Invade, Occupy, and Influence This World For Christ: Discover Your Identity and Purpose as Part of the Royal Priesthood of Kings. Royal priesthood, we are called to invade, occupy, and influence this world for Christ. The war is on. As part of the remnant, you have been authorized for spiritual conquest and occupation. You are unstoppable having received a kingdom that cannot be moved.
Christ has called you into a royal priesthood of disciples empowered to manifest the Kingdom of God on earth. In prayer one day, the Holy Ghost said to me, “Only the sons of God walking in the Spirit can manifest the kingdom.” Manifesting the Kingdom is found in the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13). This prayer has been prayed by millions of believers, yet how many believe they have a part to play in the process? Scripture says the entire earth is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. How much longer does the earth need to wait?
The manifestation of the Kingdom of God is the responsibility of every disciple of Christ. Disciples of Christ are part of the Church at large. There is only one “church model” in the New Testament and that’s the apostolic church. No New Testament churches in the bible were built by prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers; they were all built by apostles. Scripture says, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28).
RULER OF RULERS
An apostolic church model includes apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, priests, kings, and rulers. Together they are citizens of Zion and a governing body of believers. Jesus said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The church that Christ is building is a governing Church full of governing believers. Paul confirmed this writing, “Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). Lords, Greek kurieuo, means rulers. Jesus is the “Ruler of rulers.” To understand the governing nature of every believer we need a solid definition of the word ruler. According to “Thayer’s Greek Lexicon” ruler means: 1) to be lord of, to rule, have dominion over 2) of things and forces 3) to exercise influence upon, to have power over. “Strong’s Greek Lexicon” agrees. To rule: 1) have dominion over 2) lord, be lord of 3) exercise lordship over.
Notice all of these are governing definitions such as lord, dominion, and rule. The word dominion was first used by God, not man, when blessing Adam and Eve. They were commanded to rule (Genesis 1:26). So who are the kings and lords that Christ is the king and ruler of? The answer is you, the born again believer and disciple of Christ. With these definitions in mind to rule means, you have the right and responsibility to take dominion by influencing this world for Christ.
MANIFESTED PRIESTHOOD
Apostle Peter declared that you are part of a “royal priesthood” of believers. In other words, you are part of a priesthood of kings. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Kings have the authority to occupy. Jesus commanded, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). Occupy does not mean to withdraw. Occupy means to march aggressively into another territory with spiritual force for the purpose of conquest and occupation.
Today there is a division within the body of Christ over rapture teaching and dominion teaching. Rapture apologists say the world is going to hell in a hand basket and the body of Christ simply needs to be “rapture ready” because Jesus is returning soon to rescue His sheep. The dominion-minded teach that the body of Christ is called to be salt, light, and a city set on a hill. They are also called into the ministry of the “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:19-21). In short they are given a measure of delegated spiritual authority by Christ to invade, occupy, and influence the world. It seems to me that both camps should agree on continuing the ministry of Christ known as the Great Commission. To accomplish this, however, means that churches will have to get out of the entertainment business, stop building adult day care ministries, and repent from preaching Christian pop-psychology and religious humanism.{module Spiritual Warfare: Learn how to fight back, Fast! Value Kit}
SPIRIT OF POWER AND MIGHT
What camp you support will determine your world view. There are good people in both camps. Most reading this don’t want to let the devil continue his ministry of stealing, killing, and destroying without challenge. They understand the spiritual warfare and have put on the armor of God. They want to raise their children in a Christian home and within a society that celebrates Christian values, morality, and character. More and more they are recognizing that withdrawing from cultural warfare, the kingdom of darkness against the kingdom of God, is not biblical. Scripture says, “Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he shall flee.” The devil doesn’t flee without resistance. You can’t escape the warfare no matter how rapture ready you may be. There are many scriptures that teach Christ’s disciples to engage the enemy, not ignore the enemy. As already noted, it doesn’t matter what camp you are in there is no escaping the spiritual warfare of your generation. Through revelation, the Apostle Paul pulled back the curtain to show us what we are up against.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)
Paul describes our spiritual warfare and teaches us to put on the armor of God. Armor is for fighting, not running. It’s significant to mention that spiritual warfare is not confined to the spirit realm. Demonic powers manifest themselves in the natural. They can teach and make converts of their philosophy. Just turn on television and you can view their demonic folly as they create strongholds in the minds of men. These thoughts lead men in various directions. Some become politicians, school teachers, university professors, business owners, bankers, film makers, musicians, bloggers, or reality television characters.
Spiritual conquest and occupation, manifesting the Kingdom of God, will require you to embrace your sonship and guard your mind against demonic deception. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Understand what it means to be part of the royal priesthood of kings. Be rapture ready but put on the whole armor of God, engage the enemy of your faith, and influence your world for Christ.
Your partner,
(c) Apostle Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com