ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO

All Systems Are Go
by Robert & Joyce Ricciardelli www.vision2advance.com

There are many discussions these days surrounding organizational forms and expressions of faith. We have traditional expressions, house expressions, emerging expressions, and other organic expressions of faith, all having biblical references as to why they have it right. Could it be that Father just gets excited when we give Him something to work with?
 
Joyce and I have been truly blessed to have friends and family from many systems and faith communities. We have learned that God’s church (His people), is made up of individuals that are absolutely precious to Him, and though all of us are products of man-designed systems, He is an awesome God willing to relate with us right where we are.
 
Dr. Frankenstein & the World’s Systems is a book written by our friend Bob Mumford that we often give out as tracts to believers. This small book is excellent in describing how systems, though well intentioned, can become bondage. There are many systems that we all have to navigate through. As Bob describes, the major systems include religion, social caste system, natural family, political, and financial.
 
There are many systems created to provide guidance, safety, and opportunity, but when control and mandates begin to minimize the ambassadorship of the kings and priests within them, we must examine who is actually being Lord over them. We were all born with a purpose and when destinies are not realized and fulfilled, many are left discouraged and disillusioned.
 
The Reality
The reality is that we often become “of” these systems. When we become “of” something, the “of” takes the place of Jesus and His Kingdom. These become unsafe environments and they incarcerate rather than free. Nevertheless, the clear trumpet call for all of us is to a King and a Kingdom.
 
Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
 
When we become of His Kingdom, freedom reigns and many things become clear for our journey. Systems cannot contain the Kingdom and the systems should not restrain ambassadors of His Kingdom outside of what He has divinely ordered. When kings and priests operate in a Kingdom dimension, atmospheres begin to change, and transformation can take place.
 
What Does This Mean?
We have been blessed to be of His Kingdom for many years and have experienced wonderful relationships that have given us a safe place to vent, to be transparent, and to take flight within the things of God. We have had the ability to move with freedom in and out of systems because our identity is in Him and not the system.
 
The Bible says that He has set us free to be free. Free to be led by Him and as we do, we carry His presence into those systems and His transformation power begins to transform lives, even if it does not transform the system itself. Systems may never be changed or redeemed, but the people within them are being changed by the power of His Spirit. The power of love illuminating out from a Kingdom individual can change minds, hearts, and actions of anyone who will receive it.
 
Kingdom Ambassadors are led by their King in power. They are ruled and directed by Him into their faith communities, and the relationships He has ordained for their safety, their growth, and ultimately, their journey. Those that are free can set others free - not to leave their systems necessarily, but free to influence every jurisdiction and realm the Lord leads them into. Anarchy and rebellion can never be the drive for freedom. It must be birthed by Him, and it must be His agape love that is the foundation and motivation.
 
Now What?
Joyce had a dream of a row of prison cells and Jesus opening the locked doors setting captives free from their prison cells, but instead of following Him down the narrow way, they walked across the path into another cell, shutting the door locking themselves into another cell. Different cell, same bondage…hmmm.
 
Bob Mumford recently quoted, “Luther set me free, and then became my jail warden”.
 
Many people get a bit of revelation, or see errors in their system or faith community and choose to leave without the Lord even directing them to do so. And when they leave, where do they go? They often go right into another system that will eventually just be another prison, if their paradigms do not get transformed. The Lord may have them remain for relationships, influence, death to self, or any reason He desires.
 
What Must We Do?
Hear His voice! God may have you do an inside job. He may reveal to you the errors of a system and even the injustice, but cause you to remain to pray and bring His influence to others. Through His love and prayers, you may be the one who He uses to set others free. Regardless of the results, He desires obedience more than sacrifices or our own ideas. He also may move you on, but He will show you how and He will do it in a way that honors Him, and honors others. Seek Him, hear Him, and He will show you the way.
 
John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
 
All Systems Are Go
If God has called you there, then for you it is a system He desires you to be in. We have watched God use whatever we will give Him. Give God something to work with and watch what He will do, watch what only He can do. He is a God that can make beauty out of mush, and Joyce and I are examples of the wonders of His grace and transforming power. If there is a system that absolutely is abusing you, He may call you out. He may even call you out of something that is very comfortable, but do it in His will, His way, His timing. Be obedient.
 
He has set you free to be free. Not to be free to do your thing, but to be free to do His thing, be His own, and take dominion (stewardship), over the things He has given you. Expect favor and witness the divine shift in people, places, and circumstances as He lives and moves through you, and you live, move, and have your being in Him.
 
Thrive in Every Environment
When you are where He desires you can expect His glory to manifest. We have seen God’s Kingdom people thrive in many different church systems. It is not about the system, but it is about whom we are of, who we are following, who we believe in, and our obedience to the One True King.
All systems are go if Father has you there. It is the people that God treasures and not the form or structures we have built around Him. He is the form, He is the structure, and His Word is our foundation for all of life. When you want to pick up a stone to throw at the system, be careful not to hit one of His precious children inside. Put down the rocks, get into the depth of His love, be consumed by Him, and bring Him glory. All systems are go when Jesus places you there, and you are being led by the King and His Kingdom life.