Behold

By Samantha DeJaynes

Jesus Christ stepped down from his heavenly throne for more than salvation at death. He came with kingdom purposes to reconcile and restore mankind as sons and daughters of the King Most High, bringing his heavenly kingdom down to earth through them.

To join the King of kings in the work He is doing today, we must understand the work He has already done through the cross. To walk with kingdom-purpose as our Lord commanded and demonstrated to us requires complete faith and dependence on Him. It requires seeking Him and believing his Word. To be children of our Fathers business, we must behold our King.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512796971

Samantha DeJaynes

Believed to be mute as a child, Samantha DeJaynes has grown to be a fresh and bold voice proclaiming the Lord’s glory. Her first published writings were a series entitled, “The Royal Compass,” for the online Christian magazine, Sonoma Christian Home, and the song, “Arise,” which was featured in the film, 8 Days. Married to a soldier of the Unites States Army, she has been in the military community for 12 years and served as President of the Protestant Women’s Ministries for the Fort Irwin Chapel. Samantha is currently a member of Bethel Community Church of Clarksville, a church of Every Nation Ministries. She lives with her Army Aviator husband, four children, and dog wherever the Army tells her to set up house.

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Copyright © 2017 Samantha DeJaynes.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-9698-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-9699-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-9697-1 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/15/2017

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from Young's Literal Translation of the Bible.

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1      Realigned

Chapter 2      Enemy Fire

Chapter 3      Brazen Bulls

Chapter 4      Kingdoms at War

Chapter 5      Kingdom Expansion

Chapter 6      The Men of Old

Chapter 7      Behold Your King

Chapter 8      The New Covenant

Chapter 9      Yeshua as Groom

Chapter 10    Oneness with God

Chapter 11    (The accuser)

Chapter 12    Heirs of Righteousness

Chapter 13    Heirs of Sonship

Chapter 14    Character Assassination of the King

Chapter 15    Citizens of Heaven

Chapter 16    When God Speaks

Chapter 17    Life in the Tongue

Chapter 18    Kingdom Come

Afterword

About the Cover

Notes

PREFACE

F OR NEARLY THREE decades, I consistently felt condemned. I knew where I would spend eternity; however, my life remained a defeated struggle. Thankfully, the Lord God as my loving redeemer was unsatisfied in keeping me where I was. As He confronted my held beliefs, the source of my defeat was revealed: I did not have a firm foundation of righteousness. Consequently, my faith lacked the power of victory.

Conceding to the Lord’s correction, I grabbed hold of what was rightfully and legally mine through Christ’s death on the cross. As a result, my heart was set ablaze for the Lord God in a radiant new way that could neither be stopped nor contained.

I found peace and love where I had once felt guilt and disapproval. I beheld my God, my King, and my Father through the torn veil of grace that had once been covered by religion. I had settled in my soul, mind, and spirit that I was righteous because of Christ’s righteousness. I agreed with my God and not my enemy that my Father in heaven was infinitely, unimaginably, and incomprehensibly good. As I aligned my beliefs to the Word of God, my life rapidly and drastically began changing from struggle to victory, and victory in a posture of resting, not of fighting.

Through this tested and personal experience, I realized why—like myself —the Church has struggled for so long: It flows from a misbelief by agreeing with the deceiver instead of our Father. In this revelation, I also discovered why such a lie would be necessary from the enemy.

Within these pages are the revelations that changed my life. They are not empty words lacking experience. These truths breathed life into my dead heart. Out of complete gratitude to my merciful and loving God, I pen these words to all who find themselves as I once did. May you find the hope, the peace, the power, and the victory that the Lord God promised through His Son, Jesus Christ, and may His name be forever glorified in and through our lives.

INTRODUCTION

Y OU HAVE BEEN lied to. I have been lied to. Our hearts have been deceived concerning who we really are, what we really are, and what power we have been given. We have been so fixated on the natural that even our understanding and belief of the supernatural is limited by simple cause and effect. We speak of a higher power as we believe it to be far off and not for this life and this world. Our eyes tell us what exists. The mouths of men tell us what is true—and we believe them. In other words, we perceive the supernatural to be subordinate to the things of this world.

However, the supernatural exists above the natural realm. Although it exists above natural limitations, the supernatural exists among the natural world as it is the higher that affects the lower. The work of the supernatural is to bring the higher power—the heavenly realm—to the lower power—the natural realm. This is how the heavenly and supernatural Creator designed His relations with man who lives and operates in the natural world; yet we attempt to force the supernatural beneath our understanding of the natural.

How could this have happened? After all, we love Christ. We know how He has saved us from sin and hell, and that He has given us new life. All of these things are supernatural and transcend our physical sight and understanding.

Or do we understand these things? Do we comprehend the weight these words carry and how they came to be? I would have to say, No. The reason is that we, the Church, have been lied to. If we are to read the words of God concerning Christ’s walk upon this natural world, we would immediately discover that this faith, hope, and belief—this Way—is not merely words, but power. Therefore, I ask: Are you living a life of power?

I have seen with my own eyes, heard with my own ears, thought with my own mind, felt with my own heart all of the lies that lead to defeat, condemnation, death—powerlessness. This is why these lies have spewed from the enemy’s deceitful tongue: Powerlessness among God’s kingdom-inheriting children.

The enemy has worked against the Church to strip the power bestowed upon her through the name of her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. I know the power this lie had over my own life. I experienced it firsthand. Praise be to Jesus Christ, I have also experienced the greater power in stepping out of the lie and into the truth.

If you are in Christ, you have indwelling inside of you the very power that raised our Savior from the dead; the greatest spectacle of the supernatural power reigning above and impacting the natural world. This death-conquering power lives inside of the Church; yet we have lived defeated, deflated, unchangeable, unshakeable lives.

We were created and saved by the almighty, omniscient, compassionate and loving God, and commissioned to bring His light and life-bearing kingdom to the earth ravaged by darkness and death. We have been called to shine light in the world manipulated by the prince of darkness and wickedness, who once reigned over us as when were bound by sin. Through the work of Christ, the chains have been destroyed and the curse has no more power over us. Instead, it is we who have power over it.

Therefore, where is this power? Christ made it abundantly clear that He has left His power, His name, and His authority to us as we walk this earth. If He came only to save us from hell and nothing else, why would He desire or need to leave His authority for us to carry, use, and exhort here and now? Why would He do this if not for a purpose?

Christ has conquered this world and the powers that rule it. He redeems, heals, restores, casts out demons; all of which break the curse we were once under prior to salvation through Him. All of these things He has commissioned us to do as well, even stating that we would do more by His power working through us. He is alive in each and every believer to bring His kingdom to the earth, to break the curse, to restore our dominion of the earth, and to point others to Himself. This is His supernatural power conquering the supernatural power of darkness.

My purpose and intent is to expose the great deceit that has seemed to rob the children of God their rightful inheritance of identity, power, and victory in Christ. It may be difficult to believe that the Church has agreed with the enemy rather than her Lord God; but again, where is the promised power in the Church? Where is the supernatural victory on the same massive scales as our attendance charts? Where is the abundant life, the healing, and the casting out of demons that Christ promised for us? Someone is lying and it is not Christ.

The reason for the enemy to lie to the Church is simple. Mere men have no power over the enemy and as a result, the enemy before Christ had free reign over the earth. However, Christ’s death and resurrection conquered the power of the enemy. Christ left His people that same conquering power to be God’s vessels from which His love and power flows to the world. This evidence of power is how Jesus drew people to Himself, how the disciples and apostles drew people to Jesus, and how you and I are meant to draw people to Jesus today.

The Kingdom of God is one of power, not of empty religious words. Through His compassion towards mankind, Christ came to reconcile, restore, and heal, not to bring a religion. If religion is all we possess, all we have is another opinion to argue with the world. What we possess is so much more.

This power that flows from Christ is never-ending. He is the very source and supply to all life and power. Many of those saved by Christ remain carrying a concealed, forgotten, or misunderstood weapon. However, once Christ’s people fully believe and operate in His power, they will become unstoppable against the enemy as Christ’s power destroys Satan’s work everywhere their directed feet tread.

This terrifies Satan, as it should. Since the bestowing of God’s Spirit upon His people, Satan has had a great obstacle before him. He must stop the power of Christ lest his own power be hindered completely. He must keep the Church blind to it. He must muddy their beliefs in the supernatural. He must keep them toiling in vain, searching and working for that which they already possess through Christ so they are left distracted. He must take their eyes off of the finished work of the cross and keep their eyes on the natural—themselves and all that stands directly before them.

Christ’s power indeed covers the earth, but it lies hidden and dormant because the enemy has whispered into the ears of the Church a great deception. Why would someone tap into this power if they believed they had to earn it, that it was only for heaven and not for this life, or that this power was only for the early Church and has ceased to exist for us today? Quiet the power that is greater than your own and you have the greater power. This is precisely what the enemy has done.

No more. The enemy’s schemes must be brought to light and properly dealt with. Pray for the enemy’s exposure. Believe Christ, your King, and speak His Word. Do these things and the power of Christ will begin to stir within you, leaving you convinced that His love is an unrelenting fire.

The more you taste His goodness, the more you crave it. Your soul will thirst and long for Him; and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the Living Water that never runs dry. Search for Him and you will find Him. By Him, you will be satisfied and fulfilled. Christ is awesome, all-together lovely. It is impossible for a child of God not to want more of Him if they behold Him in truth, and personally witness His consuming love.

I must warn you. There will be a struggle. The enemy hides in the darkness for a reason. He does not want to be seen and discovered. If his plans became exposed, he would lose.

In the military, soldiers are taught to know their enemy and how they fight, so that they may defeat that enemy. By the words of our Lord Jesus, Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16 NKJV). We must know our enemy, Church.

Therefore, take heed from one who has walked this path personally. There will be a fight like no other. The enemy will try to keep you where you are, to keep you distracted. Be watchful and on guard for his schemes so that you may rebuke them immediately with the Word of God. Against every thought contrary to truth, speak God’s Word. You must remain diligent in rebuking the enemy and standing firmly upon the Word of God, which is Christ Jesus.

Christ is the Word, our rock and our firm foundation. Stand firmly upon His Word, the truth, the way, and the life. In all the things the world commands diligence, this is where your true diligence must lie. God’s Word is the source of dropping that which has bound the Church. The time is now to shed falsehoods.

Do you desire to see less of yourself and more of Christ? Do you desire to join the Lord in His work and purposes on earth, and to see Christ’s power in this life? Then this is for you.

May the power of Christ be seen, realized, and used in our lives, all for the glory of His beautiful and mighty name. Friends, it is time to behold our great King.

CHAPTER 1

REALIGNED

B EFORE JESUS WAS arrested and crucified, He sat among His disciples for one last meal. Knowing the time to be with His friends was coming to an end, He removed His outer garment and wrapped a towel around His waist. He knelt down and began washing their feet. Peter was appalled by Jesus’s gesture, and he told Jesus He should never wash the disciples’ feet. After all, Jesus was their teacher and master; He shouldn’t do such a lowly thing for them. Jesus responded, Unless I wash you, you have no part with me (John 13:8 NIV).

When Jesus said this to Peter, Peter immediately retracted his statement and begged Jesus to wash his head and hands as well. Jesus then explained to Peter that he had already been made clean. I personally believe that Jesus, knowing the heart of Peter, made that first comment about washing and being a part of Him for a very specific and personal reason. Christ searches and knows our hearts deeply. The lesson Jesus desired to teach His disciples in the act of washing their feet had nothing to do with ceremonial cleansing (meaning a cleansing to be a part of Christ and near God). However, He used that lesson to address an issue of Peter’s heart that needed realigning.

Listen to the quick response of Peter. Then Lord … not just my feet but my hands and my head as well! (John 13:9 NIV). Jesus then responded, Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you (John 13:10 NIV). We know Jesus is speaking of the cleansing that came with His atonement, because the very next verse explains that Jesus knew of Judas’s betrayal and that was why he stated not everyone was clean.

This is a beautiful interaction between Peter and Jesus—one that reveals how the Lord interacts with us to this day. All Jesus was trying to do was wash His friends’ feet. He was showing them how they should continue in their walk with one another after He left them. That was the true lesson of the feet washing: I am your master; do as I have done and serve one another.

Yet Peter, deep inside of his heart, had the ability to doubt his right standing with God. Peter himself may not have even been aware of this fracture in his heart. But Christ, being the searcher of man’s heart, even in the deepest crevices, knew what Peter would do hours later. Jesus knew that Peter, filled with fear, would deny knowing Jesus. Jesus knew the guilt and shame that would consume Peter’s heart because of that denial, and Jesus knew what would be close behind: condemnation and the feeling of falling away from Jesus.

Jesus, looking into the eyes of His beloved friend, knew what was hidden in the deep places of that friend’s heart. He knew what was coming and what would result from those weaknesses: It would shatter Peter’s heart. Jesus looked into Peter’s eyes, and the weight that Peter would carry inside of him weighed heavily on the Lord. Jesus had to meet those places head-on before those dark moments swarmed upon Peter.

Therefore, Jesus took that moment and made a comment about Peter being clean to reassure him his right standing so that in the moment of guilt, Peter would remember Jesus’s words: Peter, you are clean. I stand convinced that those words spoken at Peter’s feet saved him from spiraling into life-threatening guilt and shame.

How great is our Lord? He could have just said, Peter, I’m just trying to wash your feet. I have something to teach you. And yes, you are right. I am your Master and Teacher. That is actually part of this lesson. Very good, Peter. You are ahead of the game. Now give me your feet.

But Jesus didn’t say that. Instead, He realigned the heart of His friend who would so desperately need the reminder just hours later. Not only would he need that reminder, but Jesus even knew that the reminder would flow from utter denial. Instead of His own feelings of hurt, Jesus focused on the heart of his friend, knowing Peter’s heart and love for Him and also knowing the fear that would bind Peter.

He does the same thing with you. Knowing the things in your heart of which you are completely unaware, He touches those things, realigning them to His truth. He understands our weaknesses. He knows what we battle as humans, and He has compassion toward us because of those weaknesses. He doesn’t hold them against us. He strengthens us and reminds us how much He loves us. He reminds us of our right standing with Him even as our weaknesses deny Him. He is such a gentle and loving God.

On His last night, Jesus addressed His friend’s doubts, but He also addresses the hearts of all who would follow. We all will face times of denying Jesus, but we stand on this side of the cross with a clear grasp of what Jesus was explaining. It would not just be the Jews that Jesus cleansed; it would also be the Gentiles. There is a beautiful picture of this in Isaiah.

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I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations-to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,’ says the Lord. ‘They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels. (Isaiah 66:19–20 NASB; emphasis added)

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This is a picture of the Church—the grafting in of the Gentiles. This is you and I, and all among the nations, who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior! Notice how they come to the holy mountain as ceremonially clean vessels. (This term vessel is an important one; it will come to life as we dive deeper later.) Christ not only covers our sins, but He washes them clean away. What the Lord makes clean, nothing can make unclean. Once washed in His blood, we become His holy and clean vessels, ready and prepped to house the most holy, His Spirit. His Spirit could not dwell in an unclean thing. The fact that His Holy Spirit dwells within His people is evidence enough to proclaim with great boldness and certainty that we are made clean once and for all.

This was what Jesus told Peter, specifically, that last night He was with him. He even stated that they would not fully understand until He fulfilled the prophecies on the cross and rose again. They were confused as He spoke His final words. You and I, however, stand on this side of the cross and resurrection. We see what Jesus was speaking in its fullness because it has been fulfilled. We can understand that what He spoke of was His atoning blood on the cross. At that moment, His disciples hadn’t seen His sacrifice yet. Moreover, they didn’t even comprehend or understand that He must be handed over to die.

They believed the Lord would come only one time, and in that first coming, He would judge the world and renew the kingdom of heaven on earth. They missed, entirely, the vision of the Church that would span over two thousand years to adopt the Gentiles. They missed the concept of the first coming as portrayed in their Jewish weddings—a stunning depiction we will discuss later. When Jesus spoke, they could not see the cross.

We, however, behold the cross and resurrection. We see Christ on this side as our atoning sacrifice. We see His blood shed violently at the flogging post. We see Him nailed, grotesquely beaten beyond any human capacity, to the cross. We see Him buried in the grave. We see Him raised and seated at the right hand of God, the Father. We see it all in its fulfilled glory and power.

His disciples had not yet seen it. Although they could not understand it then, He explained to them that one day soon they would understand it all. Moreover, they would be radically transformed as not only clean, but new creations inhabited by the very Spirit of the Lord their God whom they so dearly loved. And it would begin mere hours from when He spoke those words.

Another interesting aspect to this side dish lesson is how Jesus stated to Peter that a man who had been cleaned needed only his feet washed. Again, Peter and all who are in Christ are made ceremonially clean by the atoning work on the cross. We are cleansed once and for all, made holy and righteous before God.

Our feet, however, still walk this fallen world. Our feet, going about our daily walks, will get dirty. This is a