Daniel 2:44). Almighty God, our Creator, Jesus, the Word of God made flesh and the Holy Spirit reign.
On the earth violence, corruption, hatred, greed, fear, sin and death run rampant. During the past two thousand years, wars and atrocities carried out in the Name of God have been too numerous to list. Carnal men and women emboldened by demonic spiritual forces continue to try and trample the witness and testimony of the Son of God and His elect, but the darkness will not overcome the Light (John 1:5; 12:46).
Names and Titles Of God
"The names and titles of God reflect the greatness of his being and nature. In titles denoting his greatness, he is the Almighty; the first; the Most High; the Lord; the Lord of Hosts; the Holy One; the living God; the Lawgiver. In terms of his relationship with his people, he is Father and Abba; and in titles which reflect his activity, he is the Redeemer; the Husbandman; the Maker and Author of life. His character is shown in titles such as the Amen and the stone (rock) of Israel.
Character and Attributes Of God
The everlasting, invisible, immutable, and one true God dwells in unapproachable light and splendor. Honor, glory, majesty, and power are due to his name. He is magnified and highly exalted, and his manifold wisdom is He is life and bestows life.
His character and will are perfect, complete, and divine. He is gracious, kind, merciful, compassionate, and completely trustworthy. He shows his love and faithfulness to all. He is not forgetful or slack, and knows all things. His rule (reign; throne) is righteous and just. His burning anger (wrath) is provoked because he is zealous for his holiness." Vine, W. (1997). Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary topic finder. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Kingdom integrity, as it relates to the Godhead, is the expression of Their divine character and nature and the sovereignty of God over all. The Father, the Word and Holy Spirit are one in purpose and united through a bond of love that is indivisible. Everything in the physical and spiritual realms were created through the Word of God, and for Him (John 1:1-5, Colossians 1:16). God’s holy Nature is incorruptible and the Bible, God's inspired Word, is true (without error in the original manuscripts). The integrity of the Godhead and the Scriptures are flawless (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 31:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Colossians 1:15-17; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).
God's rule was challenged, first in the spiritual realm (Heaven) and later on the Earth itself. Satan and a third of the angels rebelled against their Creator and spread their darkness to mankind (Revelation 12:3-12), God's chosen habitation (1 Peter 2:5). The Word became flesh, born of a virgin, grew and lived among us (under the Law; sinless), ministered, was betrayed, crucified, died, and was resurrected. Jesus was victorious over the powers of darkness, sin and death!
Lord Jesus was given a Name that is far above every name (Philippians 2:5-11). This Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, is our Messiah, High Priest and Lord (John 1:14). From His exalted position at the right hand of the Father, He waits as Almighty God proceeds, according to His own Counsel and Will, to place all of Creation (and all power and authority) under the Son's feet (Matthew 28:18; Hebrews 1:3).
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to them by saying, "The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, [Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]."] Luke 17:20-21 AMP, [emphasis added]
In the Scriptures above, Jesus was being tested by the Pharisees who were expecting God, in the very near future, to reward their arrogance, presumptions and ambitions. They were seeking a literal, religious kingdom in which their "superior, self-righteous efforts" would be recognized by Almighty God. They fully expected the Father to crush their enemies and place them in exulted positions of leadership over His people.
During the years of Jesus' public ministry, these deluded, religious hypocrites failed to discern and understand their hour of visitation (Isaiah 6:9-10; John 1:10, 3:19; 1 John 1:2). The reality of their encounters with Jesus and word of the signs and miracles that He performed (and overwhelming supporting evidence) were their test—and most failed miserably (John 12:37-43).
The Chief Priests, Pharisee's, Scribes and Sadducee's anger towards the Son of God eventually led to their attempt to destroy Him by Roman crucifixion (Matthew 21:33-46; Luke 22:63-71; Acts 5:29-32). Again, they failed miserably. The Father, by the Holy Spirit raised Jesus up from the dead and after He ascended into the spiritual realm, Almighty God enthroned Him in the highest Heaven (1 Corinthians 1:6; Hebrews 1:2). Jesus is alive and reigns over the Kingdom of Heaven and all of Creation!
These same treacherous rulers and religious leaders teach us by their example that rising to the top in a carnal religious culture or group may place you in fierce opposition to Almighty God (Deuteronomy 32:29; John 12:30) and to the reality and divinity of Jesus, the Word made flesh, the true Messiah (John 19:1-16).
Lord Jesus had prophesied that the nation of Israel would be delivered into their enemy's hands and the capitol, Jerusalem, and the Second Temple (Herod's Temple) would be utterly destroyed (Luke 19:41-44). In 70 AD, General Titus and his Roman legions finished what his father, Vespasian, had begun. Titus conquered the tiny nation of Israel, decimated the population and took the survivors captive. Jerusalem and the Second Temple were razed to the ground after a horrific siege. Hundreds of thousands of Jewish people were annihilated. Along with the breath-taking destruction, the ruling aspirations of the Chief Priests, Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees were extinguished. ( Isaiah 29:3; Jeremiah 6:6; Ezekiel 4:2; 26:8; Psalm 137:9; Hosea 13:16; Nahum 3:10)
Prayerfully consider Jesus’ profound humility, suffering, obedient sacrifice, resurrection and present honor and glory. Jesus is alive—the Firstfruit from the dead! The Cross of Christ represents the greatest acts of obedience and love in human history. Jesus’ sinless life, resurrection, ascension and glorification are the foremost triumphs. By His perfect submission to the will of God, Jesus overcame all challenges for the love of His Father (Philippians 2:5-11). Jesus is the Lamb of God, without spot or blemish, the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins. When Jesus ascended to His Father, He made atonement for us through His precious Blood (Matthew 20:28; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9).
Therefore dear friends, since we have such promises, we should wash ourselves clean from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, making our sanctification complete in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 HCSB, [emphasis added]
And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God’s displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.] John 3:36 AMP, [emphasis added]
we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 13 ESV, [emphasis added]
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Rev. 19:6-8 NKJV, [emphasis added]
The gospel of the kingdom of God is the good news to fallen mankind about being redeemed from the rule of Satan and the powers of darkness, sin and death. According to His plan, Father God is drawing individuals to His only begotten Son, Jesus. By believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have forgiveness of our sins because of His sinless life, sacrificial death and shed blood. Our life before God then becomes an opportunity to attain to Salvation and the kingdom of God through Christ.
Believers and Followers of Jesus
29 Then [the jailer] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling and terrified he fell down before Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out [of the dungeon] and said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved?
31 And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [give yourself up to Him, take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well.
32 And they declared the Word of the Lord [the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] to him and to all who were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and bathed [them because of their bloody] wounds, and he was baptized immediately and all [the members of] his [household].
34 Then he took them up into his house and set food before them; and he leaped much for joy and exulted with all his family that he believed in God [accepting and joyously welcoming what He had made known through Christ]. Acts 16:29-34 AMP, [emphasis added]
A believer is a man, woman or child who has been drawn to Jesus by the Father. No matter the circumstances of receiving the Good News of the Gospel, each individual who by faith in God, comes to believe in Jesus is born from above (spiritually born again see John 3:1-21).
Each individual believer incrementally receives eternal life (God's quality of life) as they progressively believe more deeply in the Son (have faith in, cling to and rely on). In the power of the Spirit of God and through the authority of the Word of God; men, women and children perceive, enter and gain citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who answer Lord Jesus' higher call to follow Him are led personally by Jesus in a way (His difficult and narrow Way) that transforms their sin-prone human nature as they learn to humbly obey Him as Lord of their lives and live according to His Holy Spirit.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 ESV, [emphasis added]
There is nothing superficial about the Person or work of the Holy Spirit. Every individual believer's natural human nature; their thoughts, values, attitudes, operating principles, ambitions, and choices (both self-preserving and self-annihilating) are contrary to the will and nature of God. A faithful believer must yield their will to God to be changed incrementally through a spiritual process of being transformed into the image and likeness of Christ.
While living according to the Holy Spirit, a diligent believer hears the Word of God, allowing it to be planted in their good ground where the seed (the anointed word) dies and by the Spirit is quickened to bring forth a harvest in their life (the cycle of death, burial and resurrection). Faithful followers (or disciples) of Jesus learn to choose daily to yield their will to the Lord to become progressively changed as they grow up into the image and likeness of Christ.
By Faith
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:1-6 ESV, [emphasis added]
Faith in Jesus goes beyond the mental acceptance of His existence in human history. A believer may experience Jesus daily by choosing to make themselves subject to Him. He still rewards those who seek Him (1 Chronicles 28:9). By learning to trust and rely on Him in the many situations that make up their life, they honor and bring glory to His holy Name.
O GOD, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is.
2 So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.
4 So will I bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My whole being shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips
6 When I remember You upon my bed and meditate on You in the night watches.
7 For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.
8 My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:1-8 AMP, [emphasis added]
At first, your faith in God may be very small, but as you learn to exercise it your trust in God grows. Even if you were a mature adult when born from above, you begin your new life before God as a spiritual infant. At some point in their life, a believer may be called by Lord Jesus to personally learn from Him as they follow Him as His disciple.
Spiritually mature believers have followed Jesus, possibly for decades, and succeeded in learning to honor Him as their Lord. Through their obedience to the Lord Jesus and his words and commands, they have made Jesus their Refuge, Strength and Source of Life.
A genuine believer in Jesus is a new creation striving to live according to the Spirit of God. They may make many mistakes as they learn to obey Lord Jesus and grow up in Christ. The living Christ in you is the source of all that the Father desires within each of His saints. The divine goal, based on the New Covenant, is the morality, character and nature of Jesus emanating from His life brought to full maturity within you (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, Eph. 4:11-24). Don't confuse the Truth, the living Word of God, and the ways in which Father God desires you to live with carnal religious distortions, assumptions and counterfeits. Seek the Lord's personal guidance and obey Him.
In their personal relationship with Jesus, each believer who becomes His follower (or disciple), has made a commitment (a re-commitment at a deeper level of understanding) of their life to Him. They have also been baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Diligent disciples strive to keep their covenant with the Lord and remain subject to Him in all things as they live according to the Spirit. Careless followers do not.
The high standard of kingdom integrity, as it relates to mature followers of Jesus, is their proven faithful response to God's great salvation and the presence of Lord Jesus' sovereignty and welcome involvement in the many aspects of their lives. Each has learned that a obedient, personal relationship with Lord Jesus must be desired, valued and pursued above everything else.
Though not readily discernible by carnal people (who judge others superficially or according to their prejudices, personal agendas or fears), each mature follower endeavors to yield and then learn to abandon their will to the Will of the Father. They respect God's sovereignty in all of the areas of their life that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit require of them. These individuals persistently and painstakingly try to live and walk according to the Spirit and not according to their flesh as they faithfully follow Lord Jesus (Romans 8:4, Galatians 5:16; Acts 1:2).
Non-Believers and Unbelievers
The difference between a non-believer and an unbeliever is choice. The former, a non-believer, has a neutral mindset toward the existence and divinity of Jesus. They may have never heard the "good news" of the Gospel or have never personally encountered Christ and therefore have neither accepted or rejected Him.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 ESV, [emphasis added]
An unbeliever is different from a non-believer. They may have issues with the Lord's existence and the meaning of the Gospel for any number of reasons. An unbeliever may have suffered at the hands of religious hypocrites or may have been exposed to the malevolence and deadness of carnal religion. Mistakenly, they may have chosen to blame God for the evil they encountered in their lives and have rejected Christ as a result. Other unbelievers may be relying on their own carnal reasoning or have embraced what spiritually dead people have expressed about the existence of God and Jesus, the Son of God.
Some determined unbelievers will be brought into the kingdom of God as the Father draws them to His Son. Lord Jesus continues to reach way down for many hell-bent sinners lost in darkness. After a brief, but dramatic encounter with Christ, some stubborn, strong-willed unbelievers have repented and embraced Jesus; receiving the forgiveness of their sins and a new life as He miraculously translates them from abiding in darkness into the Light (1 John 1:5-2:2). God's Love, Mercy and Grace are far greater than we can perceive. Some of the worst of humanity are called of God to follow Lord Jesus and go on to become fellow heirs with Christ (mature sons of God; see Romans, chapter eight; Acts 26:1-18; Titus 3:3-7).
The path they will walk to fulfill their high calling in Christ is the difficult, narrow way of the Lord that few find.
Carnal Believers, Careless Followers, Compromised Believers,
False Ministry and Fierce Wolves
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts, as [happened] in the rebellion [of Israel] and their provocation and embitterment [of Me] in the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tried [My patience] and tested [My forbearance] and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years.
10 And so I was provoked (displeased and sorely grieved) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not perceived or recognized My ways and become progressively better and more experimentally and intimately acquainted with them.
11 Accordingly, I swore in My wrath and indignation, They shall not enter into My rest.
12 [Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God.
13 But instead warn (admonish, urge, and encourage) one another every day, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin [by the fraudulence, the stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamor of his sin may play on him].
14 For we have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end. Hebrews 3:7-14 AMP
Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Revelation 3:2-3 ESV, [emphasis added]
Carnal believers "muddy the water" when mistakenly thought of as true obedient Christians. Worldly Christians' motives, thoughts, beliefs, operating principles, behavior and speech reflect the world system that they continue to foolishly embrace. A poor choice with grave consequences (2 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:16). The darkness to which our world remains captive, contradicts God and His Word (the Holy Scriptures and the anointed teaching, preaching and messages of God's authentic ministers of the Gospel and the true testimony of God's elect). (Psalm 10:4)
Some of Jesus' followers become offended by the Lord when they are led to choose between their strong self-will and the Will of God. Compromised believers are defined as believers who heard and responded to Lord Jesus' call to follow Him and later chose to no longer walk the difficult and narrow way of the Lord. Whether they can repent from their poor choice is between them and the Lord (Rev. 3:15-19).
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Acts 20:29-30 ESV, [emphasis added]
False ministry, and false brothers and sisters in the Lord are men and women who are best described as "wolves in sheep's clothing." If they initially believed in or followed Jesus, they have betrayed their commitment to and relationship with Him and are enemies of God and of the Cross (Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:29; 2 Peter 2:18-22; 1 John 2:18-23; 4:1-6). Unwise believers and careless followers of the Lord daily fall prey to these fierce wolves who have infiltrated every level of contemporary carnal Christianity (worldly Churchianity) and the many counterfeits to the true Body of Christ.
Since the first century, hirelings (men and women without the Spirit) have increasingly taken the place of anointed, Spirit-filled equipping ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16; John 10:12, Jude). Hirelings, false shepherds and false prophets were also a problem in Israel's history before the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost. A man or woman of God's protection lies in a very obedient, personal walk with the Lord that is fortified by their daily fellowship with and strong allegiance to Him (Psalm 118:8; Luke 7-15; Colossians 2:8; the Epistle of Jude; Revelation 2, 3).
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:12-17 ESV, [emphasis added]
Acquiring Kingdom Integrity
Your kingdom integrity is not established in you based on your morality, character or nature from birth. It is the result of your personal faith in God and obedience to Lord Jesus as you are taught and led by Him through the Holy Spirit. As the Spirit grows the life of Christ within you, you put off the old carnal man and put on the new man founded in Christ (Eph. 4:17-24). This is an incremental and thorough spiritual circumcision of your flesh and not a superficial, carnal cleansing of the "outside of the cup" (Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6, Acts 7:51, Col. 2:8-3:17).
At best, compromising believers take the "low road" of self-direction, self-sufficiency and a life that is essentially independent of Jesus' sovereignty—avoiding the all-inclusive, spiritual circumcision of their flesh and consequently missing the intent of the New Covenant entirely. They effectively evade what the Father desires by not having His laws, divine principles and righteousness written on the fleshly tablets of their hearts by the Holy Spirit (see Hebrews, chapters eight and ten; Titus 3:4-7). This essential work of God is only taking place in the lives of Jesus' faithful followers who actually seek, rely on and obey Him as Lord.
Like Jesus, you must have the integrity to never put anyone or anything between yourself and the will of the Father so that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God. Actually keeping your commitment of giving your life to Lord Jesus may conflict with the things that you are seeking outside of the will of God—your carnal ambitions, idols, vanity, ungodly desires, need for security, lusts, cherished opinions, self-image, pride, self-will and the approval of others (John 12:42-43).
What is the will of the Father for you?
How well are you doing? Your presumptions and assumptions may be wrong. Maybe you should inquire of the Lord on this matter and seek His help on attaining to all that is required of you—even if it entails a dramatic change in direction in many aspects of your life (Revelation 3:14-22).
Father God’s approval is reserved for those who place their faith in God and learn to steadfastly follow, obey and love His Son Jesus. As they choose daily to walk according to the Spirit through the situations of their life, they are progressively transformed into the image and likeness of Christ (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:12-14; 20-24; Titus 3:3-7).
Jesus is mankind's true Messiah (Revelation 5:1-14). To become an inseparable part of Father God's Solution, a believer must learn to put their faith in Jesus as their Savior and obey Him and His commands through a close, personal relationship with Him as their Lord. Many believers are called to follow Lord Jesus and become fully established in His holiness and righteousness (Ephesians 2:10; 5:25-27; Titus 2:11-14). Those who repeatedly choose the will of the Father and faithfully seek after the Son grow up in Christ and become well-established in their kingdom integrity.
Few believers respond well to this divine call. Following Lord Jesus and submitting to His authority is difficult, but it is necessary to overcome all obstacles in Christ and succeed in producing the fruit that Father God requires. Faithful disciples of Jesus are taught and led by the Holy Spirit to see, enter, conquer, possess and inherit their share in the kingdom of God and partake freely of the tree of Life (Romans 8:1-39; Revelation 21:1-22:21).
Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they are without fault before the throne of God. Revelation 14:1-5 NKJV, [emphasis added]
The reign and rule of the kingdom of Heaven on Earth begins in the individual lives of God's elect. The few individuals who faithfully persevere in Christ and overcome in the Lord will receive the greatest blessings and promises of the Father (Luke 4:6; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 2:1-22; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 21:7). These saints, while in a world immersed in spiritual darkness, strive to attain to Biblical standards of relational integrity towards God as they follow Lord Jesus (Ephesians 5:15-17; 6:13; Galatians 1:4). For those who are earnestly seeking to fulfill their calling to become firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, submission and faithfulness to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are more important than breathing (2 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:18; Revelation 12:10-11; 14:1-5; 14:12-13).
I appeal to you therefore, brothers by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 ESV, [emphasis added]
The nature and character of the one true God demands an allegiance from each of God's elect. This is demonstrated in their strong faith in God, well-tested submission to the will of the Father and personal obedience to Jesus as their Lord and to all of His commands, counsel and instructions in living (Romans 6:13-19; 1 Peter 1:14; 2 Peter 1:3-11; 1 John 2:15). The elect of God have learned to walk according to the Spirit, and daily choose to not live according to their flesh (Romans, chapter 8; Galatians, chapter 5).
Personal loyalty to Jesus, worshiping God in Spirit and in truth and remaining faithful to God's calling and purpose for their life are the substance of a diligent follower’s and a successful overcomer’s kingdom integrity. Living and worshiping in this manner is neither religious, ritualistic nor cultic—it requires submission, humility, and obedience to Lord Jesus, the sanctifying and enabling of the Holy Spirit and a strong faith in God (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Jude 17-23).
Such a high level of personal integrity towards God is only attained by learning to lay down your life, according to the daily guidance and governance of the Holy Spirit, to abide uncompromisingly in Christ. Following Jesus and consistently obeying Him and His words are the key requirements for overcoming the corruption of the world, your own sin-prone flesh and the influence and deceptions of Satan (2 Samuel 22:2-4). If you love Jesus, you will obey Him and His commands (John 14:15-26; 15:9-10).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,... Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3, 8-9 ESV, [emphasis added]
To grow to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and fulfill the will of God, each of Jesus' disciples must learn to place their faith in Him and obey Him as Lord of their life (Ephesians 4:13). This is possibly the most difficult of all human endeavors and requires a closer walk with the Lord than nominal believers can imagine (Psalm 91). The small number who diligently follow Jesus and succeed have learned to hear and obey their Master's voice above the confusion of the many "voices" of the world, worldly religion and the "loudest voices"—their own carnal reasoning, self-will and self-serving motives.
"I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in Me through their message. May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You. May they also be one in Us, so the world may believe You sent Me." John 17:20-21 ESV, [emphasis added]
The goal for each spiritually mature follower isn't Heaven, but Jesus Himself and unbroken fellowship with the Godhead. Their perspective is based on a personal understanding that they were created by God for His purposes. Unlike compromised believers, they take responsibility for the life of Christ within them—responding to the love, mercy and grace of God by seeking Lord Jesus daily to learn how to live before Him as He desires (Proverbs 3:5-6).
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26 ESV, [emphasis added]
Each diligent follower's relational integrity with Jesus is fortified by their obedient interactions with Him as their Lord, Savior, Deliverer and great Friend. Eternal life is defined in the Scriptures as knowing the Father and Jesus whom He sent (Jeremiah 9:23-24; Hosea 2:20, 6:3; John 17:1-5; Philippians 3:1-16; 2 Peter 1:2-3). The way that leads to life (eternal life—God's quality of life) continues to be the difficult way of the Lord that few find.
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” Acts 5:29-32 ESV, [emphasis added]
To abide in Christ in a consistent manner, each individual believer must ask Father God for the baptism with the Holy Spirit, then, after being initially filled with the Spirit, they must desire and learn to walk according to the Holy Spirit’s leading (Luke 11:9-13; Romans, chapter 8; Galatians 5:16-26; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Through faith in God, a commitment to Jesus as His disciple, the washing of the water of the word and an incremental yielding of their will to the will of the Father (as the indwelling Holy Spirit directs and teaches)—Jesus progressively becomes their Lord in every aspect of their life.
As they obey Lord Jesus and follow Him throughout their time on Earth, a serious disciple hopes to grow to the mature image and likeness of Jesus, share in His suffering, learn to abandon their will to God and attain to the first resurrection out from the dead. Taken to conclusion, the Father's name is written on their forehead (Rev. 14:1-13). This is not a superficial brand or tattoo, but an inward spiritual transformation that is similar in meaning to the Scriptural definition of God's New Covenant with mankind (see Hebrews, chapters eight and ten).
One of the greatest mistakes that unwise believers make is to confuse a personal and obedient relationship with Jesus with involvement in worldly "Churchianity" with its idolatry and error. True Christianity has never been about carnal religious disciplines, deceptions or requirements, but the relational imperatives of the New Covenant with God. Salvation and redemption are far greater and more meaningful than the "watered-down" and corrupt interpretations of the gospel that are taught and embraced within the "compromised Christian realm."
For each diligent disciple who follows Jesus and walks the difficult way of the Lord, God is writing His laws and principles on the fleshly tablets of their heart. This is a transformational, costly and spiritual process involving being filled with the Holy Spirit, faith in God, submission to the sovereignty of Jesus and a vital grasp of the word of God as it is revealed by the Holy Spirit and internalized in the life of the faithful follower (Rom. 8, Gal. 5:16-26, Rev. 21:1-10). Almighty God will have a sanctified people who cooperate with the Holy Spirit to make themselves ready for union with the Lamb of God—our Lord Jesus. Others are called to go further and overcome all that the Father requires to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phil. 2:12-13 ESV, [emphasis added]
Paul wrote that we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. The sovereignty of God isn't established in individuals nor in the midst of a group of believers by "lip service" to the Lord (or allegiance to human-led religion and carnal religious leaders; Psalm 118:8). Jesus only becomes Lord to the individual believer who becomes Lord Jesus' follower and obeys whatever He personally requires of them.
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV, [emphasis added]
Peter wrote of growing up into salvation. In stages, each of Jesus' followers grow spiritually as they learn to walk according to the Holy Spirit and choose to not walk according to their flesh. It's "come as you are." A believer begins their life before the Lord with personal "defects," weaknesses and character "deficits" (1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Peter 1:1-2:11). They are born from above as spiritual new born babes. Their spiritual growth is according to the call of God on their lives and the many choices that each individual believer makes. The following Scriptures are a "quick look" at the ground that a new believer may travel over decades with the Lord:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:9-12 ESV, [emphasis added]
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Rom. 8:29 ESV, [emphasis added]
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Revelation 17:14 ESV, [emphasis added]
Obedient believers partake of the word of God, repent from their "dead works" and grow in their faith in God (Hebrews 6:1-2). Learning to trust in God is the fruit of learning these two principles of the Doctrine of Christ. Given time to grow in the Lord, a remnant of the obedient believers may spiritually discern Lord Jesus inviting them to follow Him as His disciples. Of those who choose to commit themselves to the Lord, to seek and obey Jesus and be taught by Him; the Holy Spirit works divinely and substantially in their lives to conform them to the image and likeness of the Pattern Son (Romans 8:12-34).
The path to true spiritual maturity is a personal discipleship to the Lord where learning to rely on Jesus in everything and the successful growth of the Seed of Christ within is the goal. As you follow, obey and learn from Lord Jesus, the reality of His life within you is progressively being developed to a higher level; to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
A closer walk with Jesus isn't religious in nature. It’s personal, interactive and costly to your self-will. A disciple is a committed learner. To become Jesus' disciple you must hear His call to follow His instruction and submissively learn from Him as your Master and Teacher. The Scriptures reveal that the Lord's instruction includes discipline, correction, warnings, chastisement and even scourging—a form of divine "tough love" that must be understood and embraced in order to benefit from a close personal relationship with Jesus (Job 5:17-18; Psalm 2:11-12; 94:12; 119:67; 75; Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12-6; Rev 3:19).
Incrementally, the man of sin, who rules from the throne of each heart is revealed (Jeremiah 17:9). Until Jesus is truly Lord in the life of the faithful follower (a rare, but wonderful spiritual transformation) each man or woman of God cooperates with Lord Jesus and His Holy Spirit as they are refined as with fire. True Christianity lives up to the Lord’s description as the difficult, narrow way that few find. The purpose of the difficult way of the Lord is to separate and redeem a people, a royal priesthood, in and among whom the Father, Son and Holy Spirit will dwell on the Earth and rule in holiness (Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 6:1-8:39; Ephesians 2:11-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:5; Revelation 21:1-12).
If Jesus is communicating His desire for you to follow Him, choose to respond to the Lord with a commitment of your life to obey Him and a strong resolve to His call to deny yourself, pick up your cross daily and follow Him. Whether the Lord uses others in your life to help equip you for His service, your discipleship is to Jesus alone. It is He (Lord Jesus) and His Holy Spirit whom you must "hear," follow and obey (Psalm 118:8).
If you were born from above, God planted and quickened His Seed in your spirit through the anointed word of God. If Lord Jesus has personally called to you to follow Him, reflect on how you have responded to His call and your progress in being conformed to the image and likeness of Christ. There is a direct correlation between how much you have allowed Lord Jesus to wash you with the water of His word until it takes root in you and brings forth His life within and true spiritual maturity in Christ (Col. 1:24-29).
You can be Lord Jesus' disciple without ever becoming a part of what carnal men and women define as "church." Diligent followers of Jesus progressively become His true Church (a living, spiritual entity—the invisible Body of Christ). Immature and careless believers confuse what God is doing through the Holy Spirit and the truth with Satan's many deceptions, distractions and counterfeits.
Understand that becoming spiritually mature is not about the amount of time that you have "believed things about Jesus" nor the "sweat equity" that you have accrued through your involvement in human-led religion. Far too many attend church or study and become worldly clergy without knowing and experiencing the Lord as He desires. These mistakes are the foundation of many steeped in religious hypocrisy.
And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly. Revelation 17:5-6 ESV, [emphasis added]
Today, the dangerous old Prostitute and her daughters (Rev. 17:1-19:9) influence and control tens of millions of God's people who claim Jesus as their Savior. This is because institutional religion is human-led and has not submitted to Lord Jesus' rule and authority. Through the centuries and today, the saints of God and the martyrs of Jesus suffer persecution from the religious hypocrites who are a part of "Babylon the Great."
Deception is a major characteristic of the times in which we live. While grieving and blaspheming the Holy Spirit, human-led religion continues in its hypocrisy, attempting to usurp the true Church by claiming to be under the sovereignty of God. Worldly Christian organizations, groups and cults are most often totally independent of God’s rule and examples of the broad way that leads to destruction. Others are like the assemblies that Jesus wrote to in chapters Two and Three of the book of Revelation. Five of the seven assemblies were corrected, chastised and rebuked of the Lord for their poor choices. All of the seven letters are relevant messages to believers today.
Learning to consistently and accurately spiritually discern the anointing of the Holy Spirit (or its absence) in the behavior, countenance, spoken and written words, choices and motivations of yourself and others is evidence of true spiritual maturity. True spiritual maturity, genuine spiritual discernment and a strong faith in God are noticeably lacking among Churchianity's many adherents.
Loyalty to carnal religious organizations and leaders along with their erroneous doctrines, beliefs and practices is spiritually "toxic" and may prove to be very hazardous to you if you have compromised your relationship with God by immersing yourself in human-led religion (Psalm 40:4).
Do you presume to have the mind of the Lord while living as though you are not subject to Him?
Did you confuse submission to the authority and manipulations of carnal religious systems and people as submission to God?
If the Holy Spirit reveals to you that you have compromised your relationship with God through your self-will, self-sufficiency and self-rule; choose to seek Lord Jesus’ forgiveness and repent to His satisfaction. If these things are true of you, ask Jesus to reveal the fullness of the truth and deliver you from these and all of the other lies that you have "swallowed." King David was quick to repent and a man after God's own Heart, qualities that a diligent disciple of Jesus should pray to imitate.
The mistakes that you make and the things that you suffer are opportunities to learn obedience to God. Lord Jesus can delivery you from your religious hypocrisy, rebellion and self-rule, but like all sins, you need to sincerely renounce the darkness and zealously embrace the Light. The apostle Paul's (formerly named Saul) profound repentance may serve as a very personal example for you to imitate.
Lord Jesus may be asking you for the last time to yield to the Father’s will for your life. Learn to obediently, carefully and passionately seek and follow Jesus as if your eternal relationship with Him is "on the line." Allow the Holy Spirit to establish and refine your kingdom integrity by making Jesus your Savior and your King—with the goal of establishing His rule and reign in your life (even if it requires every minute of the remaining time allotted to you by Almighty God).
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matt. 22:11-14 ESV, [emphasis added]
"Many are called, but few are chosen" because few choose God's sovereignty in their lives over their self-worship, pride, self-reliance, willfulness, ungodly presumptions, ambitions, desires, lusts and fears—the substance and fruit of their carnal natures. From among those whom Lord Jesus calls, the few who are chosen by God have chosen Jesus as Lord over every aspect of their lives that He requires of them in their daily life before Him. They have obeyed the will of the Father, Lord Jesus and His commands and the leading of the Holy Spirit through many refining mistakes, challenges and trials to make their callings and election sure (2 Peter 1:3-15). It can be said of the Lord's chosen that their faith is in God.
Your salvation is based on believing in Jesus. To answer a higher calling in Christ, your belief in Him has to go much deeper than the compromisers and religious hypocrites of every generation who may have believed that Jesus existed, but when personally called by the Lord Jesus to follow Him, they chose to reject Him and disobey His words and commands.
Does each of the Lord's elect walk perfectly before God?
The answer is no! If they learn to become faithful to God, it may become true of them in Christ.
As a disciple of the Lord you may find that you are often double-minded and self-serving while learning to love and serve the Lord. You will stumble, doubt the Lord and make a fool of yourself in many self-serving and willful ways. Don't be driven to despair! Seek the Lord's forgiveness and guidance. Pray to learn to become quick to repent and learn obedience to Lord Jesus and the will of the Father through your suffering. Whom the Lord loves, He chastises and corrects (Revelation 3:19).
Persevere and allow Lord Jesus to enlarge your heart. If called to it, become a loyal follower who is counted with the overcomers. This is a very small remnant of those who follow Lord Jesus as far and as deep in Christ any man or woman of God can go. Victorious overcomers choose to allow Lord Jesus, using whatever means He deems necessary, to purge the carnality out of them and bring them to full maturity in Christ (James 1:5-8; Revelation 3:17-19).
Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. She was permitted to wear fine linen, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. Revelation 19:6-8 HCSB, [emphasis added]
Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Revelation 19:11-16 ESV, [emphasis added]
Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Revelation 22:11-15 ESV, [emphasis added]
Have you done all to purify and make yourself presentable to the King of kings?
Ask the Lord to show you what spiritual covering you have chosen for yourself (Colossians 3:1-17). As part of the Bride of the Lamb, have you prepared yourself? Because of your faithfulness to the Lord, are you permitted to wear fine linen, bright and pure? Is it the armor of a spiritual warrior worn over a white linen robe of righteousness? When the Word of God makes war on the Earth, will you be with Him as part of His heavenly army arrayed in fine linen; white and pure?
In your arrogance or through your carelessness have you chosen instead to wear your old garments (your carnal Adamic nature) that are defiled by your flesh?
Perhaps your choices in this life will later be exposed as the cause of your spiritually bankrupt condition and the shame of your nakedness in the next. (Matthew 22:11-14; Revelation 3:4)
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV, [emphasis added]
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:17–19 ESV, [emphasis added]
If you desire to finish well, pray and ask Lord Jesus to help you learn to genuinely fear God and develop a healthy fear concerning loosing your calling in Christ (Psalm 25:14; Proverbs 2:1-15; Romans 11:11-24; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 1:14-19). In the midst of the challenges of this present time, you will have to demonstrate a high level of kingdom integrity to become one of the few who is chosen (1 John 3:1-3). If you attain to that, your remaining time on Earth serves as an opportunity to prove yourself faithful to God as Lord Jesus continues to do a work in you and manifests Himself through you.
Following Jesus faithfully is not the "stuff" of cowardly believers, careless followers nor religious hypocrites. They have faith, but it is not a well-developed faith in God. Through their presumptions or ignorance, these individuals have neglected to take on the godly responsibility to discover how Lord Jesus desires to be followed, obeyed and worshiped. In each of their lives, self stubbornly continues to rule which keeps them Satan's subjects in spiritual darkness. A common attitude among self-willed, self-sufficient believers is the habit of seeking what they can get away with and an endless stream of arguments and justifications defending their ungodly choices and presumptions.
Now and throughout the Church age, unfaithful servants have refused to submit to God's will and follow Jesus to make Him their Lord. Compromising believers who continue to rely on their carnal religious traditions and the many lies they tell themselves, strongly resemble the pious-appearing Pharisees of the previous age whose righteousness (self-righteousness) didn't prevent them from rejecting and having the Romans brutally crucify the Messiah, the true Son of God.
Presently, the "window of divine opportunity" to walk the difficult way of the Lord has already "closed" for most Christian compromisers and religious hypocrites (Revelation 22:11). They chose to ignore the truth that they are not their own, they were bought with a price—the blood of Jesus (1 Corinthians 7:23; Acts 20:28; Hebrews 9:12, 14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelation 5:9).
Diligent disciples are those, in every generation, who respond to Lord Jesus' call and choose to deny themselves, pick up their crosses daily and follow Him to become progressively changed by God's transforming power through the Holy Spirit. They overcome in Christ by faithfully putting off the old man of sin and by putting on the new as the Spirit leads them and works thoroughly in their lives to conform them to Jesus' image and likeness.
Are you choosing Lord Jesus' total sovereignty and complete dominion over your motives, choices, thoughts and behavior? Conquering in Christ is a matter of personal responsibility, sincerity, humility, transparency, faith in and integrity towards God. Like Jesus, you learn obedience to God through the things that you suffer along the difficult way of the Lord.
The victors are those who have learned to obey Jesus and His commandments, abide in His love and overcome in Christ as they are led and enabled by the Holy Spirit. The integrity in which they walk before God in this life becomes stronger as the very nature of Lord Jesus is nurtured and grows within them.
Overcomers live according to His Word and overcome in the power of His Life. Flawlessly practicing His Presence, abiding in Him, a life hid in Christ, union with God and unbroken fellowship with Jesus are their goals. A vital connection with Lord Jesus is only achieved in Him, with Him and by Him. In the Kingdom of Heaven, they will share in the inheritance of their King and older Brother as called, chosen and faithful, mature sons of God (both men and women). (Romans 8:12-30; Revelation 21:7)
Personal integrity towards God's sovereignty in our lives matters.
— Terry E. Manning
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