Personal freedom is a foundational principle of the United States of America. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights are documents written to insure this freedom.  The First Amendment is a truth we live by; “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” In short, we do not want someone infringing on our freedom.

I am in agreement, we should not have to live under the tyranny of evil rule or government. The scripture even declares that we should pray for the governing authority over us so we might live peaceably (1 Tim 2:1-2). We should not have fear for our existence.

However, this mindset can present a challenge when we do not understand what happens to us when we enter the Kingdom of Heaven. When we are born again our citizenship and bill of rights changes. Philippians 3:20  says; “For our citizenship is in heaven” NKJV. We no longer operate under the concept of a democracy, we now belong to a kingdom. Obviously, if there is a kingdom, there must be a king and this king has all authority and power.

Kingdoms are ruled different than other types of governments. Within a kingdom, it is the will and word of the king that has final authority. The rights and freedom of the individual are at the discretion of the king.

To our western mind, we associate freedom with the liberty to do what I desire. In truth, this type of freedom actually produces a bondage. We become slaves to our passions and desires. Romans 6:16 tells us; “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey,” NASB. So we find that what we think of as freedom actually becomes our master.

Conversely, the Kingdom principle is that in submission we find our freedom and the right to walk in spiritual authority. In Luke chapter seven this principle is exampled in the ife of the Roman centurion. In his interaction with Jesus, he makes the statement that: “I also am a man [daily] subject to authority,” vs 8 AMP. This man was acknowledging that he was placed under and submitted to authority.

Subsequently in the same verse, we see the freedom that this submission brings. He states that I have soldiers under me and when “I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bond servant, Do this, and he does it.” It was in his submission, the centurion had the freedom to operate in authority. It was also due to his submission, he expected the orders he gave to be carried out.

Jesus response was that he had not seen such faith! It is in true submission to Kingdom authority that we actually have the freedom to operate with faith.

One of the foundational truths of operating in apostolic authority is this:

The level of authority you can operate in, is determined by your level of submission to authority.

This concept may be a challenge to many who believe that their “liberty” in Christ is one that does not bring with it boundaries.  In the next issue of Apostolic Notes, we will present in more detail why we must be submitted if we are to walk in the apostolic authority of our Heavenly King.

Till next time

Martin