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Extreme Exertion

The Kingdom of God in action is the continual moving, shifting and transitioning with the times and places that the King is working in us and working us into. If my forefathers and mothers had not left Germany, Austria, Ireland and England in the 1800’s, I would not be in the relationships I am in now immigrantsand, because of events affecting them in that time-period, I may never have been born. You could likely say the same about your forebears. Many of those predecessors acted violently, that is, out of the norm and made great sacrifices so the King could shift and transition them. “And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize–a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].” (Matt 11:12 , Amp) There are people who do not just let things happen to them, they make decisions for the Kingdom purposes of God and act with “intense exertion.” In spite of the angle of descent of morals and values in this nation, we stand on the brink of a destiny that our forefathers never imagined. But it will require shifting, modifications, transitions and “intense exertion” to see it in reality.

(This is the fourth excerpt from an article by Marty Gabler entitled “The Kingdom Of God In Action.)

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Marty & Kathy Gabler

Living In The Moment

The Kingdom of God in action is each believer living in the moment. Kingdom action is now… not in a few months or a few years to come. Kingdom action takes Hands on worldplace wherever and whenever sons of God are present. But we must live in the moment, not in past failures or regrets nor in the future where we are convinced we will be something we are not now. In order to “heal those who are sick and tell them the Kingdom has come” (Lk.10:9) we must be committed to the Kingdom action of healing. Be in Kingdom action at all times to show others the action of the Kingdom. Less debate/theological argument and more redemptive action will turn the heads of an, otherwise, rebellious culture. 47 “The chief priests and Pharisees said, What are we to do? For this Man performs many signs (evidences, miracles). 48  If we let Him alone to go on like this, everyone will believe in Him and adhere to Him.” (Jn.11:47-48, Amp)

(This is the third excerpt from an article by Marty Gabler entitled “The Kingdom Of God In Action.)

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Active Voice Of God On Earth

The active voice of the Kingdom of God on earth is the ecclesia (Gk. “ekklesia” pronounced ek-klay-seé-ah). We use this particular word for “church” when actually in the Greek it means “called-out ones.” One source has it that ekklesia was the name given to the governmental assembly of the city of Athens, duly called out by proper officers and possessing all political power including the Constitution02administration of justice—and that is with reference to actions of a judge. The word was in use before the New Testament was written and, when inspiring the writers of Holy Scripture, was chosen by Holy Spirit who was attempting to show believers what they were to be about when they were assembled. If we go merely by the religious/cultural view today, we would understand the voice of “the church” to be one of continual petition for things that would maintain us in our comfort zones. But if we forsake a modern, western mindset and get into the thinking of first century believers who understood the pure meaning of “ekklesia” in their times, we would realize that the voice of heaven on earth is a governmental one either allowing or disallowing, which would be sufficient to stay the malevolent powers of darkness which are vehemently attempting to thwart the advancement and practice of redemptive, divine government in culture. The called-out, authorized, righteous-character citizens of heaven must continually contradict darkness by verbal affront and command. Put simply, we must lift our voices in declarations of the known will of God and pray imprecatory prayers (e.g., Ps.5, Ps.35, Ps.56, Ps.69, Ps.83) against institutional evil that the Light of God’s Kingdom may break in upon the dark minds of lost humanity, That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, Are the Most High over all the earth.(Ps.83:18)

(This is the second excerpt from an article by Marty Gabler entitled “The Kingdom Of God In Action.)

The Kingdom In Action

Sunrise_400The Kingdom of God is not just something we believe and carefully add to our theological belief system but is the authority of God in action—in us and through us. The Kingdom of God is the government of God and the government of God is exercised through the sons of God. The Kingdom of God is the redemptive action of King Jesus here and now in this earth and, if need be, advancing directly against the tide of a subverting and obtuse culture.

(This is the first excerpt in a series by Marty Gabler taken from an article entitled “The Kingdom In Action.”)

A Legacy Of Warriors

A Legacy Of Warriors
David was caught in the crossfire between King Saul and Israel’s destiny, but he had already been trained not to be a victim of a lion, nor a bear, nor a giant and now… a king.  He did not stumble into Saul’s grasp, but he fought wisely.  He dodged the spear, hid cunningly and acted a lunatic when necessary.  Nor did he act like a victim and lash out at the king.  Rome-warriorHe was surrounded by God’s countermeasures: 400 distressed men and mighty warriors and the king’s own son.

Stephen, caught in the crossfire between tradition and truth, disempowered his enemies, even while being stoned by refusing to play the victim in attitude.  He finished his stand for righteousness and prevailed through the countermeasure of forgiveness!

Jesus, caught in the crossfire between the Old Covenant and New Covenant was persecuted by the Pharisees. Yet He never empowered them by seeing Himself as a victim.  He declared their limitations openly, saying they could not take His life. He was confident of His unlimited, supernatural backing.

Persecution for righteousness’ sake will never produce a victim legacy, rather, a legacy of warriors who eventually displace systems, principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness.  That’s making offensive moves and taking ground. That’s the Kingdom in action.

(This is the last excerpt from an article by Kathy Gabler entitled “Offense: The Kingdom In Action” in which she talks about the advantage of moving from merely a defensive strategy to an offensive strategy.)

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Cowering Chunk Of Crispy Fried Chicken?

Cowering Chunk Of Crispy Fried Chicken?
Actually, persecution for righteousness’ sake is evidence that you are a Kingdom agent caught in the crossfire. The real target is a righteous deposit of God’s purpose in history.  Fried ChickenNow that’s not to minimize persecution or say that being in the crossfire is fun or easy.  It wasn’t easy for Esther when she was caught in such crossfire, but she did not throw up her hands and take on a victim-attitude.  Persecution does not equal “victim” or “martyr.” We should not automatically just cower.  Esther didn’t, and we can learn from her.  The opposite of being a victim is to fight wisely, activate God’s countermeasures and get a God-strategy. Daniel and the three Hebrews were persecuted in the crossfire of King Darius’ corrupt court, but a victim would have been a lion’s lunch or crispy fried chicken in the fiery furnace.

(This is an excerpt from an article by Kathy Gabler entitled “Offense: The Kingdom In Action” in which she talks about the advantage of moving from merely a defensive strategy to an offensive strategy.)

The Point Of Empowerment

Sentiment may tell us that being persecuted is the same as being a victim or even a martyr, but according to this beatitude in Matt.5:10, persecution for righteousness’ sake actually marks the point of empowerment, Open_doorwhere the blessings of the Kingdom (that is, the power of His order and unlimited resources) open to us.  This scripture tells us we have the option to see persecution defensively or offensively, as victimization or empowerment. Spending our life pressing toward the mark and taking a righteous ground,  will involve persecution in the process, but persecution is not a goal, and God certainly never intended us to develop a victim’s  expectation  that draws it.

(This is an excerpt from an article by Kathy Gabler entitled “Offense: The Kingdom In Action” in which she talks about the advantage of moving from merely a defensive strategy to an offensive strategy.)

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For Righteousness Sake

Office-WorkersLet’s see how the “persecuted for righteousness sake” (Matt.5:10) scripture unfolds.  The root of this blessing is righteousness.  Righteousness is an offensive move toward a God-goal, and the persecution is generated because of it.  This verse does not say, blessed are the persecuted for theirs is the kingdom.  Many have made persecution the focus and left people with a tendency to glorify persecution, even if the conflict is not about righteousness. For example, it’s not about righteousness when a zealous person wants to witness to get another notch in their pistol and they take every opportunity to throw pearls before swine (Matt 7:6). That’s persecution for obnoxiousness’ sake.  In the office, when a Pharisaical legalist points out every sin and calls down hellfire, he’s persecuted for condemnation’s sake.  The zealot and legalist are not being persecuted for righteousness’ sake.  However, from the ripple effect, even though these people have misrepresented God and generated their own persecution and bruises, they become the defensive victim, and being a defensive victim is a common view of Christianity, but not sonship.

(This is an excerpt from an article by Kathy Gabler entitled “Offense: The Kingdom In Action” in which she talks about the advantage of moving from merely a defensive strategy to an offensive strategy.)

Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted

Let’s take another turn from defensive to offensive in the constitution of the Kingdom, in Matt 5.  As surely as meekness generates the blessing of earthly inheritance in v. 5, and being pure in heart generates the blessing of seeing God show up in v. 8, just so v. 10 tells us what generates tree-sunsetKingdom power in our lives:  Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake!  For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.  

Happy and to be envied are those pursued with harassment or oppressive treatment because they have aligned with righteousness.   What is the blessing?  God’s  governmental power IS (present tense) theirs.  His authority and authorization and strategic wisdom and supernatural resources are, present tense, theirs.  (As well as now-power, v. 12 extends the blessing to future reward in heaven also.)  

(This is an excerpt from an article by Kathy Gabler entitled “Offense: The Kingdom In Action” in which she talks about the advantage of moving from merely a defensive strategy to an offensive strategy.  *The other excerpts from this article are listed below on this page.*)

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We pray that this issue of SEEC Magazine is a blessing to you,  
Marty & Kathy Gabler