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Household of Calhoun

Monday, February 28, 2011

Scriptural Understanding of the Words Elder, Pastor and Shepherd

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: Scriptural Understanding of the Words Elder, Pastor and Shepherd
Scripture: Ephesians 4:11; Acts 20:28-31

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
The use of the word pastor in Ephesians 4:11 is the word “shepherd”. In the Scriptures it shows up about eighteen times where the word pastor exists. Of the eighteen times it is translated pastor once and seventeen times it is translated “shepherd or shepherds”. The word in the Greek is “poimen”. Now what has happened is we have put the word pastor in a box to mean one man and this is not scriptural. When we look in scripture we see the word used in the plural sense. Now when we look in Ephesians 4:11 we see the word pastors is plural and we can substitute the word shepherds right there. So there is no doubt, even in the other uses of the word throughout scripture there is a plural meaning to it. Let’s look at Acts 20:28-31

Acts 20:28-31: take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you OVERSEERS (PLURAL), to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves (elders) shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch (oversee), and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears,

Now Paul is speaking to a group of elders and warns them to watch over the people of God because men will arise that will speak perverse doctrines that will ravage the flock so it involves the elders to watch to prevent this. However, what has happened is the Body of Christ has been divided along the line of pastors. Hence when we divide the Body of Christ along the line of pastors, the wolves can come in and conquer the people. People look to the one man in the church to watch and the moment he is out of place then the flock is scattered and confused due to a wolf or false doctrine or seducing spirit coming in and indoctrinating them. However if we understand that the Body of Christ in a city should be watched by the collective group of elders of the churches as a family then there is always someone watching over the people and when a wolf tries to enter the fold, no matter where in that city, someone who is full of the Holy Spirit should see it and allow God to give the protocol of dealing with that situation. This now brings me to this beautiful picture.

The pastor or elder in the church should not be the only elder in the church. Yes, the local church should have a leader but under him there should be gifted people from God to assist in this work. Mind blowing isn’t it. See religion has taken us from the House of God model to a religious church model established by the Catholic church which exalts one man and one man only in the place of leadership. The House of God is the family of God divided among households of faith by which spiritual fathers or elders watch over the flock and tend to their needs. The church model of the one pastor system does not give people who are qualified by God the true opportunity to work in their gift because based upon the denominational doctrine, there can only be one elder and he is the pastor and that is it and there is no other elders there. So let me show you the flaw in this system:

How can a elder watch over a flock of 500 people and recognize the spiritual gifts of the people there and have an intimate relationship with the people of that church? Virtually impossible! Now when we shift to 1,000 members and 20,000 members imagine how difficult and impossible it would be to do this? Despite our denomination or non-denominations the elders of the Body of Christ should be watching over the people of God in that city. Denominations and doctrines have divided the Body and wolves have come in and ravaged the flock. We need to learn to come together as a family or household and watch over God’s heritage as He has given grace for us to do.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Friday, February 25, 2011

The Consequence of Orphan Elders

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: The Consequence of Orphan Elders
Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-4

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
One of the reasons so many people are lost in the Body of Christ is because of a lack of direction and leadership. They do not know where they belong and even who they are. Where there is a lack of identity there is an abuse of power. We can look at the church today and the structure of some church denominations and even some non-denominational churches and see cracks in the structure and doctrine that is being taught. So many people relate and identify themselves with the church they attend and not the fact that they are the church, they are a royal priesthood and a holy nation of people (1 Peter 2:19) who have been translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of His Dear Son (Colossians 1:13).

Now when you have a orphan for an elder the sheep directly suffer because if the leader does not know what it means to be fathered and discipled then how can the flock understand? You basically have the blind leading the blind. These orphan elders look after themselves and THEIR ministries they established in the Earth for their provision and protection. So every ministry established brings glory to the pastor of the church. Who is left out? God and the flock! The flock now suffers because there is no one watching over them and discipling them in their gifting. God is left out because the person is driven by their soul and not the Spirit of God. It is their ministry and not God. Look at this scripture:

Jeremiah 23:1-4: Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.

In this scripture we see the prophet Isaiah speaking the judgment of God against the pastors that scatter the flock of God. These pastors drove them away from the knowledge of the truth and a relationship with the Lord. We are looking at this situation right now today. Through seducing spirits guiding many of these worldly-popular preachers and bishops and the doctrine of devils which include, Gnosticism, inclusion and the prosperity gospel. When these people speak and the flock lends their ear to these people, they are driven further away from the truth of God and a true relationship with Him. They look and talk eloquently but their doctrine presents a false security of hope because it does not deal with sin and the message of repentance which is the very first step you must make in order to even enter or experience the Kingdom of God. A preacher that does not deal with sin is not a preacher of God. Sin separates us from the Father and we cannot stand in the presence of God in sin. So even our prayers are not heard when we stand in rebellion to God and we choose not to repent. It is the responsibility of the elders to watch for this and teach these concepts to the flock.

In the next message we will look at the word elder and get a scriptural meaning for it because in many denominations and some non-denominational churches the word elder is being boxed in and it limits the growth of the Body of Christ.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Duties of the Elders to the Body of Christ

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: Duties of the Elders to the Body of Christ
Scripture: Acts 16:1-3; 1 Timothy 4:14

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Now for some of us this might not be a surprise but to most of us this one maybe an eye opener. We want to use the relationship between Paul and Timothy to show this. Now look at this picture:

Acts 16:1-3: Then came he (Paul) to Derbe and Lystra: and behold. A certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman which was a Jewess and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was WELL REPORTED OF BY THE BRETHERN THAT WERE AT Lystra and Iconium. Him (Timothy) would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

Now here we have Paul picking up Timothy but noticed the capitalized parts of the scripture. Before he went with Paul, Timothy was doing the work of the Kingdom of God in Lystra and Iconium. He was being observed and watched by THE ELDERS OF THOSE CITIES. This is why when Paul showed up he was ready to go with Paul and confirmed by the elders of the city because of the work he was already doing. This brings me to this very important point.
“Before anyone is ordained or someone lay hands as a form of confirmation of the work someone is called to do, that person should be doing the work already”

This is exactly why Paul would write to Timothy once he is set in the local church as an elder, Paul says this: 1 Timothy 4:14: “Neglect not THE GIFT THAT IS IN THEE, BY PROPHECY, WITH THE LAYING ON OF THE HANDS OF THE PRESBYTERY”. So who confirmed Timothy? The presbytery? Who is the presbytery made up of? Elders!

Now one of the jobs of the elders that have authority in watching over the flock is to recognize the gifts of the people and help them come into their place in the Kingdom. Now if the elder or pastor is an orphan or has the mindset of an un-Fathered individual then guess what? To recognize the gift that someone else have is a possible threat to your provision and protection you have currently have right now. You will figure a way to utilize their gift for your benefit and security. A true elder who has been Fathered by God will recognize the gift and help the individual mature in that gift and assist them in walking in their purpose and destiny in the Kingdom. The Elders recognized the work Timothy was doing, so as a replacement for John Mark who was with Paul they recommended Timothy and look at what was done with Him, through Paul. So it required the elders at Lystra and Derbe to be watching over the flock to know Timothy was the right person for the job.

Now let’s deal with this issue of callings here. God had already called Timothy and he was doing the work. The elders of Derbe and Lystra gave this young man opportunities by which he could pursue the gifting. The laying on of the presbytery hands was simply a confirmation of what they already knew about Timothy and symbolic of him being qualified and commissioned to do the work of the gifting God had ALREADY called him to do.

Elders who have been given authority should never be selfish so that the people are not maturing in the Body of Christ. If you have a pastor who is not trying to mature the body and not recognizing gifts among the people then we need to look at whether he is truly called. You will be under the leadership of an orphan and not a son of God. If everything is about the “church” and them then you are under a orphan. If people are not being discipled and sent out to do the work then you are under a orphan. We need to wake up and allow God to show you the spirit of the leadership we are under.

In the next message we will look at the result of orphan elders and the damaging effect on the Body of Christ.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Understanding the Rulership of Elders

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: Understanding the Rulership of Elders
Scripture: Mark 9:33-35

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
The reason we use the word rulership in this sense is because we are in the Kingdom of God. Kingdoms rule. But our rulership is very unique as compared to what the world sees as rulership. The world views rulership as domination but in the Kingdom of God, rulership is based upon being a minister or serving. Jesus is the greatest example of this in the fact that here is God on Earth in the flesh but He does not exalt Himself yet He comes to serve us so that we can have the right to be restored and reconciled back to the Kingdom and House of God. Knowing the mindset of mankind, God knew that the view of rulership would be distorted due to the separation from the Father and Jesus came to correct that mindset of the orphan and transform it to the culture of the Son. Hence you have people, who are of the orphan mindset, fighting for position. We see that today in the Body of Christ. Everybody wants to be the pastor because the viewpoint of a carnal or immature believer is that the pastor is where the power is and that is not true. The power is in Jesus Christ and when you mature properly in the fullness of time, He will delegate that power to you in the form of a spiritual gift but let’s look at the words of Jesus:

Mark 9:33-35: And He came to Capernaum and being in the house He asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, WHO SHOULD BE THE GREATEST. And He sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Now the reason the disciples were disputing who was the greatest because previously they could not cast out the devil out of the young boy. So the question arose then who is the greatest or who possess the most power to cast out the devils. Now Jesus obviously knew what they were disputing about and He knew their mindset would shift toward power being synonymous with being greatness and Jesus completely destroys that notion. Jesus said if any man desire to be first (greatest or leader), the same shall be last of all and servant (minister) of all. So to be great in the Kingdom of God requires you to serve others. Oh boy this is where it gets ugly with some of these pastors. They want people to wait on them hand and foot but they do not want to serve the people in discipling them and bringing them into maturity for the prosperity of their souls. The true elders of the Kingdom of God understand that they are to serve the Lord among the people and are always mindful that the Lord Himself served everyone.

The elders who lead are to be an example of the mature way of walking that everyone else is being called to do. Serving the people of God, as unto the Lord sets the foundation and pace for how people need to walk.

In the next message we will look at the some of the duties of the elders to the Body of Christ.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Place and Position of the Elders in the Kingdom

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: Place and Position of the Elders in the Kingdom
Scripture: Ephesians 4:11,12; Ephesians 2:19,20; 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 2:6; 2 Timothy 1:6, 2 Timothy 4

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
In a city, the rule of elders replaces the rule of apostles. Now right here I know we got the people who scream that there is no apostles but we have shown and studied the there is still a need for the apostolic because God said all five are needed for the equipping and maturing of the saints (Ephesians 4:11,12). In the beginning of the church when it was time to lay the foundation who was present? It was the apostles with the faithful working of prophets. Paul said this to the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 2:19,20:”Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone.”
Do we see this? The Kingdom (fellowcitizens) and the House (household) of God are built (present tense) upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Now to understand why the foundation is built upon these two gifts, you must then understand how these gifts operate.

Briefly, the apostolic gifting is the foundational gifting in the Kingdom. The apostles reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom, give the current direction of the Body of Christ, as well as order the relationships within the Kingdom. They appoint the elders to a local body of believers. The apostolic gifting is a trans-local gifting means it is not a stationary gifting but ever moving to establish the foundation and knowledge of the Kingdom of God in the Earth.

The prophetic gifting is vital because it is the gifting not just to inform the Body of Christ of a change in seasons, corporately or individually, but also it is used to teach people how to hear the voice of God. Now this is the sad part about this gifting because people are using and abusing this gifting for selfish gain and not teaching people how to hear God. This is a big problem because people always wonder can I hear God when at the entrance to the Kingdom, there should have been the prophetic gifting available to teach the young in Christ how to hear God. How can someone do anything for the Kingdom if they do not recognize the King’s voice? The holy people are being formed at this very point in maturity in the Body of Christ.

As they move on in maturity they begin to understand what gifts and callings they have in the Lord and individually wanting to respond to God

The elder is the gifted grace to lead the people of God to the next phase of maturity. The elders tend to be older men and their rule is over a local area. Hence we get the term presbytery. Their oversight over the people of God is the term Bishop. When the older men who rule together in overseeing the people of God in a locality rise up, the apostle who was laboring with them leaves and continues going forth in the gift. Now we can absolutely prove this. Paul and Timothy were both apostles (1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 2:6). Paul was discipling Timothy. Now the time came that Timothy and Paul would be separated. Paul would continue as an apostle but Timothy would become an elder of local body of believers. In Paul’s letter to Timothy he writes to Timothy the order and organization of leadership in the local church. So we have an apostle laying the foundation of the local church to an elder. Timothy was appointed by Paul to this area. Paul charges Timothy as the elder of this church in 2 Timothy 4 and reminds him OF THE GIFT BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS in 2 Timothy 1:6.

I want to close on this revelation of the five fold ministry and I need to show this here. The order in which Paul lists the five-fold ministry shows a particular picture to the Body of Christ of how the church or the sons of God mature in the Body of Christ
1. Apostles – laying of the foundation of the Kingdom of God and the relationship between the members of the Body of Christ
2. Prophets – Teach people how to hear the Father
3. Evangelist – They teach the love of God for the believer and lost and teaches one how to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom
4. Pastor – Teaches the sons how to oversee the people of God and realize the hidden gifting among the sons of God and bring them into their gifting and calling
5. Teacher – Able to provide instruction and discipleship to the sons of God and in the ways of the Father and in the knowledge and structure of the Kingdom and House of God so that they can disciple others (The Great Commission Matthew 28:18-20)

You need all five! Without all five you cannot, I mean cannot, mature a son of God because God said all five is for the perfecting or maturing of the saints. In the next message we will continue and look at the rulership of the elder.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

A Holy People: God's Answer for the World Today!

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: A Holy People: God’s Answer for the World Today
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
When we grow in the Christ Jesus and become more mature in the things of Christ and the Kingdom of God then there is a production of a race of people in the Earth that shows forth the answer for all of the world’s problems. When we look at the world today then we see lawlessness, chaos, wars, confusion, strife, fatherlessness and sorts of things that are not of God. From the fall in the Garden, sin began to mature and grow and at one point sin became so prevalent that, evil was continuously in the thoughts of man. God found favor in the bloodline of Noah and restarted the human race through Noah. Of course we know sin found it’s way back into humanity and now today we are seeing the maturation of that sin and what it looks like through society.

God sends Jesus Christ, His Son to the Earth and through Him God will restore and reconcile mankind back to Himself, His House and His Kingdom. Before His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus showed us how the Kingdom of God operates in the Earth and showed us the keys of the Kingdom. These keys, concepts or principals the Kingdom operates on makes us and shows us to be a holy people because we are now after the likeness or character of Christ who is the full expression of holiness.

Now for those of us who are true ministers of the gospel we always encounter the “holier than thou” comment all the time. Now does this bother us? No it should not but this is where we should be grateful and thankful to the Father that He has fathered and discipled us in His ways and character. Now let me show you how thankful you should be. If you look at the people making those rude comments, imagine the life that they are missing out on because they do not want to deny their flesh. Imagine the fellowship, purpose and direction that their lives could be going in, if they would deny themselves. Imagine the strife and stress that they live their lives in and the peace you have in Christ that surpasses all of our understanding because you have denied yourself and submitted to the rulership of the King and Lord over your life.

This power that is given unto us is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring us into maturity and responsibility in the Kingdom of God and in our Father’s business of reconciliation. The Holy Nation of the Kingdom of God is the answer to a sick world. Through us God will show mankind who they were to be and who they have been called to be through Jesus Christ.

In the next message we will specifically look at the place, position of elders in the Body of Christ.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Gifting from God

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: The Gifting from God
Scripture: Ephesians 4:11,12

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
The Lord’s power and rule on the Earth has been delegated from the Lord Jesus Christ to Holy Spirit and into the earth in the form of gifts. Let’s look at a scripture for a better context:

Ephesians 4:11,12: And He gave some apostles, and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ.

Now of course this is typically known as the five-fold ministry, the doma gifts or the governmental gifts of the Kingdom. Now let’s break this down. First it says He gave. This implies that Jesus Christ is the source and the gift is from Him to you to fulfill your destiny for the Kingdom. We also know that the gifting is the authority and power from the Lord Jesus to accomplish a certain task. Next, Paul lists the five gifts. Now I am not going to go in depth about each. Please check out our entire series on the “Government of God”. Now after listing the gifts, he tells you the purpose for the gifts and I pray you pay close attention to this because if this is not being done then what are we doing? He says the purpose for those five gifts is for the perfecting of the saints. The perfecting of the saints means maturing of the saints. That implies these gifts are given to help us spiritually grow. This growth is necessary for the work of ministry and the edifying of the Body of Christ. Now so many people want to smother you with their gift and their gift defines who they are and the sad part is I have personally seen multiple gifts being used in the same person. So to narrow yourself down to one gift and that is who you are, limits your use in the Kingdom of God. Here is a great example:

Timothy was an apostle. After His ministry with Paul, He settles into the role of a Elder or Pastor of a local body of believers or church. Paul tells Timothy in His charge to do the work of an evangelist. In addition He also tells Him to maintain sound doctrine which implies Him to have to teach the Word of God and sound doctrine because of the people having itching ears. Now in my study I did not see the prophetic being used with Timothy. It does not mean that it was not. But allow God to give gifts unto you AS HE PLEASES FOR HIS WILL TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. Do not put yourself in a box and limit your use in the Kingdom. When you limit your use, you stunt your growth and when you stunt your growth you stay a child and never mature. If you do not recognize the five gifts then it is impossible to even grow, hence you can have a entire denomination or body of believers that never grow because they are denying the power or gifting necessary to grow in Christ.

The goal of God is to have a people in the Earth in the image of the firstborn in the full expression of what God intended to do through mankind. This produces a holy nation or a holy people.

In the next message we will look God’s gift of His Holy People to the Earth.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Holiness and the Kingdom of God

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: Holiness and the Kingdom of God
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9; Matthew 20:28; Genesis 1:26

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Holy Spirit embodies the holiness of God. So everything that He does in teaching and guiding us is for a holy purpose. This purpose always pertains to the advancement of the Kingdom of God in the Earth. Every endeavor of the Kingdom of God is holy because the King Himself is Holy. If the King, who is also the Son of God is Holy then his brethren should be holy also, right? Of course! Genesis 1:26a: Let us make man IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS. Likeness pertains to character and the character of God is holy. Hence the purpose of the sons of God are to bring a holy rule in the Earth as Kingdom Citizens of sons of the Father. What a powerful concept. Hence Peter had this wonderful word to say about those who are in the Kingdom:

1 Peter 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people that YE SHOULD SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELLOUS LIGHT.

Now in this scripture is the full embodiment of who you are to be:
· Chosen Generation: This pertains to being chosen by the Father to be a part of His House or family
· Royal Priesthood: We are vice kings (viceroys) and spiritual representatives of Him (Priest) in the earth
· Holy Nation: The family of God make up a holy nation in the Earth bring forth a holy rule in the Earth via the Kingdom of God
· Peculiar People: The House of God is the most diverse and unique family on the Earth because not only are they citizens of the Kingdom and sons of God but they are also Kings and Priests in the Earth and the Father has given them dominion in the Earth to carry out His Holy Will.
After telling you all of that, Peter then tells you the purpose: to show forth the praise of Him that called you out of darkness into the His marvelous light. So the people who belong to the Kingdom of God is called the Lord’s House or the House of God. We discussed this our series “The House of God”

Now God has given certain people authority to watch and care for His people. This is the work of the elders. The Elders are to serve the Lord amongst the people. Jesus gave us this great example in scripture:

Matthew 20:28: Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life as a ransom for many

Do we see that! Jesus said He came to serve and not to be served. Look at all of these preachers today who need to people to wait on them hand and foot but they are not serving anyone. So can we see that many of these people are self-made elders not watching over anything but being Pharisees and making people wait on them. This is the oppression, Jesus woed the Pharisees about when He spoke of not entering the Kingdom and shutting the door so that others cannot get in.

Being a elder is a gift from God and in the next message we will look at the gifting and put it in is proper context and not the religious mindset.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Concept of Freedom in the Kingdom of God Part 2: Role of Holy Spirit

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: The Concept of Freedom in the Kingdom of God Part 2: Role of Holy Spirit
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Holy Spirit gives us freedom and restraint at the same time in the Kingdom of God. How does He do this? He does whatever He see the Lord Jesus Christ do. John 16:13 speaks that He will not speak anything of Himself. We know this is the concept of Ambassadorship in the Kingdom. Holy Spirit distributes gifts to men.

In 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 we see Paul speaking about Holy Spirit and the distribution of gifts. Now for this message I will take one scripture and then discuss more in depth in another message. 1 Corinthians 12:11 states “But all these (gifts) worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, DIVIDING TO EVERY MAN SEVERALLY AS HE WILL.” Holy Spirit distributes the gifts to men under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ to every man according to His Will, not our will. These gifts given to men are to accomplish the Will of God. It is His gift to us. These gifts establish help establish the Kingdom of God in the earth. Now just because we have a gift does not mean we have the freedom to do what we want to do with it. This is where the restraint comes in.

As a son of God we need to understand that we have restraints in the Kingdom. Adam had the right to rule in the Earth, but the power given to Him was to accomplish the Will of God. Adam had free will and that was evident because of the fall but I want to show you the restraint Adam and Eve were put under in the Garden. That restraint was not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. So here, God gives Adam dominion but tells him also what His restraints are. This is vital. Living holy has restraints and freedoms. The freedoms show you the restraint because you are held in-line by the truth. So if the gift is not yours but from God to you then there are restrictions pertaining to the administration of the gift at any particular time. Hence the gift should only be used under the direction of Holy Spirit. The reason He restrains us is so that we maintain the purposes of the Kingdom of God in the administration and demonstration of the gift of God. So our liberty in Christ Jesus is in the truth and the truth restrains our actions and our words for the purposes of the Kingdom of God.

In the next message we will look at Holiness briefly and walk ourselves to the function of eldership in the Kingdom of God.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The Concept of Freedom in the Kingdom of God Part 1

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: The Concept of Freedom in the Kingdom of God Part 1
Scripture: Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16; Romans 6:15; John 16:13;

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
One of the misunderstood concepts in the Body of Christ is the concept of freedom. Even in our natural world when we talk about freedoms, they have restrictions. For example, I have a right to drink beer but if I go to a sporting event and they say no beer then that right is restricted in that venue. We have freedom in the Body of Christ but that freedom does not mean we can do whatever we want.

Galatians 5:13: For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only USE NOT LIBERTY (FREEDOM) FOR AN OCCASION TO THE FLESH, but by love serve one another.

1 Peter 2:16: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as servants of God

Romans 6:15: What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? GOD FORBID!

So even in the Kingdom of God, freedom has restrictions and I want to show you how freedom has restrictions. Jesus called Holy Spirit in John 16:13 the Spirit of Truth. Now the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus is founded upon the foundation of truth. What is the truth? Jesus said this in Matthew 16:18: “And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter and upon this rock (statement), I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” What statement did Peter make? Peter said that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. So based upon that confession and belief one can find freedom from the grasps of the enemy. So freedom in the Kingdom of God means you walk freely in the truth that Jesus is Lord and the risen Savior of the World. Jesus expounds on this freedom in John 8:31,32:
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which BELIEVED ON HIM, IF YOU CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE MY DISCIPLES INDEED; AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”
So you are made free by believing on Jesus. In addition you must continue in His Word and this is referring to His teaching and doctrine and we know this is about the Kingdom of God. Now if you do that, THEN ARE YOU HIS DISCIPLES. So if you do not obey His teachings and doctrines and believe on Him then YOU ARE NOT HIS DISCIPLE. Strong words but true. Now when you have this fellowship with the Spirit of God, He will bring things to your remembrance and show you things so that you are confirmed about your identity in Christ.

In the next message we will look at the correlation between Holy Spirit and freedom.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Kingdom of God: The Source and Site of Eldership

Eldership in the Kingdom of God
Today’s Focus: The Kingdom of God: The Source and Site of Eldership
Scripture: Matthew 28:18; John 16:13-15

Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Eldership or the word elder is not a New Testament word or concept. You can find the word elder all the way back in the Old Testament and we will show you this in a subsequent message. But when we look at eldership we must first understand that eldership begins in the Kingdom of God. Why does it begin there? Every elder in the Kingdom of God has been given delegated authority from the Holy Spirit to operate in the gift. If eldership begins in the Kingdom of God then the authority to grant this power comes only from the King. Who is the King of the Kingdom? The Lord Jesus Christ! How do we know?

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 that “all authority is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth”. So if Jesus has all authority then He is the source of the power in the Kingdom of God and the exclusive one to grant the authority of eldership to certain individuals in the Body of Christ. So the Kingdom of God in the earth is founded and based upon the authority that was given to the Lord Jesus Christ. Very important because eldership has really been misunderstood and people are being abused by what they do not know.

The word kingdom in the Greek is “basilica” and means a foundation of power and rule. Now there seems to be some confusion about the foundation or source of power and rule. In the Roman church (Catholicism) they are founded on the theory, and that is exactly what it is, a theory. The theory is that there are successors to Peter in the apostolic line of succession. Hence the seat of the papacy is called “Saint Peter’s foundation of power and rule”. Now if your foundation is this then you are not founded based upon the Kingdom of God. Peter never claimed to found anything or start anything. Catholicism was birthed from the merge of false god worship (Emperors and caesars) and Christianity. In addition, there is no such thing as apostolic succession in the Word of God. The elder’s right rule and oversee the House of God is based and come from the authority of Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.

In a previous message we discussed the structure of power and how it flows in the Kingdom of God. The power flows from the Father to the Son, Jesus Christ, who then imparts the specific grace to the specific person through Holy Spirit to accomplish the Will of God in the Earth. Let me show you this powerful scripture:

John 16:13-15: Howbeit when He (Holy Spirit), the Spirit of Truth, is come, He (Holy Spirit) will guide you into all truth: for He (Holy Spirit) shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He (Holy Spirit) shall hear, that shall He (Holy Spirit) speak: and He (Holy Spirit) will shew you things to come. He (Holy Spirit) shall glorify me (Jesus): for He (Holy Spirit) shall receive of mine (Jesus) and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that He (Holy Spirit) shall take of mine and shall shew it unto you.

In this scripture we see the very power structure that I was talking about but we also see the essence of Ambassadorship. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself, but only that which He hears from the Jesus, that will He speak. What a beautiful picture. So it is Holy Spirit that will lead, guide and teach us the very essence of Ambassadorship and who to listen and follow the Spirit of God.

So to understand the authority and function of the elder one has to understand the structure of the Kingdom of God first. Without understanding how power and authority works in the Kingdom, many are deceived and abused by wolves in sheep’s clothing. The Kingdom of God is the site and the Lord Jesus Christ is the source of authority to the elders.

At Our Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Spiritual Fathers and the Body of Christ

House of God
Today’s Topic: Spiritual Fathers and the Body of Christ:
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 11:29-33; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 3:10-15;

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:
We discussed this in our series on Sonship but it is worth re-visiting this now. Paul in the opening to the letter at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11) spoke of the household divisions that are happening within the Corinthians but Paul then later in the letter presents a problem or does he, in 1 Corinthians 4:14,15: “I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons (children) I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” Now Jesus tells us call no man father on Earth for one is your Father, which is in Heaven (Matthew 23:9). Now do we have problem here? On one hand we have Paul saying I am your father in Christ Jesus but Christ is saying call no man father on earth.

The first thing we should know is that scripture does not contradict itself. Jesus speaking on earth and Holy Spirit speaking through man is always together because they are the Spirit of Truth. So how can this be? You must know the meaning of the word father in the scripture and how it is being used. The word father has nine different meaning but for the sake of time the word father, Jesus was speaking about means progenitor and that is exclusive to God. So when Paul speaks of being a father, he is speaking as being a spiritual father, one who maturely represents the nature and ways of the Father in the earth. Now if we go back to 1 Corinthians 4:11-21 Paul is speaking like a father and now I want to show you spiritual fathers in a small capsule.

How do we know Paul was a spiritual father:
1. He called the church at Corinth his sons (male and female) – 1 Corinthians 1:14
2. Calls Timothy (Timotheous) is beloved son – 1 Corinthians 1:17
3. Spiritual father gives direction and correction to set in order the sons of God – 1 Corinthians 11:17-21
Now Paul “threatens” the people at Corinth in a unique way in 1 Corinthians 4:21:”What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” Now let’s bring this scripture to today’s church? I am paraphrasing: “Who is he to tell me he is going to whip me! Who is he to tell me what I better do! Who is he anyway, he ain’t my momma or daddy! I do not care what father he think he is, I ain’t trying to hear him!” All of these phrases points to one mentality, orphan. Orphans cannot stand to be disciplined because they see discipline as violence. Can we look at those statements and see this type of mentality when an elder person, mother or father in the church tries to correct in obvious wrong behavior, the reaction of the people, whether it be young or older?

No one can come into maturity without discipline and based on what we see we have a lot of orphans and undisciplined children running around the church and in some cases running the church. Now that we have this snapshot of spiritual father, how can we avoid the divisions within the body of Christ as it pertains to spiritual houses that the church at Corinth were having? We avoid these confusions by understanding the House or family that we belong to.

The House of God is the oldest family on the Earth. The House is made up of a Father and His Sons who are guided by His Spirit. This family exists in Heaven and on Earth. The Kingdom of God is the center of rulership for this family and its headquarters is in Heaven on the Throne. The sons of God in the Earth bring the rulership of the King from Heaven to Earth and demonstrate the character and ways of the Father in Heaven. They are guided by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit arranges them in households to ultimately bring the family to the end where God will be all in all.

In the next series we will look at oversight in the Kingdom of God and the role of Eldership. I pray you have enjoyed this series. May God Bless you in your continue maturity in Christ.

At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Divisions within the Body

House of God
Today’s Topic: Spiritual Households, Spiritual Families and the Body of Christ: Divisions within the Body
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 11:29-33; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 3:10-15

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:
Now when we look at the church at Corinth after Paul’s salutation to them, he informs them the problems that have been made aware to him. In 1 Corinthians 1:11 Paul tells them that there are divisions among you. Let’s look at what was dividing the church at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 1:12,13:”Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

Now the reason these people were saying that they were of this certain person was because these were the people who the gospel were brought to those in Corinth. The people were dividing along the lines of the persons who brought the gospel to them but Paul asks a great question, Is Christ divided? What was Paul hinting when he asked the question?

Later in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 Paul explains this situation to help the church at Corinth to understand how they are arranged as it pertains to Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14:”For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member but many.”
So Paul used the analogy of the human body to describe the Body of Christ. The Scriptures say that the body is not one member but many made into one. Paul was teaching even though you may belong to different households you are still a member and a part of the universal Body of Christ. Why is that important to know? For example let’s use Paul’s discussion on the Lord’s Supper.

1 Corinthians 11:29,30,33: “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, NOT DISCERNING THE LORD’S BODY. FOR THIS CAUSE many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 33-Wherefore, my brethren, WHEN YE COME TOGETHER TO EAT, TARRY ONE FOR ANOTHER.

What is Paul saying, when we as believers, sons of God, Kingdom citizens come together we should discern the Body of Christ together. Why? Because maybe people there who have evil motives, or maybe sick (sin or physical) but the point is for Holy Spirit to show us who is in need. But when we fail to discern the Lord’s Body (Body of Christ) then people who are sick and weak die prematurely and in some cases we allow the evil spirit to roam unchecked when we could have discerned that and allow Holy Spirit to give us protocol on how to cast the demon out. But if we are so concerned with who’s house or denomination we are a part of, how can we come together and discern. Good question here, many of us take communion. Some do communion, weekly, every month or every three months for example, how many of us take the time to discern the Lord’s Body before eating and drinking? Do we remember it was at the Lord’s supper that the hearts of the disciples were revealed, in particular Peter and Judas. One was told he would deny Christ and the other was told he would betray him, but that is what we are to do every time the Body of Christ comes together in a particular city. It is not only confined to communion even though when we do communion we should discern the Body, but every time during worship, bible study, sunday school, we should discern the Lord’s Body. This is why we are our brother’s keeper and the scripture says tarry one for another because Holy Spirit discerns for us who is in need and with counsel from Holy Spirit we are to do as commanded.

At the church at Corinth they had a slight understanding of spiritual households but they were allowing the household to cause division and that is not the purpose of the spiritual households in the Earth. In the next message we will look at the function of spiritual households in the Earth and how it promotes unity in the Body of Christ. If you have not noticed 1 Corinthians is a letter that speaks about unifying the Body of Christ from individualized thinking to corporate thinking which makes the son aware that he or she is of the House of God and a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Spiritual Households, Spiritual Families and the Body of Christ

House of God
Today’s Topic: Spiritual Households, Spiritual Families and the Body of Christ (Mini-series)
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 1 Corinthians 4:14-15; 1 Corinthians 11:29-33; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 3:10-15;

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:
Now for the next few messages we will deal with this slightly complex subject of Spiritual Families, Spiritual Households and the Body of Christ. Now as you can see per the scriptures above we will be in the first letter to the church at Corinth for much of the message and this is not a coincidence but a divine design. The church at Corinth had a slight but major problem on their hands and Paul, after his salutation to them tells us what their problem is and this problem runs rampant today on many levels. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 1:10,11:

“Now I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it have been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you”

So Paul starts by telling them that there should not be division amongst you but through the house of Chloe it is reported that there are divisions. Division in the body of Christ has really hampered our ability to come together as A Body. Satan has divided us amongst denominations and the mindset that “our way” is the way. For example, the Roman Catholic Church believes they are the true church of God because “they were given the keys of the kingdom”. First, this is a gross misunderstanding of what Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16 and second it is these mindsets that the devil has gotten great with keeping us holding on to piece of the truth instead of maturing and having a relationship with the Truth, Jesus Christ. Let me give you a personal testimony and one of the things I am honest about is myself and how God delivered me because I know there are people who are struggling with what they see in religion.

I grew up in the Primitive Baptist church. I had strong leadership and people outside of my immediate family that were instrumental in my maturity in Christ. Sixteen years later at the age of 29, I heard the Lord call me to be His mouthpiece in the Earth for Him. Now I fasted and prayed and the Lord confirmed my calling and the first thing the Lord introduced me to was the knowledge of the Kingdom of God. God gave me revelation and understanding to the potent, fundamental concept and reality in the Earth of the Kingdom. In giving me this revelation I began to see some conflict between some of the things I heard and see and what God showed me. Being young and energetic in the ministry, I wanted to tell people about it to show them the correct way, however God constrained me because there was more to show because He understood the retaliation that would happen when you come against religion and tradition. As God continued to mature me, he showed me how religion, racism, denominationalism, homosexuality, fraternities, sororities, secret societies, traditions and most of all a lack of knowledge and understanding in the Kingdom and House of God has been implanted in the church and the toll and devastation it is doing to the Body of Christ. God showed us the eternal side and consequence of what many think is a natural and harmless thing to do. Kingdom Citizens Ministries International became an eternal reality in the earth in 2007 and the Lord has graced us to the Kingdom of God and the House of God to the nations. It is called to disciple the nations to maturity in the Body of Christ and show the spiritual side to those “natural” things people like to do, to show the reason why we do not join or do those things because they go against the mandate, statutes, decrees and laws of our Lord and Savior. The Body of Christ is not a fleshly, denominational body and divided along those lines but a unified church under the Headship of Christ.

In the next message we will continue to look at divisions at the church at Corinth and show what was the thing that was dividing them and in the subsequent messages we will look at how God unites.

At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Love

House of God
Today’s Topic: Misconception of Fatherhood: Love
Scripture: John 14:5; Luke 6:46

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:
When we talk about love we want to look at it from two different views. Of course we want to look at love in the House of God but also look at love from the viewpoint of the orphan. Let’s start with love from the viewpoint of the orphan.

Because orphans do not understand the true love of a father they masquerade themselves around and do things and call it loving the Father. Now not to confuse you let me explain. There is a spirit that is going around in the world that is coinciding with the condition of fatherlessness that is damaging the Body of Christ. That spirit is called Affirmation. Now let me explain what affirmation does and then you will see the devastating effects. When an orphan does not know a father, they tend to seek approval from other sources to validate or affirm who they are and whether they are ok. Children who have low self-esteem seek to be affirmed and validated through their peers when there is no affirmation and validation at home. This is so dangerous because now the child is outsourcing themselves to the world and allowing the world to apply its standard on them to say they are ok. Now what these orphans do to be affirmed and validated is they market themselves. They put themselves out there and as long as they are getting the hand claps and the amens from the crowd they feel that God must love them because MAN IS APPROVING OF THEM. So it is the approval of man that validates and affirms the orphan and they associate God’s love for them by man’s approval. Hmm! As stated in the previous message, we have pastors who act like orphans and so in order for them to get validated and affirmed they need the hand claps and amens to say “I am ok because the people say I am ok”. These people who masquerade as pastors are simply marketing themselves to the people and they change like a chameleon to ensure they are ok with the people. They associate that “ok” from the people with God showing them love. This is not love.

Loving the Father is simply a matter of obeying the Father. John 14:5:”If ye love me, keep my commandments”. These are the words of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus also says in Luke 6:46:”And why call ye me, Lord Lord, and do not the things I say?” Jesus is talking about the believers who says Lord Lord but yet they do not want to observe and do the things that He tells us to do. If we are not obedient to the Spirit then we do not love God. But see this is where the spiritual father comes into play. A spiritual father is by definition a mature representation of God the Father with the Spirit of the Primogenitor (Jesus). The primogenitor is the one who pledged his life to bring back the lost sons, much like the Old testament story of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin being brought back to their father, Jacob (Israel). Jesus came to show us the Father because orphans need the true view of a father. Before an orphan can change a person must be presented with an alternative or the truth in this case of who the Father is. Jesus re-introduced the Father to mankind and established spiritual fathers in the Earth to continue to put on display for all those who are orphans, the nature and character of God the Father. In addition, these spiritual fathers are to disciple and bring the Body of Christ into maturation so that the various members of the Body can be entrusted with the true riches of the Kingdom of God.

At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Kingdom Message; Concept of Worship in the Kingdom of God - John 4:23,24

The Body of Christ vs. Religious Model

House of God
Today’s Topic: Misconception of Fatherhood: The Body of Christ vs. Religious Model
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10:16

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:
The spirit of the father has been restored to the earth. The perfect manifestation of the spirit of the father will be seen in the Body of Christ. To be the spiritual father of someone is a labor intensive process. It involves a one-on-one intensive discipleship where the spiritual father takes one who is a newborn in Christ and shows them the Father to convert and transform their thinking from a worldly mindset to a Kingdom mindset. But when we look at the church and the religious model we have today many are solely focused on the monetary gain and so the more members you have then you should have better finances. So the religious church sees your “membership” as it’s way of sustaining itself. Let’s continue to look at the deficit of the religious model to fatherhood.

Many of these religious churches who have pastors say they their pastor is their spiritual father. In turn these pastors will back that up by referring to their congregations as spiritual families now if this is true then the culture of the son and the Kingdom should be evident. For many of these churches this is not the case. The church has a lack of communication and discipline. Funny, if you look at the lack of communication and discipline in the church you will see a mirror image in society. When there is a lack of discipline then everyone who is undiscipled is treated as an illegitimate child and God will never commit serious issues of leadership and responsibility to an undisciplined son. So what does this look like then if we have a church that lacks communication and discipline?

The scripture in Ecclesiastes 10:16:”Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning”. The pastor of the church is really not a father but a child. Harsh, I know, but if the church he is pastoring over is undisciplined then this shows the culture of the orphan and orphans are unfathered children who lack discipline because they know not a father. These pastors behave like boys to show themselves as being non-threatening and define love in a perverse way of never confronting anything in anyone. There is no way you can be called a spiritual father and not be able to deal with confrontation and issues amongst sons of God. So if we discern the churches today we can definitely say that many churches are being ran by orphans and what is so sad is that the orphan is masquerading the move of God so well that even the people who are following do not know what the true move of God looks like. We are watching right now in this time mega-ministries starting to shake because as trouble arises, instead of standing on the Word of God, like Jesus did, these leaders will retreat to the ways of the world and seek their own protection and provision like orphans and leave the flock to fend for themselves because of the fear to their provision and protection.

God has been sending warning signs out through His word and through the fall of many of these ministries. Now it is up to us, who are sons of God to either listen to the Spirit of God as he warns us and discerns for us or we can choose to believe what we want to believe and continue to be a part of someone’s dream and a resource to their personal protection and provision.

At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Misconception of Fatherhood

House of God
Today’s Topic: Misconception of Fatherhood
Scripture: Ephesians 6:4; John 20:21; Romans 8:17

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:
In being a part of the Firstborn (Jesus) of the Harvest, we are co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Now there are some important things to remember about this. Many people quote it to feel good about themselves but in being a joint-heir with Christ there are some things we need to know. First, you cannot come to the Father except by Him. You cannot stand before the Father apart from His anointing. You cannot go forward in life except in Christ and through Christ. As a result, everything He is, constrains us to everything that we are. We are the Body in which He lives by His Spirit to do exactly what the Father sent Him to do, it is His continuing work. In the Great Commission Jesus says this John 20:21: Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” So the anointing is first manifested in the form of spiritual fathers. Jesus is the Everlasting Father and He sends His disciples to teach all nations and disciple them in the ways of Christ this is necessary because the condition of fatherlessness and the culture of the orphan continues to grow and the only solution to this issue is spiritual fathers and let me show you.

For example, the yuppie generation is a generation of parents typically born around the 1960’s and were parents around the 1980’s. Now many of these parents of this generation were focused on the physical welfare of the children but in terms of their discipline there was a lack or neglect because of the focus on the physical care of the child. The definition of a father then and in most cases now, is defined by how well a father can physically care for the child. This generation focused on giving money and resources without a true investment of time in the spiritual growth of the child. Everything hinged on giving bigger and better to the child and not necessary true values of working hard for what you want and the need for spiritual growth and knowledge of God being taught inside the home. The Yuppie Generation pursued money as first and foremeost and because of that mentality the mindset of buying your way out of every situation and even many cases buy the result of something was born. This failure and failed mentality towards fatherhood is on full display in the next generation and some cases 2nd generation. The yuppie generation bought their children expensive toys or every kind, freely divorced from one another and then the children are shuttled between parents who thought their way of parenting was to take the children to a theme park or buy the newest gadget. No where really is the children’s spiritual well being ever really considered. It is all about who can buy the child’s affection. Now we have a generation of children that is all about “buy-me now” and this is a result of the parents doing this very thing and catering to the children unrestricted without realizing the consequences. I thank God for strict parents who teach hard work, commitment and dedication. What is more damaging than that is now you have a generation that never really understood the culture of their parents because their parents generation was a generation that refused to discipline their children because they viewed it as violence. When there is a lack of discipline, the culture of the orphan is dominant.

To save this generation it will require spiritual fathers who will show God the Father. The spirit of the Primogenitor (Jesus Christ) is in the church to raise up a generation of spiritual fathers to show God the Father and these fathers will exercise the proper discipline and training that will remedy the condition of fatherlessness in the generation. Without spiritual fathers the society will run uncontrolled with violence, neglect and lawlessness.

In the next message we will look at the misunderstood role of the pastor and the spiritual father in the House of God.

At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Concept of Freedom in the Kingdom

Tonight on our "Living in the Kingdom and House of God" Bible Study we will be discussing "The Concept of Freedom" in the Kingdom of God. Join us tonight @ 9pm EST

Teleconference Phone Number: 712-432-3030
Conference Call Number: 213301

Look forward to hearing from you tonight!

The Sons of Jacob and the Son of God

House of God
Today’s Topic: The Concept of the Primogenitor: Sons of Jacob and the Son of God
Scripture: Genesis 42:37; Genesis 43:8,9;

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:
Now when we look at the Twelve Sons of Jacob these are them in birth order:
1. Reuben 2. Simeon 3. Levi 4. Judah
5. Dan 6. Naphtali 7. Gad 8. Asher
9. Issachar 10. Zebulun 11. Joseph 12. Benjamin
Now I point this out early so you will have a point of reference throughout this message. Now in Genesis 37 we see the story of Joseph and his brothers where they we jealous of Joseph because of the dreams he had and the interpretation lead to them bowing down to him. Well of course the brothers plotted to sell Joseph into slavery and lie to their father, Jacob about his whereabouts and what happened to him. Now Joseph goes through his situations in Egypt and a famine hits the land. So of course the brothers, except Benjamin went into Egypt to get some corn. When confronted by their brother Joseph who was ruler under Pharaoh in Egypt, he held Simeon in jail until they can prove themselves by bringing their youngest brother who at this time now was Benjamin. Now Jacob was totally reluctant to letting Benjamin go remembering what had happened, or supposedly happened to Joseph. Now two of the 11 remaining brothers approached their father Israel and made two different conditions in order to guarantee Benjamin and Simeon’s return. The first was Reuben, the oldest.

Reuben – Genesis 42:37:”And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.” Now Reuben made the condition to kill his 2 sons if he could not bring back Benjamin and Simeon.

Then Judah made his request:
Judah – Genesis 43:8,9:”And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live, and not die, both we and thou, and also our little ones. I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever.” Now Judah is putting his very own life on the line as a guarantee to bring Benjamin and Simeon back. This is so crucial.

Reuben made his children the ransom and sacrifice for failure to return. Judah made His own life the ransom and sacrifice. Now the reason this is unique is because when it was time for Israel to bless his sons, when he came to Judah he said this: Genesis 49:10 ”The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of people be.” Why this blessing? Because in pledging his life to restore the son that was held hostage and bring back the son given to him, he was fulfilling the essence of the story of Jesus Christ in which he pledged His own life to bring Adam back to the House of God. Not only Adam would he bring back but all of the sons of Adam who would accept His pledge of His own life. Judah was the type and shadow of the primogenitor, Jesus Christ in this story. Judah went in the name of his father to retrieve the lost son. Jesus came in the name of the Father to retrieve the lost sons of Adam.

Now you may say that the primogenitor is the first son and it should be Reuben but remember the patriarchal order is about the movement of the gospel and the story of the gospel will be told many ways through the order of the sons of God who is the natural lineage from Adam to Jesus. Jesus would come through the tribe of Judah hence making him and what he did the true type and shadow of what Christ will come and do.

At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

The Concept of the Primogenitor

House of God

Today’s Topic: The Concept of The Primogenitor: Elijah and Elisha, John and Jesus

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:9-15; Revelation 1:5; John 14:7,9b; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Isaiah 9:6;

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:

I hear many people pray “they want a double portion” of God’s Spirit and as I was studying, do we understand truly what we are asking for? I know it sounds good and the request is to “mean” we want more of God but what is this double portion because in scripture the double portion is specific and points to a concept that many do not understand and I pray we take the time to study this so we are not just saying things because it sounds good.

In 2 Kings 2:9-15 we have the story between Elijah and Elisha and the point where Elijah, who is the only one in scripture that I have been seen to be taken by chariot to Heaven, is about to be taken up. Now we studied in our previous series on “Sonship” Elijah was a type and shadow of John the Baptist and Elisha was a type and shadow of Jesus. Matthew 11:11-14 speaks about the greatness of John the Baptist and what he meant and at the end in verse 14 it says “And if ye will receive it, this is Elijah, which was for to come”. Now it is John the Baptist who announces Christ in the spirit of Elijah. So if we go back to the story in 2 Kings 2:19, Elisha is asking Elijah for the double portion of the spirit he had. Now before we go any further I want to bring this concept out here and then the picture will become clearer.

The double portion is a reference to a biblical concept called the primogenitor. Now for those of you who have been with us for a while this word may look familiar but it is slightly different. The word primogenitor is related to the word “father”. The root word of father and primogenitor is pater. Now the two words I want to show you so there is no confusion is:

Progenitor – Originator of a line of descent i.e. God the Father

Primogenitor – is the first son from the Progenitor that brings the culture of the father to the next generation.

So the primogenitor is the son of the father that brings the culture of the father to the next generation. Now when we look at Elijah and Elisha the primogenitor is the one who receives the double portion from the progenitor and carries on the culture. Elisha had been under Elijah for some time and in the scripture Elijah says if you see me go up then you shall receive the double portion (paraphrasing). Elijah was spiritually talking about Jesus who would receive the double portion from the Father because He was coming to represent the Father. Just like Elijah pointed to Elisha who would receive the double portion, John the Baptist would point to Jesus who receives the double portion from the Father. So in that day, Jesus is the primogenitor who shows us the progenitor (God the Father) by His own actions and activities.

The primogenitor is the Faithful and True Witness (Revelation 1:5), Jesus Christ, who is the reliable representation of the Heavenly Father hence Jesus said this:

John 14:7,9b:”If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him. He that has seen me hath seen the Father.

So now we can look at 2 Corinthians 5:19 and see the picture open a little wider. “To wit that God was in the Primogenitor (Christ) reconciling the world unto Himself.” Now the Son, Jesus has established His own body in the Earth. As a result, Jesus has the power and authority (Matthew 28:18) to represent the Father to the Body of Christ, Hence Jesus is called the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). So whoever is in the Body of Christ you are a member by spirit of the spiritual House of God and joined to the anointing who assembles you in Christ.

Not to get to far in this, in the next example I want to show you another Old Testament story of a type and shadow that brings us to the Primogenitor, Jesus Christ

At the Father’s Service,

Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

A Divine Solution

House of God

Today’s Topic: From Orphan to Son: A Divine Solution

Scripture: Malachi 4:5,6; 1 John 3:1; Luke 3:23-38; Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:17-19;

Greetings Kingdom Citizens:

Now why is it that we have a hard time understanding the mandate and the purpose of being a son of God? It all has to deal with your mentality and who you believe. Of course in the Garden, when mankind fell, a culture was introduced to the earth and a culture was lost. The culture of the orphan was introduced to the earth and the culture of the son was lost. Now God would put an order in the Earth that would maintain the knowledge of the culture until it’s restoration. This order is called the order of the Sons of God. Now this is a natural, fleshly lineage that takes us from Adam to Jesus. Luke 3:23-38 shows us this order and notice it is an order of fathers and sons. Hmm! Now we see the lineage from Adam to Jesus and notice it is a natural fleshly linage. Now Adam was a son of God and his sonship made him a son of God by His natural being which is spiritual. So the family of God is a spiritual household. So the coming of Jesus is to restore order of the spiritual House of God back in the Earth.

Now how will God do this? Well we know from past messages and the scripture that the House of God is arranged in a Patriarchal Order (fathers). So, Jesus is the one who brings us and gives us access to the Father because He was in the Father and the Father was in Him. Jesus also had a name in Isaiah 9:6 of Everlasting Father. Jesus would show the disciples the ways of the Father and he commissioned them in Matthew 28:18 to go and make disciples of all nations. Now this discipling will entail them teaching the nations the ways of the Father to bring them into maturity. So the way God does it, is through spiritual fathers. But let’s look a little back because God tells us in Malachi 4:5,6 exactly how He will do it.

Malachi 4:5,6:”Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse”

So God sends John the Baptist in the spirit of Elijah (Luke 1:17-19) to turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers. Now, John the Baptist is the mouthpiece and messenger for God before the Lord’s arrival. He had Holy Spirit before Jesus showed up on the scene at age 30 because the scripture says John was full of the spirit from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15). God has spiritual fathers that he has ordained to bring the Body of Christ into maturation. See, Fatherlessness is the number one condition that is continuously growing in the world today. So the solution to fatherlessness is fathers. Orphans are undisciplined and do not understand how to look beyond meeting their provision and protection. So God has spiritual fathers and this is not some religious models where some father sits in a church and you confess your sins to him in some booth. No, that in itself, I have a problem with because Jesus is our mediator and not man. Do not let religion take scripture out of context. These spiritual fathers does not hinge on biology and flesh. These spiritual fathers can be biological or not. Remember we are spirits in flesh and spirits have no ethnicity, so spiritual fathers can be fathers over people of different ethnicity.

So the gospel is how we have been made to be the sons of God. The apostle John said this in 1 John 3:1: “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us (saints), that WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD: Therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew Him not. That’s the good news. This is the point of dispute between the angels and God. They rebelled because they did not think that humans should be the heirs of God. So when newborns are born into the Body of Christ it is vital to protect them because they are vulnerable spiritually and mentally to the enemy. Moreover it is important that they are aware or know who their spiritual father is because it will be through them that God will mature the Body of Christ.

At the Father’s Service,

Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.