God's Unchanging Kingdom Principles
God's Kingdom never changes. The Lord God never changes. But our world is constantly changing! That is especially true with cultures, character and morals. It is like an amoeba, ever shifting and changing shapes and characteristics. The world expects "the church" to change with it. But Kingdom citizens know the culture and principles of God's Kingdom and hold those standards up above the world's standards as an example of our King and life in His Kingdom! The more clear and focused your understanding of Kingdom life, the less likely you will be to emulate and embrace the world's standards. Let's look now at some of those principles and attributes in the Kingdom of God.
The King's Glory and Our Worship The Glory of the Lord God is everything in His Kingdom. It represents and manifests the true nature of the King Himself. The Glory literally means the true essence or the full weight. Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders? You raised your right hand, and the earth swallowed our enemies. Exodus 15:11-12 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father. John 15:8 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Psalm 19:1 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
Worshiping the King is the expression of the citizens' gratitude and appreciation for His favor, privileges and security of being in the Kingdom. To worship also is an indication of the perceived value and priority the King is to the citizens. To worship also involves offerings and gifts. You do this through giving to the poor and those who are teaching the Kingdom message. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:38 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. Matthew 5:42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded. Matthew 10:42 And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!" Matthew 25:40 By giving, it indicates that you are a citizen, acknowledging that all things you enjoy are at the pleasure of the King and you own nothing. It all belongs to the King and Creator. Worship also expresses your dependence on the King. Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him. Matthew 4:10
The King's Influence must be felt All kingdoms are committed to making the influence of the king and his will felt throughout the entire kingdom. In the Kingdom of God, it is His ambassadors, His citizens, who carry that influence everywhere they go. But they must choose whether to make that influence felt and stand out or to look like the world to fit in. Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”. Matthew 13:33 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20
The King's Favor The Lord God's supernatural favor rests on His obedient citizens in His Kingdom. So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Exodus 33:17-19 NKJV For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12 NKJV And let the [gracious] favor of the Lord our God be on us; confirm for us the work of our hands—Yes, confirm the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 AMP But Noah found favor with the Lord. Genesis 6:8 Why did Noah have favor with the Lord God? It was because of his obedience to the Father, even thought his culture thought he was crazy for building the ark!
The King's Laws are to be upheld A royal decree is a declaration by the King that becomes law to all. This is why His citizens should consistently read and study the Lord God's Constitution. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse to sin. His Word never changes. It is eternal. The more we know and grow in Kingdom knowledge, the more we are being formed into His image. In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”. Daniel 6:15 “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." Matthew 5:17-19
The King's reputation is to be protected Yes, the Lord God's reputation is of the utmost importance to the King and to His citizens. It is the source of the glory of His name. A king's reputation is created and sustained by the conditions of his citizens and his kingdom. That is why the King acts in ways that are favorable to His name's sake. The Lord will not abandon His people, because that would dishonor His great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you His very own people. 1 Samuel 12:22 Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant. 2 Samuel 7:21 Also keep in mind that OUR behavior can misrepresent our King to the world. For many in the world, the only thing they know about Jesus is Believers' behavior. If your behavior reflects the world and not God's Kingdom, please don't represent yourself as a citizen of the Kingdom of God! Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 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 3:17-20
The King's provision for His citizens In all true kingdoms, the King is obligated to provide for His citizens. He provides at His own expense for their security and welfare. Give freely, never hoarding up money or things. They all belong to the Lord God and He takes care of His citizens. I can testify to what David stated: Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing. Psalm 37:25-26
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
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. Matthew 6:24-33
All scriptures NLT, except where noted.
W.R. and 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
The King's Glory and Our Worship The Glory of the Lord God is everything in His Kingdom. It represents and manifests the true nature of the King Himself. The Glory literally means the true essence or the full weight. Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders? You raised your right hand, and the earth swallowed our enemies. Exodus 15:11-12 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father. John 15:8 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Psalm 19:1 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31
Worshiping the King is the expression of the citizens' gratitude and appreciation for His favor, privileges and security of being in the Kingdom. To worship also is an indication of the perceived value and priority the King is to the citizens. To worship also involves offerings and gifts. You do this through giving to the poor and those who are teaching the Kingdom message. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:38 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. Matthew 5:42 And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded. Matthew 10:42 And the King will say, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these My brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!" Matthew 25:40 By giving, it indicates that you are a citizen, acknowledging that all things you enjoy are at the pleasure of the King and you own nothing. It all belongs to the King and Creator. Worship also expresses your dependence on the King. Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him. Matthew 4:10
The King's Influence must be felt All kingdoms are committed to making the influence of the king and his will felt throughout the entire kingdom. In the Kingdom of God, it is His ambassadors, His citizens, who carry that influence everywhere they go. But they must choose whether to make that influence felt and stand out or to look like the world to fit in. Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”. Matthew 13:33 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20
The King's Favor The Lord God's supernatural favor rests on His obedient citizens in His Kingdom. So the Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.”
And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Exodus 33:17-19 NKJV For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12 NKJV And let the [gracious] favor of the Lord our God be on us; confirm for us the work of our hands—Yes, confirm the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 AMP But Noah found favor with the Lord. Genesis 6:8 Why did Noah have favor with the Lord God? It was because of his obedience to the Father, even thought his culture thought he was crazy for building the ark!
The King's Laws are to be upheld A royal decree is a declaration by the King that becomes law to all. This is why His citizens should consistently read and study the Lord God's Constitution. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse to sin. His Word never changes. It is eternal. The more we know and grow in Kingdom knowledge, the more we are being formed into His image. In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”. Daniel 6:15 “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." Matthew 5:17-19
The King's reputation is to be protected Yes, the Lord God's reputation is of the utmost importance to the King and to His citizens. It is the source of the glory of His name. A king's reputation is created and sustained by the conditions of his citizens and his kingdom. That is why the King acts in ways that are favorable to His name's sake. The Lord will not abandon His people, because that would dishonor His great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you His very own people. 1 Samuel 12:22 Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant. 2 Samuel 7:21 Also keep in mind that OUR behavior can misrepresent our King to the world. For many in the world, the only thing they know about Jesus is Believers' behavior. If your behavior reflects the world and not God's Kingdom, please don't represent yourself as a citizen of the Kingdom of God! Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 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 3:17-20
The King's provision for His citizens In all true kingdoms, the King is obligated to provide for His citizens. He provides at His own expense for their security and welfare. Give freely, never hoarding up money or things. They all belong to the Lord God and He takes care of His citizens. I can testify to what David stated: Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing. Psalm 37:25-26
No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
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. Matthew 6:24-33
All scriptures NLT, except where noted.
W.R. and 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
