You are probably already aware that the Trinity consisting of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is both one Being as well as three. This is a mystery that we can understand yet never fully fathom. In Genesis 1, we clearly see that the three distinct persons of the Godhead collaborated together in creation.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air,
and over the cattle, over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
-Genesis 1:26, NKJV
The word for “God” in this passage is Strong’s #430, the Hebrew word “Elohim,” which is plural. It is defined as “rulers, judges, divine ones, angels or godlike ones.” Elohim first refers to Father, Son and Holy Spirit creating together in the beginning, but this same word can also be used of you when you create with Him, functioning out of your union with Him, made possible by the work of Christ on the cross!
When the Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy for saying that He and His Father were one, He responded by saying:
Isn’t it written in your Scriptures that God said, “You are gods?”
The Scriptures cannot be denied or found to be in error.
So if those who have the message of the Scriptures are said to be “gods,”
then why would you accuse me of blasphemy?
-John 10:34-35, TPT
The word for “god” here is the Greek word “theos,” but Jesus is quoting from Psalm 82:6, which, again, is the Hebrew word “elohim.” Just as God (Elohim) operated individually and collectively to create, you, as His “elohim” are created in His image and are called to create with Him. Did you know that the Bible tells us that God has called His mature sons to judge the universe?!
Furthermore, how dare you take a fellow believer to court!
It is wrong to drag him before the unrighteous to settle a legal dispute.
Isn’t it better to take him before God’s holy believers to settle the matter
Don’t you realize that we, the holy ones, will judge the universe?
If the unbelieving world is under your jurisdiction,
you should be fully competent
to settle these trivial lawsuits among yourselves.
For surely you know that we will one day judge angels,
let alone these everyday matters.
Don’t you realize that you are bringing your issues before civil judges appointed by people who have no standing within the church?
What a shame that there is not one within the church
who has the spirit of wisdom who could arbitrate these disputes
and reconcile the offended parties!
-I Corinthians 6:1-5, TPT
In this passage, Paul is rebuking the Corinthian church for their carnality and immaturity, asking them why they were unable to judge small, earthly things, since we are called to judge the universe and even the angels!
Once a month, a small group of us gather together to legislate, judging earthly matters from the heavenly realm. We are learning to operate as His “elohim.” After one particularly powerful and sobering time of issuing a “Psalm 2” warning, urging those in positions of earthly power to “kiss the Son,” someone blurted out, “We eholim’d it!” The phrase just stuck… And, yes, we did!
For everyone who is fed with milk is inexpert in the word of righteousness.
For he is but a babe.
But strong meat belongs to those who are of full age,
who through regular use have their wits exercised
to judge both good and evil also.
-Hebrews 5:13-14, NMB
We see here that godly judgment is one of the signs of a mature believer. Why? Because God’s mature sons can be trusted because they have learned to love!
In the first 3 parts of this series, you learned the importance of depending upon the Spirit of Truth rather than leaning to your own understanding. You learned that something may be TRUE but may not be TRUTH, if you are not in sync with the purposes, timing and heart of the Father in that situation. You learned that you may be absolutely right about a situation and may have even heard God’s voice concerning it, and still miss the mark if you do not love as He loves!
The Father has tremendous authority, creative power and many glorious exploits awaiting His sons who have submitted to the process of growth and maturity. But, in His kindness and mercy, He wants us to be cleansed of false judgement first, so that we don’t hurt ourselves and others. When we are cleansed of false judgment, allowing God to mature us to the point that He can trust us, He will allow us the privilege of executing His righteous judgments.
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest
standing before the Angel of the Lord,
and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan!
The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!
Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments,
and was standing before the Angel.
Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying,
“Take away the filthy garments from him.”
And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you,
and I will clothe you with rich robes.”
And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”
So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him.
And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying,
“Thus says the Lord of hosts:
‘If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command,
then you shall also judge My house,
and likewise have charge of My courts;
I will give you places to walk among these who stand here.
–Zechariah 3:1-7
WALKING THE ANCIENT PATHS, BEING IN CHARGE OF GOD’S COURTS, JUDGING THE WORLD AND THE ANGELS ARE ALL FUNCTIONS OF MATURE SONS, WHO HAVE DIED TO SELF AND FALSE JUDGMENT AND WHO CAN BE TRUSTED TO BEAR THE HEART OF GOD. What the Father has waiting for us is well worth the preparation!
Pray with me today: Father, I let go of all false judgment, and I submit to Your process of cleansing and preparation. Thank You for growing me to maturity, so that You can trust me to bear Your heart. Thank You for the honor and privilege of ruling and reigning with You, from heaven into the earth.
And don’t forget to visit virginiakillingsworth.com, where you can shop for music and also find lots of free music and teachings.
This is a glorious time to be alive! Thank you for joining me in beholding the beauty of the King and in making Jesus famous in the earth!
-Virginia Killingsworth