Kingdom 104: The Misrepresentation of the Kingdom
To represent someone or something, is to reflect their character or culture. It demonstrates who they are and what they stand for. I will go so far as to say that at least fifty-two days out of a year, the church as we know it in the United States misrepresents the Kingdom culture. It has become a place of entertainment. What does that have to do with the Kingdom of God?! On any given Sunday morning, songs are sung to entertain the people and call it praise and worship. The Lord Jesus and His disciples taught and preached to the people. They never sought to entertain the people. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." He made them aware of who they were in this world; and how they should live. Today we entertain and feed their souls. Jesus equipped and fed their spirits. Keep in mind, entertainment is just a distraction to the Kingdom, distracting you from your purpose. The Lord Jesus took His time and shared with the people the Kingdom message. At no time did He ever entertain the people with non-productive chatter. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." People need to be taught how to live in this present world. In order for you to effectively rule and control your life, you must be filled with the Holy Spirit (your Governor). The ambassador Paul made this statement in his letter to the Ephesians: And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit is first accompanied by the knowledge of His Word. It would do you no profit to have the Holy Spirit without the knowledge of His Word. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Another example: in the United States, there are many people who put their dogs and cats above mankind. People are homeless and destitute, lacking even basic financial and medical needs. There are people here in the United States who attend their religious gatherings and claim to know Christ and His Father but love their animals more than their fellow man. They feed them and provide for them while those who were created in the image of God go without. Misplaced priorities, misrepresenting the Kingdom! Jesus made it very clear:
Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man’s sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
But woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Note that there is no mention of any animals. He spoke only of mankind. Those who claim to be children of God and put animals above the homeless are truly misrepresenting the Kingdom culture and misrepresenting the King. Remember, Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them... And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Also notice that God did not give His Spirit to any of the creatures He spoke into existence, only mankind. For an individual to love any animal more than human beings, regardless of their status in this society or any other society, is a misrepresentation of who God is.
Keep in mind, Jesus the Christ died for mankind, never for any animal. People who do such things don't have the Holy Spirit living in their mortal bodies. They are humanistic, at best,church members, not Kingdom citizens.
Matthew 5:13-16 Matthew 5:3-12 Ephesians 5:18 Colossians 1:9
Luke 6:20-26 Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7
~~W.R. Luchie
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." People need to be taught how to live in this present world. In order for you to effectively rule and control your life, you must be filled with the Holy Spirit (your Governor). The ambassador Paul made this statement in his letter to the Ephesians: And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit is first accompanied by the knowledge of His Word. It would do you no profit to have the Holy Spirit without the knowledge of His Word. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Another example: in the United States, there are many people who put their dogs and cats above mankind. People are homeless and destitute, lacking even basic financial and medical needs. There are people here in the United States who attend their religious gatherings and claim to know Christ and His Father but love their animals more than their fellow man. They feed them and provide for them while those who were created in the image of God go without. Misplaced priorities, misrepresenting the Kingdom! Jesus made it very clear:
Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man’s sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
But woe to you who are rich,
For you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full,
For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
For you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
For so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Note that there is no mention of any animals. He spoke only of mankind. Those who claim to be children of God and put animals above the homeless are truly misrepresenting the Kingdom culture and misrepresenting the King. Remember, Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them... And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Also notice that God did not give His Spirit to any of the creatures He spoke into existence, only mankind. For an individual to love any animal more than human beings, regardless of their status in this society or any other society, is a misrepresentation of who God is.
Keep in mind, Jesus the Christ died for mankind, never for any animal. People who do such things don't have the Holy Spirit living in their mortal bodies. They are humanistic, at best,church members, not Kingdom citizens.
Matthew 5:13-16 Matthew 5:3-12 Ephesians 5:18 Colossians 1:9
Luke 6:20-26 Genesis 1:26-27, 2:7
~~W.R. Luchie
