Ruling in the Midst of Enemies

Understanding the Sabbath

Today’s Focus: Characteristics of Rest for the Soul Part 1: Ruling in the Midst of Enemies

Scripture: 2 Samuel 8:1-15; Revelation 3:21

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

The first characteristics of coming to this rest in the soul is when we are able to rule in the midst of our enemies and negative emotions. This is a huge struggle and even for me it is still a baptism of fire experience. But if we are to find rest, we must overcome these situations . Let’s take a unique look at David because His situation frames this perfectly and this is exactly why you cannot throw the Old testament out because even though there are many types and shadows in there, many of us need those types and shadows to bring us to the realities of the New Testament. We struggle to understand that everything that happened in the New Testament had history and precedent in the Old Testament. So let’s look at King David in 2 Samuel 8. Before David reigned over all of Israel he had to go through some battles and subdue some nations. David was a warrior King but these nations that he subdued have meanings and designations for things we must overcome in order to discover this rest for our souls. Let’s look at each of the nations that were slain and their metaphoric meaning. We will start at 2 Samuel 8:1-15

Philistines: Wallowing of the flesh

Moabites: Independence

Hadadezar: Noisy helper, Strife, Contention

Syrians: Lofty ones, Pride

Toi: Wandering, Instability

Amalek: Dwelling in the valley; Depression

Edom: Red, Offensive

After David subdues all of these nations or metaphoric situations 2 Samuel 8:15 says this:

2 Samuel 8:15: And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

Revelation 3:21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His Throne.

So there must be an overcoming reality over all these situations that we will go through in order for our souls to rest.

For the sake of time we will continue looking at two more of these characteristics of the soul at rest in the next message.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Three Positions of Rest for Man

Understanding the Sabbath

Today’s Focus: The Three Positions of Rest for Man

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 3:16; John 5:24; Matthew 11:28,29

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

1 Thessalonians 5:23: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So upon the return of the Lord, Paul is saying that we should have peace and all the members of our body be blameless and at peace. Who are the members of our being? Our spirit, soul and body (flesh). All three of these things will be in sync and at rest or Sabbath. Let’s look at each of them to see how they will be at rest.

Flesh comes at rest when it becomes immortal. This is a future condition because the current flesh is diseased by sin.

Spirit comes at rest at salvation when one is given eternal life.

Soul comes at rest through self-denial of one’s ambitions and will. This rest is an ongoing growth process.

Now we see that the flesh is the only one of the three components that have futuristic situation attached to it coming at rest but the other two are both positions that we can rest in NOW! Being led by the Spirit let me go ahead and knock this out here. Let’s look at both of these two positions, the sprit and soul in scripture coming to rest.

Matthew 11:28,29: Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Sabbath). Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Now look at this, Jesus said come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. This is the rest of the spirit. It is a gift from God. How? Because when you COME TO HIM, HE IMMEDIATELY THEN GIVES YOU REST. Rest where? In the spirit. Let’s prove it!

John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 5:24: Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

So the gift of eternal life by the Spirit of God dwelling and fellowshipping with your human spirit puts you spirit in a state of Sabbath or rest. So the spirit’s rest comes from the gift of salvation from God. Now let’s look at the second.

The scripture says that we must take His yoke upon us and learn of Him and then we shall find rest for our souls. Now this brings us to an interesting point. We must learn of Jesus and as we learn of Jesus, THEN SHALL WE FIND REST FOR OUR SOULS. So the second rest, for our souls, is a rest that is discoverable. Think about what we said in the introduction. If this is the case and the second rest is a discoverable rest then that explains why so many people are under stress, strife, confusion, and disease because they have not discovered rest for their souls even though that are at rest in the spirit. Do you see this? The reason they have not found rest is a lack of relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. They have not truly learned about Him and we will discuss this extensively later in this series. But Jesus is making it very clear, if you desire rest for your soul then you must take His yoke, and what is His yoke that He is carrying for you? The Kingdom of God (Isaiah 9:6). You must put that yoke on AND THEN LEARN. THAT MEANS BECOME A DISCIPLE, A SON, A STUDENT.

In the next message we will look at the characteristics of the rest for our souls because this is the rest that “seems” to be invading many people but the only problem is, they have yet to discover it.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

New Teaching Series: Understanding the Sabbath

Understanding the Sabbath

Today’s Focus: Introduction

Scripture: Genesis 2:1-3

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

When we talk about the Sabbath there are so many perceptions and understandings about the Sabbath that can lead to many arguments. The most common argument is whether the Sabbath is on Saturday or Sunday? To lay this notion to rest quickly, in the Jewish calendar the seventh day is considered to be Saturday. Now you may say, well there it is, it is settled the Sabbath is Saturday. Not so fast because as we look through this entire series and we will float through the scriptures and return to scriptures for further understanding that the Sabbath is not a particular day such as Saturday or Sunday, as church has made the Sabbath. Let’s get a foundation.

Genesis 2:1-3: Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it; because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.

So we know that the creation took six days culminating in God treasured creation, mankind or His son but on the seventh day it seems that God created a day for Himself and in it, He rested. The word rest in the Hebrew is “shabath” or what we know as Sabbath. It means to repose, desist from exertion or rest. So God rested from all His work on this ‘seventh day”. The rest of God is a “seventh-day” position. This is probably the most important thing to remember throughout this series because scriptures will prove that Sabbath really pertains to a position than a particular day in our chronological calendar.

Because Sabbath was the last thing created, it is the first and primary thing in the mind of God. Think about it! Look at the condition of this world and many of the people who claim to be Christians. Everyone is looking for rest. In a world of confusion, turmoil, strife and stress, everyone is looking for rest. We try to find rest in vacations and time away from work only to find when we get back to work, it seems like work just piled up since we left. This will be a very intensive and extensive study because this rest is not a sweet bye-and-bye rest and we will destroy some of these myths we have in the church about the Sabbath. Since we have seen through Genesis 2:1-3 that this rest is a position, in the next message we want to look at the three positions of rest.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Judging the Nations by the Standard for the World

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: Judging the Nations by the Standard for the World

Scripture: Micah 4:3; Romans 1:18-20; Hebrews 6:19

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Now we know that God’s judgment is righteous and pure. We know that God does not make a mistake in His judgments. Now God puts forth a pattern in the Earth by which he holds men accountable. For example, the Law was given and it established what was right and wrong and the consequence of both. Hence depending upon which you fall on there is a just law that convicts you or acquits you. When God judges the nations that is spoken of in Micah 4:3, he does this in a unique way. He holds them accountable to a unique standard. That standard is the sons of God. Let me show you this scripture because the wicked people have a template before them that they can either choose God or choose hell and whatever choice you make, that is it.

Romans 1:18-20: The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

So God has put a standard in the Earth, which is His House or family, that by them and the righteousness of God that flows through them, those who hold on to ungodliness with the truth consistently available will be rightly judged by God because the invisible things of Him (God) are clearly understood by the things that are made (Sons). A great example of this is Noah. God found grace in Noah (Genesis 6:8) amongst all the wickedness in the earth. Remember evil was consistently on the mind of man and it would be through Noah that God would announce His judgment (It is going to rain) to the world. So God had a remnant in the Earth, through Noah to bring judgment to wicked men. So it is the sons of God that God will use to rightfully judge the wickedness of mankind because they will not hold to the truth. The wrath of God is poured out on the wicked, not the righteous.

But keep this in mind, if you call yourself a child of God and you continue in sin, God will punish you more because you should know better. The Scriptures say that God will judge His House first and woe to them who do not heed the gospel.

The sons of God are the standard of the world that God has established and they are exalted in times of crisis because through them and their submission to the Kingdom, the glory of God is revealed in the Earth so that all men can see the power of God within them.

Hebrews 6:19: Which hope we (the sons of God) have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

In the times of crisis, anchor your soul to Christ and watch the glory of God be revealed.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The House of God: The Answer for All Mankind

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: The House of God: the Answer for All Mankind

Scripture: Micah 4:1-3; Ephesians 6:11

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

In this series we have been looking at how sons of God will experience crisis and how to deal with it. Now, we are full circle and show how the nations truly desire the House of God for refuge but they are simply misguided by religion and other forms of governments operated by the devil to entrap the minds of the people from trying to come into the House of God.

Micah 4:1: But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

The last days began with Christ and we know it was Jesus, spiritual Israel that is the firstborn of many brethren from the Father. So the House of God, the family of God is established by the Lord Jesus Christ and it is the highest order of family and law in the Earth because the House of God is the original family and the Kingdom of God is the original government of Earth. Now look at the last statement because this is what seals it. It says that “people shall flow unto it”. When the House of God is revealed and demonstrated in the Earth people will see the true sons of God and the peace and freedom they live by which is guided by truth and they will desire to come into the House of God.

Micah 4:2: And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for the law shall go forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

It does not say that only Israel will come but many nations, ethnicities will come to the House of God to learn the ways of the Lord so that they can walk in His ordinances. We know if one does that this produces peace in the lives of the sons. It says that the law will go forth from Zion or Christ and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. So many nations will come and desire to be a part of the House of God.

Micah 4:3: And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Do we see this? First the Lord will judge many people and rebuke strong nations that are afar off. We will look at this in the next message. But look as the people come into the House of God, the weapons of war turn into the instruments used to work a field and cultivate. What is God saying? In the House of God, there will not be race wars because all of the children understand that they are spirits and spirits have no ethnicity, so nation will not rise up against nation and second the children of God are peacemakers and they do not fight flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:11).

In the next message we will wrap this series up by looking at how Jesus rebukes the strong nations that are afar off.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Baptism of Fire and Purpose of Trials and Tribulation

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: Baptism of Fire and Purpose of Trials and Tribulation

Scripture: Romans 5:1-4; 1 Peter 4:12,13

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Crisis for the sons of God, if they are in the right mindset, is an opportunity for maturity. So believers believe every trial is of the devil. This is not true. The Baptism of Fire is a baptism that the Lord administers to mature you from soul-dependence to Spirit-dependence. Let’s look at these scriptures:

1 Peter 4:12,13: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the FEIRY TRIAL WHICH IS TO TRY YOU, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when HIS GLORY SHALL BE REVEALED, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

So it is not if you will go through trials, it is a matter of when. But look at the scripture it starts with understanding the trials that will try you and it ends with seeing the glory of God revealed. So just as Christ suffered, so shall we. It is a shame that today we do not hear much about suffering in Christ for maturity. We hear this watered down version of the gospel where everything is always o.k. and you never have to trials or tribulation but Christ suffered and because He suffered, we do not have to suffer. Huh? That sounds crazhy but it is being preached. Here is another scripture I want to show you about tribulation.

Romans 5:1-4: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD. And not only so, but we GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Now you know you barely here this scripture from the carnal preachers because it tells us that we glory in tribulation. What? Yes, we glory in tribulation. Paul goes on to tells us why. Through tribulation works patience and waiting for the manifestation of the presence and goodness (glory) of God. When we learn patience we gain experience. Experience is good because you can almost guarantee that there is someone coming behind you that will go through the same trial. Finally we see that these tribulations, patience and experience work hope. The hope of what? Romans 5:2 says the hope is the glory of God. What is the glory of God? His presence and goodness extended to us.

So trials and tribulations are necessary to mature and we can see the glory of God in the crisis and have peace while we are going through. In the next message we will be looking at the overall picture of the power and purpose of the House of God in the earth.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Response of the Sons of God in Crisis

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: Response of the Sons of God in Crisis

Scripture: Philippians 4:6-9

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

The Father told us in Haggai that in the House of God, He will give peace there. Peace is the result of the rulership of God. So in the midst of crisis what do we do? Paul talks to the church at Philippi and gives instruction on what to do in the midst of crisis

Philippians 4:6: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.

Paul tells the church at Philippi to humble themselves to prayer and make know your request to God. Paul desired for the church to have a strong prayer life so that they may learn the voice of the Spirit of God and being in a place of humility will allow the Spirit of God to give us wisdom, knowledge, understanding and counsel in the matter. Now watch what God says the result of humility and prayer is:

Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So the result of humility and prayer and confidence in God is peace. The peace that God gives you, the world cannot understand how this can be in the midst of crisis. The problem the world has is that it does not know the Father. But we as the sons do know the Father and hence we receive a peace that passes all understanding. The purpose of this peace is to keep the sons focused on the Spirit and not on the circumstance. Hence this is why the peace of God will keep YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

Philippians 4:8: Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.

These are the attributes we are to display in the midst of turmoil and crisis. These are all attributes of one lead by the Spirit. So in the midst of crisis we maintain integrity and allow the character and nature of God to manifest within us so that we can have peace and understand how we are to respond in crisis.

Philippians 4:9: Those things, which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Paul is reminding the sons at Philippi that they have seen this before. Paul Himself was at Philippi and by the things he suffered, he demonstrated those very things and the people were able to see the peace that God gave him through the midst of the crisis. God always has a preceding example of the very thing that you are going through available for you to see and understand how we should respond. What do I mean? Many will say we can look at Jesus and this is true. Moreover God has given us spiritual fathers that have gone through crisis and they are the example unto us in this present time of how the character and nature of God really shows up in the time of crisis. These spiritual fathers are with you, encouraging you and praying with you through the situation. So you can never say that no one has gone through what you are going through because God has already sent someone ahead of you through this fire and they are there in a mature state to minister unto you so that you can see the peace of God through the storm.

When there is pressure applied to the children of God, we really begin to see the manifestation of the glory of God and His Kingdom because the result of a son abiding in the House of God and His rulership is a state of peace and joy.

In the next message we want to look back and understand the necessity of crisis and tribulation as it pertains to the growth of the sons of God.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Power of the Kingdom of God

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: The Power of the Kingdom of God

Scripture: Romans 14:17; Hebrews 5:8; 12:28; Matthew 6:10,33

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

The Kingdom of God is the governing rule of God over the hearts of men. Romans 14:17: For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink (physical things) but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. So it is by the Holy Ghost that we are discipled into the laws, ways and character of God. The Kingdom of God is the government of the House of God. So in order to receive this peace that God gives His family or children one must have the abiding of His Spirit and be in the right-position or righteousness to experience this peace in the midst of turmoil. That means in the midst of turmoil we as sons of God, do not rely on our worldly government and our own strength to make peace but we submit to the rulership of God, His Kingdom and we allow Him to refine us and purify us and strengthen us in the crisis and as he does this, His glory shines forth through us and the world will see that we are His chosen people and they will desire in that time the House of God because they will realize it is the way.

Let’s look at this scripture here in Hebrews to show you the importance of clinging to the Kingdom of God in crisis.

Hebrews 12:28: Wherefore, we (sons of God) receiving a Kingdom WHICH CANNOT BE MOVED, let us have grace (power and authority) whereby we may SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR:

So in all of this shaking the only thing that will not move is the Kingdom that we have been given. Colossians 1:13: Who (Jesus) hath delivered us (sons of God) from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. So in the House of God, the Government of God which is His Kingdom is where His children will find refuge in the time of crisis. Now one thing that I want to stress to every believer. God will allow crisis to come upon us to strengthen us. What is he strengthening? He is strengthening our faith in knowing that we can hear Him, moment to moment and we are no longer dependent upon our souls but being lead by the Spirit and dependent on the Father. The Kingdom of God gives us power to overcome if we hold on to it in the time of crisis. Jesus Himself experienced crisis but in crisis he learned obedience.

Hebrews 5:8: Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.

So suffering is the way that the Lord strengthens and matures us in the Spirit. Weird isn’t it. It is called the Baptism of Fire by which the Lord administers to the saints to refine us from being lead by our souls and become dependent on His Spirit and obedient unto the Father. When we do this we see the power of the Kingdom manifest before our eyes. In the model prayer, our first request is “Thy Kingdom come (manifest), they will be done.” This is what we as the sons desire.

Now that we know that peace is in the House and Kingdom of God? What do we do in the midst of this turmoil? It is important to have godly counsel through this time because you can become vulnerable to your soul and began to respond out of fear and not out of confidence in God.

In the next message we will look at the response of the sons of God in the midst of crisis.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Power of the Kingdom of God

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: The Power of the Kingdom of God

Scripture: Romans 14:17; Hebrews 5:8; 12:28; Matthew 6:10,33

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

The Kingdom of God is the governing rule of God over the hearts of men. Romans 14:17: For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink (physical things) but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. So it is by the Holy Ghost that we are discipled into the laws, ways and character of God. The Kingdom of God is the government of the House of God. So in order to receive this peace that God gives His family or children one must have the abiding of His Spirit and be in the right-position or righteousness to experience this peace in the midst of turmoil. That means in the midst of turmoil we as sons of God, do not rely on our worldly government and our own strength to make peace but we submit to the rulership of God, His Kingdom and we allow Him to refine us and purify us and strengthen us in the crisis and as he does this, His glory shines forth through us and the world will see that we are His chosen people and they will desire in that time the House of God because they will realize it is the way.

Let’s look at this scripture here in Hebrews to show you the importance of clinging to the Kingdom of God in crisis.

Hebrews 12:28: Wherefore, we (sons of God) receiving a Kingdom WHICH CANNOT BE MOVED, let us have grace (power and authority) whereby we may SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR:

So in all of this shaking the only thing that will not move is the Kingdom that we have been given. Colossians 1:13: Who (Jesus) hath delivered us (sons of God) from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. So in the House of God, the Government of God which is His Kingdom is where His children will find refuge in the time of crisis. Now one thing that I want to stress to every believer. God will allow crisis to come upon us to strengthen us. What is he strengthening? He is strengthening our faith in knowing that we can hear Him, moment to moment and we are no longer dependent upon our souls but being lead by the Spirit and dependent on the Father. The Kingdom of God gives us power to overcome if we hold on to it in the time of crisis. Jesus Himself experienced crisis but in crisis he learned obedience.

Hebrews 5:8: Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.

So suffering is the way that the Lord strengthens and matures us in the Spirit. Weird isn’t it. It is called the Baptism of Fire by which the Lord administers to the saints to refine us from being lead by our souls and become dependent on His Spirit and obedient unto the Father. When we do this we see the power of the Kingdom manifest before our eyes. In the model prayer, our first request is “Thy Kingdom come (manifest), they will be done.” This is what we as the sons desire.

Now that we know that peace is in the House and Kingdom of God? What do we do in the midst of this turmoil? It is important to have godly counsel through this time because you can become vulnerable to your soul and began to respond out of fear and not out of confidence in God.

In the next message we will look at the response of the sons of God in the midst of crisis.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Glory of the Latter House

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: The Glory of the Latter House

Scripture: Haggai 2:7-9; Romans 14:17; Exodus 33:18-22

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Haggai 2:7-9: And I will shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

The prophet Haggai spoke a very powerful word here and in this scripture we will see that that House of God is what all of mankind that is under oppression, panic and fear is looking for. Let’s start to break this down. God is shaking the nations to separate His children from the children of the world. If you think about filtering sand and rocks. You shake the mixture of sand and rock and as you shake, the sand is filtered out and all that is standing and there is the rock. This shaking of the nations is necessary because in times of crisis, God’s children will stand tall anchored to the Rock who is Jesus Christ and the unmovable Kingdom of God. But before I get to far ahead God tells us his plan. He speaks through Haggai and tells us that the “desire of all nations” shall come. Who is the desire of all nations?

The Lord Jesus Christ

Now after the Father sends the desire of all nations, who is His Son, the Father said he will fill THIS HOUSE WITH GLORY. Now we see multiple things here. First we see, God sending His Son or His children is the answer to all problems in the world. Moreover, the Father goes on to say “THIS HOUSE” will He fill with glory. The phrase this house is not referring to a physical building but family. It is the family that is started by the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember His is the firstborn of many brothers. The Father said He will fill “this family” with glory. We know that the glory of God is His presence and goodness towards us (Exodus 33:18-22).

The Father continues to express that the glory of this latter house (The House of God) shall be greater than of the former. Now he brings it home. In this family or House is the place that He will give peace. Do we see that! It is in the House of God that the Father will give peace. All of this confusion, strife, turmoil, and oppression is all relieved within the House or Family of God. Every person is seeking this place of righteousness, peace and joy which is in the Holy Spirit who is the presence of God, His glory and this is the Kingdom of God (Romans 14:17).

Now in the next message we will look at the Kingdom of God and see why this is important to understand and how we deal with crisis. We know the House of God is the answer. Let’s now add the Kingdom of God to this discussion.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

New Teaching Series: Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: The Answer to Crisis

Scripture: Haggai 2:7-9

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Now with all of the economic downfalls we have had over the past 2 to 3 years, many people are in panic and in disarray. Slowing we are seeing the church for what it has become and slowly we are seeing the true church emerge. What do I mean? When crisis hit and pressure is applied to the lives of people, one of two things happen. We will either see the glory of God through these who are in the crisis or we will see fear and panic in the lives of the people. Moreover, the religious church is not producing any answers for these people. Many are so crooked that they will say, that you need to give to them so that you can get your blessing from God. Huh? Now they are sitting up rich, and some multi-millionaires but the people are impoverished. Funny during the during this crisis God showed me that places like TBN, Daystar and the Word Network are pushing through so many “fundraisers” they call them love offerings and the people who are not mature in the Word of God, take their daily bread that God gives them to pay their bills and take care of themselves and give it to these crooks who misuse scripture for the sake of filthy lucre but yet the lives of the giver is not changed.

In the past 5 years we have see earthquakes and natural disasters claim thousands of lives. From Haiti to Chile to Pakistan to Japan and to Spain we are seeing more frequent earthquakes. In the United States in the month of April and May 2011 we saw over 250 tornadoes literally overnight come out of the sky and 300 lives we taken during this overnight set of storms that went through Alabama.

In 2011 we see the uprising of many nations by the people because they are tired of the oppression. From, Egypt, to Syria and to Libya we are seeing people taking to the streets demanding for freedom. We know that many of these uprisings are happening in predominate Muslim countries. These people are losing their lives for the sake of freedom because brutal dictators are oppressing them and keeping them in poverty.

We have been looking at a spiritual attack that continues to come upon the Kingdom of God by the antichrist spirit of homosexuality. We are watching the churches give in and compromise the Word of God to accept homosexual leadership and one-by-one the denominations are falling under this antichrist leadership. We are seeing more of the antichrist spirit in Hollywood impact and influence the leadership of churches to get them to cast their lots in with Hollywood. All for the sake of fame and fortune they sell their souls to the devil to live out their personal childhood fantasy at the hands and expenses of the souls of God’s people. So what is the answer?

I will give you the answer here but throughout the rest of the series we will work backwards and come back to why this is the answer. The answer of every one of these problems is:

The House of God

Let me leave you with this scripture and we will pick this up in the next message:

Haggai 2:7-9: And I will shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Obedience and Witnessing

Modeling Kingdom Discipleship

Today’s Focus: Obedience and Witnessing

Scripture: Acts 1:8; John 14:12; Romans 10:17; Exodus 19:5

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

In the last words of Jesus to the disciples before His ascension back to the Father, Jesus told them after the Holy Spirit has empowered them they will be witnesses unto Jesus. We said in a previous message that the works that we do will be a testimony and evidence that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.

John 14:12: Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

So Jesus came and laid the foundation for the sons of God and since that time and the time of His return, the sons will continue from age to age maturing in preparation for the return of the Lord. These disciples were witnesses of the fact that Jesus did only what they saw and heard the Father do. Now just as the Spirit of God led Jesus, the same Spirit will lead His brethern in the exact same manner, teaching and discipling us to do what we hear and see the Father do. What an amazing concept to discipleship. This means that there has to be some gifting to teach people that they can hear God and there is. This gifting is called the prophetic. Why is it important to be able to hear God and know it is God?

Romans 10:17: So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

So it is to build our faith. Jesus says that His sheep will hear His voice and hearken unto Him. All throughout the Old Testament, especially at Mt. Sinai when God was offering the children of Israel the first covenant, look what He says:

Exodus 19:5: Now therefore , IF YOU WILL OBEY MY VOICE, INDEED AND KEEP MY COVENANT, THEN YE SHALL BE A PECULIAR TREASURE UNTO ME ABOVE ALL PEOPLE: FOR ALL THE EARTH IS MINE:

Notice God makes an emphasis to obey His voice. See there was no Bible then so they had to learn the voice of God and hear Him through the messengers he ordained at that time. So when Jesus tells the disciples to go and teach others to observe all things he has commanded, just like Jesus gave the disciples verbal directions, the disciples will teach others in the same manner. So when we talk about the Great Commission we are putting an emphasis on the process of hearing the word of God and obeying His directions. If we do this, then we do not have to worry about sin because the Spirit knows no sin and if you are walking in the Spirit then you are walking in righteousness.

In understanding the Great Commission and our role in discipling the nations, we have concluded that to obey all that Jesus commanded was to do what we hear and see the Father doing. This means the mature sons of God are to walk among makind demonstrating that it is possible to walk like Jesus did, listening and obeying the Father moment by moment. As we demonstrate this, others are to learn and this is the process of discipleship. When we walk in this manner, the Spirit of God can draw men unto Himself and we, as the sons of God teach them by our life that we live and how we regularly obey the Father.

Why is this not the case today for the most part? The reason this is, because the leaders in the churches themselves are not followers of Jesus. Many are not concerned with making disciples as they are with getting members and converting them to their church doctrine and culture. So when we speak in this manner of "doing what we hear and see the Father doing" it is almost taboo and impossible in their mind to do this. Why? Because the culture does not permit this and the culture only permits the pastor to teach the flock to follow him or her. Hence we have people growing the church doctrine and ways and never really learning what it means to hear the Father and obey His voice. If the leaders do not know how to do this, how can we expect the flock to do it? There must be a change in culture and mindset in the church for this to be the reality.

At Our Father's Service,

Calvin Calhoun

Understanding Obedience in the Commission

Modeling Kingdom Discipleship

Today’s Focus: Understanding Obedience in the Commission

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20; John 5:19; John 14:8-11

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

When Jesus told the disciples to teach others to observe or obey everything that He has commanded, this has been misinterpreted in the sense that we need to teach people to obey everything in the Old and New Testament. Now think about this, could you imagine having to obey everything listed in the Old and New Testament? People would just turn away and go back to being a straight sinner because that would be extremely hard to do, and some has. Now here is a question, Jesus is obviously telling them to do something that He showed them to do and he is asking them to do that and show others. Jesus in His ministry did not walk around with scrolls under his arm and then when a problem arose, He pulled them out to find the absolute scripture and then quote it. Jesus did not do this. This is what Jesus did:

John 5:19: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily Verily I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He see the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Jesus only did what he saw the Father do and Jesus only said what He hears the Father say. This is called obedience and worship because Jesus is fully submitted to the Father and has given up the right to rule Himself to do His Father's Will and so the Father loves Him and shows Jesus what He is doing. It is only by the Spirit of the Father in Jesus.

John 14:8-11: Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? HE THAT HATH SEEN ME HATH SEEN THE FATHER; and how sayest thou then , Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU I SPEAK NOT OF MYSELF: BUT THE FATHER THAT DWELLETH IN ME, HE DOETH THE WORKS. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Jesus gave the Father a place in time as a vessel in which the Father can live and impact His Will upon the earth. Jesus consciously hears what the Father is telling Him to do and that is the thing that He is doing. He does this moment to moment and day to day. Jesus is being led by the Spirit of God and this is a confirmation that He is the Son of God. Hence obedience is not just obeying the commandments, but obeying directions. This is the way of life we are called to live as sons of God. This is a intimate lifestyle to live and this is opposite of church culture that looks for a commandment and do it and think we are pleasing God. In this thought process we are the ones who decide what God is actually doing in the moment because we are the ones who are apply the word to some situation.

The four gospels are a testimony of an existing relationship between the Father and the Son and it records a truth that Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing. Now this opens up and entirely different avenue to teaching discipleship that we have rarely heard of.

In the next message we will look at obedience and it's correlation to witnessing.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Defining Discipleship

Modeling Kingdom Discipleship

Today’s Focus: Defining Discipleship

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

In the last message we left off discussing how religion has made the Great Commission about teaching the ways of the institution and making disciples of the institution rather than disciples of Christ. Now let’s start defining discipleship. Jesus gives the disciples a clear command in

Matthew 28:20: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:”

So a disciple is someone who obeys the Lord Jesus in everything. Very simple. Now we have read it to be teach them to obey everything the Lord has commanded but what has happened is there is has been an extensive emphasis on teaching rather than obeying. So when we give the information, we assume they are obeying. Do we see the difference? When you obey the Lord Jesus Christ, you show that you are a witness unto Him. Now let’s look at this word witness because there is such a misconception about witnessing and there is no way you can witness anything without obedience.

Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.

Now when we read this, there is a clear process that the disciples had to go through before they can be a witness unto Jesus. That process is laid out right here in Acts 1:8. First you must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is one of the four doctrinal baptisms. This is called being baptized of the Spirit. Now remember the disciples received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in John 20:21-23 when Jesus blew on them. Now Jesus still tells them to go to Jerusalem and wait to be empowered. So a true witness of Christ must have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as well as be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Next Jesus tells them after that, they will be witnesses UNTO Jesus. Now what does it mean to be a witness unto Jesus? Well let’s look at this from a natural perspective. Suppose Jesus was sitting in the defendants chair and they call you to the witness stand. When you sit in the witness stand on behalf of Jesus to defend Him you must not only be able to testify with your words but also bring evidence of your testimony. When you do this you prove Jesus is who He says He is. 1 Corinthians 4:20 speaks that the Kingdom of God come not in word but in power. Power is the seen evidence of the King and the Kingdom. If we desire to be witnesses works must follow our words and also our faith. Faith itself comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God. When you trust in and believe in the thing that God told you to do, you obey and comply with that very command and that is what makes a disciple a disciple is obedience to the Lord. Look there are many people who can speak of the Lord, but how many have been empowered to manifest the power? We must get back to submission and obedience because these are the essence to true discipleship. The student cannot be greater than the Master. We must learn our place and as the Lord instructs us and matures us, we then can go out and effectively represent Him and teach others, like He taught us.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.