The Relationship Of Saints In The Age Of The Kingdom

Introduction

With this message I would like to refer to the importance of true relationship among saints in the Body of Christ in the age of the kingdom.
As people of God we are in a transition of relationship - it means, the intensity of relationship among saints in the Body of Christ is increasing.
This is about a movement of the whole Body of Christ (note: not just of the odd person) from the structure of a church-oriented life into the structure of a representative of the kingdom power in the world who will bring change.


Believers who are in relationship with other saints within a church structure, place more priority on “church” work than on kingdom structure.
But placing a higher priority on church meetings rather than on the kingdom will lead to us prefer a structure of meetings instead of the presence of the LORD. This way, we would not be encouraged by His presence but would be more program-oriented to respond to the needs of people.

The Renewing Of The Mind

To make the above mentioned transition in relationship in God's kingdom structure, it is vital to allow the Holy Spirit to renew our mind (see Romans 12:2 i.c.w. Ephesians 4:23).

Romans 12:2:
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ephesians 4:23:
… 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  …

The Warhorse Of The Lion Of Judah

The renewing of the mind will result in us leaving the lifestyle of a flock of sheep that stays in the meadow (note: symbolises life in redemption, obedience and searching for ones own provision - i.e. eating grass – without being in a unitary mandate of authority; see John 10:9.27-28), and entering into the unitary structure of the white warhorse of the Lion of Judah, as the prophet Zechariah prophesied. By this we are able to not “just” follow Jesus Christ but to carry Him as King of Kings and LORD OF LORDS in honour in spiritual battle, wherever He wants to go.
In this context Jesus Christ doesn't guide us by standing, as a shepherd does his flock, but by sitting.
This points to Jesus Christ ascending into a higher level in the supernatural as a result of the knowledge and spiritual maturity of His people; this higher level is connected to humility, His kingdom rule and the covering anointing (see Luke 22:69 i.c.w. Colossians 3:1-2).

Luke 22:69:
69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.

Colossians 3:1-2:
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

When Jesus Christ rides on His white horse, the word of God is manifested in power!
To this effect we are still led by His hand, and we experience the covering presence of His faithfulness and truth, and also the strength of divine righteousness which emanates from Him, by which He speaks the word of truth to cut off all adverseness that needs to be cut off, and to expose everything that needs to be exposed (see Zechariah 10:3b-5 i.c.w. Revelation 19,11-13; Hebrews 4,12-13).

Zechariah 10:3-5:
… 3 for the Lord Almighty will care for his flock, the people of Judah, and make them like a proud horse in battle.
4 From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler.
5 Together they will be like warriors in battle trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.

Revelation 19:11-13:
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12-13:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Relationship With God In Worship And The Office-Bearers In The Foundation Of The Church

It is important that we as people of God are first in a worship relationship with the father and His son Jesus Christ, and secondly maintain a good relationship to spiritual leaders who work in the office of one of the two office-bearers in the foundation of the church (as mentioned above), in order to walk in the structure of kingdom power (see John 4:23-24 i.c.w. Ephesians 2:20).

John 4:23-24:
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks.
24 God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.

Ephesians 2:20:
… 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  …

This way we as people of God start to establish and cultivate healthy interpersonal relationships with other saints who also dwell in this realm of knowledge and under the above-mentioned robe of anointing, under an apostolic/prophetic government.
By apostolic government and prophetic vigilance we are enabled as people of the kingdom, protected with our values we received from God, to advance boldly.

Five Steps Into An Apostolic/Prophetic Relational Structure

There are five steps a saint has to take to stay in the relational structure in Jesus Christ under an apostolic/prophetic government.
These five steps are:

1. Assignment
2. Divine appointment
3. Conversation/ dialogue
4. Relationship
5. Apostolic alignment

This was the way in which Jesus Christ, son of God led the way when He lived on earth.
For instance, Jesus received among other things, the assignment by His Heavenly Father to appoint twelve disciples. This means, Jesus entered into a divine appointment with them by approaching His soon-to-be disciples and had a conversation with them which later turned into a relationship. As a result the disciples followed the son of God so as to later be appointed apostles by Him (see John 3:16-17 i.c.w. Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 6:13).

John 3:16-17:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Matthew 4:18-22:
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,  22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Luke 6:13:
13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: …

Friendships In The Kingdom And Agreement In The Kingdom


Looking at the above-mentioned verses, we can see that the connection between people is established by the ministry of a person; but only an earnest and good i.e. holy relationship enables people to come together to maintain true kingdom friendship that endures among saints.
It is God's desire that the saints in His kingdom live in true relationship with Him and with each other which means true conformity, so that Christ may be revealed (see Matthew 18:19-20 i.c.w. Matthew 22:36-40).

Matthew 18:19-20:
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 22:36-40:
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “?‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (see Deuteronomy 6:5).“
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’  (see Leviticus19:18).“
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

By true relationship and conformity of the saints in His kingdom, the people of the earth will see the presence of the love of God (see John 13:34-35).

John 13:34-35:
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Apostolic Government And The Prepared Table Of The LORD

Therefore, the base of true kingdom relationship can be found in the scope of apostolic government which is tantamount to a prepared table of the LORD in front of the enemy, as this is the place where we receive strategic approaches and have an effective interchange as saints (see Psalm 23:5).

Psalm 23:5:
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

To be under apostolic government and to have fellowship with the saints will result in receiving provision from God from under the shadow of „JAHWE-ROI“ .
This divine presence releases the anointing of the Holy Spirit from the outside over our lives and the flow of the Holy Spirit from the inside. This means the anointing of the Holy Spirit on us and the guidance of the Holy Spirit inside of us which flows from us (see Matthew 3:16 i.c.w. John 7:38).

Matthew 3:16:
16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

John 7:38:

38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

As already mentioned, this means first of all a personal relationship with God (note: overflowing cup) and then the human relations by the Hebrew/biblical mindset of the kingdom (note: anointed head).
It is the true kingdom relationship and the awareness to be commissioned by God for the appointed ministry that causes the anointing to spread in the Body of Christ and to gain more and more influence (see Psalm 133:1-2)!

Psalm 133:1-2:
1 A song of ascents. Of David.
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.

The Message Of John The Baptist And Jesus Christ

John the Baptist and also Jesus preached the Kingdom of Heaven in conjunction with repentance to the people of Israel.
The repentance of the people was connected to a renewing of the mind, which resulted in recognizing the perfect will of God (see Matthew 3:1-2; Matthew 4:17 i.c.w. Romans 12:2).

Matthew 3:1-2:
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea  2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 4:17:
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Romans 12:2:
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The Kingdom Of Heaven

To gain a deeper understanding of the above mentioned transition of the Body of Christ in the age of the kingdom, it helps to know what the kingdom of heaven that John the Baptist and Jesus preached, really is.
The Kingdom of Heaven contains:

A) The rule and power of God's orders, systems, rules and ways in the affairs of people.
B) The influence of the Church of Christ in the world.
C) This is that, what imposes the authority of Jesus Christ as ruler over the Kingdom of God and His heavens, on the world. 
(excerpt from the „Prophet's Dictionary„ by Paula A. Price, Ph. D.; page 298)

This means, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ revealed the rulership and power of God's order and everything connected to it by their message, their lives and their works. 
By his prophetic words, John the Baptist paved the way for the Kingdom of Heaven, and Jesus Christ manifested the kingdom in Israel!

The Seven Mountains Of The Kingdom

For us today God's kingdom contains the complete redemptive power of Jesus Christ in the world, which is defined by the following seven mountains:

1. Family
2. Church/ Religion
3. Economy/ Business
4. Government/ Politic
5. Education
6. Arts/ Entertainment
7. Media.

These seven mountains originate from the time when Noah's ark settled on the mountains of Ararat after the waters of God's judgment receded.
Furthermore, the principle of the seven mountains becomes significant during the temptation of Jesus Christ in the desert by the devil, where he took Jesus on a very high mountain and showed Him the kingdoms of the world and their glory (Matthew 4:8).

Matthew 4:8:
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

The reason why the seven heights are connected with the settling of the ark on the mountains of Ararat is because as a mountain range consists of multiple mountains, and Noah began to inhabit the earth once again by releasing the animals from the ark into their freedom. God then made a new covenant with Noah and with creation.
At this juncture God set a rainbow into the sky as a sign of His covenant (see Genesis 8:4.18-19 i.c.w. Genesis 9:9-10.12-13).

Genesis 8:4.18-19:
… 4 and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat…
18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 
19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on land—came out of the ark, one kind after another. 

Genesis 9:9-10.12-13:
9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. …
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

As God is spirit (see John 4:24) as well as a covenant God, and as His Holy Spirit has a seven-fold character (see Isaiah 11:2), just like the rainbow as a sign for God's covenant consists of seven colors (note: red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, indigo, purple; see Genesis 9:8-17), so these seven colors can be related to the seven mountains mentioned above.

Jesus' Redemptive Power On Earth

The redemptive power of Jesus Christ is released on earth by the saints working in the job or ministry allocated to them. This is classed as full-time ministry.
Every kingdom has a king, and the king of the Kingdom of God is Jesus Christ. 
Not only is He king over the church, but He is also king over all creation.   
Since the time of Adam and Eve's fall in the garden Eden, the world is under Satan's rule.
Jesus Christ came to reverse this rulership by bringing the Kingdom of God as an invading power, which is expressed by the influence of the respective saints over the above mentioned seven mountains in order to push back Satan's kingdom.
This means that the saints in the army of God, which is a royal priesthood, are fighting against the powers of evil (see Ephesians 6:12 i.c.w. 2.Corinthians 10,4).

Ephesians 6:12:
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

2.Corinthians 10:4:
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

The Importance Of The Hebrew/Biblical Mindset


If we as people of God are not prepared to let go of wrong mindsets contrary to the Hebrew/biblical mindset of God, then we will not be able to implement God's plan for this time as a kingly priesthood in the structure of a spiritual army which at the same time is also a holy principality (see Exodus 19:5-6 i.c.w. Revelation 1:5-6; Revelation 21:2.9-10).

Exodus 19:5-6:
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Revelation 1:5-6:
… 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Revelation 21:2.9-10:
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. …
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

The Messianic/Anointed Jerusalem

The spiritual principality of “Jerusalem“ is the Bride of the Lamb in the city structure of the heavenly i.e. messianic/anointed Jerusalem (see Revelation 1:5-6; Revelation 21:2.9-10).
The Bride of the Lamb is a building complex which carries in it the structural framework of the Old and New Testament, whereat the New Testament honors the Old Testament.
This becomes apparent by the twelve gemstones which make up the foundation of messianic Jerusalem and are engraved with the names of the twelve apostles of the lamb, whose task it is to carry the twelve pearl gates of the tribes of Israel in honor (see Revelation 21:12-14).

Revelation 21:12-14.19-21:
12 It (note: the anointed Jerusalem) had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
13There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west.
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  …
19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

On the basis of this positioning, we can detect a similarity with Jesus' parable about the choosing of a place (see Luke 14:10-11).

Luke 14:10-11:
10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.
11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Unity With The People Of Israel

God's Hebrew/biblical mindset also means that we as gentile believers make up His body together with Israel (see Ephesians 2:13-16 i.c.w. Romans 11:17-18).

Ephesians 2:13-16:
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Romans 11:17-18:
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, (note: of the anointing), 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.

True Unity And The Set Order Of God

It is crucial that we take our proper position in the spiritual army of the LORD, so that as people of God we can advance in unity on the earth.
The spiritual army of the LORD is divided according to the order of the twelve tribes of Israel, because as people of God we walk the path of the kingdom, and we already begin here on earth to take our God-given inheritance (see Hebrews 13:14 i.c.w. Deuteronomy 11:24; Joshua 1:3).

Hebrews 13:14:
14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Deuteronomy 11:24:
24 Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Joshua 1:3:
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.

The Order Within The Army Of The LORD

I would like to explain in detail the order of the army of the LORD by looking at the twelve tribes of Israel, so that we as saints know under which apostolic government we should be in the body of Christ.
The life in the order of the twelve tribes of Israel reveals mutual appreciation and unity. As a result even opposers to the cross can suddenly experience the power of God or the effect of His peace (see Numbers 24:1-2 i.c.w. 1.Corinthians 14:33).

Numbers 24:1-2:
1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 
2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him  …

1.Corinthians 14:33:
33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace...

The Three Lion Tribes In The Army Of The LORD

Moses divided the tribes of Israel into 4 x 3 units (see Numbers 2 i.c.w. Numbers 10:11-28), whereas three tribes displayed an apostolic character trait, as they were marked with the attribute of the lion, reason being that the lion is seen as king amongst the animals on the ground, and the office of the prophet is mentioned first in the foundation of the church of Christ. (see Ephesians 2:20 i.c.w. 1.Corinthians 12:28).

Ephesians 2:20:
… 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

1.Corinthians 12:28:
28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

The three lion tribes in the army of the LORD are:

1. Judah (see Genesis 49:8-12)

Genesis 49:8-12:
8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch; he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.

2. Gad (see Deuteronomy 33:20-21)

Deuteronomy 33:20-21:
20 About Gad he said: “Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head.
21 He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the LORD'S righteous will, and his judgements concerning Israel.”

3. Dan (see Deuteronomy 33:22)

Deuteronomy 33:22:
22 About Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s cub, springing out of Bashan.”

The Lion Judah

Judah is briefly defined, a reference to the character trait of an apostle, who is positioned in the front of the first unit of the army of the LORD; this means, he is a ground-breaking apostle, who as a pioneer carries a new sound of the kingdom and pierces into the new field in order to help the army of the LORD to take the promised land. 

The Lion Gad

Gad is the type of apostle, who is placed in third position of the second unit in the army of the LORD to guarantee inner security.
Gad has been appointed extra grace which enables him to be a godly connection to the younger generation in the army of the LORD, as the tribe of Ephraim follows the tribe of Gad and is placed in the third unit in the army of the LORD (note: Gad was the son of Jacob and Ephraim was Jacob's grandson).

The Lion Dan

Dan is the type of  apostle, who stands in first position of the fourth, i.e. last unit of the army of the LORD to form the triumphant rear guard.
This means, it is Dan's job to secure or defend the army of the LORD from the rear, so that all reach the promised land.
Dan's field of activity is connected to divine righteousness, the secrets of God and God's face (note: the tribe of Dan was positioned to the north of the tabernacle; the shewbread was there, too, in the tent of revelation).
A saint who moves in this apostolic character trait does not place an importance on being in the front position of the marching army of the LORD or being seen there, despite having a vital role as leader at the rear of the army.
Furthermore, Dan is the type of apostle who is connected to those saints in the army of the LORD who support the younger generation in wisdom (note: Ephraim and Manasseh).
He appreciates the importance of the people of Israel according to the structure of the “ONE NEW MAN”, as revealed in Ephesians 2:14-16 i.c.w Romans 11:16-19.

Amen and Amen.

In His Wisdom,

Daniel Glimm