Kingdom 104: The Diluting of the Kingdom Message
Without the Holy Spirit (the Governor) residing in your mortal body, you are vulnerable to all kinds of ideas and persuasions contrary to God's Constitution getting into your mind and soul....ultimately affecting your behavior. Without the Holy Spirit guiding you, and the Word of God as your foundation, you will be deceived and persuaded to embrace religious pagan holidays and other religious traditions contrary to God's Word. These things have nothing to do with the Kingdom. The Lord God made it clear: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."
We need to study God's Constitution on a daily basis. The majority honor and worship days that have nothing to do with the King or His Kingdom. Many religious leaders think that the Lord God lives in the buildings we call a church. If you are obedient to His Word, He will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are His church and He (the Holy Spirit) lives in us.
From the time of the death of the apostles, the Church has been in a war of keeping the Kingdom message from being diluted by religious messages of the world system. Now we have social media, where religious people with their own idea of who Jesus is, zealously share their opinions. I will be so bold to say that religion is one of the greatest enemies of the Kingdom. It uses the Biblical principles and laws of God's Constitution, while applying their own traditions, customs and interpretations of scripture for their own purposes. Religion's bottom line is control...money and "numbers" (members). Adding their religious rules to God's Kingdom is like adding milk to strong coffee. Once that cup of strong coffee has been diluted with milk, it cannot be undone. You have to start over with a fresh cup.
Concerning giving, and I don't mean paying a tenth to the church, if you take the time to study the four Gospels you will see that nowhere did Jesus ever tell His disciples or followers to pay tithes. What He did state: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."
Every time you give generously in the Spirit of Christ as Kingdom citizens, you lay up for yourself treasures in heaven. Now this is what I say, "Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you in your giving." Be sensitive to His leading. The ambassador Paul, when writing to the Corinthians, put it this way:
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. We as leaders should always be mindful of Kingdom principles and why we are here. Remember, generously sowing will reap a bountiful harvest. But also remember that there are times to say no when asked. That is why the Holy Spirit is so vital in your giving. What God provides, He also directs. He does not expect you to give to everyone who asks you for money. But He does expect you to give whenever He directs you. Listen carefully. Tune your "spiritual ears" to His voice! That is a growing, maturing process in the Kingdom.
When you stay in line with God's Constitution, He will confirm your giving--to whom and what. We live in an age where there are many con-artists and many churches and ministries whose focus is money. Scriptures are twisted to get people to give, give and give more. Remember, we don't own anything. It is all part of God's Kingdom and we have access through the Father's good will. Are the offerings you are giving producing good fruit? Or are they only producing bigger buildings and more and more material possessions? That will show you the focus of a ministry or church. People, changed lives....or materialism? Is it all about spreading the God's Kingdom or building their kingdom?
Once again, keep in mind that your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ--the Word--is your foundation.
Exodus 20:4-6 Matthew 5:17-18; 6:1-4 II Corinthians 9:6-11
~~W.R. Luchie
