"How do you rule the world?"

An Audible Voice Spoke to Pastor Doug Schneider in Canada asking,
“How do you rule the world?”
Immediately this Pastor stumbled upon the subject of Alexander The Great and found keys that are of interest to those who seek to see the rule of Jesus made famous in the earth.

PAULS MINISTRY TRACK literally shadows much of Alexanders. Paul was led one after another to preach where Alexander had been 300 years earlier. He was walking in the same steps as Alexander because both knew the value of key cities.
Doug says:
“Alexander knew a strategy that would establish and keep the victories that he and his loyal army had fought hard for in battles throughout the world.”
LOOK FOR KEY CITIES GOD WILL GOVERN FROM
1. “In brief, wherever his ruling influence went, he would choose certain cities to become “colonies” or “city-states”. ”
2. “These places would become BEACHHEADS of influence to secure and entrench the victories previously won.
3. “Each city would have an “ORBIT OF INFLUENCE” so that the territory was still governed by him and his throne, yet away from him.”
a. “The larger the expanse of the territory would simply mean that more colonies or hubs would be selected.”
“Remember though, Alexander’s goal was to have a Greek world, out of love for the richness of its culture.”
4. Consequently, he would commission 200 or more retired soldiers from his army, and their families, and have them relocate to one of the numerous colonies throughout the world.
5. Their influence was to permeate and enforce all of the spheres of society with the culture and customs of Greek life. The people of these colonies would speak Greek (Koine), know and practice the ideals, customs, laws, literature, myths, dance, money, medicine, government, art and theatre of Greek life. In essence, these colonies would really be a slice of Greece away from Greece.
CULTURE DISPLACES CULTURE
The kingdom of Greece would have displaced the previous culture and replaced it with an immersion of Greek life and society.
So important was this coming of Greek culture and influence into every region and nation he conquered, that he literally named about 20 cities (Alexandria), after himself.
“Dead or alive, he wanted his presence to be felt always.”
“Years later the Roman Empire took this same template and used it to establish their kingdom. Is it any wonder why Jesus Christ came to earth on the heels of this with the Roman Empire and not during a time that would have existed a thousand years prior? The Roman empire, with its Greek infrastructure would most resemble God’s prescribed plan for what His Kingdom should look like, and how it should function here on earth. It’s for this reason we’re told in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son ….” The Roman empire with the Greek ruling strategy was the “fullness of time”.
A REVELATION FROM THE LITTLE WORD “IS”
On one of those study days while reading from Philippians 3:20,
(LW: this city made its inhabitants legal citizens of Rome. They knew their dual citizenship)
I was captivated by just one two-lettered word: “For our citizenship IS in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ ….”
I couldn’t get over the profound implications of this discovery. It didn’t say “was” or “will be” but “is”. A believer’s citizenship in heaven is a present day reality while here on this earth!
The writer, the apostle Paul of this book of Philippians was fully aware that Philippi was one of the colonies of the Greco-Roman world. Dr. Luke says, “… and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony” (Acts 16:12). It had been awarded the ius italicum, the highest legal privilege obtainable by any provincial municipality. The citizens of Philippi then were also citizens of Rome with all of the rights and privileges awarded to any Roman born in the imperial city. To live in Philippi was to have a slice of Rome, away from Rome. Previously, the Greeks called this, “home, away from home” (apoikia). You’re not in your own country, but the essence of your country has been brought to where you are. In modern understanding, isn’t that what some elite hotel chains promise … “you’ll feel like you’re at home in one of our rooms”.
When Paul wrote this above verse 20 to the Philippian church, he knew that they could easily relate to the parallel and picture it presented. Just as Philippi was a colony of Rome (with all of what that meant), so too this young apostolic church in Philippi was a colony of heaven, with its members here on earth all enjoying the benefits of the heavenly culture and sovereignty of Christ.
YOU LIVE IN TWO PLACES- ENJOY IT!
Clearly, as believers our home is in heaven and here on earth we are a colony of heavenly citizens with full rights and privileges. By the pattern of Alexander the Great’s blueprint, our responsibility is to secure the culture of heaven to where we live here on earth and let its richness be the dominating influence.
Doug goes on to explain how the word for city- is the “Polis” is also the “policies” “politics” and law…”police.” Greek culture shaped all society and kingdom culture shapes all the Polis! The City!
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO JOIN YOU IN MAKING YOUR HOME AND BUSINESS AN OUTPOST FOR AN INVASION PLAN FOR YOUR CITY???? WE SHOULD TACKLE AT LEAST A DOZEN CITIES, SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE.
WHAT DO YOU SAY? I will share more of Doug's book tomorrow!
Love you all,
Lance Wallnauu