The Power of the Kingdom of God

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: The Power of the Kingdom of God

Scripture: Romans 14:17; Hebrews 5:8; 12:28; Matthew 6:10,33

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

The Kingdom of God is the governing rule of God over the hearts of men. Romans 14:17: For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink (physical things) but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. So it is by the Holy Ghost that we are discipled into the laws, ways and character of God. The Kingdom of God is the government of the House of God. So in order to receive this peace that God gives His family or children one must have the abiding of His Spirit and be in the right-position or righteousness to experience this peace in the midst of turmoil. That means in the midst of turmoil we as sons of God, do not rely on our worldly government and our own strength to make peace but we submit to the rulership of God, His Kingdom and we allow Him to refine us and purify us and strengthen us in the crisis and as he does this, His glory shines forth through us and the world will see that we are His chosen people and they will desire in that time the House of God because they will realize it is the way.

Let’s look at this scripture here in Hebrews to show you the importance of clinging to the Kingdom of God in crisis.

Hebrews 12:28: Wherefore, we (sons of God) receiving a Kingdom WHICH CANNOT BE MOVED, let us have grace (power and authority) whereby we may SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR:

So in all of this shaking the only thing that will not move is the Kingdom that we have been given. Colossians 1:13: Who (Jesus) hath delivered us (sons of God) from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. So in the House of God, the Government of God which is His Kingdom is where His children will find refuge in the time of crisis. Now one thing that I want to stress to every believer. God will allow crisis to come upon us to strengthen us. What is he strengthening? He is strengthening our faith in knowing that we can hear Him, moment to moment and we are no longer dependent upon our souls but being lead by the Spirit and dependent on the Father. The Kingdom of God gives us power to overcome if we hold on to it in the time of crisis. Jesus Himself experienced crisis but in crisis he learned obedience.

Hebrews 5:8: Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.

So suffering is the way that the Lord strengthens and matures us in the Spirit. Weird isn’t it. It is called the Baptism of Fire by which the Lord administers to the saints to refine us from being lead by our souls and become dependent on His Spirit and obedient unto the Father. When we do this we see the power of the Kingdom manifest before our eyes. In the model prayer, our first request is “Thy Kingdom come (manifest), they will be done.” This is what we as the sons desire.

Now that we know that peace is in the House and Kingdom of God? What do we do in the midst of this turmoil? It is important to have godly counsel through this time because you can become vulnerable to your soul and began to respond out of fear and not out of confidence in God.

In the next message we will look at the response of the sons of God in the midst of crisis.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Power of the Kingdom of God

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: The Power of the Kingdom of God

Scripture: Romans 14:17; Hebrews 5:8; 12:28; Matthew 6:10,33

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

The Kingdom of God is the governing rule of God over the hearts of men. Romans 14:17: For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink (physical things) but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. So it is by the Holy Ghost that we are discipled into the laws, ways and character of God. The Kingdom of God is the government of the House of God. So in order to receive this peace that God gives His family or children one must have the abiding of His Spirit and be in the right-position or righteousness to experience this peace in the midst of turmoil. That means in the midst of turmoil we as sons of God, do not rely on our worldly government and our own strength to make peace but we submit to the rulership of God, His Kingdom and we allow Him to refine us and purify us and strengthen us in the crisis and as he does this, His glory shines forth through us and the world will see that we are His chosen people and they will desire in that time the House of God because they will realize it is the way.

Let’s look at this scripture here in Hebrews to show you the importance of clinging to the Kingdom of God in crisis.

Hebrews 12:28: Wherefore, we (sons of God) receiving a Kingdom WHICH CANNOT BE MOVED, let us have grace (power and authority) whereby we may SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR:

So in all of this shaking the only thing that will not move is the Kingdom that we have been given. Colossians 1:13: Who (Jesus) hath delivered us (sons of God) from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. So in the House of God, the Government of God which is His Kingdom is where His children will find refuge in the time of crisis. Now one thing that I want to stress to every believer. God will allow crisis to come upon us to strengthen us. What is he strengthening? He is strengthening our faith in knowing that we can hear Him, moment to moment and we are no longer dependent upon our souls but being lead by the Spirit and dependent on the Father. The Kingdom of God gives us power to overcome if we hold on to it in the time of crisis. Jesus Himself experienced crisis but in crisis he learned obedience.

Hebrews 5:8: Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.

So suffering is the way that the Lord strengthens and matures us in the Spirit. Weird isn’t it. It is called the Baptism of Fire by which the Lord administers to the saints to refine us from being lead by our souls and become dependent on His Spirit and obedient unto the Father. When we do this we see the power of the Kingdom manifest before our eyes. In the model prayer, our first request is “Thy Kingdom come (manifest), they will be done.” This is what we as the sons desire.

Now that we know that peace is in the House and Kingdom of God? What do we do in the midst of this turmoil? It is important to have godly counsel through this time because you can become vulnerable to your soul and began to respond out of fear and not out of confidence in God.

In the next message we will look at the response of the sons of God in the midst of crisis.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Glory of the Latter House

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: The Glory of the Latter House

Scripture: Haggai 2:7-9; Romans 14:17; Exodus 33:18-22

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Haggai 2:7-9: And I will shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

The prophet Haggai spoke a very powerful word here and in this scripture we will see that that House of God is what all of mankind that is under oppression, panic and fear is looking for. Let’s start to break this down. God is shaking the nations to separate His children from the children of the world. If you think about filtering sand and rocks. You shake the mixture of sand and rock and as you shake, the sand is filtered out and all that is standing and there is the rock. This shaking of the nations is necessary because in times of crisis, God’s children will stand tall anchored to the Rock who is Jesus Christ and the unmovable Kingdom of God. But before I get to far ahead God tells us his plan. He speaks through Haggai and tells us that the “desire of all nations” shall come. Who is the desire of all nations?

The Lord Jesus Christ

Now after the Father sends the desire of all nations, who is His Son, the Father said he will fill THIS HOUSE WITH GLORY. Now we see multiple things here. First we see, God sending His Son or His children is the answer to all problems in the world. Moreover, the Father goes on to say “THIS HOUSE” will He fill with glory. The phrase this house is not referring to a physical building but family. It is the family that is started by the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember His is the firstborn of many brothers. The Father said He will fill “this family” with glory. We know that the glory of God is His presence and goodness towards us (Exodus 33:18-22).

The Father continues to express that the glory of this latter house (The House of God) shall be greater than of the former. Now he brings it home. In this family or House is the place that He will give peace. Do we see that! It is in the House of God that the Father will give peace. All of this confusion, strife, turmoil, and oppression is all relieved within the House or Family of God. Every person is seeking this place of righteousness, peace and joy which is in the Holy Spirit who is the presence of God, His glory and this is the Kingdom of God (Romans 14:17).

Now in the next message we will look at the Kingdom of God and see why this is important to understand and how we deal with crisis. We know the House of God is the answer. Let’s now add the Kingdom of God to this discussion.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

New Teaching Series: Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Crisis and the Kingdom of God

Today’s Focus: The Answer to Crisis

Scripture: Haggai 2:7-9

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Now with all of the economic downfalls we have had over the past 2 to 3 years, many people are in panic and in disarray. Slowing we are seeing the church for what it has become and slowly we are seeing the true church emerge. What do I mean? When crisis hit and pressure is applied to the lives of people, one of two things happen. We will either see the glory of God through these who are in the crisis or we will see fear and panic in the lives of the people. Moreover, the religious church is not producing any answers for these people. Many are so crooked that they will say, that you need to give to them so that you can get your blessing from God. Huh? Now they are sitting up rich, and some multi-millionaires but the people are impoverished. Funny during the during this crisis God showed me that places like TBN, Daystar and the Word Network are pushing through so many “fundraisers” they call them love offerings and the people who are not mature in the Word of God, take their daily bread that God gives them to pay their bills and take care of themselves and give it to these crooks who misuse scripture for the sake of filthy lucre but yet the lives of the giver is not changed.

In the past 5 years we have see earthquakes and natural disasters claim thousands of lives. From Haiti to Chile to Pakistan to Japan and to Spain we are seeing more frequent earthquakes. In the United States in the month of April and May 2011 we saw over 250 tornadoes literally overnight come out of the sky and 300 lives we taken during this overnight set of storms that went through Alabama.

In 2011 we see the uprising of many nations by the people because they are tired of the oppression. From, Egypt, to Syria and to Libya we are seeing people taking to the streets demanding for freedom. We know that many of these uprisings are happening in predominate Muslim countries. These people are losing their lives for the sake of freedom because brutal dictators are oppressing them and keeping them in poverty.

We have been looking at a spiritual attack that continues to come upon the Kingdom of God by the antichrist spirit of homosexuality. We are watching the churches give in and compromise the Word of God to accept homosexual leadership and one-by-one the denominations are falling under this antichrist leadership. We are seeing more of the antichrist spirit in Hollywood impact and influence the leadership of churches to get them to cast their lots in with Hollywood. All for the sake of fame and fortune they sell their souls to the devil to live out their personal childhood fantasy at the hands and expenses of the souls of God’s people. So what is the answer?

I will give you the answer here but throughout the rest of the series we will work backwards and come back to why this is the answer. The answer of every one of these problems is:

The House of God

Let me leave you with this scripture and we will pick this up in the next message:

Haggai 2:7-9: And I will shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Obedience and Witnessing

Modeling Kingdom Discipleship

Today’s Focus: Obedience and Witnessing

Scripture: Acts 1:8; John 14:12; Romans 10:17; Exodus 19:5

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

In the last words of Jesus to the disciples before His ascension back to the Father, Jesus told them after the Holy Spirit has empowered them they will be witnesses unto Jesus. We said in a previous message that the works that we do will be a testimony and evidence that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.

John 14:12: Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

So Jesus came and laid the foundation for the sons of God and since that time and the time of His return, the sons will continue from age to age maturing in preparation for the return of the Lord. These disciples were witnesses of the fact that Jesus did only what they saw and heard the Father do. Now just as the Spirit of God led Jesus, the same Spirit will lead His brethern in the exact same manner, teaching and discipling us to do what we hear and see the Father do. What an amazing concept to discipleship. This means that there has to be some gifting to teach people that they can hear God and there is. This gifting is called the prophetic. Why is it important to be able to hear God and know it is God?

Romans 10:17: So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

So it is to build our faith. Jesus says that His sheep will hear His voice and hearken unto Him. All throughout the Old Testament, especially at Mt. Sinai when God was offering the children of Israel the first covenant, look what He says:

Exodus 19:5: Now therefore , IF YOU WILL OBEY MY VOICE, INDEED AND KEEP MY COVENANT, THEN YE SHALL BE A PECULIAR TREASURE UNTO ME ABOVE ALL PEOPLE: FOR ALL THE EARTH IS MINE:

Notice God makes an emphasis to obey His voice. See there was no Bible then so they had to learn the voice of God and hear Him through the messengers he ordained at that time. So when Jesus tells the disciples to go and teach others to observe all things he has commanded, just like Jesus gave the disciples verbal directions, the disciples will teach others in the same manner. So when we talk about the Great Commission we are putting an emphasis on the process of hearing the word of God and obeying His directions. If we do this, then we do not have to worry about sin because the Spirit knows no sin and if you are walking in the Spirit then you are walking in righteousness.

In understanding the Great Commission and our role in discipling the nations, we have concluded that to obey all that Jesus commanded was to do what we hear and see the Father doing. This means the mature sons of God are to walk among makind demonstrating that it is possible to walk like Jesus did, listening and obeying the Father moment by moment. As we demonstrate this, others are to learn and this is the process of discipleship. When we walk in this manner, the Spirit of God can draw men unto Himself and we, as the sons of God teach them by our life that we live and how we regularly obey the Father.

Why is this not the case today for the most part? The reason this is, because the leaders in the churches themselves are not followers of Jesus. Many are not concerned with making disciples as they are with getting members and converting them to their church doctrine and culture. So when we speak in this manner of "doing what we hear and see the Father doing" it is almost taboo and impossible in their mind to do this. Why? Because the culture does not permit this and the culture only permits the pastor to teach the flock to follow him or her. Hence we have people growing the church doctrine and ways and never really learning what it means to hear the Father and obey His voice. If the leaders do not know how to do this, how can we expect the flock to do it? There must be a change in culture and mindset in the church for this to be the reality.

At Our Father's Service,

Calvin Calhoun

Understanding Obedience in the Commission

Modeling Kingdom Discipleship

Today’s Focus: Understanding Obedience in the Commission

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20; John 5:19; John 14:8-11

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

When Jesus told the disciples to teach others to observe or obey everything that He has commanded, this has been misinterpreted in the sense that we need to teach people to obey everything in the Old and New Testament. Now think about this, could you imagine having to obey everything listed in the Old and New Testament? People would just turn away and go back to being a straight sinner because that would be extremely hard to do, and some has. Now here is a question, Jesus is obviously telling them to do something that He showed them to do and he is asking them to do that and show others. Jesus in His ministry did not walk around with scrolls under his arm and then when a problem arose, He pulled them out to find the absolute scripture and then quote it. Jesus did not do this. This is what Jesus did:

John 5:19: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily Verily I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He see the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Jesus only did what he saw the Father do and Jesus only said what He hears the Father say. This is called obedience and worship because Jesus is fully submitted to the Father and has given up the right to rule Himself to do His Father's Will and so the Father loves Him and shows Jesus what He is doing. It is only by the Spirit of the Father in Jesus.

John 14:8-11: Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? HE THAT HATH SEEN ME HATH SEEN THE FATHER; and how sayest thou then , Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU I SPEAK NOT OF MYSELF: BUT THE FATHER THAT DWELLETH IN ME, HE DOETH THE WORKS. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Jesus gave the Father a place in time as a vessel in which the Father can live and impact His Will upon the earth. Jesus consciously hears what the Father is telling Him to do and that is the thing that He is doing. He does this moment to moment and day to day. Jesus is being led by the Spirit of God and this is a confirmation that He is the Son of God. Hence obedience is not just obeying the commandments, but obeying directions. This is the way of life we are called to live as sons of God. This is a intimate lifestyle to live and this is opposite of church culture that looks for a commandment and do it and think we are pleasing God. In this thought process we are the ones who decide what God is actually doing in the moment because we are the ones who are apply the word to some situation.

The four gospels are a testimony of an existing relationship between the Father and the Son and it records a truth that Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing. Now this opens up and entirely different avenue to teaching discipleship that we have rarely heard of.

In the next message we will look at obedience and it's correlation to witnessing.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Defining Discipleship

Modeling Kingdom Discipleship

Today’s Focus: Defining Discipleship

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

In the last message we left off discussing how religion has made the Great Commission about teaching the ways of the institution and making disciples of the institution rather than disciples of Christ. Now let’s start defining discipleship. Jesus gives the disciples a clear command in

Matthew 28:20: “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:”

So a disciple is someone who obeys the Lord Jesus in everything. Very simple. Now we have read it to be teach them to obey everything the Lord has commanded but what has happened is there is has been an extensive emphasis on teaching rather than obeying. So when we give the information, we assume they are obeying. Do we see the difference? When you obey the Lord Jesus Christ, you show that you are a witness unto Him. Now let’s look at this word witness because there is such a misconception about witnessing and there is no way you can witness anything without obedience.

Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth.

Now when we read this, there is a clear process that the disciples had to go through before they can be a witness unto Jesus. That process is laid out right here in Acts 1:8. First you must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is one of the four doctrinal baptisms. This is called being baptized of the Spirit. Now remember the disciples received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in John 20:21-23 when Jesus blew on them. Now Jesus still tells them to go to Jerusalem and wait to be empowered. So a true witness of Christ must have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as well as be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Next Jesus tells them after that, they will be witnesses UNTO Jesus. Now what does it mean to be a witness unto Jesus? Well let’s look at this from a natural perspective. Suppose Jesus was sitting in the defendants chair and they call you to the witness stand. When you sit in the witness stand on behalf of Jesus to defend Him you must not only be able to testify with your words but also bring evidence of your testimony. When you do this you prove Jesus is who He says He is. 1 Corinthians 4:20 speaks that the Kingdom of God come not in word but in power. Power is the seen evidence of the King and the Kingdom. If we desire to be witnesses works must follow our words and also our faith. Faith itself comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God. When you trust in and believe in the thing that God told you to do, you obey and comply with that very command and that is what makes a disciple a disciple is obedience to the Lord. Look there are many people who can speak of the Lord, but how many have been empowered to manifest the power? We must get back to submission and obedience because these are the essence to true discipleship. The student cannot be greater than the Master. We must learn our place and as the Lord instructs us and matures us, we then can go out and effectively represent Him and teach others, like He taught us.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Religious Church Perspective of the Great Commission

Modeling Kingdom Discipleship

Today’s Focus: Religious Church Perspective of the Great Commission

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

It is my sincere prayer that we really grasp this and start filtering this problem out of the church and the Body of Christ. The doctrines of men and the doctrine of Christ are two seperate and opposite things. Paul told the sons at Philippi the let this mind that is in Christ Jesus also be in you. Hence we as the sons of God should be operating in one mindset and that is Christ. Any other mindset is a enemy of God. Now let's look at how the Great Commission is being misinterpreted and leading to ineffective results that do not produce mature sons but disciples of religion and denominations.

In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus tells the disciples to baptize people and then teach them to observe everything that He has commanded. What tends to happen in this process is after baptism we take the person and teach them the doctrines of our church and what we have grown up with. By teaching them this, the knowledge they receive is percieved to them as becoming true disciples of Christ. The current process presents itself in the manner of inviting people to come into your church and your environment and they will teach you the traditionss of the scriptures that those who are already "members" have embraced. So in actuality what are we making them disciples of? We are making them disciples to the denominational traditions and interpretations of scripture. This is why it is so hard when the Lord calls you out or shows you something that go against the denomination or tradition to tell it without getting extreme backlash. It is because the truth threatens the tradition and no one really wants to admit that they have been doing something wrong for fear of looking bad in the people's eyes. But at what expense do we keep this pride? At the expense of the maturation of the sons of God.

Now do not get me wrong, people are well intentioned but if we are truly disciples of Christ then we should be able to accept correction and repent no matter how long we have been doing it. Many denominations have disciplines, rules or a book of guidelines that they have to maintain order. Nothing is wrong if it does not contradict or mis-interpret the word of God. Funny, i can remember my wife telling me a story of how she would ask questions of why we do certain things in the church. Now she would genuwinely ask why because she wanted to know and the adults would try to shun her and try to just say this is the way we just do it. Now that did not sit well with her because as she grew up she believed and learned that we should always understand what we are doing and why we do it to make sure that we are doing that thing in it's proper context. But people who question things such as traditions are usually frowned upon and shuned as "rebels or radicals". Jesus was considered that very thing to the religious institution and the very teachings of Christ upset the order and religious ways of the Pharisees.

In the next message we will look at what a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is? We will look at the Commission and see what the Lord said and what He expected because He is the source and we are to follow Him, not tradition.

Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Foundation of Discipleship

Modeling Kingdom Discipleship

Today’s Focus: Foundation of Discipleship

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20; Psalm 2:5-7

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Now we have discussed and taught about the need for discipleship in the House of God and it is this process that is used to mature the sons of God. Now let's start with a foundation, de-construct it and then bring it back for understanding.

Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This is the Great Commission that Jesus gave His disciples after the resurrection. Now when we look at the foundation of discipleship we are clearly talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the foundation of our discipleship. How do we know? Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 that "All power in given unto me in Heaven and in Earth". Now this means Jesus has all power and authority in Heaven and Earth. He is the King! He is the sovereign ruler. Jesus was making a decree and declaration of his Kingship when He made that statement but look at that again. It says the power and authority was GIVEN UNTO HIM. But by who? The grace was given to Him by the one who was discipling Him? Let's look at Psalm 2 for the answer.

Psalm 2:5-7: Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath and vex them in His sore displeasure. Yet have I (Father) set my King (Jesus) upon my Holy Hill of Zion. I (Father) will declare the decree: The Lord (Father) hath said unto me (Jesus), Thou are my Son (Jesus); this day have I (Father) begotten thee.

So it is the Father that empowers, declares and anoints Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is why Jesus has the word "Christ" attached to His name to declare that He is the Anointed One. Now to say the He has all power and authority is to say that He is the source of the power and authority in the Kingdom of God. Through Him and His power and authority are we even able to effectively work and participate in this Commission. It is only by Him because He is the one who commissions you when it is time to go. When man does the commissioning it should simply be a confirmation of a work that you are already doing.

Moreover Jesus must be Lord over your life before you can even think about discipleship. You had to repent of your sins, declare Jesus to be Lord and believe that God raised Jesus from the dead before you can enter into the Kingdom of God and begin your growth through discipleship.

In the next message we will look at how some people view the Great Commission and how it is not fulfilling the truth of the Commission and diminshing true discipleship.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Administration

Concept of Fire Baptism

Today’s Focus: The Process of Fire Baptism Part 2: Administration

Scripture: Matthew 3:11; John 16:33

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Now who is the person who administers the Baptism of Fire? The scriptures actually tell us.

Matthew 3:11: I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE.

The only person that administers this type of baptism is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not something you pray for or rush ahead to make happen. It cannot be chased for given by the laying on of hands. Now as the Lord Jesus administers this baptism, Holy Spirit will be leading you and guiding you through this crucial stage of maturation. Here is where your spiritual father comes into play because you will need him to guide you and provide constant reassurance and encouragement to stay in the fire until the process is complete. Your spiritual father should also have gone through this process to give you proper counsel.

John 16:33: These things have I spoken unto you THAT IN ME YE MIGHT HAVE PEACE. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer because I have overcome the world.

So while we are going through this trial by fire, the Lord Jesus Christ is where we will find peace through the storm. Your spiritual father knows this and gives you counsel to access this peace. Suffering is God way of teaching us obedience through tribulation and as we learn obedience through suffering we begin to enter the Kingdom of God. Now why does this seem so uncommon and not taught by many leaders.

It is hard to believe that the way God would teach you obedience and change of mindset from the orphan to the son is through suffering. The word suffering has always been attached to a negative viewpoint and when people are suffering we pray that God relieves them and sets them free. However, have we viewed the trial and tribulation as a period in the person’s life to mature? Now when “church members” are going through, many pastors will ask the church to pray for the individual for the Lord to set them free from the devil’s attack. It is not about the devil but about maturation. This is why spiritual fathers are so crucial to this point because they will be able to recognize this baptism and respond with the proper counsel, wisdom, knowledge and understanding to help the son through the process and not to pray for them to be set free. Many pastors do not see suffering as being beneficial for the believer so to identify with this stage of maturation for the sons of God is extremely hard.

At Our Father’s Service,

Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Process of Fire Baptism

Concept of Fire Baptism

Today’s Focus: The Process of Fire Baptism

Scripture: John 10:17; Matthew 16:24; 1 John 2:15,16; Genesis 3:6,7; 1 Corinthians 15:31; Romans 8:1,13,36

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

In the last message we left off that Baptism of Fire is the process of killing one’s soul-dominated viewpoint and lifestyle and give way to a Spirit-lead lifestyle. Now let’s look at this scripture so we can see what this process means.

John 10:17: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

So the Father loves the Son because He made a choice to forsake His own way and His own rule over His life to allow the Father to use Him for the Father’s Will. This is the reasonable service that we are all expected to do as sons of God. There are no brownie points for doing this. Romans 12:1,2 says that when you present your bodies as a living sacrifice , holy and acceptable that is your reasonable or expected service. Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24: If ANY MAN will come after me, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross and follow me.

So self-denial in the House and Kingdom of God is not optional for maturity it is mandatory because God will not go against your free will. He can make the atmosphere uncomfortable but He will not drag you, nor force you. Now when you know better the consequences of course are more severe. Now when we talk about denying ourselves, what are we denying?

1 John 2:15,16: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any many love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

We are deny the lust of the flesh, eyes and the pride of life because that is of the world and if you do not deny these things then the love of the Father is not in you. Now in a couple of messages we discussed the situation at the fall with Eve, the devil and Adam and I want to show you this very scripture again because I put some words in it to show you how man separated himself from the Father.

Genesis 3:6,7: And when the woman saw (lust of the eyes) that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant (lust of the flesh) to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise (pride of life), she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. AND THE EYES OF THEM BOTH WERE OPENED AND THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED AND THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER AND MADE THEMSELVES APRONS.

So when we look at this scripture you see the lust of the eyes, flesh and pride of life right here with Eve and because she did not deny herself, she as well as her husband fell in sin. In living in a world full of sin self-denial has to happen daily.

1 Corinthians 15:31: I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Romans 8:36: As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter

The result of living a soul-lead life is death because you seek your own protection and provision and sin is what you perceive it to be. The result of living the Spirit-lead life is eternal life and no condemnation. Let me close with these two scriptures:

Romans 8:1,13: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT. 13-For if ye live after the flesh, YE SHALL DIE: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of your body, YE SHALL LIVE.

In the next message we will continue with understanding how fire baptism is administered.

At Our Father’s Service,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Spiritual Order of Creation

Concept of Fire Baptism

Today’s Focus: Death to Life: The Spiritual Order of Creation

Scripture: John 12:24,25; Matthew 13:37-39

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

In the last message we left off talking about the biological order of creation that God set in order in the earth before man was even on earth and that order is being carried out today. However we know that the things that are seen are types and shadows of eternal realities and tangible things we can touch to relate to things about God. Once we come into the place and time to receive His revelation then we can receive the reality of the thing God is showing through the type and shadow. Now we know Jesus came to change the order in the earth from natural to eternal so let’s look back at this scripture because not only was Jesus referring to the biological order of creation but also the spiritual order.

John 12:24,25: “Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

Now Jesus is describing a natural pattern and order of life but then transitions the discussion to if a man shall deny himself (lose his life) he will save it unto life eternal and those who love their life (self-preservation) shall lose it (death). Now this was not the only scenario Jesus used to describe death giving way to life.

In the Parable of the Wheat and Tares Jesus gives the reality to the parable to the disciples and this is what he says to them.

Matthew 13:37-39: He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of Man (Jesus Christ); The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the Kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Now we as the sons of God are the good seed that has been planted into the earth to be harvested as the end of the age. Along with us are the children of the devil. Now remember a seed that is planted will undergo death and decay first before the new life is brought into view. This death that we must die is to sin and self which is a soul-dominated lifestyle. Our soul is in a natural state of decay as we hand over more control of our soul life to the spirit. This process of dying to ourself and sin is the baptism of suffering or baptism of fire. This is the baptism that kills our soul from dominating our lives.

In the next message we will look at how Jesus and others demonstrated this in their daily walk.

At Our Father’s Service,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Biological Order of Creation

Concept of Fire Baptism

Today’s Focus: Death to Life: The Biological Order of Creation

Scripture: Genesis 8:22; John 12:24; 1 Corinthians 15:55; Romans 1:20

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

In Genesis 8:22 we see the Lord telling us that while the earth remains there will be a seedtime and harvest. Now, God is showing us a pattern here that Life is only activated at the height of death. Now let’s lay this other scripture out so that we can form the picture.

John 12:24: Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: BUT IF IT DIE, IT BRINGETH FORTH MUCH FRUIT.

Now to the carnal person this is weird and does not make sense so let’s seek understanding to this process of death and life. When we look at a seed and it’s process to yielding fruit where is the life? Now we may think that it is found in the seed? Well if that is the case then seeds should always be sprouting with no soil. Moreover, prolonged exposure to water and the earth can only produce decay and death of the seed. In addition, life is not contained in the soil. For real? If there was life in the soil we could plant little pebbles and grow rocks. So where is the life if it is not in the seed and the soil? Once the seed reaches it‘s full state of decay and death, it encounters the Spirit of Life which was infused into the earth at the creation. Remember God is the giver of life and nobody else and remember Holy Spirit was the first person of the Godhead in the Earth at the time the Lord spoke the creation into existence.

Once Death meets Life, suddenly out of death comes life because life swallows up death.

1 Corinthians 15:55: O death, where is thy sting? O, grave where is thy victory? This is how death gives way to life in the biological and natural order of creation. This is pre-programmed by God in the earth to show something about God and moreover, something about us. But let’s prove this.

Romans 1:20: For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

So God has infused the Earth with Him and His Life so that all things exist in a balance that exemplifies something about Him and even ourselves so that we are without excuse that God and the Godhead exist.

In the next message we will look at the spiritual order of creation as it pertains to death and life.

At Our Father’s Service,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Foundation of Life

Concept of Fire Baptism

Today’s Focus: The Foundation of Life

Scripture: Genesis 1:1,2; John 1:1-3; Hebrews 11:3;

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

It is vital that we lay this foundation to understand the concept of fire baptism because people do not understand and because of a lack of understanding we have sons of God still living as orphans. The foundation of life originates from the Godhead or Trinity. We know this by scripture:

Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

John 1:1-3: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God, the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

Now the first person of the Godhead that earth was introduced to was Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:2: “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters”. Now what is happening here is we have the Spirit of God, the Breath of Life infusing with the earth to bring Life. Life is only activated at the height of death and I will show you this in scripture a little later but remember that little nugget. Now after the Holy Spirit is in the Earth, then we see the process of the creation come into existence but what is unique is how God makes the worlds:

Hebrews 11:3: Through faith WE UNDERSTAND that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

So the worlds were framed and created by the Word of God and without Him was nothing made. So God is life and the foundation of all life. Now the way God frames life in the Earth is very unique and there is a pattern by which He does it.

Genesis 8:22: While the earth remaineth seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

In the next message we will look at this pattern and explain how life is only activated at the height of death.

At Our Father’s Service,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Soul

Concept of Fire Baptism

Today’s Focus: The Soul

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Genesis 3:6,7,11

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Now when we talk about the soul leading this is completely different from the lead of the Spirit. When the soul is leading, you are the leader. The soul is the dominant leader before the Spirit of God abides in a person and begins to lead and order their steps. This was not always the case. The lead of the soul began with the fall in the Garden and let me show you.

Man is composed of three elements, the spirit, soul and flesh. How do we know?

1 Thessalonians 5:23: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So before the coming of our Lord, we are to be sanctified wholly, meaning all three in agreement with the Will and purposes of God which is your spirit, soul and body.

Now before the fall of this was in perfect alignment. Man was being lead by the Spirit and His actions and ways mimicked the Father and the creation responded to the one who was given dominion over it, the son of God. Now Adam was ok but in the fall something changed and let’s see what it was because remember before the fall Adam was lead by God.

Genesis 3:6,7: And when the woman saw (lust of the eyes) that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant (lust of the flesh) to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise (pride of life), she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. AND THE EYES OF THEM BOTH WERE OPENED AND THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED AND THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER AND MADE THEMSELVES APRONS.

This set of scripture is so loaded we may have to pick this up in the next message but look at verse 7 where it says and their eyes were opened and remember this was now after the transgression. So before the transgression we know that the eyes of the spirit was opened because Adam and Eve were led by God. We know their physical eyes were open because they can see the serpent and name the various things that they saw on the earth. So what were the eyes that were opened in verse 7. It was the eyes of the soul.

The soul is where you perceive, rationalize and feel emotions. Now look at verse 7 because their perception to who they are has now changed and verse 7 speaks of their new perception. The scripture says their eyes were open and they KNEW they were naked. Now to say that they knew means they acquired some knowledge contrary to the knowledge they received from God. Adam understood that he was a spirit enclosed in flesh but after the fall it says that they knew they were naked. Their nakedness in this scripture pertained to them seeing themselves as fleshly beings and then their action corresponded to their perception in the act of sewing fig leaves to make an apron. Do we see this? Their perception now as being fleshly beings came from their soul and in response to that perception they acted to try to cover their nakedness. This is why God asked Adam in Genesis 3:11: “Who told you, that you were naked?”

So now man became led by His soul and he would seek provision and protection by the sweat of his own brow. How he perceived things would now be by the five-senses and because now man is fatherless due to his sin and separation from the Father, now he has become an orphan and a slave to sin. So the mindset of the orphan or fatherless individual is lead by the soul being consistently preoccupied with their provision and protection. This is not the life God designed for mankind but it was a life that He knew would be the consequence of their choice to sin against Him. Nonetheless the love of God and the wisdom of God already had a plan in place to save man from the lie, the lifestyle and death and give Him life again.

In the next message we will look at the foundation of Life.

At Our Father’s Service,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.