Young Joash was born to be King of Judah. But for six years he was hidden in the temple while an evil usurper—Queen Athaliah—reigned in his place. (2 Kings 11)
Joash had the birthright of Kingship—but that birthright had not been revealed. He was yet to pick up his crown.
This is a prophetic picture for us, the church today. Joash occupied the temple, the place of worship. But he did not occupy the palace—the place from which he was to rule and reign.
I believe the Spirit is saying,
‘It’s time to discover your birthright—your royal identity. It’s time to both worship and rule. It’s time to pick up your crown!’
You have a Royal Identity
‘For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.’ (Rom 5:17, NKJV)
Through the cross, Jesus won back for us our relationship with God, our place in His family, and our birthright—our royal identity.
- Jesus is the firstborn Son (Heb 1:6, Col 1:18)
- We are co-heirs with Him (Rom 8:17)
The writer to the Hebrews speaks of ‘the Church of the firstborn’:
‘But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.’ (Hebrews 12:22-24, NIV)
The Greek tense of the words translated, ‘you have come’, proserchomai, Strongs G4334, is the past perfect tense. [1] The Scripture does not say, ‘you will eventually come.’ All of this relates to what Jesus has already accomplished. It is our current status. [3]
- Jointly with Jesus, we have heavenly citizenship and firstborn status
- We don’t have independent authority—we don’t exercise authority in our own name, but in the Name of Jesus, who has all authority (Matt 28:18). We have authority by being under His authority (Matt 8:9)
What does the Birthright Consist of?
In the Old Testament, a father passed on two things to his sons: his priestly blessing, and his birthright. We see the importance of these highlighted in the story of Jacob and Esau (Gen 25-27). [1]
The birthright passed on to the firstborn son and it consisted of:
- The Estate (in particular, any lands)
- Inheritance (the ‘double portion’)
- The priestly role in the family (he could bless the next generation)
- Any legal (judicial) authority held by the father [2]
Each one of these is significant, and it is the last—the passing of judicial authority—that I believe the Holy Spirit is highlighting right now.
One example of the ‘passing of judicial authority’ was that in the Old Testament, the firstborn son of the reigning king was the next in line to take the throne.
Honor Your Birthright!
It is written of Esau in the Old Testament, ‘he despised his birthright’ (Gen 25:34). He treated it as something cheap—something he could sell and discard.
- Hear the cry of the Spirit, ‘Don’t neglect your birthright!’
- ‘Don’t neglect what Jesus paid for!’
You are born again with a birthright. You are royal by birth!
It is not earned. You do not have to do anything to deserve it.
The Kingdom of God is not like an Earthly Royal Family.
In an earthly royal family, there is one reigning monarch who has all the responsibility. The sons and daughters enjoy the privilege and favor of royalty, without a responsibility to rule.
However, in this royal family, we have authority in Jesus’ Name. We have a responsibility to exercise His rule and reign on earth (Psalm 115:16, Matt 6:10).
If we are to be in the ‘family business’ (Luke 2:49) that means we must both serve and reign with Christ.
This is what intimacy looks like for our God: sons and daughters who will not only be with Him, but rule with Him. We honor our Father as we bear His likeness.
How can you tell you are exercising your royal birthright?You are disturbing the status quo.
It’s time to pick up your crown.
Notes:
[1] See_https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/heb/12/22/t_conc_1145022
‘The perfect tense in Greek corresponds to the perfect tense in English, and describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated.’
[2] I share about the blessing here: 4 Life-Changing Truths About God’s Blessing
[3] See_http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/birthright/
[4] You can find my sermon ‘Pick Up Your Crown and Unleash Your Greatness’ on the Enliven Blog podcast page here: https://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/podcast/
© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching
Enliven Ministries
In the David McCracken Ministries family
Oro porque el Señor me ubique en el lugar que tiene dispuesto a mi llamado…Y asi espero.
Amen, Jose
Good night Woman Of God, your ministry has blessed me in so many ways. I want to be a part of your prophectic school but lately i find myself being so tired, its been a real struggle in my prayer life, reading God’s word,fasting and even spending time in His presence. One minute I’m on fire for Him, i can encourage and uplift other people but when it comes to myself i cant even do that. I’m not giving up hope. I’m going to continue to fight the good fight of faith. I’m not going to give up I’m going to hold on to the end.
Hi Shirlene, I pray you are replenished and refilled with His Spirit. You have given a lot out – take care of yourself and receive the inspiration you need. <3
Thank you Helen I was expecting your sermon I even pray for you the hunger was so much by the Grace I will pick up my birthright crown
Thanks Mathato ~ amen
I thank God for your ministry Woman of God. You have through God opened my spiritual eyes into the prophetic realm. I am praying for you that God may open His heart to you
Thank you Lucky, I really appreciate your prayers right now
Hallelujah…Glory to the Most High God.
I praise our Lord his matchless ways. This is the third time that this truth has has come to me within a week. Last week, I was seeking The Lord about His Name for me, and he said I need to hear him calling me “His Royalty Daughter of Destiny. This past Sunday, My Apostle prophesied the same thing, and here on today, the Lord is yet confirming his Word through this teaching. He is awesome!
Also, Prophetess Calder, right before I opened this email. I was in a study @faithfulness, and received this word of Knowledge: GOD’s FIRST ORDER of BUSINESS is ALWAYS FAITHFULNESS …His to us and ours to Him
And this must needs be, because of his holiness and the need for the evident witness of his Sovereignty
Hosea 2:20
I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.
Luke 16:10 [Full Chapter]
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
To God be the Glory. Thank you Prophetess Calder for your faithful stewardship.
Hi Prophetess Anna, that is a very special insight and Bible verses. Thank you for sharing, I’m glad this teaching has been a blessing to you!
I just read you booklet ‘Set Your Prophetic Gift Free’. Thank you for writing it. There were so many confirmations in it with things that I have learned from the Holy Spirit and steps that I know I still need to take. Letting go of past hurts is a big one! There are areas that discernment and not being listened to in my family and the church led me to despair and believing that victory isn’t available to so many situations. After reading your booklet I have hope that I haven’t had in years!!!! Thank you so much!!
Sara
Thank you Sara, it’s great to get feedback on the book!
I pray your hope continues to overflow and may you grow in your gift, your contribution and walk with God.
‘Pressed down, shaken together, running over’
~ Helen