JoAnn McFatter: "KINGDOM OF GOD TRANSITION--WAGING WAR WITH OUR OLD MIND SETS"

January 28, 2007

JoAnn McFatter: "KINGDOM OF GOD TRANSITION--WAGING WAR WITH OUR OLD MIND SETS"

"We must wage war with our dullness of spirit to press into the revelation of who He is in order to release the Kingdom of God in the Earth."

Transition...one of the most widely used words in the body of Christ these days; almost to the point of losing its impact. The transition for us all has seemingly been so drawn out, that it's become a way of life--one that produces a love/hate relationship with the very concept.

Wage War with Our Old Mindsets

I remember hearing a man give the illustration of God closing one door with the promise of opening another; the tension being that God failed to mention just how long the hallway was between these two doors. As do many of you, I groaned in response. At that time, never did I dream that the door being opened was connected by a "vertical" hallway rather than a "horizontal" hallway, and thus, our struggle with this "otherworldly" transition.

"AFTER this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in Heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like (the calling of) a war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future." Revelation 4:1  

Interesting that it was "the sound of a war trumpet," because that is exactly what is happening in this "transition" we have been called into. We must basically wage war with the old mindsets that keep us from "coming up" into this divine opportunity. It is an invitation to enter a Heavenly door, and enter into the revelation that we need to "overcome" in this transition of bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to the Earth.

That is the ultimate transition that we are a part of. That is why we struggle so when we view our experience as a horizontal one. Though we do have a personal walking out of it, the only way we will find our way is to first engage in the vertical transition that is taking place.

"And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the Kingdom of Heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force (as a precious prize--a share in the Heavenly Kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion)." Matthew 11:12

I propose that the naturally minded man, along with his traditions, has taken the Kingdom of God captive here on the earth, and therein lays the task before us. The problem is that we are our own worst enemy. This war must be waged within us if the Truth is to be manifest on the earth.

"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)." Again, from this verse, we see it is not horizontal, but vertical (or inward) that we must look.

We must look up to receive the inward transformation that must take place. And I believe the first and foremost revelation that will bring us there is through that open door in Revelation 4.

Somewhere along the line in recent years, we passed out of the Church age and into the Kingdom age. Unless we realize that the very nature of it is Spirit, we will continue to hit walls over and over and over, with which we are all too familiar. We must wage war with our dullness of spirit to press into the revelation of who He is in order to release the Kingdom of God in the earth.

Worthy is The Lamb!

It all centers around the very revelation of "Worthy is the Lamb!" It is by this that we become overcomers of this dullness of spirit realm. It is this very Scripture that "the testimony of Jesus" is brought to fullness.

"Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were (brought into being) and were created." Revelation 4:11

Then we are brought even deeper into the revelation in the next chapter.

"AND I saw lying on the open hand of Him Who was seated on the throne a scroll (book) written within and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals; And I saw a strong angel announcing in a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll? And (who is entitled and deserves and is morally fit) to break its seals?

And no one in Heaven or on earth or under the earth (in the realm of the dead, hades) was able to open the scrolls or to take a (single) look at its contents. And when I wept audibly and bitterly because no one was found fit to open the scroll or to inspect it.

Then one of the elders (of the Heavenly sanhedrin) said to me, Stop weeping! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root (Source) of David, has won (has overcome and conquered)! He can open the scroll and break its seven seals!" Revelation 5:1-5

As the Lamb approaches, the Scripture goes on to describe the scene and every creature's response to "This One" who can do the act that no one else in all of creation can do. And we read onto the culmination of this revelation that He alone is worthy, with the resounding decree of "Worthy is the Lamb!"

My point in all of this is that as we struggle with the transition of the body of Christ at large, as well as our own personal transitions; perhaps we look in the wrong direction for our ultimate destination. If we take care of His Kingdom manifestation within each of us, the natural outcome will be our horizontal transition being fulfilled.

"But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." Matthew 6:33

Have a Hearing Heart

"Solomon desired more than anything else, to have the ability to hear God's voice continually."

We should learn from Solomon, who as a young man had already purposed in his heart that he would ask for wisdom. Solomon can be understood in the original language as having "a perpetually hearing heart" toward the Lord.

Paul Keith Davis once had a vision of Solomon as a young man contemplating God's promise to his father David. Solomon knew that one of David's sons would follow him as Israel's king.

In his vision, Paul Keith watched as Solomon withdrew to an isolated area and pondered in his heart if perhaps he could be the one. Though he recognized many of the more favorable natural attributes that existed in his brothers, Solomon concluded that if given the opportunity, he would desire to have a "hearing heart" of understanding so that he could rule God's people in righteousness and justice.

The Bible confirms that the Lord commended Solomon after his wise request by saying, "because this was in your heart" (2 Chronicles 1:11), Solomon received the desire of his heart and all the many things that he did not ask for, because he desired, more than anything else, to have the ability to hear God's voice continually.

The admonition in Revelation: "He who has ears let him hear what the Spirit is saying," is so appropriate for us in this hour. We hear it so often and I pray that we do not allow the impact of its relevance escape us.

O that we would have that perpetually hearing heart that can recognize the Lord's voice calling us to "Come up here" into the revelation of Jesus Christ. He is the only One who is worthy! In doing so, we truly can make the transition that we are experiencing to be made manifest as the sons of God in the Earth.

Lord, let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in us as it is in Heaven; that we might truly see Your Kingdom come to life before our very eyes.
 

JoAnn McFatter
WhiteDove Ministries
www.whitedoveministries.org
 

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JoAnn McFatter's Upcoming Itinerary:

February 12-15, 2007
Quantum Glory Conference
Best Western Inn
506 W. Appleway Ave.
Coeur d'Alene, ID
Contact: 208-667-8527 or office@thegatewayintl.org or www.thegatewayintl.org


 

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