CHOSEN BY GOD, HIS HOLY VESSEL

Table of Contents

1. Continuing the Message of the Kingdom
2. Seeing the Lord’s Prayer Through the Lens of Grace
3. Manifest Your Kingdom Realm
4. Already Transferred Into the Kingdom
5. There Is Much More of the Kingdom to Experience
6. Laying Down Religion
7. Waiting for God to Promote You
8. Jesus’ Disciples and the Gospel of the Kingdom
9. John and the Man Who Was Not One of the Twelve
10. Freely You Have Received, Freely Give
11. Every Child of God Is a Minister
12. Living and Dwelling in the Kingdom Realm
13. Bringing Freedom to the Captives
14. Religion Says It Is Only for a Special Few
15. Looking to the Power Within Rather Than Other People
16. The Spirit of the Lord and Our Commission
17. The Natural Outpouring of the Kingdom
18. The Purpose of the Five-Fold Ministry
19. Closing Encouragement and Ministry Support

Continuing the Message of the Kingdom

Pastor Lenny begins by welcoming everyone, along with his wife, Pastor Lori, and expressing how blessed they are to be with those watching. Rather than spending a long time introducing the subject, they immediately return to the message they have been teaching concerning the kingdom of God.

Pastor Lenny encourages viewers who have not heard the previous Sunday’s message concerning the kingdom of God and “on earth as it is in heaven” to go back and listen to it. He explains that this teaching is partly a recap and partly an addition to what was already taught. He also points forward to another session coming in a couple of days, showing that the present message is part of a larger developing teaching.

Pastor Lori reflects on how significant this has become for her personally. She has been a Christian throughout her life, and the Lord’s Prayer was one of the earliest prayers she learned. It has been part of her Christian experience for many years. Yet now she is seeing it differently because she is understanding it through the lens of grace. Pastor Lenny agrees and describes that perspective as wonderful, beautiful, and powerful.

They also refer to the worship service from Sunday morning and a song Pastor Lenny shared called “The Simple Gospel.” One particular thought from that song deeply connects with what they are teaching: laying down religion. They emphasize that people often do not realize how much religious thinking they have accumulated. Pastor Lenny connects this with Jesus’ warning concerning human tradition:

Mark 7:13- “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

The point is that religious traditions can become so deeply embedded in a believer’s thinking that they interfere with understanding what God has actually provided.

Seeing the Lord’s Prayer Through the Lens of Grace

Pastor Lenny asks Pastor Lori to share what happened when she studied the Scriptures he had given her. She explains that as she sat down and read Matthew 6:9-10, particularly from the Passion Translation they were studying, something deeply affected her. When she reached a particular part of the passage, she began to cry and had to get up to get a tissue. The passage they are discussing is:

Matthew 6:9-10- “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Pastor Lori describes repeatedly saying, “Whoa,” as the meaning of the passage began to open to her. She emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is always with and within the believer, but at that moment she became especially conscious of His presence in the room with her. As she read, her response was simply agreement with God: “Yes. Yes. Yes, Lord. Yes, Holy Spirit.”

The Scripture was no longer merely a familiar prayer she had known throughout her Christian life. She was beginning to understand what Jesus was saying about God’s kingdom and His purposes being manifested on earth.

Before continuing, Pastor Lenny comments on the different personal times he and Pastor Lori spend being especially mindful of the Lord’s presence. They seek to remain conscious of Him throughout the entire day, but Pastor Lori often has a special time from approximately 10:00 p.m. until midnight, while Pastor Lenny’s special time is almost the exact opposite, beginning around 5:00 in the morning and continuing until approximately 8:00. He jokingly observes that between the two of them, they have the whole clock covered.

Manifest Your Kingdom Realm

Pastor Lori then reads the passage they have been studying, emphasizing the language concerning God manifesting His kingdom realm and causing His purposes to be fulfilled on earth as they are in heaven. The underlying biblical passage is:

Matthew 6:9-10- “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

The phrase concerning the manifestation of God’s kingdom particularly captures their attention. Pastor Lenny and Pastor Lori repeatedly emphasize the idea: God’s kingdom realm being manifested and every purpose of God being fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven. Pastor Lenny stresses the word “every.” The prayer is not merely about some of God’s purposes being fulfilled. The emphasis that captures their attention is the fullness of His purposes being manifested on earth. This becomes the foundation for the rest of the teaching.

Already Transferred Into the Kingdom

Pastor Lenny then connects Jesus’ prayer with something he taught during the Sunday message. He turns to Colossians 1:13:
Colossians 1:13: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

He explains that Jesus prayed concerning the coming of the kingdom, but Paul later reveals something that has already happened to believers. God has delivered us. Pastor Lenny strongly emphasizes the completed nature of this reality. God delivered believers from the domain or power of darkness and conveyed or translated them into the kingdom of His Son.

Therefore, believers are not merely standing outside the kingdom asking whether God might someday permit them to enter it. According to Pastor Lenny, the kingdom is where believers now reside. That changes how the Lord’s Prayer is understood. There is an aspect of Jesus’ prayer that has already been fulfilled in the believer’s transfer from darkness into Christ’s kingdom. Yet Pastor Lenny says there remains an important part concerning manifestation. The kingdom in which believers now live needs to become increasingly manifested in their lives.

There Is Much More of the Kingdom to Experience

Pastor Lenny becomes personal about this point. He acknowledges that although he understands that he has been placed into God’s kingdom, he cannot say that everything belonging to that kingdom has been fully manifested in his own life. He wants it to be. Pastor Lori agrees.

Pastor Lenny describes what he has experienced so far as coming in “drips and drabs.” As his understanding and revelation have grown, he has experienced more. Yet he is convinced there is much more. He connects this expectation with Ephesians 3:20:

Ephesians 3:20- “Now unto him that can do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

Pastor Lenny emphasizes that God can do exceedingly and abundantly beyond what believers can ask or think. He connects that abundance directly with the reality of the kingdom. Believers live, move, and have their being in Christ and in His kingdom. The issue, therefore, is growing in knowledge and understanding of where God has already placed us and what is available there.

Laying Down Religion

This brings Pastor Lenny back to the song he mentioned earlier, “The Simple Gospel,” and its theme of laying down religion. He acknowledges that there has been too much religion in their thinking. This is significant because Pastor Lenny and Pastor Lori are themselves called into ministry. Yet even as ministers, they have listened to teachings and ideas that caused them to develop expectations about how God supposedly chooses and uses people.

They were taught ideas about receiving a special anointing because they were called. They were also exposed to the idea that eventually, when they were ready, God would “promote” them. That creates a mentality of waiting. A believer begins waiting for God to decide he or she is finally ready to be used. Pastor Lenny now identifies that thinking as religion.

Waiting for God to Promote You

Pastor Lenny explains that they had been waiting for a promotion from God. They were waiting for some future moment when God would determine that they were ready to be used in a greater way. But as they began looking again at Jesus’ teaching concerning the gospel of the kingdom, that idea started breaking down. Jesus’ message repeatedly centered on the gospel of His kingdom.

Pastor Lenny says he studied how often references to the gospel of the kingdom appeared and was amazed by what he found. He began noticing not only what Jesus preached but also whom Jesus sent. This challenged the assumption that kingdom ministry belongs exclusively to an elite group of specially elevated people.

Jesus’ Disciples and the Gospel of the Kingdom

Pastor Lenny points first to Jesus sending the twelve disciples and then mentions Luke chapter 10, where Jesus sends a much larger group. He is struck by the fact that there were seventy-two others in the translation he was studying and wonders aloud where all these disciples came from.

The point is that Jesus’ followers extended beyond the small, highly visible group people normally think about. This leads Pastor Lenny to another incident he had shared with Pastor Lori that morning. The account is in Luke chapter 9 and also has a parallel in the Gospel of Mark.

John and the Man Who Was Not One of the Twelve

Pastor Lenny describes an incident involving John, one of the twelve disciples. The account reads:

Luke 9:49-50- “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”

The parallel passage reads:

Mark 9:38-40- “And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.”

Pastor Lenny describes John’s attitude as prideful and arrogant. John sees someone ministering in Jesus’ name and casting out demons, but the person is not part of their immediate group. John’s reaction is essentially that Jesus should stop him because he is “not one of us.”

Pastor Lenny connects this attitude with the religious idea that only a specially chosen few are authorized to minister. In his explanation, it is almost as though John is saying that this man has not received the proper promotion or recognition. Yet Jesus does not affirm John’s attempt to restrict the ministry. That becomes important to Pastor Lenny’s larger argument: the power and ministry of God cannot be reduced to a small spiritual elite whom everyone else must watch from a distance.

Freely You Have Received, Freely Give

Pastor Lenny then focuses on people who have personally benefited from the kingdom—people who have received God’s goodness, healing, blessing, deliverance, and freedom. He emphasizes that Jesus’ invitation and commission extend to all.

Pastor Lenny says that he and Pastor Lori fit that description. Then he tells the viewers that they fit it too. The principle he emphasizes is expressed in Jesus’ words:

Matthew 10:8- “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

Pastor Lenny emphasizes the word “all.” This is not about a special one of us. It is not about waiting for God to promote us. It is not about waiting for God to raise us to some special spiritual status before we can help others.

Pastor Lenny points to all the children of God who have been touched by Him and ministered to through His kingdom.

-Some have experienced healing.
-Some have been rescued from sin.
-Some have been delivered from oppression.

Every believer can consider the question: How much has the Lord already done for us? Pastor Lenny says that when he now listens for the Lord’s voice, he does not hear God telling him to wait until he is promoted. Nor does he believe God is telling other believers that ministry belongs only to a special few. Every one of us has freely received. Because we have freely received, we have been commissioned to freely give.

Every Child of God Is a Minister

Pastor Lenny draws a significant conclusion from this. Every believer who has received from God has something to give. The principle remains:
Matthew 10:8- “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

Pastor Lenny says this makes each believer a minister of the gospel of Christ and the gospel of His kingdom. The believer does not need to spend life waiting for a special promotion before becoming useful to God. The believer has already received. Now the believer can give.

Living and Dwelling in the Kingdom Realm

Pastor Lenny says there are two primary things he wants people to leave with. First, believers must believe that they move, live, and dwell in the kingdom realm where God has placed them. He again grounds that in what God has already accomplished:

Colossians 1:13- “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

Pastor Lenny declares, “This is our realm.” Pastor Lori agrees. Believers therefore need to become mindful of what does and does not belong in the kingdom of God. Pastor Lenny describes certain things as being “illegal” in God’s kingdom and encourages believers to begin believing that they are recipients of everything the kingdom has made available to them. This is the first major point. The second is that every believer should share the gospel of the kingdom and act upon Jesus’ instruction to freely give what has been freely received.

Bringing Freedom to the Captives

Pastor Lenny expands the commission beyond merely preaching words. Again, the foundation is:

Matthew 10:8- “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

Believers are to bring freedom to captives. They are to bring freedom to people who have been overrun by sin. They are to minister freedom to people whose minds have been held captive by fear or feelings of inferiority. The believer has received from God and can now go to others and give. Pastor Lenny also specifically speaks about laying hands on the sick and expecting recovery:

Mark 16:18- “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

The message is not simply that Christians possess theological information about God’s kingdom. They are to become participants in its manifestation by giving to others what they themselves have received.

Religion Says It Is Only for a Special Few

Pastor Lenny says religion has erroneously taught believers that these things are reserved for a special few. He rejects that idea. He and Pastor Lori emphasize that this is for everyone who considers and calls himself or herself a child of God. That includes Pastor Lenny. That includes Pastor Lori. And that includes the believer watching the teaching. The believer lives and dwells in the kingdom.

Pastor Lenny therefore encourages believers to believe in the manifestations of the kingdom in their own lives. Once again:

Matthew 10:8- “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

The message is simple: freely you have been given; now freely go and give. Pastor Lenny strongly rejects the idea that this is merely a gifting for a special chosen few.

Looking to the Power Within Rather Than Other People

Pastor Lenny warns that teachings centered around a “special few” can have the effect of keeping ordinary believers looking toward those people rather than looking toward the kingdom in which they themselves dwell.

Instead of understanding that they are ambassadors, believers can become spectators. Instead of recognizing the power dwelling within them, they can spend their lives looking at what they perceive as someone else’s power.

Pastor Lenny says he does not find that model in Scripture. His concern is that religious thinking can make Christians dependent upon watching specially recognized people operate while overlooking what God has placed within His children. This is the message he and Pastor Lori want to leave with the viewers.

The Spirit of the Lord and Our Commission

As they prepare to close, Pastor Lori says she wants to read one more passage. She also encourages everyone to stay tuned for the upcoming Thursday teaching because this subject is something she expects to continue reading and meditating upon for weeks.

She reads Luke 4:18-19:

Luke 4:18-19- “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Pastor Lori immediately connects the passage with what they have been teaching. “This is our commission.” Pastor Lenny agrees and repeats the point.

Their understanding of ministry includes more than physical healing. As Pastor Lenny notes, the Sunday message develops this more fully, but Luke’s words show concern for the brokenhearted, the oppressed, and the captives, as well as recovery of sight and healing.

Luke 4:18-19- “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”

God cares about people who are hurting emotionally.
He cares about oppressed people.
He cares about captive people.
He cares about people who need healing and restoration.

The Natural Outpouring of the Kingdom

Pastor Lori explains that as God touches believers, reaching others does not have to become a difficult religious obligation. It becomes a natural outpouring. God touches you, and from what you have received comes a desire to tell someone else, speak to someone else, and help set someone else free.
Again, the principle is:

Matthew 10:8- “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

Pastor Lori says this is not a hard thing. It is an awesome thing. She then connects the entire message back to where they started. The manifestation of the kingdom realm. God’s kingdom being manifested is not merely an abstract theological concept. It is seen as what God has freely placed within His people flows outward to touch other people.

Pastor Lori expresses excitement about what they are learning and prepares to close by saying they will see everyone Thursday. But Pastor Lenny suddenly remembers one more important point.

The Purpose of the Five-Fold Ministry

Before ending, Pastor Lenny brings up the five-fold ministry gifts discussed in Ephesians. The relevant passage says:

Ephesians 4:11-12- “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

Pastor Lenny asks an important question. Even if someone considers himself or herself a recipient of one of the five-fold ministry gifts, what is that ministry gift for? He answers that it is for equipping the saints. The five-fold ministry is not intended to create a small class of spiritual celebrities who perform ministry while everyone else watches. It exists to equip the saints so that the saints themselves can go out and become ministers of the gospel.

Ephesians 4:11-12- “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

Pastor Lenny connects this directly with the gospel of the kingdom of God and the gospel of Christ. Those who equip have a purpose: to equip God’s people to minister. This reinforces the central message of the teaching. Ministry is not intended to remain concentrated in a special few. The saints are to be equipped to participate.

Closing Encouragement and Ministry Support

Pastor Lenny and Pastor Lori close by expressing their love and gratitude to those who support them. They thank viewers for what they do for the ministry and specifically thank those who give gifts and offerings. For anyone looking for a way to give, they explain that giving options are available through the ministry website. Pastor Lenny and Pastor Lori express their gratitude in advance and acknowledge that, like other ministries, their work depends upon the gifts and offerings of God’s people.

They thank their supporters for being God’s hands and conclude by saying they will see everyone again in a couple of days. The message they leave behind is one of participation rather than spectatorship. God’s children have been delivered from darkness and placed into the kingdom of His Son:

Colossians 1:13- “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”

They are encouraged to believe in the manifestation of that kingdom in their lives and to recognize that what God has freely given them is meant to flow outward to others:

Matthew 10:8- “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

Rather than waiting for a future spiritual promotion or believing ministry belongs only to a chosen few, believers are encouraged to recognize where God has already placed them, receive what His kingdom provides, and allow that kingdom to manifest through them as they minister healing, freedom, encouragement, and the gospel to others.

Thank you for reading this teaching from Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola. We hope this article blessed you and encouraged you to recognize the kingdom of God in which you now live and the ministry God can accomplish through every believer. Please share this teaching with others who need to hear the message of grace, freedom, and the gospel of the kingdom.