Image by Ralph from Pixabay Do you ever wonder why you aren’t where you think you should be by now? Maybe you wonder why God hasn't promoted you or advanced you into your divine purpose. We know that His "timing" is perfect. The delay may be because we have not matured enough in His Kingdom to handle what we are purposed to do!
A Kingdom transformation is a process. It is gradual changes from what you were into what you are becoming. To put it another way, it is being transformed from one state of mind to another state of mind. It is like a seed being planted, watered, and nourished until it is grown and mature. That seed will not flourish and grow without water and nourishment! This transformation is being accomplished in God’s Kingdom citizens around the world! It happened to ambassador Paul on the road to Damascus before his name was changed. Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. Acts 9:1-9 NLT Saul needed a “suddenly” transformation or he would continue to persecute and kill followers of King Jesus. The Lord Jesus had to get his total attention. Saul truly believed that he was doing the right thing, so the Lord Jesus had to personally get his attention. Keep in mind, Saul assisted in murdering the believers and disciples. Jesus asked Saul this question: “Why are you persecuting Me?”
Something to think about: When you are mistreating a citizen of God’s Kingdom, you are mistreating the King. In other words, you are also doing harm to yourself! Saul’s response? “Who are you, Lord?” Saul recognized the higher authority, to the point that he was struck with fear and surprise. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” It was time for his transformation. In other words, it was the Lord God’s time for Saul to change his direction. Even his name was changed from Saul to Paul. He was a new person in Christ. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him. Acts 13:9
The process of being saved is simply this: If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
But the process of being transformed takes some time. It requires knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in the Kingdom. …just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s Word.” Ephesians 5:25b-26 NLT This is why it is so important to read and study God’s Constitution. Your growth in the Kingdom hinges on your knowledge and understanding of His Kingdom Constitution. In order for you to be changed, your mind and emotions must be fed with the correct knowledge. If you don’t like how life is going, or the things that “always happen” to you, check what you “feed on” the most. As ambassador Paul said: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
Note his statement “it is your reasonable service”, meaning you owe it to the King. He also stated “do not conform to this world”. When you conform to something you become similar or identical to it. You are in agreement with it and look like it. If your life looks more like the world than the Kingdom, it is time for a change! Embrace His Word in every part of your life. Make His laws and principles your moral absolutes—your standards—your boundaries! Every place in your life that looks and acts like the world gives Satan an opening into your life. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:21-32 NLT
Embrace His Word in EVERY part of your life!
When citizens of God’s Kingdom fall short, the bottom line is they fail to study His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them. There are areas of their lives that they haven’t given over to God. Those areas are open doors. Shut those doors by giving it all to God and be fed and matured by the Holy Spirit, who is key to our salvation and transformation in God’s Kingdom. If we, as citizens, embrace and obey the King’s Word, He WILL transform our lives into all He has prepared for us to become.
Remember, your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in His 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
A Kingdom transformation is a process. It is gradual changes from what you were into what you are becoming. To put it another way, it is being transformed from one state of mind to another state of mind. It is like a seed being planted, watered, and nourished until it is grown and mature. That seed will not flourish and grow without water and nourishment! This transformation is being accomplished in God’s Kingdom citizens around the world! It happened to ambassador Paul on the road to Damascus before his name was changed. Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. Acts 9:1-9 NLT Saul needed a “suddenly” transformation or he would continue to persecute and kill followers of King Jesus. The Lord Jesus had to get his total attention. Saul truly believed that he was doing the right thing, so the Lord Jesus had to personally get his attention. Keep in mind, Saul assisted in murdering the believers and disciples. Jesus asked Saul this question: “Why are you persecuting Me?”
Something to think about: When you are mistreating a citizen of God’s Kingdom, you are mistreating the King. In other words, you are also doing harm to yourself! Saul’s response? “Who are you, Lord?” Saul recognized the higher authority, to the point that he was struck with fear and surprise. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” It was time for his transformation. In other words, it was the Lord God’s time for Saul to change his direction. Even his name was changed from Saul to Paul. He was a new person in Christ. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him. Acts 13:9
The process of being saved is simply this: If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10
But the process of being transformed takes some time. It requires knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in the Kingdom. …just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s Word.” Ephesians 5:25b-26 NLT This is why it is so important to read and study God’s Constitution. Your growth in the Kingdom hinges on your knowledge and understanding of His Kingdom Constitution. In order for you to be changed, your mind and emotions must be fed with the correct knowledge. If you don’t like how life is going, or the things that “always happen” to you, check what you “feed on” the most. As ambassador Paul said: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
Note his statement “it is your reasonable service”, meaning you owe it to the King. He also stated “do not conform to this world”. When you conform to something you become similar or identical to it. You are in agreement with it and look like it. If your life looks more like the world than the Kingdom, it is time for a change! Embrace His Word in every part of your life. Make His laws and principles your moral absolutes—your standards—your boundaries! Every place in your life that looks and acts like the world gives Satan an opening into your life. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:21-32 NLT
Embrace His Word in EVERY part of your life!
When citizens of God’s Kingdom fall short, the bottom line is they fail to study His Word and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them. There are areas of their lives that they haven’t given over to God. Those areas are open doors. Shut those doors by giving it all to God and be fed and matured by the Holy Spirit, who is key to our salvation and transformation in God’s Kingdom. If we, as citizens, embrace and obey the King’s Word, He WILL transform our lives into all He has prepared for us to become.
Remember, your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in His 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
