The Greatest Move of God, Part 3

May 12
Week19

The Greatest Move of God, Part 3
Rick Joyner

If a child has not been disciplined, or held accountable for their behavior, they will likely view any exercise of authority as cruel, extreme, and dictatorial. On the other extreme, those who have been wounded by abusive authority will tend to see even the wisest, most gentle, and caring authority as brutal and threatening.

Like wounded animals, wounded people tend to fear anyone that would try to get close to them, even those seeking to help them. These two scenarios capture a large part of the human population. This makes how we relate to and exercise authority one of the most important issues in our time. This also makes it understandable why the ultimate battle between light and darkness at the end of this age is a battle over authority.

The coming kingdom of God is about God’s authority being brought to the earth. Satan’s ultimate resistance to the kingdom of God is to expand his authority over the earth, and to poison people against God’s authority. He seeks to bind the entire world with his counterfeit authority. To resist this, we must first be able to recognize the difference between God’s authority and Satan’s, resolve to only obey God’s, and exercise His authority and not the devil’s.

The most basic distinction between God’s authority and Satan’s is that God’s authority is exercised in love for those it is serving, and Satan’s authority is exercised with fear to bind and control those by whom it wants to be served.

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The Purpose of Prophecy

Introduction to Revelation

The Purpose of Prophecy
Chapter 6

What in the World
Jan 16, 2025

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 

Amos 3:7.

Introduction

God’s Kingdom is on a journey. It began with the calling of Abraham, and it will end in heaven. It began with an earthly Jerusalem, and it end with a heavenly Jerusalem. Because God’s Kingdom is on this journey the Bible and the prophecies are focused on the progression of the Kingdom. This is why the Bible is a record of the successes and the failures of the citizens of the Kingdom – it is the spiritual state of the people that propels the Kingdom forward or backward. This is why the journey of the Kingdom is such a long and difficult one, because the record tells us that the spiritual state of the citizens is a record of failure more than success. However, there is a principle of interpretation that tells us that the journey will ultimately result in victory – this principle is ‘The Principle of Progression’ or ‘The Progressive Nature of the Kingdom of God Principle.’

The Progressive Principle

Jesus told many parables. When he began to tell His parables, He almost always used the same introduction, with these words: “The Kingdom of God is like…” In other words, His parables were about the Kingdom. The purpose of the parables was to focus on two things: the conditions for entry into the Kingdom and/or the progression of the Kingdom. The most obvious example of progression is the parable about the seed growing in secret:

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. Mk. 4:27-29.

In this parable Jesus is referring to God’s third attempt to achieve the goals for His Kingdom (the first one was the call of Abraham, the second was the return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity). In the parable, the Sower of the seed is Jesus - the field is the world - the seeds are the children of the Kingdom (see Matt. 13:28-37). The growing seed is not physically discernable because it is spiritual growth (see 2 Cor. 3:1-3). The harvest takes place at the end of time, at the second coming of Christ (see Matt. 13:39-43; Rev. 14:12-20). Thus, the parable is telling the story of the beginning of Christ’s Kingdom, the journey of the Kingdom and the destination of the Kingdom.

Lord, are there few that be saved?

22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Luke 13:23-35
(King James Version)
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The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you

1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Luke 10:1-17.
King James Version (KJV) 

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With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible

17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
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 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 

20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. 

28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

Mark 10:17-31

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God's Next Army

alexeykh

Uploaded on Nov 13, 2009


God's Next Army investigates Patrick Henry College (PHC), set up five years ago in Virginia, near Washington DC. Its mission is to train young fundamentalist Christians to become the next generation of America's cultural and political leaders. Though the separation of church and state is enshrined [OK, it's only strongly implied - alexeykh] in the US Constitution, with financial backing from the evangelical community the college aims to 'rechristianise' America; to 'preserve the world from the sinfulness of man'...
http://www.channel4.com/culture/micro...

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Willem-Alexander Is New King of Netherlands

RVD/Jeroen Van Der Meyde, via European Pressphoto Agency
New Dutch King Willem-Alexander kissed his mother, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix, before the crowd on the Dam Square in Amsterdam, Tuesday, after Beatrix abdicated, leaving the throne to Willem-Alexander.

Multimedia

The Netherlands New King

By ANDREW HIGGINS and ALAN COWELL
Published: April 30, 2013

AMSTERDAM — To the cheers of tens of thousands of people crammed shoulder to shoulder outside the royal palace here, Willem-Alexander of the House of Orange-Nassau became the Netherlands’ first king in 123 years on Tuesday as his mother, Queen Beatrix, ended a 33-year reign with the stroke of a pen, signing the act of abdication in an ornate chamber at the palace.

Seated on a gilded chair and flanked by the Dutch cabinet, Beatrix, 75, became the third successive Dutch queen to abdicate, changing her title to princess as supporters celebrating the continuity of the monarchy thronged Dam Square outside the palace. Many had gathered for hours, clad in orange, the royal color, to watch the brief, long-planned and relatively low-key event on large television screens.

The day’s events, a mix of tightly choreographed official pageantry and boisterous street parties across Amsterdam, helped lift the gloom created by a slumping economy, unpopular austerity measures and growing public recognition that, as the new king noted in an afternoon address, “it now seems less self-evident that the next generation will be better off than the last.”

Dressed in an orange suit, Bart Koops, an executive at a bed company and a fervent royalist, joined the throng of other revelers early on Tuesday. “Monarchy is what unites us and makes us Dutch,” Mr. Koops said. “This is a great day.”

He added: “The monarchy is a point of stability and unity. Politicians just fight each other.”

In contrast to the British royal family, he said, Dutch royals are far less formal, and they are in tune with the open, easygoing spirit of the Netherlands. “Look at the countries that don’t have royalty,” he said. “They are missing something.”

Beatrix announced in January that she would step down to make way for a younger generation. After signing the formal declaration of abdication shortly after 10 a.m., Beatrix, the new king and his Argentine-born wife emerged onto a flower-bedecked balcony to cheers from the crowd. Church bells rang out across the city.

In the early afternoon, the crowd in Dam Square roared as King Willem-Alexander, trailing a long fur-trimmed cape, and his wife, Queen Maxima, entered the 15th-century Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church, next to the royal palace for the investiture ceremony.

Unlike royal rituals in England, there was no religious blessing or coronation.

Paying tribute to his mother and promising to continue her course, Willem-Alexander, 46, stressed the need to respect diversity and promised that “however varied our backgrounds, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands everyone can have a voice and can contribute to society on an equal footing.”

He also acknowledged his subjects’ growing economic woes as the country’s once robust economy struggles with its third recession since 2009. Populist politicians have exploited this pain to press demands that the Netherlands halt immigration and crack down on welfare payments to foreign-born residents.

“I succeed to the throne at a time when many in the kingdom feel vulnerable and uncertain, he said, according to an official translation of his remarks. “Vulnerable in their jobs or their health. Uncertain about their income or the environment in which they live.”

Before the swearing-in ceremony, the former queen clutched the hands of her son and daughter-in-law before the national anthem was played.

“Some moments ago I abdicated from the throne,” Beatrix said, seeming to struggle with tears. “I am happy and thankful to present to you your new king.”

Some of the cheers for the royal trio reflected the popularity of the new queen, who was born in Argentina and had a career as an investment banker before marrying Willem-Alexander in 2002, adding a dash of glamour and romance to an otherwise low-key and at times dowdy royal family.

More recently, Willem-Alexander has recovered from a scandal over his purchase of a holiday villa in Mozambique, which he sold last year. He is now widely seen as a sober-minded and responsible professional with a knack for connecting with ordinary people, Dutch experts said, but is also regarded as far less cerebral than his mother. He has mostly kept his views on society and politics to himself.

The new king is also Europe’s youngest monarch, and as such he has vowed that he and Queen Maxima, 41, will not be “protocol fetishists.” Dutch news media reported that the queen will attend the opening of a conference this summer on same-sex marriage, which has been legal here for years. On Tuesday, an anti-monarchist, Hans Maessan, stood in Dam Square waving a sign saying, “No Monarchy, More Democracy.” Instead of sporting orange like those around him, he wore a white shirt that said “I Don’t Want Him.” He conceded that the balance of opinion was running against his cause but said that even republicans liked a good party.

Opinion polls, however, show overwhelming public support for the institution.

“Monarchy is a big part of our sense of ourselves,” said Bas Heijne, a prominent Dutch commentator. “The Dutch don’t want to do away with the monarchy. If you are rational you say: ‘This is nonsense. We should get rid of it.’ But the anti-monarchists underestimate the way the monarchy is part of Dutch life, of being Dutch.”


Andrew Higgins reported from Amsterdam and Alan Cowell from London.

Source

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Whose wife of them is she?

²⁷ Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

²⁸ Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

²⁹ There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

³⁰ And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

³¹ And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

³² Last of all the woman died also.

³³ Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

³⁴ And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

³⁵ But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

³⁶ Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Luke 20: 27-36.

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Nay; but a king shall reign over us:

(when the LORD your God was your king)

1 Samuel 12

1And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

2And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.

3Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

4And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

5And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

6And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

7Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.

8When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

9And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

10And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

11And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

12And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.

13Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.

14If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

15But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.

16Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.

17Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

18So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

19And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

20And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

21And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

22For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

23Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

24Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

25But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

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U.K. Drops Anti-Catholic Rule of Succession

JAMES KELLY 12/01/2011

Recently, the British government did away with its more than 300-year-old law that stated that a member of the royal family would lose his place in the line of succession if he married a Catholic. From our Dec. 4 issue.


Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/#ixzz1fQiMozB2

Give ye them to eat

1Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

3And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.

4And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.

5And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

6And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

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10And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

11And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

12And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

13But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

14For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

15And they did so, and made them all sit down.

16Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.

17And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
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Luke 9:1-6, 10-17.

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The Children of Israel Did Secretly Those Things That Were Not Right Against The Lord Their God

2 Kings 17

1In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.

2And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.

3Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.

4And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

5Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.

6In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

7For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,

8And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.

9And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

10And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:

11And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:

12For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.

13Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.

14Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.

15And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

16And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.



17And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

18Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.

19Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.

20And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

21For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.

22For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;

23Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

24And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

25And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.

26Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
27Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.

28Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

29Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.

30And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,

31And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.

32So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.

33They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.

34Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;

35With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:

36But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.

37And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.

38And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.

39But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.

40Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.

41So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.


King James Version (KJV)

Behind the scenes, separation of church and state

By Howard Bess
Religion Views
Published on Thursday, March 4, 2010 8:12 PM AKST

As we watch the news, the top stories are about issues such as health care, deficit spending, jobs, the Winter Olympics, and earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. There are other topics of great importance that never reach the pages of newspapers in Alaska.

As a Baptist, my attention is drawn to every action of churches, every action of Congress, every action of the White House administration, every action of the U.S. Supreme Court that relates to church-state relationships.

Under the administration of President George W. Bush, without a single vote by Congress, a whole new federal social service arm was created. It was called The Faith Based Initiative. Under its auspices, billions of federal public assistance dollars were distributed to and through faith-based organizations. From the beginning of the program it was attacked as an unconstitutional fostering of religion in violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment.

With the election of Barack Obama, many critics anticipated the demise of the program. Obama surprised almost everyone by announcing the continuation of the program with a promise of a major revision of the operation. He named a 25-member advisory council on faith-based and community partnerships to oversee the conduct of the program. The membership of the council was very diverse. They have been active and have set down new rules for the agency. To illustrate the tensions involved, the council adopted a resolution that religious organizations must form new 501 c 3 tax exempt not-for-profit corporations to receive monies from the agency. The move was seen as necessary to ensure that the religious activity of a church and its social services were kept separate. The supporting vote was 13-12.

The vote indicates that a vigorous debate still rages in the United States about the separation of church and state.

In another little-noticed news item, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs has recommended that the U.S. government develop a strategy to make religion “integral” to American foreign policy. The Chicago Council is a powerful organization that was formed in the 1920s to influence and shape American foreign policy. The Chicago Council has no official standing, but its influence over the years has been enormous. Should American foreign policy get religion?

Americans have become quite accustomed to arguing about issues of separation of church and state in domestic affairs; but issues of separation of church and state have little history in foreign affairs. The last time any hint of the issue occurred was when President Ronald Reagan appointed an ambassador to the Vatican in 1984. There were a lot of unhappy Protestants when President Reagan made the appointment. Make a note, the recommendation of the Chicago Council marks a much larger step into the separation issue. Does the First Amendment have a necessary application to foreign policy?

Brent Walker, a member of the Supreme Court Bar and the executive of a powerful Baptist separation lobby, believes the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause does apply to the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Walker acknowledges that the U.S. may of necessity deal with religious bodies in the conduct of foreign policy. However, the First Amendment puts constraints on the U.S. approach in all our relationships.

The United States is a secular nation that embraces no religion in particular. There are many Americans who argue the truth of that statement and would like to bring about a dramatic change. Those who argue against separation of church and state are growing stronger every day.
Their movement is often called Christian Triumphalism or Christian Nationalism. Advocates are sometimes referred to as dominionists. While they have formed many different groups, one prominent organizational name appears with regularity. It is the New Apostolic Reformation. Cells of participants now cover the nation.

Adherents include a long list of prominent religious and political leaders. Among their central convictions is that separation of church and state must cease. The establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth must take place. The process must begin with the United States. Their great enemy is separation of church and state.

Two social issues refuse to take leave of our national attention. The first is the issue of abortion. It is a prime example of religious groups that are determined to force their religious beliefs on a secular nation. I have deep respect for those who believe an abortion is always a violation of the will of God. Devout people are completely free to reject birth control measures. They are free to convince others of their religious convictions about when life begins. Legal banning of all abortions would be a matter of government taking the religious convictions of certain people and forcing it on all citizens.

The First Amendment is our protection from government interference in religion.

The second thorny social issue in the U.S. is the legal rights of gay persons. Gay people would have had full legal rights years ago except for the attempt of religious people to force their theological beliefs on the nation. Legal rights for our gay citizens has nothing to do with any passage from the Bible. No interpretation of the Bible has any relevance to the laws of our land. Yet religious people insist their particular beliefs be established as the law of the land. Religious people can maintain their religious beliefs about sexual orientation and sexual behavior. I respect their decisions and commitments.

To ask government to force the convictions of one group onto all citizens is not compatible with First Amendment rights.

The United States is a great experiment. Central to that experiment is the encouragement of diversity, beginning with religion. May it ever be so.


The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer. His e-mail address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.

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Source: http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2010/03/05/faith/doc4b90912309b2a583360459.txt
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Note: Bolds and Highlights added.
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He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger

24And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

27For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

28Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.

29And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:24-30.

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The kingdom of God shall be taken from you

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof....Matthew 21:43

King James Version (KJV)

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