"...you are citizens together with God’s holy people" Ephesians 2:17-19

We who are not Jews have been brought near to God by the Gospel of peace from Jesus Himself.  This is where the word by the power of the Holy Spirit has been energized and began its transformative work in our lives to change us into the likeness of God.

The word became life to those of us who were not even close to God but were so far away that we were lost in a world without knowledge of our creator.  It was at that point that Jesus brought the good news to declare that God was near to us and loves us with an everlasting love.

That message is a message of peace, peace with God.  No longer are we fighting against God’s design as outsiders but are now incorporated into it as equals with His chosen people. 

They also needed to hear that same message too, but have rejected and spurned it because the Jewish people were looking for a Messiah who was militant and powerful against the political powers of the day, not one who was a spiritual leader and restorer of God’s internal peace.

Jesus came from among the Jewish community which He was born, he began proclaiming the message that God was near to all of us and not far off.  We now have the right to come to the Father in one spirit, no longer separated by being Jew or non-Jew, male or female, or even by nationality or personal conviction, we have the right to come to the Father with boldness and with the assurance that we will be gladly received by Him.

That is the marvelous thing with the Heavenly Father, we are received by Him, not as second-class citizens but as royalty. His intent was always to bring us close to Himself and reveal that we have an identity as family members of His home which was originally hidden from us but is now revealed.  That is right, we have a heavenly home which has been set aside for us, a home we originally came from there before we were born into this world and it is our eternal destination when we pass from this world back to our true home. 

God never views us as anything less than His own dear children, He wants His children to be near Him.  We have a duty and an obligation to let our other brothers and sisters know that we are all being called back home to live in this Heavenly Kingdom in the here and now, not just when we die.  

There is also a strange awareness that this Heavenly realm is a reality that is breaking into our natural world, the fabric of separation of the natural and the spiritual in becoming very thin and is becoming apparent to many as time progresses.  

As the people of God are coming back to the understanding of who God is, they are drawn to worship Him in ever-increasing creative ways.  This is evident by the plethora of worship music which is being released in our day and time. 

In Isaiah chapter 6, the prophet was given the privilege of seeing heaven’s design before the throne of God as Seraphim spoke to one another declaring “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts.”  They were allowed to see with their eyes a demonstration of His majesty and authority and given verbal expression to it.  Their words began to fill the temple with smoke and Glory by witnessing with their eyes and expressing with their lips the revelation of God sitting upon His throne in perfect supremacy and sovereignty.

As the Seraphim gave Glory to God and as He received that Glory, more of His Divine attributes began to be shown which revealed an even greater expression of praise and Glory. 

This Kingdom exchange and heavenly design continued to fill the space around them with the Glory and illumination of God until the entire temple was saturated with the appearance and revelation of God’s Glory. 

That is the design of heaven that is to be transferred to our earthly reality and our mandate to create an atmosphere on earth that is consistent with His nature and character in which He can dwell.  If we fulfill this mandate, all the other purposes and desires for which we long for will naturally be fulfilled by His Presence and anointing resting in us.

We can only participate in this type of exchange by virtue of the true revelation and comprehension of our hearts. It cannot be the mechanical articulation of words with only an intellectual perception of God’s dominion and glory. It must be through “overcoming” saints anointed with the spirit of wisdom and revelation being allowed to see, comprehend and experience the unveiling of His great Kingly authority, dominion and Glory and then offering expression to it.

It all starts with worship, and much of the creative worship that is being expressed lately is the first step in that direction.  

Let us approach the Lord with clean hands and pure hearts which are free from all ambition and malice and realize as Isaiah did, that only God truly knows our hearts and can cleanse us.  We can then approach His throne with boldness and with worship which expresses His majesty and wonder, and it is God Himself that will take us deeper into His presence with that expression of worship and illuminate and reveal Himself and His glory in us and through us.  

Let us create an environment which is full of praise and worship and where Christ will come and abide with us.  

That is actually our inheritance which has been given to us, that Christ may live within us, He is our hope of Glory!

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett

Creativity is our call, restoration is our purpose!

(Genesis 1:26-28) & (Matthew 28:19-20)

some inspiration was gleaned from Paul Keith Davis and his article "to fill the earth with his glory"