​When I was a child attending school in the city of Brooklyn, New York, I received a very good education. Most of the information I learned in high school back then would be considered on a college level today. I remember learning about the concept of a kingdom and its culture in my middle school years. I knew an associate who resided in the Bahamas, who actually lived in that type of political environment.
 
If you weren’t raised in a kingdom or taught concerning life in a kingdom, you wouldn’t have any idea of what it is or the concept of what life is like in a kingdom. I thank my Lord and King for having been taught it while I was in school and thereby having a point of reference as I learned about God’s Kingdom!
 
Keep in mind that the Kingdom was the Lord God’s idea, not mine or anyone else’s. The Lord God has given some the revelation and understanding to write and teach about God’s Kingdom. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it! My wife Arlene and I are a team and she is a great asset in our assignment and purpose in writing about the Kingdom message with simplicity that a child could understand it. She has great wisdom and revelation in this area and sometimes it is hard to see where I end and she begins! We will follow the Holy Spirit’s leading to the letter and the best of our ability.
 
So then, what is a kingdom? In essence, a kingdom is the sovereign government and governing influence of a king over his territory. The king impacts his territory and citizens with his purpose, his will, his nature, his laws, values, morals and his culture. His citizens reflect his lifestyle. A kingdom is a country or nation ruled by a king whose culture and society reflect the king’s personal nature. Now, can you see how an earthly kingdom culture can show us how the Lord God’s Kingdom culture operates? When we study the Lord God’s Constitution and embrace His Word, we will be more like Him every day. He sends us His Kingdom Governor—the Holy Spirit—to help govern His Kingdom in us.  If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:15-17 NLT
 
Then what is the culture of the Kingdom of God? His Constitution is the blueprint for all we need to know about the Kingdom culture. The culture of His Kingdom is the character of the Lord God. His character, laws, and principles are all within the pages of His testaments written to His people. The Lord God’s Constitution isn’t about a religion, society or a community. And His citizens don’t get to pick and choose what parts they want to live by. His Word is law and anything outside of that is lawlessness and contrary to His Kingdom. His Constitution is about a King and His government. Keep in mind, even a casual review of Jesus’ message while on this earth revealed His priority. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”… And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Matthew 4:17 & 23
 
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 5:3
 
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… But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:9-10, 33
 
 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 9:35
 
And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7-8 Yes! This is the culture of the Kingdom!
 
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28
 
 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. Matthew 13:11
 
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Matthew 13:13
 
Therefore hear the parable of the sower:  When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. Matthew 13:18-19
 
Another parable He spoke to them: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:  “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 13:33-35
 
And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14
 
These scriptures from the Lord God’s Constitution are just a few examples of the message of Jesus concerning His Kingdom. One of the main reasons for the Lord Jesus coming to earth was to restore the Kingdom colony of Heaven on this earth, which was the Lord God’s original purpose and plan for mankind. The fall of man resulted in the loss of the Kingdom government of Heaven here on earth. It took the Lord Jesus to restore us to our rightful place. And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. Romans 15:12-17
 
Here is the key…the Kingdom and culture of Heaven can only be appropriated by His citizens through the Kingdom currency of our faith in Him. We do not need a hammer and nails to build God’s Kingdom here on earth. His Kingdom is to rule and reign within us. Then everywhere we go, the Kingdom is there.  Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21
 
Remember your greatest asset is your faith in the Kingdom.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
​
W.R. 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

My wife and I like to watch detective shows. We invariably discuss what the motive would be for the crime that was committed. From the very beginning of an investigation, one of the first questions is, “what was the motive for this crime?” The most powerful force in human behavior is motive! Why are they doing what they are doing? Motive is the hidden reason or desire that drives a person’s actions. It sustains and justifies their actions.
 
During King Jesus’ time on earth, there were many who approached Him for something. For example, there was a woman who wasn’t of the tribe of Israel, but she had a strong motive for coming to Him. Jesus stated that her faith was great.  Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”
 
But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”
 
But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
 
Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
 
But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
 
And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
 
Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:21-28
 
As you can see, the woman had a strong motive to get King Jesus’ attention. Why is motive so important to the subject of faith? Motive is the birthplace from which convictions and belief come. Here is another question for you. What is your motive for following the Lord God? The answer to that question is at the very heart of your life.
 
Your motive is very important to the King. Read what the King stated to those who were searching for Him after He fed the five thousand:  When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.  And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
 
Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” John 6:24-27
 
Keep in mind, there are many people who are serving the Lord God because of what He can do for them and He knows their motive. Yes, the Lord Jesus could feed them, heal their bodies, and cast out their evil spirits. However, their motives were selfish and self-serving. They were seeking King Jesus for what He could do for them, not for who He was. As He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” In essence, He was saying “I know why you are here. You aren’t looking for Me; you’re looking for a blessing. You are looking for more free bread and fish.”!

There are no selfish motives in God's Kingdom.  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Philippians 2:3 

Remember, your motive both conceals and reveals the quality and nature of your faith in Him. 
 
The Lord God has promised to bless us as children and citizens of His Kingdom, but if our motive is to serve Him because of His blessings, then what happens when the blessings cease? What happens to our faith when hard times come? But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
 
Our motive is not to be blessed, it is to seek and obey Him. Our human nature gets it backwards! We seek the blessings, the benefits of Kingdom citizenship over seeking Him. Our true motive is often even concealed to us. This is why we must always examine our heart and uncover our true motive and what we truly seek after. “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 6:31-33 
 
Keep in mind, like the crowd who sought out the Lord Jesus in Capernaum, many today follow His blessings. You may trust in the King when He heals, but will you still trust Him when He doesn’t heal or deliver someone close to you? “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9 If your motive is in seeking after God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, you will still trust Him no matter what happens. Remember, in the Kingdom of the Lord God, our faith is more in the nature and character of the King than the gifts from the King.
 
The Kingdom motive is set on pleasing our King and living by His laws and principles. Then all we need will be supplied to us. He takes care of His citizens. His Word is true! His Word will keep your motive focused on Him. Have faith! Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
 
And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
 
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:27-34 Is the object of your motive the treasure or the King?
 
Remember, your faith in the King is your most valuable asset in the Kingdom.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
​
W.R. 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

​This is the question you should be asking yourself. Everyone should ask themselves that question. The answer to that question will determine whether we are marathon runners or sprinters. in the Kingdom

In other words, your motive for serving the King will determine how long you serve Him by following His laws and commands and how far you go. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. Hebrews 12:1-3 Your faith in Him is key to your life in His Kingdom.
 
 
Keep in mind, your motive for serving the Lord God and King will produce a strong—or weak—faith in Him. The Lord God sees and knows all. So He knows your motives better than you do! Often we even deceive ourselves as to what our motive is. Do you recall what God’s representative, Hanani, stated to the King of Israel? For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a
 
Your faith is strengthened in tests and trials. Taking the easy way, compromising what you believe and doing whatever necessary to avoid trials will not strengthen your faith. But to stand strong in the face of these tests and trials you must first know what you believe, what your true motive is for serving Him, and who King Jesus really is to you. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 
 
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8
 
Is your motive for serving King Jesus focused on yourself and what you want to receive? Do your “testimonies” consist of only the things He has given you or how He has blessed you? I am not saying that there is anything wrong with praising the Lord for His goodness and provision to you, but we are honestly looking at our motive for our commitment to the Father.  If your faith is focused on what you want to receive from the Lord, ask yourself if your motive is selfish. Honestly search your heart. The Lord God wants your life to be fruitful and full of the fruit of the Spirit. He wants you to fulfill His purpose and assignment in your life. Without times of testing and trials, you will not grow and mature in God’s Kingdom. Anyone who has ever spent time in church has probably heard “God is good all the time; all the time God is good”. Yes the Lord God is good all the time, and in His goodness, He allows testing and trials for our growth…for our good, for our purpose! Christians with selfish—me focused—faith will often get angry at the Father when they don’t have their prayers answered or when bad things happen in life. Some even turn their back on the Lord God. I am certain we all can remember situations exactly like that!
 
What is it that drives you to believe and trust in the Lord God and His Son, King Jesus? Is it His Kingdom benefits being manifest in your life? Or is your motive focused on the Father and His Son Jesus? Do you meditate on how good the Father is and all that He has done? Do you only want to please Him and serve Him and fulfill His purpose for creating you? So, motive comes down to whether you focus on wanting the Father to please you, or for you to please the Father.
 
King David had a strong and powerful motive for serving His Lord and King. Oh that we all had his heart for the Father!  Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights!

Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created.

He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth. You great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and maidens; Old men and children.
 
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints—Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the Lord! Psalm 148
 
Oh that we may all have his love and passion for our Lord and King! That is our motive for our praise.
 
There have always been many whose motive for serving King Jesus is for what they can receive. King Jesus made this statement concerning their motive for following Him:
 
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with Me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given Me the seal of His approval.”
 
They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
 
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.”
 
They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
 
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
 
“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
 
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in Me even though you have seen me.” John 6:26-36 NLT
 
Your motive will ultimately determine how long you will walk with the King. Those with selfish motives will fall away when the testings come.
 
Once again, your faith in the King’s Word is your most powerful asset in the Kingdom.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
​
W.R. Luchie 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