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HCMLC – May 16, 2019 Session 1: Supporting the local “church” Presenter: Apostle Anthony W. Roper

5 th Annual Hyde County MINISTERS & LEADERS CONFERENCE THEME: CHANGING THINGS THROUGH KNOWLEDGE (Hosea 4:6). HCMLC – May 16, 2019 Session 1: Supporting the local “church” Presenter: Apostle Anthony W. Roper Unity of Faith Covenant Ministries International

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HCMLC – May 16, 2019 Session 1: Supporting the local “church” Presenter: Apostle Anthony W. Roper

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  1. 5th Annual Hyde CountyMINISTERS & LEADERS CONFERENCETHEME: CHANGING THINGS THROUGH KNOWLEDGE (Hosea 4:6)

  2. HCMLC – May 16, 2019 • Session 1: Supporting the local “church” • Presenter: Apostle Anthony W. Roper • Unity of Faith Covenant Ministries International • 13165 US264 Hwy, Swan Quarter, NC 27885 • www.ufcmi.org

  3. Session Objectives • HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE • DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM • UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP • HOW KINGDOM CITIZENS SUPPORT THE “LOCAL CHURCH”

  4. HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE • RELIGION: • The adherence to a set of beliefs that regulate the moral, social and ritualistic behavior of the individual • Exists in every human culture • Every major problem in history can be traced to some religious foundation

  5. HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE(cont.) • Religion is the result of an inherent hunger that we cannot define but must seek to satisfy • Every person on earth is searching for two things in life: power and purpose! • What is the meaning of our existence and the power to control our lives, circumstances, determine/predict our futures, power over life & death

  6. HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE(cont.) • All religions are the same: • They attempt to answer the questions of power and meaning • All promise power to control life, circumstances and explain life/death • All claim to have the truth • All seem to glory in a spirit of separation and segregation rather than uniting humanity

  7. HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE(cont.) • Let’s look at the bible from non-religious viewpoint • Not a religious book but a concept that was introduced at the beginning of the creation of man. • Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [a]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Gen 1:26)

  8. HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE(cont.) • This statement is the most declarative statement ever made regarding mankind • Declares the motivation, nature, purpose, and mandate behind mankind’s creation. Makes clear that dominion is our purpose for existence • Dominion: Hebrew work mamlakah which is translated “kingdom,” “sovereign rule or government,” or royal power

  9. HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE(cont.) • The first thing man was given from God was a “kingdom” • Mankind’s failure through disobedience resulted in the loss of his dominion over the earth. Man lost his kingdom! • Mankind’s search is not for religion, or for Heaven, but for his kingdom • Religion can never satisfy the deep hunger in the heart of man

  10. HIGHLIGHT THE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE(cont.) • Must conclude that the fundamental message of the bible is about a King and a Kingdom • Not about religion or rituals, but about establishment of a kingdom rulership on earth from the heavenly realm • It’s about governing earth from Heaven through mankind

  11. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM • Everything Jesus said and did - His prayers, teachings, healings, and miracles - was focused on a kingdom, not religion. • He was preoccupied with kingdom; it was His top priority; His heavenly mandate • His first public statements reveal this Kingdom priority: • From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt 4:17) • “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:3)

  12. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • Religion vs. Kingdom • Religion preoccupies man until he finds the Kingdom • Religion is what man does until he finds the Kingdom • Religion prepares man to leave earth; Kingdom empowers man to dominate the earth • Religion focuses on heaven; Kingdom focuses on earth • Religion reaches up to God; the Kingdom is God coming down to man

  13. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • Religion vs. Kingdom • Religion wants to escape earth; the Kingdom impacts, influences and changes earth • Religion seeks to take earth to Heaven; the Kingdom seeks to bring Heaven to earth • Can’t promote Christian religion as a substitute for the message & concepts of the Kingdom of God • Kingdom must be our mandate & priority

  14. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • Priority defined: • The principal thing • Putting first things first • Establishing the most important thing • Primary focus • Placing in order of importance • Placing highest value and worth upon • First among all others

  15. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • Behavioral scientist Abraham Maslov prioritized man’s needs as follows: water, food, clothes, housing, protection, security, preservation, self-actualization, significance • The Priority of God: • “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matt 6:25)

  16. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? • 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? • (Matt 6:26-27)

  17. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; • 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. • 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matt 6:28-30)

  18. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ • 32 For after all these things the Gentiles(Pagans) seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. • (Matt 6:31-32)

  19. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • The Priority of God: • 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. • (Matt 6:33)

  20. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • The Priority of God according to Matt 6:33 • First instruction is to seek: pursue, study, explore, understand, learn, and consider. The kingdom must be pursued, studied, understood, and learned! • Secondly, Jesus tells us to make the Kingdom first. The Kingdom must be our top priority, the principal thing to place before all others as most important

  21. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • The Priority of God according to Matt 6:33 • Lastly, Jesus instructs us to seek first the Kingdom. • Kingdom is not a religion! • “Kingdom” in this verse is Greek word “basileia” which is equivalent to Hebrew “mamlakah,” translated from Gen 1;26 as “dominion.”

  22. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • The Priority of God according to Matt 6:33 • Practical definition of “Kingdom: • “the sovereign rule of a king over territory (domain), impacting it with his will, purpose, and intent” • (Dr. Myles Monroe)

  23. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • The Priority of God according to Matt 6:33 • Kingdom as used by Jesus implies: • God’s government, rulership & dominion over the earth • Kingdom of God means: • God’s will executed • God’s jurisdiction • God’s administration • God’s impact and influence

  24. DISCUSS THE PRIORITY OF THE KINGDOM(cont.) • The Priority of God according to Matt 6:33 • God established only two priorities for mankind • The Kingdom of God • Refers to the governing influence of Heaven on earth • The “righteousness of God” • Refers to right alignment and positioning with that government authority

  25. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP • Genesis 1:2-3 Amplified Bible (AMP) • 2 The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters. • 3 And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

  26. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • Genesis 1:26 New King James Version (NKJV) • 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

  27. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • The first command of God was to establish dominion or “government” to destroy chaos and to maintain order • Government is God’s idea! • Lack of correct government will always lead to chaos and disorder • Wherever there is chaos, disorder or lack of productivity, the answer is always correct government

  28. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • Jesus brought correct government to the earth to address chaos & disorder • From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt 4:17) • Heaven is a place with God as King • If we are “born again,” we are citizens of Heaven

  29. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • Citizenship is not membership. • Religion function on membership, while nations and kingdoms function on citizenship • Citizenship is a powerful draw • Citenzenship is critical to understanding the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven.

  30. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • Citizenship has great power as well as great privileges • Citizenship is the most precious gift a nation can give • “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. • Luke 16:16 (NIV)

  31. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • Citizenship has great power as well as great privileges • Citizenship is the most precious gift a nation can give • “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. • Luke 16:16 (NIV)

  32. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • How do we access our citizenship? • John 3:3, 5-7 New International Version (NIV) • 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” • 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. • 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. • 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’

  33. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • Born again is deeper than “being saved!” • It’s “naturalization” process by which we become Kingdom Citizens • New birth makes us naturalized citizens of the Kingdom • Returns us to “natural” state of authority and dominion over the earth as God intended • Means we voluntarily align ourselves with a new government and a new country, embracing it’s language, it’s ideals and it’s values

  34. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • Ephesians 2:19 New International Version (NIV) • 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,

  35. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • Colossians 1:12-13 New International Version (NIV) • 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. • 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

  36. UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CITIZENSHIP (cont.) • Citizenship Principles: • It begins immediately…it’s a present reality! • Religion postpones citizenship, but they are wrong! • Kingdom citizenship is never postponed. • It is functional on the earth right now! • All rights, privileges are ours NOW!

  37. HOW KINGDOM CITIZENS SUPPORT THE “LOCAL CHURCH” • Kingdom governments exercise jurisdiction over citizens no matter where they are • Accomplish through “dual citizenship”(…But now My Kingdom is from another place) – John 18:36

  38. HOW KINGDOM CITIZENS SUPPORT THE “LOCAL CHURCH” • The Kingdom of God is invisible but impactful • It cannot be detected by simple observation • It resides within us; we bear no physical or outward signs that broadcast to the world, “I’m a Kingdom citizen!”

  39. HOW KINGDOM CITIZENS SUPPORT THE “LOCAL CHURCH” • People will know nothing of our citizenship until we speak • The only way to determine true citizenship identity is to listen and observe behavior over time

  40. HOW KINGDOM CITIZENS SUPPORT THE “LOCAL CHURCH” • One of the responsibilities of any government is to take care of its citizens • That’s what the church is: An Embassy! • Not a religious place • Jesus established his ecclesia (church) not as a religious institution but to set up an embassy of His Kingdom

  41. HOW KINGDOM CITIZENS SUPPORT THE “LOCAL CHURCH” • That’s what the church is: An Embassy! • A place where Kingdom citizens (new & old) could receive aid, be trained in the ways, laws, language, and customs of the kingdom • A place where Kingdom citizens (new & old) can be equipped with the Kingdom resources they need for effective life in the Kingdom colony on earth

  42. HOW KINGDOM CITIZENS SUPPORT THE “LOCAL CHURCH” • Parting question for each of you: • In what ways can I use my resources, gifts, talents and abilities to support my local embassy?

  43. Questions?

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