Mary Craig Ministries - The Lord Reigns

Dear Friend of Mary Craig Ministries,

In the battle of kings and kingdoms, there is one resounding fact from Scripture: the LORD reigns. He is holy. He is exalted over all the nations. He is to be lifted up, while we are to bow in humility before Him, at His footstool.

A week or so ago I experienced a vivid dream in which I was leading a spiritual warfare seminar or conference before a large congregation. I was talking about current world situations and the battle of the kings in the war of kingdoms. I heard, "What is the answer?" And then I heard, loudly and clearly, "Psalm 99.1." I woke up remembering the dream, which I rarely do.

I knew this was a clue to check out the whole Psalm and so I did. Psalm 99 is one of the "royal" psalms, the last of six. The royal psalms (93 and 95-99) tell us that God is King and rules over all the world.

The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble:
He sits between the cherubim; let the earth be moved.
The LORD is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people.
Let them praise Your great and terrible Name; for it is holy. (Ps 99.1-3)

God enthrones Himself between the cherubim, those awesome entities who stand guard around the throne of God, who guard the Ark of the Covenant. God reigns over the physical universe, over nations, over all people. He reigns over His people. He is great in Zion [Jerusalem, the OT earthly shadow of the New Jerusalem-Hebrews 12], the seat of His government. God reigns. He reigns over every individual. He holds supreme sovereignty.

The King's strength also loves judgment;
You establish equity. You execute judgment and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy. (Ps 99.4, 5)

God governs in every sphere. He governs you and me. He rules with invincible power. He is mighty and awesome. The nations and peoples should tremble and shake, falling at His feet in worship because no one is free of God's control. God does not use His power capriciously, however. This all-powerful God governs with justice; He loves justice. Yet His justice is tempered with mercy; His justice includes the "mercy factor." God is holy. Exalt Him. Lift Him high. Fall before Him and worship Him.

Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them
That call upon His Name; they called upon the LORD,
And He answered them. He spoke unto them in the
Cloudy pillar: they kept His testimonies, and the ordinance that He gave them.
You answered them, O LORD our God: You were to them
God-Who-Forgives,
Though You took vengeance on their inventions [evil deeds].
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill;
For the LORD our God is holy. (Ps 99.6-9)

God rules by His Word. He speaks. He answers prayer. Moses and Aaron and Samuel called upon His Name, proclaimed His Name, and called to the Covenant Lord, and He answered them. They called upon Elohim who was to them Yahweh, their Covenant Lord. He listened and answered. He delivered His people in the days of Moses and Aaron. He led them. He spoke to them in a pillar of cloud. He listened to and answered Samuel. In the OT He gave the law and the prophets, but then He sent His Son, Jesus, as His supreme and final Word. (Hebrews 1.1, 2).

God governs with mercy. He is El Nasa (naw-saw), God-Who-Forgives. The word means "to bear, carry, lift up, forgive, to be forgiven, honored." He removes condemnation yet also rules with discipline. Condemnation is averted by mercy and forgiveness, but lessons have to be learned. God is raising up sons. (Hebrews 12) He takes vengeance of His people's inventions, the word meaning "wantonness, deed, doing, practices, evil deeds; from a primitive root meaning to act severely, to make a foot of someone, to thrust forth in wickedness, to act or play the child." God wants us to grow up in Christ into full mature sonship. (Ephesians 4)

But wait! Did Moses and Aaron and Samuel keep God's testimonies and His ordinance? In many ways, they did "guard" them; but they were not perfect men. All have fallen short of the glory of God. Yet God was to them a God who forgives. The One Who Sits On/Between the Cherubim sits enthroned on the mercy seat over the Law housed in the Ark of the Covenant. Maybe there's a clue here as we think about forgiveness. Maybe we need to explore the mind of Christ a bit more to solve this apparent riddle.

When we see the LORD high and lifted up, we are to lift Him up in our hearts and minds. He is holy and we respond with worshipful submission to His rule. We must hope in His mercy. We need to put off childish things and seek God earnestly. (Luke 21.34-36) We kneel before Him, at His footstool. In Isaiah 66.1 the earth is God's footstool. Footstool is also a reference to the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chron. 28.2; Ps 132.7). God is everywhere; we must live before Him in a position of humility. He is high; we are to remain low, bowing before Him who is holy.

Do not think there are many ways to God. There is only one way back to the one, true and living God. That way is Jesus Christ. That way is a way of grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, faith in His obedient life, in His sacrificial atoning death, in His resurrection and ascension into glory. This Jesus is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. In the battle of kings and kingdoms, Jesus is sovereign; and He is coming again. Therefore, repent of your sins, turn around, and believe Him; believe His Word. There is no condemnation to those in Christ. (Romans 8) Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and be ready for His appearing.

Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
and has made us kings and priests
unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and
dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1.5, 6)

This month Mary Craig Ministries celebrates 17 years of ministry. Our outreach includes World Missions, Evangelism, Media Ministry, Home Visitation Ministry, the Barnabas Project, Kinetic Koinonia, and Craighouse®. We give glory to God for how He has led us over these past years and for you who have helped us "to go and bring healing and restoration to the Body of Christ, to prepare the Bride for Christ's return, and to call in the nations where I will send you to repentance and to resurrection." For more on the mission and ministry of MCM, go to www.marycraig.org.

At Craighouse® we are actively ministering to those seeking healing, deliverance, help, and hope. For the current schedule, go to www.craighouse.org. If you're in our area, join us!

We thank you for giving. You are touching lives through your gifts to Mary Craig Ministries. Please give generously, gladly, graciously, and as the Holy Spirit guides. God bless you!

Serving the Lord of Glory,

Mary Craig

P.S. Go to www.marycraig.org. Order books from our Catalog section using PayPal. Worship with us 4:30 p.m. Sundays. Grow and flourish in small group ministry at Craighouse®, located in the Pompano Plaza at 114 E. McNab Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33060. Log on to www.craighouse.org for a map and more events and Bible studies. Reach MCM at 954-491-7270. Send in your prayer requests.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Covenant Lord;
And the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. Psalm 33.12

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices
In heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become
The kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and
He shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 11.15

Mary Craig Ministries is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization