Called to Reign

1. Identity: Reigning Begins with Knowing Who You Are

Until you see yourself as God sees you, think about yourself the way He thinks about you, and feel the way He feels toward you, you cannot know Him intimately, experience your inheritance, or fulfill your destiny.

Foundation of Reigning. Understanding your identity as a beloved son or daughter of God is the bedrock upon which a purposeful and fulfilled life is built. This identity, predestined in love, precedes any action or accomplishment, providing a secure foundation for intimacy, inheritance, and destiny. Without this foundational understanding, believers often operate from a place of striving and insecurity, hindering their ability to fully embrace their calling.

Orphan vs. Sonship. The book contrasts the mindset of an orphan, who sees problems and strives for acceptance, with that of a son or daughter, who sees promises and rests in God's unconditional love. This shift in perspective is crucial for revealing the Father's heart to a world longing for genuine connection and purpose. Only those rooted in sonship can truly love as the Father loves and exercise authority in His name.

Transformation through Revelation. The journey to discovering one's true identity involves a revelation of the Father's love, a baptism that immerses individuals in His affection. This revelation heals false mindsets and pours liquid love into the heart, enabling believers to dream big dreams and carry God's glory on the earth. It's not merely intellectual assent but a deep, experiential knowing that transforms how we see ourselves and the world around us.

2. Intimacy: The Resting Place is Found in God's Presence

When you have deep intimacy—and you can have it because you already know your true identity—you will experience the Father’s presence; and when you experience His presence, you will also abide in His pleasure.

Beyond Visitation to Habitation. True intimacy with God transcends occasional visitations, leading to a state of abiding in His presence and experiencing His pleasure. This "resting place" is not merely a destination but a lifestyle, a constant communion with the Father, Son, and Spirit. It's in this intimate fellowship that believers find true security, value, and purpose, freeing them from the orphan spirit's relentless pursuit of validation.

The Father's Living Room. The book paints a vivid picture of God's living room, a place of unconditional acceptance, extravagant love, and open communication. This is where believers can be themselves, share their true feelings, and experience the Father's full attention. It's a home where love flows freely, gifts are generously distributed, and wayward family members are always welcomed back with open arms.

Alignment and Assignment. Intimacy with God aligns our spirit, soul, and body, enabling us to hear His voice clearly and discern His will with confidence. This alignment is crucial for fulfilling our assignment, as it empowers us to operate from a place of love, power, and wisdom. Without this intimate connection, believers often find themselves striving to perform, driven by fear and insecurity rather than the Father's pleasure.

3. Inheritance: Accessing Heaven's Resources on Earth

Everything God has is made available to you in order for you to fulfill your destiny.

Co-heirs with Christ. As sons and daughters of God, believers are co-heirs with Christ, inheriting all that He possesses. This inheritance is not merely a future promise but a present reality, granting access to heaven's resources for fulfilling our earthly calling. However, this inheritance is not automatically received; it requires maturity, stewardship, and a deep understanding of the Father's heart.

Beyond Blessing to Inheritance. The book distinguishes between children of blessing, who enjoy the Father's provision, and children of inheritance, who understand how to steward and multiply those blessings for future generations. True inheritance involves taking responsibility for the estate on earth and using heaven's resources to bring transformation and restoration. It's about building a legacy, not merely consuming what has been given.

The Master Key: Sonship. The key to unlocking this inheritance is sonship, the deep-seated understanding of one's identity as a beloved child of God. This identity, coupled with intimacy with the Father, grants access to the family account, enabling believers to write checks on heaven's resources and fulfill their destiny with confidence and authority. It's about living from abundance, not striving for it.

4. Destiny: Called to Bring Heaven to Earth

The world is looking for a God that looks just like Jesus.

More Than Just Getting to Heaven. Destiny is not merely about escaping earth and reaching heaven but about bringing heaven to earth, transforming cultures and societies with the love, justice, and peace of God's kingdom. This involves engaging with the "seven mountains" of culture—education, government, media, arts and entertainment, family, business, and religion—with a kingdom mindset, influencing them with heaven's values. It's about discipling nations, not just individuals.

Culture Changers. God is raising up culture changers in this generation, individuals who are equipped to tip the balance in the war on worldview. These are sons and daughters of glory who leave their Chair 1 church to go into the world on Monday morning, pastoring, teaching, prophesying, and exercising their gifts in their assignment in the marketplace. They are able to see the next Joseph or Esther or Daniel in normal or even unlikely people because they treat people based upon their destiny, not their history.

The Great Commission Redefined. The book challenges the traditional view of evangelism, urging believers to move beyond simply getting people saved to welcoming them into a family. This involves creating an environment of belonging, where individuals can experience the Father's love, discover their identity, and fulfill their purpose. It's about building fireplaces, not just looking for the fire.

5. The Three Chairs: Kingdom, Self, and the World

In Chair 1, you realize the kingdom is not about the things of this world, so your focus is never on problems but always on kingdom opportunities.

A Framework for Understanding Worldviews. The three-chair illustration provides a powerful framework for understanding different worldviews and how they impact our lives. Chair 1 represents the kingdom of God, Chair 2 the kingdom of self, and Chair 3 the kingdom of the world. Every individual, regardless of their background or beliefs, operates from one of these chairs.

Chair 1: Rooted in Sonship. Those who live from Chair 1 are rooted in the spirit of sonship, experiencing God's pleasure without having to perform. They live from a place of total acceptance and rest, hearing the Father's voice and trusting in His guidance. Their focus is always on kingdom opportunities, not problems.

Chair 2: The Kingdom of Self. Chair 2 Christians, while saved, tend to live for God rather than from God, driven by an orphan spirit and a constant need to perform. They experience the Holy Spirit's visitation but not His habitation, and they often struggle with fear, anxiety, and a distorted view of God's will. The key is to move from Chair 2 to Chair 1.

6. The Power of Love: Transforming Enemies and Cultures

We only have authority over what we love, so loving as the Father loves puts us in a position of being able to exercise authority.

Love as a Strategy. The book emphasizes the transformative power of love, even in the most extreme circumstances. Leif Hetland's personal experiences in ministering to religious radicals and dictators demonstrate how love, compassion, and mercy can bring reconciliation and shift atmospheres. This approach challenges the traditional mindset of judgment and condemnation, urging believers to operate in the "love language" of heaven.

Seeing Through Heaven's Eyes. The war for our worldview is about the glasses we are wearing. How do we see God? Ourselves? The world? The future? Are they the lenses of the world or the lenses of heaven? Are they focused on self or on Jesus? Are they sunglasses that protect you from the light or Son-glasses that will help you see it?

Ambassadors of Love. In a generation marked by fear, deception, and division, followers of Jesus must be known as "Ambassadors of Love." This is how we are called to reign, by embodying the love, compassion, and mercy of the Father in all that we do. It's about changing the environment, not just measuring the temperature.

7. The Family Blueprint: Restoring Eden's Design

The culture of heaven is our template for love and interdependence.

The Trinity as Prototype. The Father, Son, and Spirit are the prototype of love and honor, a perfect family unit characterized by equality, unity, and mutual admiration. This heavenly environment serves as the blueprint for God's kingdom on earth, a culture of love and interdependence that transcends competition and self-centeredness. Understanding this blueprint is crucial for creating healthy relationships and building a kingdom-minded community.

The Fall and the Identity Thief. The fall of Lucifer and the temptation of Adam and Eve highlight the importance of identity and the dangers of inverting the divine order of being, having, and doing. The enemy is an identity thief, seeking to distort our perception of God and ourselves, leading us to strive for acceptance and validation rather than resting in our inherent worth as sons and daughters.

Restoring Eden's Design. Jesus came to restore us to our original likeness, to reclaim our identity as sons and daughters of God. This restoration involves renewing our minds, seeing ourselves as God sees us, and living from heaven to earth rather than from earth toward heaven. It's about returning to the resting place, where we can experience the Father's pleasure and fulfill our destiny with confidence and joy.

8. The Process of Transformation: From Blessing to Inheritance

You will get to heaven with a robe, but you will not bring heaven to yourself until you’ve got the ring.

Beyond Justification to Authority. The book uses the parable of the prodigal son to illustrate the process of transformation from a son of blessing to a son of inheritance. While the robe represents justification and acceptance into the family, the ring symbolizes authority and the ability to represent the Father. It's about moving beyond simply receiving blessings to stewarding and multiplying them for the benefit of others.

The Importance of Maturity. True inheritance requires maturity, a deep understanding of the Father's heart and a willingness to take responsibility for His estate. It's about valuing what has been given, honoring those who have gone before, and using our resources to advance the kingdom. Without this maturity, blessings can become a curse, leading to wastefulness and a distorted view of God's purposes.

The Covenant Meal. The celebration at the end of the prodigal son's story represents a covenant meal, a reminder that inheritance comes from a relationship, not a contract. It's about living from fullness, not measure, and recognizing that everything we have is a gift from the Father. This understanding transforms our perspective, enabling us to see the world through His eyes and love as He loves.

9. The Role of Testing: Preparing for Destiny

Wherever you are connected with destiny is where Satan has bitten. When you get to the other side of that experience, you will find authority there.

Destiny-Killers. The book identifies four "destiny-killers"—disappointments, discouragement, distractions, and delays—that can undermine our calling and prevent us from fulfilling our true purpose. These challenges are not meant to derail us but to refine us, preparing us for the greater responsibility that lies ahead. It's about learning to persevere, to maintain our focus on God's vision, and to trust in His faithfulness even in the midst of trials.

The Training-for-Reigning Program. God has us in a school where destiny is being tested; where learning begins in the natural. We are called to be people of destiny, but many people never recognize theirs. It is important to be faithful in the natural realm correlates to faithfulness in the spiritual realm.

The Power of Testimony. The book emphasizes the importance of sharing our testimonies, the stories of how God has worked in our lives, to encourage and inspire others. These testimonies become powerful weapons against the enemy, reminding us of God's faithfulness and empowering us to overcome future challenges. It's about turning our tests into triumphs, our scars into stars.

10. The Importance of Honor: Connecting to Generational Blessings

As we honor roots, we will be entrusted with fruits.

Honoring Those Who Have Gone Before. The book highlights the importance of honoring our spiritual roots, connecting with the generations that have paved the way for our success. This involves recognizing and valuing the sacrifices, wisdom, and anointing of those who have gone before us, tapping into their inheritance and building upon their foundation. It's about standing on the shoulders of giants, not trying to reinvent the wheel.

A Legacy of Blessing. By honoring our roots, we create a legacy of blessing, passing on the torch to future generations and ensuring that their ceiling becomes our floor. This involves investing in their lives, mentoring them, and empowering them to fulfill their own destinies. It's about building a kingdom that lasts, not just a moment that fades away.

The Power of Connection. The book emphasizes the importance of connection, both with God and with others. It's about building a community of believers who support, encourage, and challenge one another to grow in their faith and fulfill their calling. It's about recognizing that we are all part of a larger story, a family on a mission to bring heaven to earth.

Last updated: April 11, 2025