We learn and grow in the Kingdom by reading the Word and by listening daily to the Holy Spirit. It truly is our Governor.
Recently, after parking my car in a local Wal-mart parking lot, someone shouted out in my direction "you dirty black nigger". Another man of color in earshot, along with myself, looked at the older Caucasian man and then at one another; to whom was he speaking? The other African American man became a little upset, but I tried to calm him down. Then I realized the the Lord Jesus and His principles had brought me a long way, which was evidenced with my self-control and calm demeanor, which was unheard of in my past! By the way, the man who called us that derogatory name was wrong in what he said. 1. I had taken a shower that morning, so I couldn't be dirty! 2. I'm not black, but chocolate! Lastly, that word, nigger, could refer to anyone. Of course, I am adding some humor to a sad challenging incident, but be aware of this: The Governor (the Holy Spirit) had complete control of my thinking. Just a few years ago, I couldn't have said that.
When you are a citizen of the Kingdom, you realize that your life isn't your own, but it belongs to the King. The ambassador Paul stated it like this: Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
When I arrived home from that incident in the Wal-mart parking lot, I told my wife Arlene what had happened. She looked at me and said "Honey, you have come a long way from the person you were when we first got married". I agreed! By the way, the racist person who shouted out that remark was driving a late model white Cadillac with South Carolina plates. He wasn't flying a large confederate flag on the back of his pickup truck (we have also seen that in a Wal-mart parking lot down here!). I mention this to say that racism and hatred comes out of all environments and all economic situations. But citizens of the Kingdom must listen to the Holy Spirit and respond as our King would, not as the world would. Why? Because they live by the laws and principles that our King laid out in His Constitution. They seek to please the King! Remember the Lord Jesus gave His life for that individual, regardless of how he may live or think this moment. That man has the same invitation as you and I. The Lord God loves mankind. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He left His Constitution for you and me to obey and embrace as our lifestyle. The Lord Jesus made this statement while here on earth: Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. He spoke these words to His disciples, but they apply to us as well.
Now, concerning what happened to me, I suppose some of you would say, that's impossible! No, it is very possible with the Governor (the Holy Spirit) living within you. You can have self control, no matter the situation. But, you must want to change. Then you will start listening and learning. The Lord Jesus obeyed His Father's wishes while here on earth.
Those incidents have made me stronger in Him, because I stayed connected to Him and allowed the governor to guide me. The Lord Jesus made this statement in His Father's Constitution. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
This is what my wife Arlene and I live by. I couldn't have responded in the manner I did without the Holy Spirit governing me. You must listen and stay connected to His Word. Unfortunately, many preachers and teachers are spreading their religious mindset to their congregation and mixing it up with the Lord God's Constitution--the Bible, which is a religious term. In doing so, they refuse to embrace their Governor the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus had the same problem with the religious leaders of His day. So He ordained Paul and Barnabas to be ambassadors to the Gentiles. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Before finishing this article, listening to the Holy Spirit, the Governor will cause you to become bold when you are in your purpose and doing His Will for your life.
This is all part of Kingdom living!
Romans 6:12-14 John 3:16; 14:23-24; 15:1-8 Acts 13:44-48
~~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
Recently, after parking my car in a local Wal-mart parking lot, someone shouted out in my direction "you dirty black nigger". Another man of color in earshot, along with myself, looked at the older Caucasian man and then at one another; to whom was he speaking? The other African American man became a little upset, but I tried to calm him down. Then I realized the the Lord Jesus and His principles had brought me a long way, which was evidenced with my self-control and calm demeanor, which was unheard of in my past! By the way, the man who called us that derogatory name was wrong in what he said. 1. I had taken a shower that morning, so I couldn't be dirty! 2. I'm not black, but chocolate! Lastly, that word, nigger, could refer to anyone. Of course, I am adding some humor to a sad challenging incident, but be aware of this: The Governor (the Holy Spirit) had complete control of my thinking. Just a few years ago, I couldn't have said that.
When you are a citizen of the Kingdom, you realize that your life isn't your own, but it belongs to the King. The ambassador Paul stated it like this: Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
When I arrived home from that incident in the Wal-mart parking lot, I told my wife Arlene what had happened. She looked at me and said "Honey, you have come a long way from the person you were when we first got married". I agreed! By the way, the racist person who shouted out that remark was driving a late model white Cadillac with South Carolina plates. He wasn't flying a large confederate flag on the back of his pickup truck (we have also seen that in a Wal-mart parking lot down here!). I mention this to say that racism and hatred comes out of all environments and all economic situations. But citizens of the Kingdom must listen to the Holy Spirit and respond as our King would, not as the world would. Why? Because they live by the laws and principles that our King laid out in His Constitution. They seek to please the King! Remember the Lord Jesus gave His life for that individual, regardless of how he may live or think this moment. That man has the same invitation as you and I. The Lord God loves mankind. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. He left His Constitution for you and me to obey and embrace as our lifestyle. The Lord Jesus made this statement while here on earth: Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. He spoke these words to His disciples, but they apply to us as well.
Now, concerning what happened to me, I suppose some of you would say, that's impossible! No, it is very possible with the Governor (the Holy Spirit) living within you. You can have self control, no matter the situation. But, you must want to change. Then you will start listening and learning. The Lord Jesus obeyed His Father's wishes while here on earth.
Those incidents have made me stronger in Him, because I stayed connected to Him and allowed the governor to guide me. The Lord Jesus made this statement in His Father's Constitution. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
This is what my wife Arlene and I live by. I couldn't have responded in the manner I did without the Holy Spirit governing me. You must listen and stay connected to His Word. Unfortunately, many preachers and teachers are spreading their religious mindset to their congregation and mixing it up with the Lord God's Constitution--the Bible, which is a religious term. In doing so, they refuse to embrace their Governor the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus had the same problem with the religious leaders of His day. So He ordained Paul and Barnabas to be ambassadors to the Gentiles. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Before finishing this article, listening to the Holy Spirit, the Governor will cause you to become bold when you are in your purpose and doing His Will for your life.
This is all part of Kingdom living!
Romans 6:12-14 John 3:16; 14:23-24; 15:1-8 Acts 13:44-48
~~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
