The roots undergirding ‘Alberta Linked’ come from a kingdom rationale. It begins in the prayer of Jesus, who instructed us all to pray ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth...’. This ultimate intention is key! It encompasses the idea that the Church is more than a community of believers. It is an Ekklesia! The Ekklesia is a ‘ruling council’, designed to manifest the wisdom and authority of heaven on earth.
Eternal Purpose
The wisdom of God has cleverly concealed an audacious plan for an imperfect people. Wound together through impossible grace, it is intended to subvert the ambitious plans of evil. Yes, as much as we would like the return of Christ to accomplish these things, His agenda has always placed us at the centre of His purpose.
This reality was clearly outlined by the Apostle Paul when he wrote the following.
“to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,…” Ephesians 3:10
God is determined to manifest his wisdom through the ‘Church’. Yet our ideas of what the Church ought to look like have been greatly diminished. Our hopes fall vastly short of His intention.
The Ekklesia
Dean Briggs, in his brilliant book aptly called Ekklesia Rising, demonstrates how the collective expression of the believing community was always meant to be a governing council. It is the ‘working means’ through which God will rule the earth and bring all things into obedience.
Dean specifically explains the origins of the word, used throughout the New Testament, as being Greek in origin. It was not a Hebrew idea but a Hellenistic one, borrowed for the express purpose of identifying the authority of heaven on earth. It points to God’s eternal intention to rule through His people.
We are not talking about abolishing natural systems of government. Rather, we understand that all authority begins with God. However, the intentions of God have been subverted by the influence of spiritual powers. So much so, that the minds of men have been clouded and unable to fully govern righteously. God’s spiritual government emerges with an atmosphere able to create sight-making what is right just and right obvious. Through the weapons designed to pull down strongholds and impart the knowledge of God, heavenly reality disperses confusion decisively and clearly.
The issues we wrestle with in our nation and province are consistent with those of the early Church. They were directed to focus their warfare toward spiritual powers lurking invisibly behind the scenes (Ephesians 6:12). Ideologies of racism, politics, and social chaos are empowered by the winds of darkness. They cannot be quenched through rationalism or argument, but rather by a greater spiritual authority. Remember Paul’s admonition!
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:4
The momentum behind these issues is demonically fueled. As winds in the sails of a schooner, they exaggerate their substance while creating an unnatural momentum. So while all efforts are to be commended in this multidimensional battle, the root of their power must be addressed by a spiritual government. This is the mandate of the Ekklesia, the corporate body of Christ, refined by glory, armed with the word and manifesting the culture and decrees of heaven on earth.
The Subjugation of Evil
The goal is a Kingdom free of all obstruction and dissonance. In Corinthians, Paul writes of the final expression as fully emerging ‘when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.’ God has already planned and equipped us to carry out this vision through His Spirit.
Between here and there, is a journey! It is a path into increasing unity and alignment with God, such that increasing measures of His presence will manifest upon the earth. Whether we are a party to this movement is contingent on our posture now. He has held in reserve everything necessary for the subjugation of evil. We are His answer! Whether we feel ready or equal to the task, it is ours to seize. And if we have the courage, boldness and diligence to do so, we will witness the most amazing display of the glory of God the earth has known.
Join dozens of Alberta Leaders, as we prepare for our first Provincial Assembly in Spruce Grove, Alberta on March 12 through the 14th 2020. Register here.