Citizens of the Kingdom should always be led by the Governor (Holy Spirit).  Their attitude and behavior is quite different from the world.  The Lord Jesus made this statement while speaking to a crowd that had gathered.   “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven."  When the Scribes and Pharisees did something it was to catch the attention of those around them.  It is often the same today in religious circles, but on a much larger stage because of social media.

In those days, religious leaders, such as the Pharisees and Scribes, made their phylacteries.  What was a phylactery?  Two small, black, leather cubes containing a piece of parchment inscribed with Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Deuteronomy 11:13-21, and Exodus 13:1-16. One is attached with straps to the left arm and the other to the forehead during weekday morning prayers by Orthodox and Conservative Jewish men.  Here are those verses:  "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.  And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’  “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, lest the Lord’s anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you."

“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.  You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,  that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth."

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”

And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 

On this day you are going out, in the month Abib.  And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. 

Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days. And no leavened bread shall be seen among you, nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters.  And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord did for me when I came up from Egypt.’  It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

And it shall be, when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you,  that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s.  But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.  So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’  It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.” NKJV

They also wore large tassels, were fond of the best seats at banquets and the front seats in the synagogue.  They also liked to be saluted in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men.  None of these things had anything to do with serving God or His people. We find many of the same behaviors in today's society. Only the clothes and material possessions have changed.  The attitudes are the same.

In the early church, they supported one another with their physical and financial substance.  They shared all things.   All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.  There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus.  He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.  These were the sons of the Kingdom.  Do you hear about this same giving spirit in religion today?  In your experience, do the church leaders live on the same level as their members?  If not, do they sell their possessions and share with those in need?  Would you consider some leaders thieves and robbers?  “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."  Those who are being deceived by those religious leaders aren't of His fold.  Those are the ones who don't believe in the Kingdom message.  But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 

We will continue this next time.

Matthew 5:17-19   Deuteronomy 6:4-9;11:13-21   Exodus 13:1-16
Acts 4:32-37   John 10:7-10, 26-27 

~~W.R. 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

Those of us who are Kingdom citizens are one with the King because we follow and live by His Word.  We are led by His Spirit (the Governor).  

There was an occasion while He was teaching the Kingdom message that He was constantly being asked "are you the Christ?"  Read what He said to them.  “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.  But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.  No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.”  Many people today may attend a church but are void of guidance and leading by the Holy Spirit (the Governor).  Why is that? The King and Lord made it very clear while He was here in this world.  But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  Keep in mind, He was speaking of the religious leaders of His day.  Nothing much has changed! Many are still focused on money, power and recognition. Why do you think many religious leaders wear the white collar or robes?  They want to be recognized and separated from the rest of the people. Do you remember what the Lord Jesus said concerning the Kingdom?  Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.  

Read what ambassador Paul said in his letter to the Roman believers:   Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.  Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.  Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!  ​ Even back then things were getting out of control.  Their behavior was becoming unlike those who were filled with the Spirit. We must be consistently reading and studying His Word. By doing that, our mindset will change and be more like Him.  Jesus was the Word made flesh, so if we are full of that Word, we cannot help but be more like Him!  There is no such thing as reading God's Constitution once and all is done!  You have to constantly keep the Lord God's Constitution before you.  Ambassador Paul stated it like this: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  Believe me when I say, it will transform your life.  It will allow you to stay focused on Him and His Kingdom.  

Every citizen of the Kingdom in good standing is led and guided by the Governor--Holy Spirit. He will be with you forever.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you.  Keep in mind, when it comes to the truth, you can't be misled while being filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit--the Governor.  When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future.  This is the Lord Jesus speaking concerning the Governor.  One mindset!  Remember that religions are full of divisions, separations and chaos.  Just the word denomination means in essence, "separation".  If this weren't true, we wouldn't have churches on every corner, with less than 200 (or even 100) members, all doing their own thing.  They all have many allegiances but the Kingdom government only has one and that is to the Lord Jesus.  Remember, what the Lord Jesus said,  "The Father and I are one."  And He prayed to His Father:  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.  Religion is not in the Kingdom, but is a separation from the Kingdom and seeks to divide God's Kingdom citizens.  

​Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God's Word.

John 10:25-30  Matthew 13:34   Romans 12:;14-16   Romans 12:1-2
John 14:16-17; 16:13; 10:30; 17:21  all NLT

​~~W.R. 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

Take a moment to thing about this title.  The operative word here is "one".  Here is what happened to the first believers that were filled with the Holy Spirit (Governor).  On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.  All the believers that were there had one focus, one mindset.  Note that the Holy Spirit is very intelligent.  He is like the Lord God.  He is an extension of the Father God.  Read how He got all of the men's attention.  At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia,  Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”  They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.

The Lord God wanted to get the Kingdom message to all those that were there, so He had them to speak in every language.  Now that is the God I serve!  Keep in mind, they were speaking many languages but the same message.  They were all of one mind, one purpose and one goal.  

The Lord Jesus isn't a God of confusion, but a God of One.  The Lord God isn't a God of separation.  He and His Son are one.  During the time of the Feast of Dedication, the religious leaders kept asking Him if He was the Christ.   Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name.  But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.  No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”   Note what the Lord Jesus said to those religious leaders:  But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  That is the situation today with many religious today.  They aren't filled with the Holy Spirit (Governor), so they don't hear the voice of the King.  They have a religious mindset, one that leads them in the way of the world system.  And the world system is ruled by the evil one.  Keep in mind, there are those leaders who use the Word of the Constitution to benefit their own needs and fit their beliefs.  Ambassador Paul made it very clear in his second letter to the believers at Corinth.  Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this new way, we never give up.  We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.  Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

The Holy Spirit doesn't reside in denominations or church buildings.  He lives in us.  When He comes into your life, He brings a oneness with the Father and Son.  Never separation.  Read here what the Lord Jesus said, confirming this:  Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.  NKJV  

He doesn't "show up" because the worship is good.  He is in you.  Listen and obey and see what He will do in you and through you! 

Your greatest asset is your faith in King Jesus.

Acts 2:1-4, 5-12   John 10:25-30   2 Corinthians 4:1-4   John 17:11-12
all NLT except where noted

~~W.R. 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

First, what is a channel?  A channel is 1) a course into which something may be directed; 2. A route through which anything passes or progresses; and 3. To steer in a specific prescribed or official course or means of communication.

​There were many times when the religious leaders back in the time of the King wanted the Lord Jesus to follow certain customs and traditions in order to please the Lord God.  Here is one such occasion:  One day some Pharisees and teachers of religious law arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They noticed that some of his disciples failed to follow the Jewish ritual of hand washing before eating.  (The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. Similarly, they don’t eat anything from the market until they immerse their hands in water. This is but one of many traditions they have clung to—such as their ceremonial washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles.)

So the Pharisees and teachers of religious law asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age-old tradition? They eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony.”  All of those bells and whistles were in support of their denomination and their religious organization.  It had nothing to do with the inner man.  Now, take notice of what the Lord said concerning their traditions and customs:  Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people.  And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.  He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.

“Wherever you go,” he said, “stay in the same house until you leave town.  But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”

So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.  And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil. Kingdom living isn't about traditions or customs.  It is not about attending some religious institution on Sundays or Wednesday nights. It is about living His Word through the Governor (Holy Spirit).  The Holy Spirit is the only channel that you should have to qualify you as citizens of the Kingdom. Those of you who have the Holy Spirit are no longer a slave to those bad habits that once enslaved you.  The ambassador Paul had this same situation with the believers in Corinth.  He had to make them aware that it wasn't the exterior that the King was concerned with but the interior.  The topic was circumcision. Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches. For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now.  For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.

Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.  Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it.  And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.  God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.  Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.

Note what ambassador Paul stated here:  For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.  All religion enslaves the people in some way; but the Spirit of the living God sets us free.  Read the Lord Jesus' words here:  “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.  A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free."   Once you fully embrace His Word you will become free to live according to His Word.  You need no customs or traditions as a channel to control how you worship and serve the King; just obeying His Word.  

If you have truly know the freedom that you have in Christ, why would you ever hand over your freedom to any one or anything ever again?

Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Word of the living God.

Mark 7:1-5  I Corinthians 7:17-24   Mark 6:4-13   John 8:34-36  
all NLT except where noted

~~W.R. 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

Our Lord and King made this statement in response to His disciples' question concerning prayer:  “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.  And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.  In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."  NKJV

That is the prayer coming from the King; a prayer which I call the Kingdom prayer.  It covers all bases concerning the earth and heaven.  

I recall my Lord and King making this statement when the religious leaders of that day tried to trick Him concerning marriage and the resurrection.  Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question:  “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.  Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. So the second brother married the widow, but he also died without children. Then the third brother married her.  This continued with all seven of them, and still there were no children. Last of all, the woman also died.  So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”  In these passages of the Lord God's Constitution, He makes it plain in His response to those religious leaders.  Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.  For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven."  Notice He said "like" angels, not become angels.  Now, concerning wearing crosses and crucifixes, remember that Jesus the Christ is not dead and we do not memorialize His death.  He is alive! “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—haven’t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error.”  He is the God of the living, not the dead.  Religious people pray for their dead, not Kingdom citizens. 

Those who pray for the dead or for the non-believers in this world, are wasting their breath and time.  Read what the Lord Jesus told His disciples when He was praying for them.  “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.  All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory."  You are to glorify the King with your lifestyle and behavior.

Another point that I want to drive home is that He never prayed for the dead.  In fact, Jesus made this statement to people who had excuses to not follow Him:

He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”

The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!  Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”  In essence, the Lord Jesus was saying that those who have not embraced the King or His message is without Christ.  That makes him dead in his disobedience (sin) and dead to the Lord God.

The Lord Jesus always stayed in consistent prayer and communication with His Father God.  Most of the time it was early in the morning.  Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Prayer and communication with the Lord Jesus must be a key component to every  Kingdom citizen's lifestyle.  Staying in communication will give you guidance in the Holy Spirit.  You will become sensitive to the Governor's (Holy Spirit) leading and guidance.

My wife Arlene and I won't go a day without acknowledging the King.  He is our Source.  Remember, whenever you want to get to the Father, you must go through the Lord Jesus the Christ.  Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.  Put all your trust in Him.  “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me."  He is the One who is preparing a home for us in His Kingdom.  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.  And you know the way to where I am going.”

Remember, your greatest asset in the Kingdom is your faith in His Word.

Matthew 6:5-13   Mark 12:18-27   John 17:9-10   Luke 9:59-62
Mark 1:35   John 14:6, 1-4   all NLT except where noted

~~W.R. 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

Let's be realistic. Don't expect your biological family to embrace your new Kingdom mindset. There was a time when the Lord Jesus had to clarify His position on that subject.  Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.”

Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers.  Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”  Dr. Luke recorded it this way:  Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd.  Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.”

Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”

​There will be times when you feel all alone, and even feel abandoned by those whom you love.  Remember though, that feelings and emotions are not truth and are temporary.  Our King Jesus was in that same position. When you possess the same mindset, meaning a Kingdom mindset, you will become one with the Son and the Father.  You will be on the same page, through the Holy Spirit. No one can ever snatch you out of His Kingdom.  The Lord Jesus made that very clear in speaking to the religious leaders of His day.   My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,  for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.  No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.

Take a look into religious institutions and their denominations.  They are all divided and separated by some tradition or custom.  They are of a religious mindset; divided by the evil one (Satan).  He wants God's people to be divided.  Many religious leaders view the Kingdom concept as something new or strange.  I don't understand why, because the minute the Lord came from the wilderness, His one and only message was Kingdom:  From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”...And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.  NKJV

Your Kingdom mindset will either draw people to you or drive them away because they refuse to accept it.   Just shake it off and keep doing what you are doing.   “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.  And when you go into a household, greet it.  If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet."  NKJV

Remember if they refuse the Kingdom message, they are rejecting you and the very one they claim to be serving. "Don't sweat the small stuff".  Don't let it distract you.  My wife and I live with a purpose, not for a purpose.  We have learned to embrace the Words of the Lord God's Constitution.  You can do the same.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.  Learn to acknowledge the King in all that you do, as we have. That is the strength of every citizen of the Kingdom.  In order for you to trust Him, you must first learn to love and appreciate the work and obedience His Son chose to do for all mankind.  This is what is expected of all Kingdom citizens.  For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  Now, when you possess a Kingdom mindset, doing what the King requires becomes second nature.   Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.  

Remember, your obligation as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven is to the King only.  Not to any religious tradition, leader, law or custom.  Read the Lord Jesus' prayer to His Father:  “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.  Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.  I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.” ...."The Father and I are one.”

Religion divides and separates believers in King Jesus. 

Remember, your faith in the Lord Jesus the Christ is your greatest asset in the Kingdom.

Mark 3:31-35   Luke 8:19-21   John 10:27-30   Matthew 4:17, 23
Matthew 10:11-14   Proverbs 3:5-6   John 3:16
John 14:23-24   John 17:20-26   John 10:30   all NLT except where noted.

~~W.R. 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

If people can name you, they will define you.

That is exactly what happened in the city of Antioch.  While Barnabas and Saul were in that city, the people there started calling them by the name "Christian".  

Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul.  When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

But that isn't who they were!  They were given that name because they were followers of Jesus the Christ.  By the way, Christ means the anointed One.  Later the ambassador Paul gives some clarity in his writing to the saints of God in the city of Philippi.  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.  And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.  He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.  Ask yourself this question: How do you define yourself?  Even more, how do others define you?  Do they define you by your occupation or how you conduct yourself?  I recall the Lord Jesus asking His disciples that very same question:   Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, He asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.”

Then He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”

But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

When you go to your regular supermarket, how do the employees view you there?  What reputation have you created? My wife and I know we stand out wherever we go.  One reason is because I am "chocolate" and she is "vanilla". We look like opposites, in terms of skin tones.  But that is only the first impression.  Our behavior overrides that first impression because of the way we conduct ourselves in public.  We understand what it is to be an ambassador of the Kingdom.   There have been times that the Governor (the Holy Spirit) led us to give to an individual while we were shopping.  Kingdom ambassadors are never "on" or "off".  We are always on duty, representing our King Jesus.  

When you are led of the Holy Spirit, you aren't like others.  The Governor does all things to please Father God.  By the way, we who are of a Kingdom mindset are a peculiar people.  The ambassador Peter made this statement.  But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.  Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.

By the way, that statement "who were not a people" refers to those of us who aren't of Jewish decent (Gentiles).  John, the Lord Jesus' cousin, knew who he was and his purpose for being.   In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”  The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!  Clear the road for him!’”

Remember, John never called himself "John the Baptist".  That is what he did.  He prepared the introduction for the King.   The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets:

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.”
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’”
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  NKJV

John introduced the King and the Lord God confirmed it.   It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  NKJV

John knew who he was and the Lord Jesus definitely knew who He was--the Son of the living God. He didn't need any man or woman to define Him.  The same holds true for those of us who live by His laws and principles.  We are Kingdom citizens, not a religious group labeled Christian.  Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.  For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.  Keep in mind, if those around you see you as a religious person, then you are displaying the wrong image.  You were designed and defined by the Lord God, not any man or woman.  Know who you are and walk in that knowledge!

And remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord Jesus.

Acts 11:25-26   Philippians 3:20-21   Mark 8:27-30  I Peter 2:9-10   
Matthew 3:1-3   Mark 1:1-8, 9-11   Romans 8:12-14 
all NLT, except where noted

~~W.R. 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