Life Changers: Seventeen Kingdom Principles Every Believer Should Know

LIFE CHANGERS

Seventeen Kingdom Principles Every Believer Should Know

Copyright © 2015 Willie A. Crane.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4917-7062-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-7063-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4917-7064-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015909785

iUniverse rev. date:  06/27/2015

All scripture references are from The King James Study Bible (previously published as The Liberty Annotated Study Bible and as The Annotated Study Bible, King James Version) Copyright 1988 by Liberty University

CONTENTS

1.    The Kingdom Principle of Faith

2.    The Kingdom Principle of Love

3.    The Kingdom Principle of Purpose

4.    The Kingdom Principle of a Solid Foundation

5.    The Kingdom principle of Sowing and Reaping

6.    The Kingdom Principle of Potential

7.    The Kingdom Principle of Greatness

8.    The Kingdom Principle of Forgiveness

9.    The Kingdom Principle of Unity

10.    The Kingdom Principle of Agreement

11.    The Kingdom Principle Faithfulness

12.    The Kingdom Principle of Prayer

13.    The Kingdom Principle of Wisdom

14.    The Kingdom Principle of Judging

15.    The Kingdom Principle of Sacrifice

16.    The Kingdom Principle of Offense

17.    The Kingdom Principle of Prosperity/Financial Freedom

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to:

Bishop Leroy Davis and First Lady Helen Davis

And the Word of Faith Christian Center Church Family

This book is dedicated to

The late Earlene Crane- Miles for being the greatest mother a son could ever ask for.

To my daughter Nia, I thank God everyday for the gift that is you. My prayer is that you will always live your life by the principles of the Word of God and fulfill the awesome calling that is on your life. You are my Joy!

To Kimberly Pfeifer, Your love, support, and encouragement have allowed me to finish this book. It is my prayer that I add as much value to your life as you have added to mine. With all my love!

To God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit, for without you I can do nothing.

INTRODUCTION

The truest measure of your Christian faith is to know, to understand, and display the heart of Jesus. The greatest desire of God the Father and the Holy Spirit is that we come to know Jesus Christ as the savior of the world. The greatest desire of Jesus is that we receive Him to gain access to the Father and His Kingdom. I have come to know that God wants every believer to understand the Kingdom of God and how it operates, thus the reason for this book. In it I will share with you the Kingdom of God and the principles that govern the kingdom you are now apart of. Just like in the natural world, if you were suddenly place in a foreign land as a new citizen you would have to learn about the laws that govern that land. It would be nearly impossible to have success in that land without the ability to communicate effectively. It would also be difficult to make progress without knowing and understand the laws that protect you and the rights you are afforded by being a citizen of the land. All of these things are important to know so that you can operate and fulfill the purposes you were sent there to accomplish.

I have often said, You will either live your life by the principles of the Word or by the practices of the world. The principles represent how the Kingdom of God operates which is totally different than the practices of the world. Any success that is attained, maintained and sustained is done by practicing kingdom principles. God has established His kingdom principles throughout the bible to help us govern this earthly kingdom in the same manner in which He governs His heavenly kingdom. He has given His son’s blood as the necessary payment to atone for our sins and as our earthly example of how to conduct ourselves inside this kingdom. He has also given us His Holy Spirit to lead us into a right understanding of what can and can’t be done in the kingdom of God.

After reading, studying and understanding the principles that are written and explained in this book you will be able to access Gods best and to operate as true kings and priests in the earth and as inheritors of the Kingdom of God.

Life Changers

17

Kingdom Principles Every Believer Should Know

You will either live your life by the principles of the Word or by the practices of the world.

Willie A. Crane

CHAPTER 1

The Kingdom Principle of Faith

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

It couldn’t have been a more perfect summer day. The sun was shining the sky was blue and covered with those cotton looking clouds that allowed you to call out images of different animals in the sky. As a nine year old I have to admit that was one of my favorite pass times. I had always been curious about those kinds of wonders. Curious about who made them and how. I didn’t know that this was going to be the day that would change my life forever. As I was standing there gazing up at the sky and wondering about all the beauty I was beholding I was interrupted by a friend’s question. I didn’t notice him standing there before but there he was right next to me looking up just as I was. When I looked over at him he met my puzzled look with one of his own and asked, Do you believe in God? As I pondered the question and searched my thoughts for an answer I simply said, Naw. He said, why not. I said, Because you can’t see him. Being satisfied with my response he quickly ran off to play some more. Just then I heard a voice that was clear and soft. He asked me a question also. I didn’t know if the voice was coming from inside me or externally. All I know is that it was crystal clear. He asked me, Can you see the wind blow? At that very moment what had been a calm breezeless day suddenly changed and a cool breeze swept across my face. Standing there in amazement and complete assurance that God himself was speaking he said these words to me. The things that you cannot see made the thing that you can, so which is more real? I was convinced that God was real and I had to get to know him better. I didn’t realize that I had begun a journey with God. The beginning, just as Hebrews 11:6 states is to believe that he is. Hebrews 11:6 marks the first declaration of our faith as believers. Without this declaration it is impossible to please him.

Matthew 6:33 says: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. I came to understand this scripture and its significance to my life when I was very young. It is one of the foundational cornerstones to understanding God, purpose, your assignment in life and faith. To understand this scripture and its correct meaning we have to dissect some of the words used. Jesus instructs us to seek for the kingdom of God and its righteousness. What does he really mean? Are we to look for it on a map? Can it be found geographically? The kingdom of God and its righteousness must be something that can be found or else he wouldn’t have instructed us to seek to find it. The Kingdom of God represents the order of God, the principles of God, the laws of God and the precepts of God. Its righteousness represents its right understanding. Simply put it is the understanding of the way God governs his kingdom. A King is one of supreme authority, rulership and power. I often wondered why God would give the children of Isreal land that was occupied by someone else. The scripture says that the Earth is the Lords and the fullness there of. Jesus being the supreme King and Lord of all the earth and all that it possesses and inhabits has the authority to give to anyone whatever he pleases because everything and everyone belongs to him.

The Lord’s Prayer is the perfect example of God’s intention. In the Lord’s Prayer we are taught to say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Jesus taught his disciples to pray that God’s kingdom come. In other words he told them to pray that the same laws, precepts and principles that govern heaven be used to govern the earth also. Thy will be done indicates that it is indeed God’s will that the earth realm be governed the same way heaven is being governed. The only difference is that Jesus the King of Kings gave back to mankind (kings and priests) the authorities to govern, rule, and manage the earth the same way he governs heaven. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit this is indeed possible and is the supreme will of God for us as inhabitants of this earthly kingdom.

During my prayer time I asked the Holy Spirit to reveal to me the principle of faith. As He spoke to me He gave me a definition that has clarified the principle of faith for me. He instructed me that from that point on I was to teach the principle his way. He said, Faith is hearing the Word of God, understanding the Word of God, believing the Word of God and applying the Word of God. The important part to remember is that all of the promises of God are received by faith. It is the way the believer receives from God who is in the spiritual realm and causes it to manifest in the natural realm. Whenever one of the pillars of faith is missing there will be no manifestation. All four of the pillars must be in place in order for the principle to deliver what has been requested. It is impossible to have faith in something you have never heard of. That is what the scripture means in Romans 10:14 which says, … how shall they believe on him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear with out a preacher? Hearing the word of God is the first pillar of the Kingdom principle of faith.

As Jesus explained the parable of the sower in the book of St. Matthew chapter 13 verses 19, He started by saying, When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the way side. Notice it is only when the word is not understood that the enemy can steal it out of the person’s heart. All through out scripture the word of God instructs us to get a complete understanding. Understanding the word of God is the second pillar of the Kingdom principle of faith.

Once you have heard the word of God and you understand it then the third pillar of faith can be realized, that is to believe the word. The reason we can believe the word of God is because it is truth. Not that it possesses truth but that it is truth. Jesus said, Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth. St. John 17:17 the only truth that exists is the word of God. The strength of my belief should always be rooted and grounded in the truth.

The fourth pillar that needs to be established is the pillar of applying the word of God. In the book of James chapter 1 verses 22, 25 he instructs us that we are to be doers of the word and not hearers only because only the doers of the word are blessed in what he does.

Faith in its purest definition is the hearing, understanding, belief and application of God’s kingdom principles. Faith is not just believing but acting on what you believe. James 2:17-18 says, Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

Let’s take a few scriptures about faith and substitute this definition in place of the word faith. Remember faith is the hearing understanding, belief and application of the Word of God.

1. Hebrews 11:6 says, But without faith (the hearing, understanding, belief and application of God’s kingdom principles) it is impossible to please him.

2. Hebrews 6:12 says, That they be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith (the hearing, understanding, belief and application of God’s kingdom principles) and patience inherit the promises.

3. II Corinthians 5:7 says, For we walk by faith (the hearing, understanding, belief and application and of God’s kingdom principles) not by sight.

4. 1 John 5:4 says, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith. (the hearing, understanding, belief and application of God’s kingdom principles)

Once again, faith in its purest definition is the hearing, understanding, belief and application of God’s kingdom principles.

What is a Principle?

Let’s take a moment and define what a principle is. The definition of principle is the ultimate source, origin or cause of something. It also means a fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating force. It can also mean a rule of conduct especially the right conduct. When studying the principles in the Word of God I came across this scripture: Romans 1:20 it says, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the thing that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. What the scripture means is that we can come to understand spiritual things (the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen) by observing how natural thing work (being understood by the things that are made). When we look at the natural principles we can come to understand how spiritual principles work. Each principle has its own application and thus has its own outcome. Although each principle has its own application and outcome all principles have