Kingdom Concepts: Understanding Religion Part 2
Religion is the great divide of the Lord God’s people on this earth. This may be the reason so many people have turned away from all forms of religion. My wife and I receive many emails from people who want to know King Jesus without the religious trappings. Many individuals have left one religion only to embrace another one that doesn’t include Jesus. Religious denominations have so intertwined itself with the Lord Jesus, that many people cannot separate the two! People even reach the point giving up and denying that God even exists.
Focus Point: The Lord Jesus’ focus was always on His Kingdom. He instructed us not to worry or have anxiety about anything but to make the Kingdom our top priority. 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.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:25-34
Remember that the Kingdom of God isn’t a new religion but a government. For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6-7
Please note: All religions are the same in the sense that they attempt to answer the questions of power and purpose. As I study religion and its effect on mankind, it is clear they all promise power to control life and circumstances. They try to explain the meaning of both life and death. By the way, that is a form of rebellion because it refuses to accept the Lord God’s constitution as the reason for His creation. All religions claim to have the truth. But, the Lord God didn’t ask us to understand or figure it all out, using our human reasoning and intellect. In fact one of the “keys” to the Kingdom is that He doesn’t want us to strive for the answers to questions that only God can answer. He only asks us to trust Him and obey Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7
Please note: All religions require adherence to their particular form of belief system while denying the parts of God’s constitution that doesn’t fit their beliefs. Their beliefs also have parts of their culture and traditions woven into their religious beliefs; which exclude other cultures and segments of humanity. Things that have nothing to do with the God’s Word. This is why I refer to religion as the great divide. In America, they say that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of all. That is because each “denomination” has cultural behaviors and traditions woven in with God’s Word to fit their lives. Rather than unifying mankind with the knowledge of the Lord God’s constitution, religion has proven itself to be the divider of all God’s mankind. Denominations divide, the Kingdom of God unifies. The question is, How does religion effect us prior to realizing who we are in the Kingdom government? Here is my answer to that question:
Focus Point: The influence of religion lies in its ability to serve as a substitute for the Kingdom. It tries to put the Kingdom of God into their little church box. It also hinders mankind from pursuing and answering His most important questions: Who am I? Why am I here?
Please note: Religion preoccupies mankind with “doing”—doing for the church—doing for the ministers—doing for the members, doing, doing. But, remember when Jesus visited Mary and Martha? As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to You that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 Mary sat at Jesus' feet, listening to Him teach--the Word of God. Jesus told Martha that was the only thing to be concerned with. Your service should come from the overflow of time spent with Him in His Word.
You may be volunteering, serving and spending endless time doing good things for the church and fellow members without ever embracing and understanding the Kingdom message and learning your purpose in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom message prepares mankind to have dominion on the earth through God’s Word. Religion prepares mankind to leave the earth without knowing their purpose or assignment. Usually the focus is getting to heaven. My prayer is not for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You. All who are Mine belong to You, and You have given them to Me, so they bring Me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to You. Holy Father, You have given Me Your name; now protect them by the power of Your name so that they will be united just as We are. During My time here, I protected them by the power of the name You gave Me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
Now I am coming to You. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with My joy. I have given them Your Word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your Word, which is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give Myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by Your truth. John 17:9-19 The Lord God didn’t deliver us by His Son to send us to heaven, but to empower others to embrace the Kingdom government, not a religion called Christianity. It is by the Holy Spirit living in Kingdom citizens that the Kingdom of God affects this world.
Focus Point: Religion seeks to take earth to Heaven, but the Kingdom seeks to bring Heaven to earth. Remember the prayer King Jesus told us to pray: When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:8-13
Keep in mind that your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in the Kingdom.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
Focus Point: The Lord Jesus’ focus was always on His Kingdom. He instructed us not to worry or have anxiety about anything but to make the Kingdom our top priority. 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.
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:25-34
Remember that the Kingdom of God isn’t a new religion but a government. For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6-7
Please note: All religions are the same in the sense that they attempt to answer the questions of power and purpose. As I study religion and its effect on mankind, it is clear they all promise power to control life and circumstances. They try to explain the meaning of both life and death. By the way, that is a form of rebellion because it refuses to accept the Lord God’s constitution as the reason for His creation. All religions claim to have the truth. But, the Lord God didn’t ask us to understand or figure it all out, using our human reasoning and intellect. In fact one of the “keys” to the Kingdom is that He doesn’t want us to strive for the answers to questions that only God can answer. He only asks us to trust Him and obey Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7
Please note: All religions require adherence to their particular form of belief system while denying the parts of God’s constitution that doesn’t fit their beliefs. Their beliefs also have parts of their culture and traditions woven into their religious beliefs; which exclude other cultures and segments of humanity. Things that have nothing to do with the God’s Word. This is why I refer to religion as the great divide. In America, they say that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of all. That is because each “denomination” has cultural behaviors and traditions woven in with God’s Word to fit their lives. Rather than unifying mankind with the knowledge of the Lord God’s constitution, religion has proven itself to be the divider of all God’s mankind. Denominations divide, the Kingdom of God unifies. The question is, How does religion effect us prior to realizing who we are in the Kingdom government? Here is my answer to that question:
Focus Point: The influence of religion lies in its ability to serve as a substitute for the Kingdom. It tries to put the Kingdom of God into their little church box. It also hinders mankind from pursuing and answering His most important questions: Who am I? Why am I here?
Please note: Religion preoccupies mankind with “doing”—doing for the church—doing for the ministers—doing for the members, doing, doing. But, remember when Jesus visited Mary and Martha? As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to You that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 Mary sat at Jesus' feet, listening to Him teach--the Word of God. Jesus told Martha that was the only thing to be concerned with. Your service should come from the overflow of time spent with Him in His Word.
You may be volunteering, serving and spending endless time doing good things for the church and fellow members without ever embracing and understanding the Kingdom message and learning your purpose in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom message prepares mankind to have dominion on the earth through God’s Word. Religion prepares mankind to leave the earth without knowing their purpose or assignment. Usually the focus is getting to heaven. My prayer is not for the world, but for those You have given Me, because they belong to You. All who are Mine belong to You, and You have given them to Me, so they bring Me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to You. Holy Father, You have given Me Your name; now protect them by the power of Your name so that they will be united just as We are. During My time here, I protected them by the power of the name You gave Me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.
Now I am coming to You. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with My joy. I have given them Your Word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your Word, which is truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give Myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by Your truth. John 17:9-19 The Lord God didn’t deliver us by His Son to send us to heaven, but to empower others to embrace the Kingdom government, not a religion called Christianity. It is by the Holy Spirit living in Kingdom citizens that the Kingdom of God affects this world.
Focus Point: Religion seeks to take earth to Heaven, but the Kingdom seeks to bring Heaven to earth. Remember the prayer King Jesus told us to pray: When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:8-13
Keep in mind that your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in the Kingdom.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
