đź‘‘ RLM TV SPECIAL FORCES INTEL BRIEFING
Self-Government and the Government of God
Opening Intelligence
Every kingdom operates through government. Every nation, city, household, and individual life carries a government. The central question is never whether government exists — but who is governing, what is governing, and from where does that government originate?
At the Sod ha-Sod level, the great conflict of Scripture is not merely between heaven and earth, good and evil, or even God and Satan. The deepest war is between two governments:
- The government of self
- The government of God
One produces striving, fear, and Babylon. The other produces rest, peace, and Zion. One perpetuates the old creation under the serpent nature (Sitra Achra). The other manifests the New Creation under the indwelling Throne.
The entire purpose of redemption is the overthrow of one government and the full establishment of the other — the dethroning of self and the enthronement of Christ within the inner man.
The First Rebellion
The first rebellion was fundamentally governmental. Lucifer’s declaration was not mere pride — it was a claim to self-government:
“I will ascend… I will exalt… I will become…”
At the center of all rebellion stands one throne: self. The fallen kingdom was born when a created being desired independent rule apart from the government of God.
The essence of sin is not merely wrongdoing. The essence of sin is self-rule — the usurpation of the throne that belongs only to the King. Every manifestation of darkness flows from this root: the desire to govern oneself apart from divine government. This is the governmental seed of the serpent nature that still wars against the seed of the woman.
Adam’s Government
The same governmental temptation appeared in Eden. The serpent offered more than knowledge — he offered autonomy. The promise was governmental: “You shall be as gods.”
Adam exchanged dependence for independence, communion for self-direction, participation for self-determination. The result was immediate separation — not because God abandoned man, but because self had seized the throne.
From that moment, humanity became obsessed with self-preservation, self-promotion, self-protection, self-justification, and self-rule. The entire fallen world still operates under this government of the outer court — the government of Adam.
The Kingdom of Babylon
Babylon is the mature, systemic expression of self-government. It seeks control, power, self-exaltation, and security through human ability. It trusts systems, intellect, wealth, influence, and ultimately self.
The Tower of Babel was humanity’s corporate declaration of independence from divine government. Its bricks were human effort, its mortar was human wisdom, and its architect was the fallen throne of self.
That tower still stands today in countless forms. Every structure, system, or life built apart from total dependence upon God is another tower of Babel — another monument to self-government.
The Government Upon His Shoulders
Into this world of rampant self-rule came the Messiah. Isaiah prophesied:
“The government shall be upon His shoulder…” (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus did not merely come to forgive sins. He came to establish government — the rule of the King. The Gospel is the announcement of a Kingdom. The New Covenant is the transfer of authority.
Many desire salvation and blessings, yet fewer desire full surrender. The Kingdom only manifests where His government is welcomed. The Kingdom advances wherever self-government retreats.
The Government of Grace
The government of God does not rule like earthly governments through external force. It governs internally — from the Holy of Holies within the believer.
The New Covenant is not external regulation written on stone. It is internal administration: the Law written upon the heart, the Spirit as Governor, the River of Life as supply, and Christ as Head.
Grace is not merely forgiveness. Grace is divine government operating within the soul. Grace teaches, empowers, transforms, and reigns. As grace increases, self-government diminishes. This is the government of the inner Throne.
The Throne Within
Every heart contains a throne. The great question of the New Covenant is: Who sits upon it?
- Self-government places self upon the throne.
- The Kingdom places Christ upon the throne.
Compromise — a divided throne or partial surrender — cannot stand. Christ does not seek partnership with self; He seeks absolute lordship.
The Bright Morning Star rises within the heart to occupy the throne. As Christ increases, self decreases. As Christ governs, peace increases. As Christ rules, fear loses authority. As Christ reigns, Babylon falls within and without.
The entire Christian life is the progressive enthronement of Jesus Christ in the inner man — spirit, soul, and eventually body.
The Fruit of Self-Government
Self-government always produces predictable fruit: anxiety, fear, control, striving, comparison, competition, frustration, and exhaustion. The soul was never designed to govern itself. It creates burdens it cannot carry.
The fallen mind attempts to become its own source, protector, provider, ruler, and savior. The result is continual instability. This is why Jesus cried:
“Come unto Me…”
He was inviting humanity out of the tyranny of self-government into the rest of divine government.
The Fruit of Divine Government
The government of God produces an entirely different harvest:
- Peace that surpasses understanding
- Rest in the inner man
- Trust, confidence, and joy
- Security rooted in sonship
- Dependence that releases true authority
Under divine government, the soul ceases striving to be its own source. The Father becomes the Source. Christ becomes the Wisdom. The Spirit becomes the Guide. Grace becomes the fuel.
Surrender is not loss — it is total liberation. The government of God removes every burden the old nature was never designed to carry.
The Great Transfer
Salvation is a governmental transfer. Paul declares believers have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s beloved Son.
This is not merely a legal transaction. It is a relocation of authority: the old ruler (self) is dethroned, the new King (Christ) is enthroned. The old government declines as the new government expands.
Spiritual growth is not becoming more self-governed. It is becoming more fully Christ-governed — the crucifixion of the serpent nature and the formation of the divine nature within.
Final Intelligence
The battle of the ages has always centered upon one throne: Who governs?
Self-government declares: “My will be done.” The Kingdom declares: “Your will be done.”
Self-government seeks control. The Kingdom seeks surrender.
Self-government trusts self. The Kingdom trusts Christ enthroned.
Self-government builds Babylon. The Kingdom builds Zion.
Every believer faces this choice daily. Wherever self occupies the throne, Babylon survives. Wherever Christ occupies the throne, Heaven manifests within.
The ultimate purpose of redemption is not merely forgiven people, but governed people — people whose hearts have become the dwelling place of the King, whose inner world is the territory of Heaven, and whose throne belongs entirely to Jesus Christ.
Mission Objective
Identify every remaining area of self-government. Bring it before the Throne of Christ. Yield full control to the Holy Spirit. Receive the government of grace.
Crucify the serpent nature of independence. Drink deeply from the River of Life flowing from the inner Throne.
For the Kingdom of God expands with unstoppable increase wherever the government of God is welcomed within the hearts of His Overcomers.
“The government shall be upon His shoulder… and of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
With Love in Christ,
Apostle Brandon Barthrop
