Transition - Part 5

Training For Reigning

Today, we know little about the process of discipleship. What was it like to be a disciple of a rabbi in Jesus time? Paul was a disciple of Gamaliel, a leading authority in the Sanhedrin. If you were chosen by a rabbi to be his disciple, you were to sit at his feet and bear his yoke. When Jesus chose the disciples, he did not choose them so they could be the best that they can be and do what they thought was best! The disciples were chosen to bear His yoke with their dominion gift. When we become a part of a local fellowship, God is joining us together so our dominion gift will help that local expression to accomplish what God desires to bring forth from that body of believers, and in that training, to eventually release it to the surrounding culture to impact it for the kingdom of God. As powerful an anointing as Daniel had, the Lord did not set him alone…he placed him in community with at least three other friends!

Many today think that they should do their own thing; that’s lawlessness! They do not respect the leadership of the fellowship they attend. If we are to come under the yoke of the Lord, we will first need to recognize that we don’t know much! We’re moving away from the mentality that one does what one wants, when one wants. God’s searching for disciples, and will not tolerate independent action.

A disciple is one who adheres to and follows the teachings of a leader. It is one who wears the yoke of the one served. It is one who embraces the narrow place. At our local fellowship, our primary mandate is to establish the spirit of the Tabernacle of David, with the manifest presence of the Lord central to our focus and practice. We are devoted to developing priests who exercise authority like Jesus, the King-Priest, and prophetic and apostolic leaders who will all be a vital part of the transformation God intends for this region. To be a part of this fellowship, one must bear the yoke of this mandate. When people are centered in the presence of God, their identity in Christ is established, character is formed, and they begin to fully operate in their dominion gifting.

Character is important for us. It is our defense against the attacks of Satan. Jesus was never attacked like he was by the enemy until His dominion gift was released at His baptism. The devil took notice when the Spirit of God came upon Him. Immediately, the devil initiated an aggressive attack in the desert; the attack was on the character of Jesus. The enemy’s strategy against us is the same today as with the Lord; it is to shut down our dominion gift—to nullify it. The devil cannot attack our gifts directly because our gifts are from God and they operate regardless of our state (Romans 11:29). They are activated by the Holy Spirit working through us to accomplish God’s purposes in the earth. The enemy knows he is no match for the Holy Spirit, therefore, he attempts to fill us with fear, doubt, unbelief, or lead us into sinful or carnal behavior to mar our character. What happened to Timothy is a perfect illustration of how the enemy tries to shut us down.

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 NKJV

Timothy pastored the church in Ephesus which was one of the largest churches of the first century. He was a young man with tremendous responsibility. This is Paul’s message to Timothy: “God has not given you a spirit of fear.” He wanted Timothy to recognize where the fear was coming from, so he would know how to contend. Fear was shutting down Timothy’s dominion gifting. He needed to stir up what God had placed in his heart.

Faithful Servants Needed!

In Luke 12, Jesus tells a parable about a faithful and a wicked servant.

And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:42-48 NKJV

The faithful servant obeyed, operated in his dominion gift and was commended. The faithless servant obeyed and operated in his dominion gift until delay came. Then he started to abuse the other servants, either directly or indirectly through neglect. He stopped being faithful. His character had not been changed; his obedience was based on the reward not on representing his master appropriately. If he knew when the master was coming, he wouldn’t have become sloppy. He would have persevered. We can’t stop doing the right thing when no one is looking. We must persevere, knowing that hope never disappoints (see Romans 5 and 1 Peter 1). If we will not be faithful with what God has given us, the Master will come and take away what He has given and give it to someone who will make good use of it.

Matthew 7:13-14 states: “enter by the narrow gate… there are few that find it.” Going through a narrow gate or place of transition always brings us out to a broad place. Those who try to hold on to the past are destined to die.

During transition we must be faithful to what God has called us to do. Our character is being shaped so we can operate in the next place. The work God is completing in our character must be completed before we can enter the new place. There is a space between where we were and where God is taking us. I call this place, “the adjustment warfare zone”. It is where you are wandering and wondering what happened. Something has just changed.

When a woman gets pregnant, she is pregnant several weeks before she knows it. Transition took place at conception. A woman’s adjustment begins immediately after she becomes aware that a new baby is on the way. Modifications in diet and activity are examples of personal adjustments. All of the accommodations from preparing a nursery to purchasing all of the necessary items needed in the care of a newborn are a part of the adjustment. Considerable sacrifice generally is required as choices are made to prepare for new life.

Many of us are in the process of transition. We are in the thrust of transition concerning occupation, housing, or family. What captured our focus previously, whether a job or relationship, will not be a part of our future. An adjustment must be made. We must leave the old to embrace the new. An entire generation died in the wilderness because they were unwilling to change and would not adjust. There are many today who are also trying to cling to the past. We must leave the old. We have to adjust to move into what God wants to bring in our future. God has had great purpose in our wilderness. In the wilderness, He has dealt with mindsets, immaturity, emotions, and all ungodly soul-ties.