The Lord’s State of the Union Address

by Lonnie Lane

What if the Lord gave a State of the Union address, to give an account of what is happening in the Kingdom of God presently. Can you picture it? From all over the world those who are the Lord’s gather together in a huge chamber large enough for multitudes upon multitudes. Levels upon levels of balconies rise high into the heavens. As this is a governmental meeting, only those who have been elected – those who are of “the elect” (Matthew 24:31; Romans 8:33) may attend, except for the angels who stand in poised attention as aides along the walls. The place is alive with activity as we greet one another with rejoicing. Then suddenly, a trumpet is blown and Gabriel (Luke 1:19) comes through the enormous chamber doors that open automatically as he approaches them. All attention turns toward him as he steps into the chamber. Expectant silence fills the chamber. Then with a thunderous rumble that rolls up the balconies he announces, “THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH!” (Daniel 5:23; Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21; Acts 17:24). All stand to their feet.

As Messiah Yeshua comes through the doors, He is majestic in splendor! (Psalm 8:1). Thunderous applause erupts, causing vibrations throughout creation as praise leaps from every heart in grateful adoration of this One in Whom all things “exist” and “hold together” (1 Cor. 11:18; Colossians. 1:17). He walks purposefully through the crowd of thousands upon thousands, looking into the eyes of each one and calling everyone He touches by name (John 10:3). Time does not matter in His presence so there is no schedule to keep, except what He sets.
 
He ascends to the podium, high and lifted up, yet we each see Him as being “near” (Phil.4:5) to us, even in the farthest balcony. He begins to speak. To the members of the elect “His voice is like the sound of many waters” (Rev. 1:15), like a mighty waterfall, or a pounding surf. Yet, it is the voice which each of us has known so intimately, so personally, even while commanding the utmost respect and honor. His words are those of exquisitely tender love laced with unchallengeable authority, neither without the other. Every human and angel listens with rapt attention, nothing else dares to vie for their attention.  

One by one, He addresses the issues. As this is a State of the Union address, the first issue is that of union, first with Him, and then with each other. He affirms that we all may “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22) to the Father. We have been given one mind (Acts 2:46; Phil 1:27) to know His Mind, and pure hearts (Psalm 24:4; 1 Tim 1:5), so that we are able to fulfill the will of God, in obedience to Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have the “mind of Messiah” (1 Cor 2:16), He goes on to tell us, so that He can share with us His inner most thoughts and desires for His people. This causes us to lean slightly forward in anticipation of what He will yet share with us, not wanting to miss a word He says, intent on being conformed to His every intention for us. He sweeps His arm through the air to emphasize He means all who are His without exception and a celestial shower of stars shoot out from His hand. We can feel the anointing He’s just sent to us that enables us to now understand as He tells us of “secret things that belong to the Lord our God” which now “belong to us…forever” (Deut. 29:29).

His words penetrate our very being so that we are changed more into His image in our inner most being by His Words. He goes on to tell us of how the Torah and the Prophets speak of Him (Luke 24:44) in ways we had not seen before. This is a season of great promise, He affirms to us. This is a time when revelation will come forth and things that have been hidden until now will be revealed to those “who have ears to hear” (Matthew 11:15; Luke 8:8) and eyes to see what the Spirit is doing in the earth in these days in which we are living. Our experiential union with Him will increase as we have eyes for Him and no one or nothing else.

He then goes on to speak of how we are entirely in union with one another. He states that “He has made us all into one” (Eph. 2:14) by faith so that “we have fellowship with one another as His Blood cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7) It is sin that separates, He emphasizes. But we have been made to live in a loving, fully accepting relationship with one another, in which we “bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things” (1 Cor. 13:7) of one another, even to protecting the honor of one another. His eyes flash with light, His voice ringing with joy as He says, “The glory which…I have given you” makes you one, “even as the Father and I are one” (John 17:22).  

A moment passes and He is quiet. A change comes over Him. He drops His head for a moment, eyes looking down. His Body language sends a shock of alertness through the body of people. Then He speaks and there is sadness in His voice. There are still divisions among you, He says. Do you not know yet that “every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand?” (Matthew 12:25) He pauses for a moment while each of us in stunned silence becomes aware of where we have contributed to dishonoring other persons, not regarding them with the same love He has for them as He has for us. Then He continues. We are entering days in which “the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). It shall not be so for those who are Mine, He says emphatically. “Whoever keeps (My) word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected”(1 John 2:5). Remember, dear ones, He says, joy returning to His face, that you are to be servants of one another, even of those who are outside the Kingdom as I have served you. Do not be as those who endeavor to be served or to be known. Be content in the place I have put you. Aspire to do all things unto Me and you will receive your just rewards in time. Keep in mind that “indeed, some (who) are last who will be first and some (who) are first who will be last.” (Luke 13:30).

There is a mixture of joy, hopeful expectation and sobriety in the chamber. There are no divisions now in the room before Him, such as in the world’s State of the Union addresses, where people with differing views stand and applaud while the others sit in obvious disagreement. There is no dichotomy of perspectives in His presence, there is only Him; there is only His truth. We are to remember, He exhorts us, that we are to love one another so the world will recognize us as His, even when the world turns against us. Even your enemies are to be given water in My name, He tell us with intensity. “I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44), He says. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God…has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32). We are called, He reminds us, to be as He is, even to the laying down of our lives for our friends (John 15:13).  

Then He smiles and light bounces from His eyes and showers each person with His love as He says, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another” (1 Peter 4:8). His own love for us saturates the chamber, even to the furthest point, so that every person and every angel now bows before Him, and on their lips they whisper together, like the hush of a Holy rushing Wind, “Yeshua, You are Lord” (1Cor. 12:3).

His own eyes are now closed, enjoying the love poured out toward Him in response to His own for us. Then He begins again. Person and angel resume their listening position. The well-being, the shalom of the kingdom, He declares, is sound and “immovable” (1 Cor 15:58). We are invincible in Him! Even “the gates of Hell will not overpower” (Matthew 16:18) the people of God, He assures us. We need only to obey what He has told us to do, to keep the attitudes of our hearts clean and to trust Him with the rest. Be careful not to allow “your minds (to) be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion” to Me (2 Cor. 11:3), He says, gazing around the room, catching the eyes of each person for a moment throughout in the multitude, looking into each heart. Some slump to the floor, or cover their heads with their arms, unable to bear His holiness even though they are His. In this coming season, He continues, Kingdom influence will expand as you move in tandem with the Spirit Who rests upon each one of you, just as He rested upon Me “ — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2) are yours. Use this power I have given you in My name for godly and Kingdom purposes so that the Kingdom of God will fill the earth with “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Applause bursts forth spontaneously. We rise to our feet in joyous confirmation of His will being accomplished.  

Just a few words, He says, about the economy in the Kingdom. I have overheard rumors that there is cause for fear of lack for My people. As you love one another and trust in Me, it will be “done unto you as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10) and I assure you there is no lack in heaven. As you receive, give! (Matthew 10:8). There is only abundance in the Kingdom. “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). So ask believing! (Matthew 21:22) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) when the world tries to give you reasons not to trust me. They are lies from the evil one. Look into My Word and see what I am doing. I will tell you. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). And there is nothing you really need outside the Kingdom.

As for plans for this coming season, we will be exporting the goods and services of the Kingdom to those in need of them elsewhere. The fruit of the Spirit is much needed in many places where it is too dark for people to grow their own. We will be sending people with gifts of the Spirit to people in need of healing and freedom. Keys are going to be distributed that will unlock prison doors so that multitudes will be set free. And for those who dwell in darkness, lampstands and lamps will be distributed for people to gather around until they are capable of carrying the light themselves which they will then take to others. This coming season promises to be our finest hour. The time is approaching. The Kingdom is at hand when “I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations…. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord…when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight” (Ezekiel 36:23).   

Applause and praise reverberates once again throughout the chamber, even throughout the heavens. The State of the Kingdom Union is completed. Yeshua lifts His Hands, which still bare the marks of His death, and releases the blessing He gave to Aaron upon us: The LORD bless thee, and keep thee. The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace (Numbers 6:24-26). And for the first time, the revelation of what it truly means that “His Name is upon us” brings everything else He has ever said to us into holy reality. In unison we all say, “Amen.”

 Reprint of this article is permitted as long as you use the following; Use by permission by Messianic Vision, www.sidroth.org, 2010. 

Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif.  All rights reserved. Used by permission.