Think about yourself for a moment. How much of your time with the Lord--in prayer, meditation, reading--is spent focusing on yourself?  How much of your time and attention is focused on others--praying for people, discipling others, telling people about Jesus, helping people in need or serving in your church? 

What began as something good--Focusing on ourselves for self improvement and growth--has grown into an almost obsession of self-focus and selfishness.  It is insidious! 

I remember when pastors began moving away from messages about salvation, service and evangelism to "self-help" messages that sounded more like personal growth therapy sessions!  It seemed like a good direction to go because people were becoming more aware of their emotional and mental states and would, with that knowledge grow into mature, productive disciples of Christ.  The problem is, we ended up with an abundance of "me Christians"!  In essence, there are many Humanist Christians who don't even know that is what they have become. 

Wikipedia says: Christian humanism regards humanist principles like universal human dignity, individual freedom and the importance of happiness as essential and principal components of the teachings of Jesus. Now, the problem with that is that it puts "me" at the center of my universe and not Jesus.  It is like taking the sun and having it rotate around the earth.  We are not the center of the universe!

Also, I have read several articles that say being self-focused may increase depression but being focused on others and helping people in some way decreases depression.  "Getting your mind off yourself" just may be good advice!  That is understandable!

People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace.  So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God.

But you aren’t self-centered. Instead you are in the Spirit, if in fact God’s Spirit lives in you. If anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, they don’t belong to Him. Romans 8:5-9 CEB

We choose churches by the way it affects us:  the worship, the preaching, the child care, etc as if we were the center of the universe. You want to go somewhere where you can "Get your praise on!", get pumped up and know your children are well taken care of.  Have you ever gone "church shopping" with the focus being "Can God use me here?"  

I'm right there with you and until recently I never thought about it.  But this year the Holy Spirit changed my focus and I began seeing from a new perspective!  Once you see it, you can't unsee it! That is why I am writing. I want you to see also! 

We've got to get our eyes off of ourselves and back on Jesus! 

​Social media and our culture have created an epidemic of self-absorbed and narcissistic people.  It has caused them to look coldly on the hardships of others. As long as we keep our eyes on ourselves, we cannot advance the Kingdom of God in our community.  How many people will never come to know Jesus because we couldn't get our eyes and thoughts off of ourselves?  That is a sobering thought.   

Yes, once you see it, you won't be able to unsee it.  Be aware of your focus.  Is it Jesus focused?  Is it focused on discipleship, evangelism, serving others?  Or is it centered on you, how it relates to your life, your prosperity, your comfort, and your happiness?  

...Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1b-2 NLT

​All scriptures NLT unless noted.
​
​​​Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
DeborahLuchie.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

Our society is out of control. I cannot speak from experience about other countries, but in America we are one long gag video of adults behaving badly.  It seems the majority of our population has no self control!  Road rage, people being shot over a fast food order and situations that should be of no consequence quickly escalates to chaos and destruction. Behaviors that once would put a person in a mental institution are now applauded and entertainment for the masses. When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.  But whoever obeys the law is joyful.  Proverbs 29:18 

I can understand this happening in the world, but believers in Jesus Christ, citizens of the Kingdom of God,  should be a model of self control and all the Fruits of the Spirit.  They have God's Word and the Holy Spirit to guide them!  We are called to be salt and light to the world.  But if we are immature believers and look like the world, our light is dim and our salt has lost its savor.  What good are we?  “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.  You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  Matthew 5:13-15

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Galatians 5:22-25

Of all the fruit listed, self control is the rarest--but most important--of them all.  It is the key to all the others!  Once you mature in self control, all the others fruits of the Spirit will manifest in your life.  With God's Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you can cultivate mature fruit in your life.  Self control is about being able to control and properly respond to your emotions and thoughts.  Emotions are temporary.  They change direction as often as the wind. You are not your emotions.  You are your mind, body, spirit AND emotions.  But you are meant to control them, not the other way around.  The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 
1 Corinthians 10:13

​Remember these are "fruits" of the Spirit, not the "gifts" of the Spirit.  One is given and one must be cultivated.  Many years ago, our property was adjacent to an apple orchard.  Workers consistently mowed, pruned, fertilized and sprayed for pests for many, many months.  Then when the fruit was ripe, they harvested the delicious apples to sell.  When the harvest was finished, we would go into the orchard and pick up the apples left on the ground (the owner told us we were welcome to the leftovers!).  Then I would take those apples and make applesauce and apple butter...what a delicious blessing from their overflow!  But one year no workers came.  No one cultivated the fruit. No one mowed or pruned or fertilized.  No one harvested the fruit. The orchard was abandoned. At first the apples were still good, but over time the orchard became overgrown, unkempt and the fruit became small, diseased and damaged by pests.

That is what happens in our lives when we don't feed our spirit with God's Word and listen to the Holy Spirit.  Most of the sin and chaos in our lives began with a lack of self control.  I'm sorry, but you can't have someone lay hands on you and pray some self control on you.  It is cultivated by listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and God's Word.  Be intentional and seek self control in your life.  Once you have self control, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, love and faithfulness will grow also!  

Here is just a few practical suggestions that have worked for me to cultivate self control:

• Never react--pause, breath, think, and then respond.
• Grow a thicker skin and don't be easily offended
• When someone angers or upsets you, while you are breathing and pausing, try to think of what they were thinking or why they did what they did. Be empathetic.
• Don't let a day go by without forgiving because unforgiveness roots as bitterness.
• Let go of the need to be right.
• Let go of the need to have the last word.
• Determine ahead of time that you will never see yourself as a victim.  Bad things may happen but you are not a victim. You are an overcomer!
• Think 'cause and effect'.  If I do this--if I say this--what will happen?  What will the fallout be?  Is the cost too great?  Then STOP yourself before it is too late.
• And last, my favorite self-talk sentence:  "It's not that serious!"  Sometimes we think something is so serious and catastrophic, when by next week you won't even remember what it was.  Unless it is truly a life or death situation, it's not that serious!

Of course, the most important thing of all is to be filled up with God's Word.  It is the nutrients you need to grow the satisfying fruit of self control and all of the fruits of the Spirit.  So I will close this out with some nourishment for spirit.  You can change.  You can grow mature fruit!

​All NIV scriptures:
Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.  Proverbs 25:28

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7 

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.  Proverbs 16:32

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.  James 1:19

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.  Titus 2:11-12

Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.
Proverbs 12:16 

Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. 
Proverbs 29:11 

All scriptures NLT unless noted.
​
​​​Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

Your words have power.  We've all heard that, but I don't think we realize how important it is to live it!  What you say and how you say it will affect your daily life.  Now don't think this is the word of faith message you've heard since the 80s and dismiss it.
  
God created the universe with His words.  He spoke it into being.   Then God  said, “Let there be light,” and there was light...Then God said, “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”  And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens.  God called the space “sky.”...Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened...Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened.   God didn't have to "make" anything.  He created with His Words.  His Words brought life and order to formless chaos!  

Then God created mankind, in His image, to be like Him.  Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”  So God created human beings in His own image.  In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.
​
We may not be creating worlds with our words, but our words affect our world and its quality of life.  Here is what I mean:  Which of these sentences is more faith-building?

"I am a diabetic."

"I have diabetes."
​
"I am dealing with diabetes until Jesus heals me"

Your child doesn't have ADHD, they are "dealing with attention deficit issues until Jesus heals them".  Don't attach negative labels to your child which they will have great difficulty removing.  It becomes a part of who they are.

You are not depressed, or suffering with depression.  But you may be dealing with depression until Jesus heals you.  Your present condition does not define you!  Your relationship with Jesus Christ defines you.  

It's not wordplay, or semantics, and it's not nitpicking.  It is building a framework for your life in a position of faith and total trust.  Don't embrace sickness, disease, mental or emotional disorders or addictions. Don't own them...God never intended for them to be yours.  Satan wants you in a posture of hopelessness and defeat.

You are not your current condition!  

You are a blood-bought believer in Jesus Christ.  You are a son or daughter of the most high God. 

You are a citizen of the Kingdom of God.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have all done it.  "I'm forgetful."  "I'm such a klutz."  "I'm an alcoholic." "I'm a drug addict."  "I am depressed."  "I am an agoraphobic." "You are stupid"  "You are lazy." 

No matter what your issue is, you are not THAT and neither is your child!  You are a child of God.  You are more than a conqueror.  You are a citizen of the Kingdom of God.  You are an overcomer.  You are overcoming alcohol.  You are overcoming drugs.  You are being delivered from an addiction to cigarettes.  

Don't bury yourself under a mound of negative words.  It will bring negative, hopeless feelings that will immobilize you.  Do you want to be healed and whole?  Do you want to rise above your current situation?  Speak where you want to go.  Speak faith.  And trust God's timing.

"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” 

I want to encourage you today.  Be aware of what you say.  Speak like a victorious Kingdom citizen.  Here is what I say.  Take it and change the words to fit you.

"I am dealing with arthritis until Jesus heals me. I will not embrace it and it is not mine.  It has been sent by the enemy and is not God's will for my life!  God's timing is perfect.  He's never early but He's never late.  I am a child of the living God.  A citizen of the Kingdom of God.  My faith is in Jesus Christ and I trust Him!"

Genesis 1   Romans 8:35-39   Joshua 1:9   Proverbs 18:21  Matthew 21:21-22  All NLT

Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

When the Lord God created mankind, He could have made us mindless drones, created only to do His will.  We would never disobey and everything we did would be orchestrated and "programmed" by God.  Clearly that is not was God wanted. He created mankind in His image and gave him free will.  He gave us the gift of "choices".  He wanted us to CHOOSE to love Him; to CHOOSE to obey Him; to CHOOSE to worship Him.  He wanted His creation for choose Him!  I think we can all relate to wanting that.  We don't want a spouse who is forced to love us.  We want someone who chooses us and loves us freely!

“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster.  For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep His commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in His ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy."

“But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods,  then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy."

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!  You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and committing yourself firmly to Him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”  Deuteronomy 30:15-20 

​Kingdom citizens, know that having the freedom to choose is extended to all, not only believers!  When you look at our world and all the terrible things in it, understand that everything that happens, happens because of choices people have made.  God gave all of mankind the freewill to choose life or death.  We can pray, be we cannot overwrite God's decree of the gift of freewill just because the world chooses death and rejects the Lord Jesus as their savior.  

Religion will try to force its will over the people in the world because they are making evil choices that bring death and destruction.  But to force ones will and choices upon another goes against the Lord God's gift of freewill.  We have no authority to do this.  Our responsibility as citizens of the Kingdom of God is to go into that world and represent Jesus and be examples of life in the Kingdom with it's benefits.  We are responsible to be light in the darkness.

We are not called to force the world to accept Jesus as their Savior.  We present the Gospel and the Lord draws them.  But, they still have their freewill and are free to accept or reject Him...choices.  We are only called to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom of God that Jesus taught, around the world.  Everyone should be given that final--greatest--choice of all.  Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  And the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.  Matthew 24:12-14  

Religion's controlling spirit has tried far too often to force the world to live by its standards.  Personally, I wish the world would all live by God's standards as laid out in His Word!  That is the world I want to live in.  But our desire to have a Godly world should not be brought about by taking away freewill and God's gift of "choices".  He didn't force mankind and we cannot either.  When we try, with the best of intentions, to force our will upon non-believers, we are being disobedient, and yes, in sin!  

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.  Galatians 5:12-15 

Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.  John 7:17 NIV 

For many years I have heard "Don't be surprised when sinners sin!"  That is very true.  Hard truths:  1.  Everyone won't be saved.  2.  As long as we live on this earth, there will be evil, sin, death and destruction.  Choose life or death.  The world is choosing death and destruction.  

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.  Proverbs 18:21 NKJV 
​
The religious of today misrepresent Christ and drive people away from ever knowing Him, when they try to control the sins of the world.  You are called to represent your King Jesus and His Kingdom, and to present the Gospel to those who cross your path.  Stay in your own lane.  

Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you​​​

Last week, I heard two different news stories on the same day about two young men who killed themselves in our city.  One was barely a teen.  Tragic!  I grieved at the thought that they felt so hopeless and so deceived by the enemy that they ended their young lives.  But this is becoming commonplace. 

Suicides, murders and every kind of horrific crime and perversion you can imagine are becoming more and more common.  Whole families wiped out in murder/suicides.  Then I started to get angry because we, as believers and citizens of the Kingdom of God, have the answer for the chaos and misery in this world but we aren't being walking, talking examples of an abundant Kingdom life!  We keep our light hidden.  You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.  Matthew 5:14-16 NLT 

​Those who don't yet know Jesus as their Savior have a hole in their soul that  needs to be filled by the Holy Spirit.  It yearns for God but they try to fill that hunger with everything the world can give them:  food, alcohol, drugs, sex, pain, power and all manner of perversion; trying to quench the hunger in their soul for God.  Satan throws them lots of substitutes.  He has an open field because too many believers have put themselves in a big protective "bubble" so they don't get any of the world on them.  They are entertained in church rather than being discipled to go out into the world and do the work of the Kingdom.  They pride themselves in only listening to Christian music, going to Christian events and only associating with other Christians.  But what good are we if we never live among the rest of the world and show by example what life in the Kingdom can be!  In order to do that, you must have been discipled and full of the Word so you don't slide back into your sinful past.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the body of Christ.  This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.  He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.  Ephesians 4:11-16 NLT

Ministry isn't just handing out tracts.  That isn't very effective today.  The world has seen too much sin and hypocrisy in the church and in Christians.  They don't see anything they want there!  They have to see God's Word operating in our daily lives.  Every person you interact with should see Jesus in you. By the way, this includes when you are driving or dealing with service people!  They should see the fruits of the Spirit blossoming in you, a sweet aroma of peace, joy and self-control (this seems to be a hard one for most!).  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 NLT 

Please hear my heart on this.  The world without Jesus is miserable.  I don't care what face they put on in public.  They can have money and fame and still be miserable.  There have been times when the Holy Spirit led me to some hard rock music videos and really opened my mind and heart.  I listened to the songs and the words and cried.  Hard to believe, I know!  But it showed me their mindsets and the pain, chaos and despair they felt.  One of the groups was Linkin Park.  They have millions of fans, people practically worship them.  Not long after I saw those videos, the lead singer/songwriter, Chester Bennington commit suicide.  Tragic.  He seemed to have everything the devil could offer him and he was still in such despair that he killed himself.   The Holy Spirit showed me this so clearly and I felt the grief that God must feel when one is lost for eternity.  People cut themselves, take drugs and get drunk, all to ease their emotional pain.  They need to see the peace and joy of Jesus in you.

Yes, it is time to get serious.  Time to stop needing to be entertained at church.  Time to represent your King everywhere you go out in the world.  Time to stop pretending to be like the world.  Time to be Jesus everywhere you go--His hands and His voice. Time to cultivate those fruits of the Spirit seeds that are planted in your spirit. Time to stop living in that Christian bubble and get out among the people who are dying and going to Hell.  Can you imagine what your city would be like if all the citizens of the Kingdom of God represented the Kingdom everywhere they went?  You want to change your city?  Want to win it for the Kingdom of God?  Change yourself and get out there among them!  Oh, and please don't be religious and "churchy" around them.  Be real...be sincere!

​I have given them Your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.  I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.  They do not belong to this world any more than I do.  Make them holy by your truth; teach them Your word, which is Truth.  Just as you sent Me into the world, I am sending them into the world.  And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.  I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in Me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent Me.

I have given them the glory you gave Me, so they may be one as we are one.  I am in them and you are in Me.  May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent Me and that you love them as much as you love me. John 17:14-23 NLT 

Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

Jesus didn't come to change the world. He came to save all who would accept Him as their Savior. In turn, their lives would shine for all to see the Kingdom of God through them. That would ultimately change their world! 

During the Welsh revival of 1904-1905, over 150,000 souls were saved!  Bars and jails were empty and the police had very little to do.  Believers didn't push to outlaw alcohol or get tough on crime.  The communities saw the power of the Holy Spirit working through people and repented.  Jesus came into their hearts and they were changed from the inside out.

             It is time for us to stop shoving our morals and standards
                                       down the world's throat!
                 They need to see the Kingdom at work in our lives!
                                        They just need Jesus. 

But all too often, instead of believers showing the world Jesus, they try to force God's laws and principles upon them.  God's Constitution is here to guide and direct believers and show them how to live.  It teaches us how to interact with this world.  We are not here to police the lost and dying of this world.  We are not here to force them to live in a manner that doesn't fit their sinful lives.  That is not salvation!  We are here to be an example and lead them to Jesus Christ. Only He can "fix" them.  Only He cleanses all the sin and unrighteousness from their lives.  Only He can change the desires of their hearts.

If we are living a Kingdom life, they will WANT what we have.  They will ask, in times of great turmoil, how we can have so much peace.  Where do we get our joy, when there is nothing to be happy about?  How did we get through being jobless and still be provided for and have peace?  How is our lives so drama-free?

Yes, we need to be a walking, talking, uncompromising reflection of Jesus and Kingdom living and lead them to Jesus and the life they could be living.  If we can do that, there will be no need to force our morals and standards upon the world. But sometimes it is easier to legislate morality than to give up our pet sins.

In 1 Peter 4:17-18, it says: For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?  And also, 
“If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”

​Think about that a moment..."If the righteous are BARELY saved, what will happen to godless sinners?"  That thought alone should bring you to your knees!  We do not have to fight the world and force them to be moral, upright, heterosexual and not follow their lusts, waving the banner "If it feels good, do it!"  No!  We seem to have no problem debating, arguing, protesting and legislating our beliefs.  The problem is that, in our hearts, far too many believers are embracing the world and are unable to truly be examples of what life in the Kingdom looks like.  

The world needs to see uncompromising Kingdom citizens, raising a standard and not being swayed by the world and what it has to offer.  Verse 17 speaks to the crux of the matter:  "For the time has come for judgment, and it MUST begin with God's household." When you live the life of a compromised, carnal believer, you not only affect your life, but the lives of those around you.  How many of your friends, family and co-workers will be lost for eternity because they look at how you live your life as a believer and say "At least I'm not a hypocrite. I may be living like hell, but I'm honest about it!"  

The world is a mess.  It is a cesspool of sin, perversion and every kind of wickedness you could imagine.  You say you want to change the world? Here is the way:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:24-27 NLT  Put your selfish desires and urges on that cross daily.  Die to self so you can live for Him.  People are watching you on their highway to hell.  What are you going to do?

Believe me or dismiss me, but it is time for those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ to get their house in order.  How?

Repent.  Clean the slate and put the past in the past.

Don't let one day go by without feeding on God's Word; not a popular religious book or the latest from your favorite ministry. Read God's Constitution.  That is your only real TRUTH.  Find scriptures that speak to you and meditate on them.

Get discipled.  Find a mentor whom you respect as being more spiritually mature than you are and spend some time with them, even if it's buying them lunch occasionally and talking.  Be real, be honest about your struggles and  your questions.

Repeat after me, daily if necessary:  "I die to self. It's not about me.  It's about Jesus"

When you get full of God's Word, your faith will get stronger and you will hear from the Holy Spirit more clearly.  When you get full of God's Word, you will shine with Kingdom life everywhere you go.  The more darkness you walk into, the brighter you will shine!

There is a LOT of dim bulbs who call themselves believers.  It's time to shine brightly.  The world is depending on it.  Deep down they want to see someone actually live what they say they believe. Be the one!

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV

"Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last." CT Studd

Shine brightly brothers and sisters.  Let no one miss your Kingdom glow!

Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

When God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of the bondage of slavery, rather than being thankful to God, they complained.

​“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”  Exodus 16:3 NLT  God could have just put an end to their disobedient complaining right there and sent them back to the bondage of Egypt.  But in His infinite mercy (not getting what they deserve) and grace (getting what they don't deserve) He chose to provide manna from heaven and quail to sustain them.   So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little.  But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.”  But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning.(disobedience) But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. (you find maggots in dead things) Moses was very angry with them...

He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.”

So they put some aside until morning, just as Moses had commanded. And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor. (life in obedience)  Moses said, “Eat this food today, for today is a Sabbath day dedicated to the Lord. There will be no food on the ground today.  You may gather the food for six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. There will be no food on the ground that day.”
 
Some of the people went out anyway on the seventh day, but they found no food. The Lord asked Moses, “How long will these people refuse to obey my commands and instructions?  Exodus 16 read the whole story here 

When we read the story of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, many of us wonder how they could continue grumbling and complaining and being disobedient to God for that long and not understand why they were not able to arrive at Canaan, the Promised land.  But it is actually the same today!  So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle. They ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.  Exodus 16:35 NLT  God sustained them with manna, but they never entered into the blessings He had promised them.  He showed them mercy and grace and sustained them...period.  They were not permitted to enter into the blessings of God, only to wander in the wilderness they hated.  But God sustained them with manna--His mercy and grace--for 40 years.

Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron,  “How long must I put up with this wicked community and its complaints about me? Yes, I have heard the complaints the Israelites are making against me.  Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say.  You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die.  You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.   Numbers 14:26-30 NLT

Many believers today are doing exactly the same as the Israelites in the wilderness.  They are saved and maybe even go to church, pray and tithe; but still live sinful, disobedient lives.  They gather their daily dose of mercy and grace to sustain them.  They thank God for His mercy and grace that sustains them, not realizing the abundant life they could be living in His Kingdom!  

​Will you "get to heaven" being sustained on mercy and grace?  Maybe.  That's between you and Jesus--not my call.  Will you live an abundant, blessed, fruitful  Kingdom life being sustained on mercy and grace?  No.  There is no abundance in the wilderness of sin and disobedience. There is only "getting by" on manna. 

Do you want to get out of the wilderness?  Do you want to advance from being sustained to blessed, prosperous living?  Also bear in mind, this isn't about being wealthy.  A blessed, prosperous life is a life of peace, with divine health, healthy loving relationships with all our needs met and we are able to meet the needs of others.  If you don't believe that, ask a millionaire who is dying of a terminal illness or who has lost the love of their family and has no relationship with them.  Money is just a tool.

In Hebrews 12, we are told:  "let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."  What sin easily trips you up?  What is the thing that causes you to be disobedient to the Father every single time it enters your mind?   The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.  I Corinthians 10:13 NLT

I thank God for His grace and mercy.  There were times in my life when that was all that sustained me.  But I knew I couldn't stay there.  I had to advance toward that abundant life He has for me.  If I stayed in the wilderness, being sustained on manna, I would never fulfill His purpose for my life! That would be a tragic waste just because I couldn't become more self-controlled and obedient to His Word.

You have a purpose for being here.  You were born with a mission.  You will never discover it, wandering around in the wilderness being sustained by manna.  Grab hold of that sin that so easily tempts you, cut it off at the root, throw it out and keep moving toward Kingdom living.  You don't want to wake up in 40 years, having spent your whole life fighting the same battle over and over and never getting victory.

May your light shine brighter every day, as you advance in the Kingdom of God!

Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

Emotions come and go. They ebb and flow like the ocean waves.  Sometimes they blindside us and we wonder where in the world it came from! 

The problem is that if we allow our emotions to control us, we are like a small oar-less rowboat in that ocean, being tossed to and fro with no ability to steer our way clear of those waves. We are out of control and unable to control our path.  God created us and gave us emotions, but He also gave us the ability to control those emotions. ...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...  2 Corinthians 10:5  NKJV

​Yes, people "hurt our feelings".  Things they say and do bring feelings of sadness, hurt and anger. They prick our deep scars of rejection and insecurity. We feel disrespected, treated unfairly, made fun of.  Often the hurt gives way to anger, because we don't mind showing anger but not our hurt because that "feels weak".

Those feelings aren't sins, but almost immediately the spirit of offense comes and you will choose to either embrace or reject that spirit.  That is when sin enters in.  Offense is one of Satan's most effective "tools" against believers.  The companion spirit of offense is unforgiveness. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,  nor give place to the devil.   Ephesians 4:26-27 NKJV  The emotion will come, you will experience it, but you must not embrace the spirits that come right behind those emotions to tempt you into sin. 

Remember:  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.  1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

​Yes, there is a way of escape from embracing the spirits of offense and unforgiveness:  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24 NKJV  Self-control!  If only self-control could be prayed on you or given to you with anointing oil.  It is in you, but you must work it, and build it by getting filled with the Word, listening to the Holy Spirit as your guide and exercising your self-control every day.  Every time you consciously reject the spirits of offense and unforgiveness, your self-control will get stronger and each time it will become easier!

I can testify that this is true in my own life.  When I was much younger, I lived in my feelings.  I didn't control them, they controlled me.  My mother used to say I "wore my feelings on my sleeves".  I was a carnal, immature believer.  When I got angry or hurt or disrespected, I embraced and nursed that offended spirit and its companion, unforgiveness!  I would cut that person out of my life and make them pay for what they had done to me (in my eyes).  One day, I heard teaching on the spirit of offense and what a strong weapon of Satan's it was!  It truly opened my eyes and I began the process of building my self-control.  I was determined to never be a tool used by Satan against my fellow believers! Nothing was so important that I would allow myself to be offended and harbor unforgiveness against anyone.

My purpose today is to show you the difference between our God-given emotions, and the spirits those emotions draw that want to tempt you to sin and embrace offense and unforgiveness.  If you claim to be a citizen in the Kingdom of God, I will say without reservation that it doesn't matter what someone did to you or said about you, you do not have the RIGHT to hold offense and unforgiveness toward ANYONE.  Recognize the emotion, feel it and let it go.  Then pray for those who have hurt you.  If Jesus could pray "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" as He died on the cross, you have no excuse.  Luke 23:34

Once you have determined that you will not embrace offense and unforgiveness, no matter what happens or how you feel in the moment, there is such peace.  Trust me, it becomes easier every time to keep your peace and forgive.  Offense and unforgiveness will "eat you" from the inside out.  Peace is a healing balm to your spirit.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 

Want peace?  Pray for those who have hurt you:  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven...  Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV

Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,

Deborah Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you