Our monthly letters are an important opportunity to “sit at the kitchen table” and share themes and realities of the Kingdom. This month, with the spiritual darkness of national and global instability intensifying, I am prompted to offer some vital Kingdom truths. My hope is these serve to build a personal and corporate shelter. May they not only provide protection and provision but serve to equip us to step into the world with the genuine Gospel of Father’s governing purpose.  I hope you will preserve these statements and re-visit them with repeated opportunity to absorb and eventually own them.

1. Father’s Goodness: God is Agape. Father’s goodness, born of His Agape, is destined do us good in the end. All His actions emanate from His compassion, mercy, faithfulness, and truthfulness. His intentions (including His judgments) are purposed to get His Family back and reconcile all creation to Himself. This is our foundation. Relational rest is built on this immovable Rock.

2. Father’s Family: The Kingdom of God is governed as a family. It is designed to function relationally, not doctrinally or structurally. We are not intended to come to maturity in isolation. Relational Security within the His Family is critical. Each of us must have others we trust to help us grow in Christ. The New Testament, with great purpose, sets forth 59 “one another” commands. Look them up, list them, and lean into them.

3. Primary self-interest is the major barrier to maturing into sons and daughters. “Have it your way,” is the mantra of a thoroughly corrupted culture. Jesus set before us the images of a cross and a yoke. We need the loving hand of the Father to reveal where we are centered on our desires rather than the primacy of His desires and purposes. Give yourself as a living sacrifice to His Kingdom purposes.

4. Embracing human responsibility: We have been commissioned to advance the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in word and deed. We are designed and destined to bear fruit, which brings us to #5.

5. Fruitfulness in the Kingdom does not come to fulness until the conflict between our personal plans and God’s desires has ceased. This is a most serious commitment on our part. We must strive to become “Pearl Traders” (see Matthew 13:45-46). We become willing to give up things of lesser value. We seek the Pearl of His Purpose, Person, and Presence.

6. Kingdom requires action. Acquisition of more teaching and knowledge is not the same as maturity of character as a son or daughter. This requires movement and action. Assume the responsibility of ceasing some things and letting go of others.

7. Christ’s Peace and Freedom are not automatic. We are not born, nor are we awakened spiritually, possessing mature human character! The peace and freedom we seek requires being joined and conformed to a Person–Jesus Christ. “Find Him whom your soul loves . . . and never let Him go” (Song of Solomon 3:4).

8. Compassion for all families on the earth is essential for seeing the world with Father’s eyes. Paul expresses it like this: “For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and earth derives its name” (Ephesians 3:14-15). Father’s compassion is inclusive not

I have not tried to be expansive or necessarily thorough in unfolding all that is inherent in these eight points. I trust that if we take time to ponder these, the Holy Spirit will begin to work them into our spirits and minds.

All of us at Lifechangers send our love, imparting confidence to each of you!

Bob Mumford