Excerpts from a Teaching by Terry Somerville

We came across a wonderfully frank and liberating teaching by Terry Somerville this month that we want to share with our readers. It’s called, “21 Discoveries I Made While Breaking Into The Kingdom,” and it will positively set you free. It is too long to re-print it in HKI — it would take over HALF the issue — but we feel the Lord wants us to share excerpts and let people know where to get it for themselves.

Terry’s site is www.TotalChange.org but the easiest place to find this teaching is on End Times Prophetic Vision www.etpv.org (which is a marvelous resource in itself) and the direct link is:
www.etpv.org/2007/21disco.html.

Many of Terry’s “21 Discoveries” are such real gems, covering such topics as: 1. We Don’t Know Our Hearts, even if we think we do.” “3. Most western Christians are idol worshipers” “9. Living In The Kingdom Means Abandoning Man’s Security” “15. I Had to Stop Living In The Tyranny of The Prophetic Future” and “16. The Dread Champions of The Kingdom are like ‘Forest Gump.’ ” But what I want to reference are the following excerpts.

12. My Righteousness Does Not Release The Kingdom

The truth about tithing exposed my spiritual performance legalism. Religion says “my performance brings God’s blessing.” But in the Kingdom, everything comes through God’s grace and love. I had spiritualized works of the law into a Christian theology for victory in life. I was a “self made man,” and this included spiritual things! I believed my ability to do the right thing released His grace! How wrong I was. That’s not grace at all!

Here are some examples:
I tied God’s financial blessing to my works of tithes and offerings.

I tied spiritual freedom to my ability to confess the right words, know the right scripture and do the right program.

I tied Gods victory over the devil to my ability to identify the strongholds, find and repent of every sin that may bind me, name the demon, and use my authority.

I tied God’s ministry and power in me, to my ability to know, speak, walk and work rightly.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Surely my Heavenly Father will provide for me, protect me, and lead me, JUST BECAUSE HE LOVES ME. I needed to repent of my own works of righteousness and become child like. In the Kingdom of God there is a higher road than my fallible ability to do it all properly. Our own righteousness does not release the Kingdom — God’s love does.

13. The Kingdom Is About Joyful Receiving and Giving

As Karen and I continued to press into the Kingdom we discovered more and more of God’s grace. We are not “paying our dues” hoping God will bless us, but, we live in His security knowing that He loves us and will take care of us.

The Lord gives salvation, healing, deliverance and provision out of His great love! He desires us to do the same. Joyfully! It’s a great blessing!

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give. Matthew 10:8

Each of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:7

Recently Karen was wrestling over giving $200 to help a needy friend. The Lord said “give $300.” Suddenly there was joy! The larger amount now seemed easy! It was God’s gift to us to give. Kingdom living truly is a life of grace! Grace to us and grace to others.

Even the well used scripture “give and it shall be given to you” is actually about giving to enemies because that is God’s gracious character. Check it out.

But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairingand your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. ..... give, and it shall be given unto yougood measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:35;38

To fully enter the Kingdom requires a radical rethinking of how we do things. It requires a radical love of evil men. It is joyful receiving and joyful giving.

* * * *

21. Love In The Church Is the key To The Kingdom In The World

My final point is the most hopeful. When love is in the church, the Kingdom comes on the scene. This was true in the first church. They exhibited the most love of any church, and saw the Kingdom of God shake the city. Why is love in the church the key to the Kingdom today?

a. ) Christian Love causes men to see the King. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35

b.) Christian love moves God to command a blessing Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! ....For there Jehovah commanded the blessing, Even life for evermore. Psalm 133

c.) By Christian love the church is built into a holy temple. God’s glory can be manifest there. [I]n whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord²² in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:21,22

A few years ago I would have said we needed all sorts of things to reach the world. Revival and power. Spiritual mapping and warfare. Miracles and healings. Today I say the love of God working in His people is the hope for the church and the world. We don’t need more power and miracles, more preaching and programs.

We need the Jesus kind of love, the “love anointing,” flowing through the church. Then we will lay down our selfish ambitions and divisions. We will prefer and help one another. Religious control will gave way to true service. When the Father sees the same motivation of heart that is in Him, He will come on the scene. He will not wait.

For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.... II Chronicles 16:9

To have a perfect heart is to have His heart. Father, may your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Terry Somerville www.TotalChange.org