Come Out of Your Culture
Image by Wolfgang Eckert from Pixabay
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family and from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you and make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and I will curse him who curses you;
and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3
This world we live in is filled with many different cultures that dictate the way we live and behave. Our culture comes from our family and our environment. Understanding the Kingdom culture is to give yourself over to reading and studying God’s Constitution, while allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. Remember what the Lord Jesus told us of the Holy Spirit: And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
In the Kingdom of God, the issue is not how much faith you may have, but where your faith is placed. Many have their faith placed in things or in mankind or even in their religion. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:5-8 NLT
One of the reasons many are off track in seeking the Kingdom is because they bring their own nature and culture with them while seeking the Kingdom. Rather than becoming Kingdom minded citizens, they try to make the Kingdom conform to their familiar culture. They drag their old way of thinking into God’s Kingdom.
My question to you today is this: Are you following the Lord Jesus’ message of the Kingdom of God or the gospel as preached in many denominations today. How does that gospel differ from His message? Do the things being preached sound like the Gospel Jesus taught? Jesus didn’t preach about prosperity or riches. He said that our needs would be met if we first sought after God’s Kingdom. He told us not to even worry about such things! But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34 Ambassador Paul emphasized this also. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 We, as citizens of God’s Kingdom, shouldn’t “sweat the small stuff” because we have access to His Kingdom. Religion won’t supply our needs. Sometimes we are expected to supply religion’s needs! In God’s Kingdom our needs will be met. We stand on His Word!
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:25-33
As Kingdom citizens, our responsibility is to trust, be obedient and follow His Word. Nothing and no one comes before Him. That is serving the King! His responsibility is to take care of us and provide for our needs. But that doesn’t mean we won’t have tests and trials. They will come to test our faith in Him. That is part of the maturing process. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 NLT
It is in our nature to try to mix our culture with the Kingdom culture. But it blends together like oil and water. The two will never be one! Mixture in your Kingdom life will make you powerless and drag you down. Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them and walk among them.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NLT
Kingdom faith is faith in the King, not the King’s favor. It is faith in Him, not His gifts. Don’t get caught up in chasing after the prosperity “gospel” rather than embracing the Kingdom message. When our focus becomes money, it can become greed which is simply a lust for money. Remember that demonic spirits have deceived many, simply because they fail to read God’s Constitution.
So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 2 Timothy 6:8-10 NLT
When the Lord God brought the children of Israel out, there were many Egyptian people and other cultures that came with them. Although they came with them, there was only one law for the people. It was God’s law they had to follow. They left their familiar culture and embraced the Israelites' culture. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.” Exodus 12:48-49 Likewise, in the Kingdom culture there is only one law…His Word.
Culture is very tied to family. I will close with the words of our Lord Jesus on where family stand in comparison to His Kingdom: While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50
Remember, your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in the Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie & D. Arlene 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
“Get out of your country,
From your family and from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you and make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and I will curse him who curses you;
and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Genesis 12:1-3
This world we live in is filled with many different cultures that dictate the way we live and behave. Our culture comes from our family and our environment. Understanding the Kingdom culture is to give yourself over to reading and studying God’s Constitution, while allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. Remember what the Lord Jesus told us of the Holy Spirit: And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17
In the Kingdom of God, the issue is not how much faith you may have, but where your faith is placed. Many have their faith placed in things or in mankind or even in their religion. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:5-8 NLT
One of the reasons many are off track in seeking the Kingdom is because they bring their own nature and culture with them while seeking the Kingdom. Rather than becoming Kingdom minded citizens, they try to make the Kingdom conform to their familiar culture. They drag their old way of thinking into God’s Kingdom.
My question to you today is this: Are you following the Lord Jesus’ message of the Kingdom of God or the gospel as preached in many denominations today. How does that gospel differ from His message? Do the things being preached sound like the Gospel Jesus taught? Jesus didn’t preach about prosperity or riches. He said that our needs would be met if we first sought after God’s Kingdom. He told us not to even worry about such things! But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34 Ambassador Paul emphasized this also. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 We, as citizens of God’s Kingdom, shouldn’t “sweat the small stuff” because we have access to His Kingdom. Religion won’t supply our needs. Sometimes we are expected to supply religion’s needs! In God’s Kingdom our needs will be met. We stand on His Word!
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:25-33
As Kingdom citizens, our responsibility is to trust, be obedient and follow His Word. Nothing and no one comes before Him. That is serving the King! His responsibility is to take care of us and provide for our needs. But that doesn’t mean we won’t have tests and trials. They will come to test our faith in Him. That is part of the maturing process. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4 NLT
It is in our nature to try to mix our culture with the Kingdom culture. But it blends together like oil and water. The two will never be one! Mixture in your Kingdom life will make you powerless and drag you down. Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them and walk among them.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NLT
Kingdom faith is faith in the King, not the King’s favor. It is faith in Him, not His gifts. Don’t get caught up in chasing after the prosperity “gospel” rather than embracing the Kingdom message. When our focus becomes money, it can become greed which is simply a lust for money. Remember that demonic spirits have deceived many, simply because they fail to read God’s Constitution.
So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 2 Timothy 6:8-10 NLT
When the Lord God brought the children of Israel out, there were many Egyptian people and other cultures that came with them. Although they came with them, there was only one law for the people. It was God’s law they had to follow. They left their familiar culture and embraced the Israelites' culture. And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.” Exodus 12:48-49 Likewise, in the Kingdom culture there is only one law…His Word.
Culture is very tied to family. I will close with the words of our Lord Jesus on where family stand in comparison to His Kingdom: While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50
Remember, your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in the Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie & D. Arlene 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
