The Lord God’s Kingdom concept is very distinct from the earthly version of a kingdom, even though it contains many of the same components and concepts. Despite many failed earthly kingdoms through history, the question still arises:  What is a kingdom? Why is a kingdom a much better representation of God’s heavenly Kingdom rather than any other earthly government?
 
Focus Point:  So, what is a kingdom? Simply put, a kingdom is the government of a king. A kingdom is the sovereign rulership and governing influence of a king over his territory. That is what the Lord Jesus is. He is impacting it with His will, His intent, and His purpose, while manifesting His culture and society through us by the Holy Spirit—our Governor—in us. His citizens reflect the King’s nature, values and morals. Do you recall the question Pilate asked the Lord Jesus and the answer King Jesus gave? Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
 
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”John 18:37
 
Focus Point:  A Kingdom is the governing impact of a king’s will over his territory or domain. It is the king’s influence and leadership over a people and a government. In essence, the very heart of any kingdom is its king. If this holds true, then the characteristics of every citizen should show signs of the king in their lifestyle. Their behavior, mannerisms, beliefs and speech will reflect their king.
 
Please note that heaven exists because of the creative activity of the Lord God. He spoke and it was created. It is infused with His presence, character and authority. The Lord God made it very plain in His Constitution. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19:1  For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. Hebrews 3:4 There is no corner of heaven where His Will is not accomplished. He is Lord and King of all. In every way, the Lord God is the unrivaled Kingdom of Heaven. Satan, that dragon, had to be put in his place. And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
 
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Revelation 12:7-12 Yes, this is why Satan is here on earth. He was kicked out of heaven along with other angels who agreed with him. He was so full of pride and selfish ambition he tried to “overthrow” the King in His Kingdom and convinced other angels to join him!  How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart:  “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. Isaiah 14:12-15
 
Please note: In the natural realm the Lord God extended His Kingdom authority to the earth through the man called Adam and the woman called Eve. They were created in His image and released to rule the earth in His name, with His authority. But they rebelled against the Lord God’s authority, were disobedient to His command, and lost their rulership authority on the earth; leaving the earth under the temporary control of the evil one—Satan and his fallen angels, until the day He will restore His Kingdom to its rightful ruler. Remember this one thing; in the fullness of time the Lord Jesus came to the earth and reestablished His Kingdom.
 
Focus Point:  Only a King can establish a Kingdom. This act alone reveals that the Lord Jesus is the King. The constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven leaves no doubt as to the authenticity of His Kingship:   Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
 
Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
 
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
 
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
 
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
 
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:33-37
 
The Lord Jesus made is clear that His Kingdom was not of this world. Those who are born again by His Spirit are no longer of the world as well. Their citizenship is in Heaven. They take the Kingdom of God wherever they go.  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:20 NLT   I have given them Your Word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:14-17
 
Remember, your faith in the Lord Jesus and His Word is your greatest asset in the Kingdom.

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org

All scriptures are New King James except where noted.

These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:31-34 The Lord Jesus is saying we are no different from unbelievers when worry dominates our minds.
 
Please note:  When you have a Kingdom mindset, you will know who you are and your purpose in this life. When you are focused on the Kingdom there is no room for worry or anxiety because you are aware of your first priority. The world, including religious minded people, is filled with anxiety and lack total faith in the King when troubles come. It is easy to think you have faith, until trials test it! When the Lord Jesus made the statement to seek the Kingdom above all else, it wasn’t a suggestion but a command.  A religious minded person is always asking God for something rather than praising and worshiping Him for His goodness, provision and protection. In the Kingdom of God, we don’t need to ask. The Lord God knows our needs. We need to praise Him for it! When you are a citizen in good standing, the King takes care of His citizens because they trust in Him. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. Psalm 37:3-5
 
Focus Point:  Many times, I have stated that oil and water don’t mix. No matter how hard you try to blend it, it will not stay mixed. Faith and doubt are the same way. We claim to believe the Lord God and trust Him, but our daily lives, concerns and thought reveal just the opposite. The statement, “Actions speak louder than words” is definitely true! We may say we have faith and believe the Lord God provides for all our needs, but we work and strive to earn enough money for our lifestyle. The issue here isn’t hard work, but our focus and who we see as our source and provider. Your employer isn't your source! Your spouse isn't your source! If we are seeking the Kingdom first, our first priority will be time spent in His presence and in His Word. That is what He means when He says to seek FIRST the Kingdom and His righteousness. You need that quiet time between you and Him.
 
King David had joy in the fellowship of the Lord God. O God, You are my God; I earnestly search for You. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in Your sanctuary and gazed upon Your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You! I will praise You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to You in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise You with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of You, meditating on You through the night. Because You are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:1-8 When did you last seek the Lord with that great desire?
 
Now that we have a better covenant and the Holy Spirit—the Governor living in our mortal body—we can worship and praise Him anywhere and anytime! I praise Him many times while I am driving (with my eyes open of course!) or sitting in my favorite chair at home. I have learned, and am still learning, how to totally trust in the King’s Word. In other words, I am still growing. Our preoccupation with material things, satisfying our needs and wants and getting ahead in this world, is nothing more than pagan—unbelievers—behavior. They are always self focused, looking for “more”. Rather than seeking God's Kingdom and His righteousness, they are seeking after material things. Those who truly know the King as their Source don’t have those concerns because they are confident that no matter how things look, their King has taken care of them.
 
Please note:  It is important to understand what I mean by pagan. Contrary to what many may assume, most pagans aren’t atheists, nor are they usually evil people. On the contrary, I discovered that they are highly religious people. The word pagan refers to worshippers. It refers to individuals who worship a god other than the Lord God of all creation, as revealed in God’s constitution (the Bible). An equivalent word for pagan is idolater. Pagans are zealously religious devotees and adherents to a specific system of beliefs and are rigidly faithful to a strict set of customs and rituals. But it is not the Lord God they worship, but their gods are what He has created. They worship the creation rather than the Creator.
 
King Jesus stated that only religious people—Gentiles, which is pagan—chase after the basic needs of life. It is time to set aside a pagan mindset with its priority of things and take up the divine priority of the Lord God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. In this way, He will give you peace. Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:2-4
 
Once we truly understand that our provision and our protection is our King’s responsibility, we will have peace and not live in anxiety and strife.  Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
 
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the word of God.

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

King Jesus made this command while down here on earth:  “Don’t worry!” Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Luke 12:22 NKJV Why? Because worry doesn’t change anything and it shows your level of trust and faith in God’s Word. Regardless of all the evil one puts this world through, we as Kingdom citizens are to stand tall on His Word!
 
Please note:  Most of us spend our time filled with anxiety about things we cannot change or that will never even happen. In either case, worrying is pointless. By the way, I am practicing what I teach. My faith in Him is getting stronger in His Word. Always remember, anxiety changes nothing. Anxiety consumes our peace, energy, time, talents, gifts, wisdom, strength and knowledge. It even consumes our imagination and ability to think clearly. This is why I stay in His Word and why it is vital that you do also. It fuels our faith in Him. We should have King David’s heart for the Lord God’s Word:  “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your Word. I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:9-11 The only thing that worrying accomplishes is to make one sick, causes your blood pressure to rise, and opens the door to depression. Stress causes veins and arteries to constrict and reduce your blood flow. Need I remind you that you are filled with anxiety because you have misplaced priorities, which causes you to have misplaced faith?   Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to Him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? Luke 12:24-26  
 
Focus Point:  When we realize who our true source and provider is, we will come to the realization that our total faith and trust is only for our Father and His Word. 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. Proverbs 3:5-6 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 25:3-4
 
Please note:  In the Kingdom, invisible things of the Spirit are much more real than the physical we now experience because we were made by the Word of the living God. Remember, we were a spirit before we had a body! Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.
 
By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3 AMP
 
The problem we have is that we have misplaced our faith. We have changed the focus of our direction and source. Instead of looking to the Kingdom and our Heavenly Father, we look to ourselves or mankind—spouse, parent, employer, pastor, and the government—to sustain us. When you have more faith in doctors, medicine and mankind in general, your faith is misplaced and you have opened yourself up to anxiety, worry and fear! Man will let you down, the Lord God won't!
 
If you are looking to anyone or anything else other than the Lord God, our Father and King of Heaven as your source, you will struggle and your life just won’t come together.
 
Please note:  Any religion that focuses on the acquisition of things and meeting personal needs is a religion of modern day paganism. Pagan is a broad term covering many definitions, including hedonism (representing those who are sensual, materialistic, self-indulgent and worship the pleasures of life), new age, wicca, and nature worship (by placing a higher value on all of nature than God the Creator and mankind). My focus in this context is pertaining to the great focus in today’s religions on “me”. When our focus and prayer life is consistently focused on our own problems, needs, wants, pleasures, comforts and desires, we become the focus of our worship! Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His Kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:31-34 AMP
 
The Gentiles were considered to be pagans (or heathens). Our pre-occupation with material things, wealth and getting ahead in this world system is nothing short of paganistic behavior. It is hedonistic in many cases. For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 AMP
 
King Jesus told us in His Word that all our needs are met. All we are required to do is to seek first His Kingdom! Those of us who truly know the Lord God as our Source and Supplier will not have these worries and anxiety because we are confident that He has taken care of us. Complete trust in God brings peace, no matter what is going on in the world. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. Matthew 6:33 AMP

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. Proverbs 3:5-6

Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in His Word!

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
 
(Don't Worry Conclusion)

These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed.  Thank you