Exercising Kingdom Authority on Earth as it is in Heaven
Psalms 98:7-8 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord
This study assumes a working knowledge of basic intercessory skills. These skills include understanding terms like lay lines, spiritual mapping, prophetic intercession, and gifts of the spirit. Anyone who is not generally free from institutional mindsets will probably find this teaching hard to follow.
This is not a basic course in prayer. This level of intercession is most always a team effort. By joining together with others there is a amplification of prayer that overcomes even the most stubborn obstacles.
For the purposes of this study, I will be using the New American Standard translation of the Bible. In particular, the Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible published by AMG Publishers in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Suggested reading list:
Twilight Labyrinth, Otis
Informed Intercession, Otis
Living in the Supernatural, Goll
The lifestyle of the Prophet, Goll
Prophetic Intercession, Goll
Possessing the Gates of the Enemy, Jacobs
Shaking the Heavens, Mendez
Rees Howells Intercessor, Grubb
Dutch Sheets Intercessor, Sheets
Releasing Heaven on Earth, Petrie
Can you Feel the Mountains Tremble?, Suuqiina
One Church Many Tribes, Twiss
Waiting on God, Murray
Healing the Land, Pratney
Redemptive Gifts of Cities, Burk
Overcoming the Greek Mindset
1 Peter 4:17 Keep Fervent in Your Love. For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Third Century Influences
For us to effectively exercise Dominion with Gods full authority we need a clean and clear platform on which we can stand. May I suggest that the first way of making sure of our footing is solid is to examine closely what we believe. Are our views of the truth based on habit or biblical truth? It is paramount to assure outselves we are not trying to pray through a false mask.
It is an uncomfortable truth that most ever facet of our society is fashioned in the image of the Roman model. Everything from our government to our religious practices are rooted in the foundaions of this nation. Probably the most disturbing are the influences of Roman society in the Church. (See Blog article on "The Disturbing Truth") Clearly it is through the lens of the Roman Church founded in the third century AD that we interpret spirituality.
When we read scripture we often project social doctrines and patterns into the text. If our western mindset is to view the land as an object to be exploited then we project this concept into various scripture verses to justify our position. It is when we dare to allow scripture to stand for scripture sake that we begin to find solid footing
Jesus condemned Roman forms of rank/positional based leadership
Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Jesus condemned hierarchical based forms of leadership
Matthew 23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on man's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, `Rabbi, Rabbi.' But you, do not be called `Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Jesus modeled leadership with a towel around his waist
John 13:3-15 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?'' Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.'' Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!'' Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.'' Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!'' Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.'' For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean.'' So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
Intellectual Gymnastics
Clearly we have been given a mind through which we reason. It is a muscle just as import to living life as a pair of legs or our hands. Yet we can't be saved by our hands or feet nor are we saved through our intellect. we are only saved through the work of the cross which is not a intellectually compatible exercise. Believing in the supernatural can't be justified with a reasoning mind. After all how could a human body be burred, dead for three day, and rise to life again? Our intellect can not save us any more than our left foot can.
Matthew 18:3-6 Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Many people like to be religious today. I would suppose that it makes us all better people at some level. However being religious will not open the door to a personal relationship with a living God who is Christ Jesus. If we separate the relationship with Christ apart from Christianity, it becomes another feel good pursuit no different than any other. The industry of the church has effectively in some cases replaced a relationship with ritual. People feel good and open up their resources when they fell good about themselves. The man pleaser is alive and well behind the pulpit. There are exceptions but any objective analysis would support this statement as truth.
The bible warns us it is a spiritual book that can only be understood through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that can only occur through a relationship with Christ. We can not read with understanding and meaning the Bible like a volume of human history. The Spirit of God moved in the hearts of man to write the bible. To understand it we need the author of scripture as an indwelling presence in our lives.
Humanity has more problems with ice than fire. We often are afraid to exercise faith for fear of being wrong. It in the exercising of faith that our true intellectual power is unlocked. Christianity is not a limiting factor of our lives it is a totally freeing experience with a real and vibrant Savior that loves us beyond any earthly capacity.
Rhetoric was created to help orators persuade their followers of agreeing with his vantage point. Most often it has in its roots the mammon driven offering plate tied to his or her salary as well as a building program or other internal debt structure. Unfortunately seldom has there ever been a church that borrowed money or mortgaged its building to help the poor.
The biography of God the Father
Inscribed on the wall of the Jefferson memorial is a quote that says in essence there is no such thing as absolute truth. Truth is what is defined by each generation. Does that sound like a way for anyone to know who God is? By the second and third generation our view of God would be so skewed no one would know the truth. If there is a God then would not this entity be smarter than that?
I want to suggest that the entirety of the Bible is the biography of God. Yes not auto biography but a biography. If the whole of scripture is written by the Holy Spirit through the many hands of these individuals who's name each book bears, then the Trinity is not schizophrenic but one in the same. We can rest assure on the consistency of the canonized Bible if we want to know the heart and nature of the God we worship.
Many people believe that America is a nation founded on Christian principles. First of all the Pilgrims did not have a hand in organizing the Republic, writing the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or authorship of the Declaration of Independence. The fact remains that many of the founding fathers practiced a form of pluralism in which all gods are created equal. They may have sat in a Church on Sundays but in private practiced this pluralism through various rituals among themselves. It is an incontrovertible fact that when we see the name of God used in America it is not the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ or in reference to the God who is His Father. The God in which we trust as a nation is a pluralistic approach which is all inclusive. If this is not enough I challenge you to go anywhere in DC and find the name of Christ anywhere, on any document or any monument. This pluralistic view is depicted on the Statuary in the Supreme Court of the United States. The God of Moses is only one of many law givers that shape the nation we are now are part.
Those who still practice this pluralism are alive and well in just about ever town and city in America. Members include law enforcement, media, banking, education, various religious pulpits, and most importantly government positions from local to national levels. The Bible to them is just one of many great lights. Their view of a godhead is one which is the source of all the lesser gods which relegates Christ to just one of many philosophies. The members of this group are forbid from asserting any absolute truth among its membership.
The Work of Peter Marshall entitled "The Light and the Glory," veils the truth about the pluralistic roots anyone with the ability to read can uncover. Why would Peter Marshall completely overlook the obvious? What was his agenda?
The theology of fragmatism uses selective parts of scripture to capture people and often beat them into submission through the persuasive speech from a modern day Sophist platform. (See this blog for The Uncomfortable Truth) Scripture should always be viewed in light of the whole of scripture not by its isolated fragments held in isolation.
To get an accurate picture you need an accurate translation of God's biography. Historic fact is that the King James Bible is the one of the most in accurate translations. It is however held in high esteem by some who claim to be "literal," in their theology. Paraphrases abound among but that is like reading someone elses spin. There is no substitute for personal research and meditation.
The most accurate Bible is to use a modern translation in conjunction with a Greek/Hebrew lexicon so that we can read what the original text stated. Keep in mind that not one word of the original text of the bible was written in English. Being dogmatic about any English version bible is misleading at best and dangerous at worst. The most important key to understanding scripture is through a personal relationship with the author. Ask for wisdom and understanding and it will be open to you.
Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if you will receive my sayings, and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God.
Using Gods biography to see the Created Order from a Kingdom perspective
Spiritual issues regarding earth
Hebrew translation of earth-cultivated land, dirt
Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground (we are "from," the land), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
It would be easy to become a fragmatist myself with a few verses but lets look deeper in scripture by examining the whole of the text. Apart from our Western (Roman) mindset the land is more a part of our family tree than something that is to be exploited. The land is not inert or spiritually dead as our religious paradigms often pretray. If we are part of the land then can there be generational curses and blessings we "inherit," from where we are born and where we live? If that is possible then how important is it that we steward our land and cleanse it as part of our spiritual journey?
A call to stewardship
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in our image, according to our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Hebrew translation of the word Rule-the laws and regulations prescribed by the founder of a religious order for observance by its followers.
Mankind was originally meant to be the ambassador from the Father to the created order. If God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow then where did our mission change? We were not called to make converts but disciples. Part of our reconciliation to the cross of Christ Jesus is a reestablishment of his "rule," in and among the created order. We have a spiritual mandate to live sustainably don't we?
Genesis 2:15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.
Hebrew translation of the word Cultivate-to promote the growth or development of the Garden
Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Hebrew translation of the word Subdue-to bring under cultivation To Cause the earth to prosper to glorify the Father not to glorify man
The lands ability to receive our iniquity
Genesis 3:17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, `You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."
Genesis 4:10-13 The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you cultivate the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you; you shall be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth. And Cain said to the Lord, "My punishment is too great to bear!
Ezekiel 9:9-11 Then He said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perversity; for they say, `The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!
Hebrew translation of the word Land –(erets) common, country, earth field, ground
Mankind interceding on behalf of the land
Ezekiel 22-30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.
Genesis 5:29 Now he called his name Noah, saying, "This one shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed."
Gods answer on behalf of the land (Hebrew/Greek translation are in parenthesis)
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, :Go into all the world (Kosmos)and preach (Kerusso-to proclaim and to be heard)the gospel (Euaggelion-Good news of the kingdom of God and salvation through Christ) to all creation (ktisis-a founding of a city, colonization of a habitable place. , the total of all God created).”
The creation awaits righteous stewards
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation (land, seas, heavens, animals) groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
The creation worships its creator (Hebrew translations in parenthesis)
Does this scripture suggest that on the Day of Judgment we present our stewardship of the land, stewardship of the worlds systems and then ourselves before the Father?
Psalms 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Psalm 148:3 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, And you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, You great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and maidens; Old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.
The creation teaches us kingdom perspectives (Hebrew translation in parenthesis)
Ephesians 1:10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth in Him,
Luke 19:37-40 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: "Blessed is the King who comes I the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"
The memory of the creation (Hebrew translation in parenthesis)
Deuteronomy 32:1-4 Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as raindrops on the tender herb, and as showers on the grass. For I proclaim the name of the Lord: ascribe greatness to our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He.
Psalm 50:4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth (dirt), to judge (examine) his people. Gather my godly ones to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice and the heavens declare His righteousness, for God himself is judge. (This scripture suggest that the kosmos will bear witness to our stewardship as God looks toward his people)
Gods covenant with the land (Greek/Hebrew translation in parenthesis)
Psalms 24 The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein (all of creation dwells on the earth). For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters (all life is dependent on water). Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! And lift them up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens (kosmos- created order, heavens, land, animals, and mankind) will pass away with a roar and the elements (Stoichelon-the elements or first principles of mater, frequently referring to the fundamental principles of the Christian doctrine)will be destroyed (Luq- to loose, to loose something tied or bound)with intense heat (verse 7 uses the word fire-meaning the brilliance or fire of a diamond), and the earth (Ge-the part of creation which denotes man’s domain and the history transacted between God and man)and its works (Ergon-result or object of employment, making or working. Labor enjoined by and done for Christ as the spreading of His Gospel or the furthering of the kingdom of God on the land or earth) will be burned ( two early manuscripts use the word ‘discovered’ in lieu of ‘burned’) up.
Isaiah 62:4 It will no longer be said to you, "Forsaken," Nor to your land will it any longer be said, "Desolate"; But you will be called, "My delight is in her," and your land, "Married"; For the LORD delights in you, and to Him your land will be married (to have dominion over).
Genesis 9:13-16 “I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (geographic region that includes rivers and streams).
The three witnesses of God
I John 5:5-8 And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one.
Animals that represented the Kingdom to mankind
Frogs – Moses Exodus 8:5-6 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the streams and over the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.'" So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt
Gnats – Moses Exodus 8:16-18 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the ground,' and throughout the land of Egypt the dust will become gnats." They did this, and when Aaron stretched out his hand with the staff and struck the dust of the ground, gnats came upon men and animals. All the dust throughout the land of Egypt became gnats. But when the magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, they could not. And the gnats were on men and animals.
Whale that swallowed Jonah Jonah 1:17 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.
Bears and Elisha 2 Kings 2:23-24 Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!" When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number.
Donkey with Balaam Numbers 22:22-35 But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again. The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now." The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No." Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. "But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live." Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back." But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you." So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.
Ravens feeding Elijah 1 Kings 17:2-6 Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
Dove descending on Jesus Luke 3:22 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."
Fish with a coin Matthew 17:27 "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me."
The Inheritance of the Land
Genesis 15:7 And He said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it."
Genesis 15:18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram saying, to your descendants I have given this land, river Euphrates
Genesis 17:8 And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
Concept of walking (dominion)
Genesis 13:17-18 Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you. Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 11 For if you carefully keep all these commandments which I command you to do to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess greater and mightier nations than yourselves. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the River Euphrates, even to the Western Sea, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand against you; the Lord your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has said to you. Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known. And it shall be, when the Lord your God has brought you into the land which you go to possess, that you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal. Are they not on the other side of the Jordan, toward the setting sun, in the land of the Canaanites who dwell in the plain opposite Gilgal, beside the terebinth trees of Moreh? For you will cross over the Jordan and go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and you will possess it and dwell in it. And you shall be careful to observe all the statutes and judgments which I set before you today.
Walking (dominion) denied Satan
Genesis 3 So the Lord God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you shall go (Satan can not walk), and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.''
The Protocol of Holiness on the land
Exodus 3 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.'' So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!'' And he said, "Here I am.'' Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.''
Summery
Clearly there are some concepts that the Western Church may have missed due to our religious backgrounds. This is not a fragmented approach to isolated scripture but a collection of both new and old testament verses. At present we Americans are exploiting the natural resources of a planet. (review blog article entitled Equity for All and Which Fork in the Road are we going to take) If Justice is the foundation of the throne of Grace we have a lot of perhaps painful work ahead of us. If we are to live our lives according to biblical principles we have to reduce our global foot print adapting more sustainable approaches to living. In Part 2 and Part 3 of this series we will offer help in cleansing your land.
Nehemiah1: 4-6 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants
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