The Mandate of the Church - Mike Lyons

• 01/03/2018
• SLC Stuart Price

 

 

The Mandate of the Church 

 

One of the primary aspects of becoming a victorious and overcoming church is to understand the mandate and calling of the church itself. While this may be addressed on many levels serious consideration must be given to the mandate given in Genesis to Adam.

 

Gen 2:15  And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 

 

In the modern vernacular Adam was given responsibility of both the maintenance and security of the garden. One might pose the question that if Adam was responsible for security, what was the serpent doing in the garden, and why, when he became aware of it, did he not immediately evict it? 

 

In effect this is the same mandate the church has on the earth today. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, the bible says, but against the host of demonic powers of darkness which are the root cause of evil and ungodly outcomes in the world today.

 

I believe we must be honest and realistic enough to pose the same question to the church we might pose to Adam. That is, how effectively is the church in the corporate sense operating in its God given mandate on the earth? 

 

Jesus gave us a reasonably simple statement and subsequent protocol for dealing with these issues.

Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 

When dealing with the thief and destroyer, the Lord said:

Mat 12:28  But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.  Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 

 

Throughout scripture we see marvellous outcomes when the strongman is dealt with.

Moses was sent to deal with Pharaoh (the strongman) and a nation was delivered from slavery and bondage.

 

David dealt with Goliath (the strongman) and an army afflicting God’s people ran in terror. Further they chased the Philistines all the way back to the gates of Ekron. Gates represent  a position of authority, and the word Ekron means “torn out by the roots” We need to be prepared to seek God for wisdom in identifying both the strongholds and perceived sources of authority and deal with both in prayer.

 

I recommend reading the book of Esther. Once again the strongman (Haman) who would destroy a nation is defeated by a woman (type of the church) who firstly demonstrates a greater desire for the Kings presence than his provision. 

 

The final outcome is the strongman is defeated, his house plundered, a nation delivered, and Mordecai who represents spiritual integrity is second only to the king ministering to his people.

 

Est 8:7-8  Then the King Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse. 

 

Est 10:3  For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed. 

 

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.[Math28:18]” This is absolutely legal, real & binding authority that there is no question who is ruling. The King, Our Lord, The Head of the Body of the church – has legally given that to us to use and guarantees us when He said to us “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

 

Know your destiny in God, to enforce the victory that Jesus has won & be ready to use your authority in the name of the King!   The Word of God; through the mouth and heart of His children, declared out of a mouth of faith, has great power that no other name or thing can withstand its power.  Let us; on purpose live out the original design of God for our lives.

Mike Lyons

 

Have an awesome week.

Pastor Stuart & Colleen