There is a critical difference between a religious mindset and a Kingdom mindset. One example is that most people who claim to know the Lord and King are quick to ignore His Word when it comes to taking one another to the legal system. I don’t mean those who are of this world system, but those who are brothers and sisters in Christ. Ambassador Paul had this same situation in his time. When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers.
Citizens of the Kingdom of God trust the Lord God’s Word and don’t take his brother or sister before the ungodly for judgement! They trust His Word. To some, if not most, this is a hard pill to swallow. But if we are united and one in the Kingdom government, we should be able to settle any dispute that could arise among us. Read what ambassador Paul stated to those saints at Corinth: Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers! Yes, you read it correctly, citizens of the Kingdom will judge angels! And yes, we are being a bad witness to the world when we fight among ourselves!
Religious individuals apply the Word when it is convenient. Citizens of the Kingdom live and breathe by His Word. They don’t attend religious services, believing that is what keeps them in right-standing with the King, because they realize religious gatherings have nothing to do with their relationship with the King. Religious leaders take the Lord God’s Constitution as a foundation for their denominational doctrines, but add things that have nothing to do with Kingdom living.
To develop a Kingdom mindset, you must stay in His Word…read, study and spend time alone with the Holy Spirit (our Governor). They say “you are what you eat”; well you must eat—consume—the Word of God to become more like it. I do, and you can as well. It’s being consistent, even when you don’t “feel” like it. Once you develop a Kingdom mindset, you will find yourself becoming more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit (Governor).
Keep this thought in mind: All of those who fail to obey and embrace His Word will not inherit the Kingdom. Ambassador Paul made it very clear: Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Let’s be clear, a Kingdom mindset is one that is void of religious rituals and focuses on the King and His Word. The person who possesses a Kingdom mindset isn’t being controlled by religion or its religious holidays and traditions but is led by the Spirit of the living God—the Holy Spirit. With a Kingdom mindset, we realize our whole being belongs to the King and nothing or no one comes before it—not food or sexual pleasure, nor any other earthly pleasure or addiction.
Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Those whose minds haven’t been transformed into a Kingdom mindset—and that includes many Christians--are easily controlled by money, lust and power. They aren’t led by the Spirit, but by their selfish desires which often are focused on money, power over people, or some level of fame. It is far too easy, without a transformed Kingdom mind, to get our focus off the Lord Jesus and on to things of this world. King Jesus, while He was here on earth, made it very plain of your priority: “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.”
Always remember, your greatest asset is your faith in His Word.
I Corinthians 6:1-6, 9-10, 15-20 Luke 12:29-31
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
Citizens of the Kingdom of God trust the Lord God’s Word and don’t take his brother or sister before the ungodly for judgement! They trust His Word. To some, if not most, this is a hard pill to swallow. But if we are united and one in the Kingdom government, we should be able to settle any dispute that could arise among us. Read what ambassador Paul stated to those saints at Corinth: Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers! Yes, you read it correctly, citizens of the Kingdom will judge angels! And yes, we are being a bad witness to the world when we fight among ourselves!
Religious individuals apply the Word when it is convenient. Citizens of the Kingdom live and breathe by His Word. They don’t attend religious services, believing that is what keeps them in right-standing with the King, because they realize religious gatherings have nothing to do with their relationship with the King. Religious leaders take the Lord God’s Constitution as a foundation for their denominational doctrines, but add things that have nothing to do with Kingdom living.
To develop a Kingdom mindset, you must stay in His Word…read, study and spend time alone with the Holy Spirit (our Governor). They say “you are what you eat”; well you must eat—consume—the Word of God to become more like it. I do, and you can as well. It’s being consistent, even when you don’t “feel” like it. Once you develop a Kingdom mindset, you will find yourself becoming more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit (Governor).
Keep this thought in mind: All of those who fail to obey and embrace His Word will not inherit the Kingdom. Ambassador Paul made it very clear: Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Let’s be clear, a Kingdom mindset is one that is void of religious rituals and focuses on the King and His Word. The person who possesses a Kingdom mindset isn’t being controlled by religion or its religious holidays and traditions but is led by the Spirit of the living God—the Holy Spirit. With a Kingdom mindset, we realize our whole being belongs to the King and nothing or no one comes before it—not food or sexual pleasure, nor any other earthly pleasure or addiction.
Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
Those whose minds haven’t been transformed into a Kingdom mindset—and that includes many Christians--are easily controlled by money, lust and power. They aren’t led by the Spirit, but by their selfish desires which often are focused on money, power over people, or some level of fame. It is far too easy, without a transformed Kingdom mind, to get our focus off the Lord Jesus and on to things of this world. King Jesus, while He was here on earth, made it very plain of your priority: “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need.”
Always remember, your greatest asset is your faith in His Word.
I Corinthians 6:1-6, 9-10, 15-20 Luke 12:29-31
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
