
So then, the question is how do you live in two worlds on one earth? More importantly, how do you claim one world—the popular culture—and bring it under the Kingdom government? It is dependent on your attitude—mindset—with regard to the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdom of this world. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8
Remember that the Kingdom of Heaven is eternal, while the kingdom of this world is temporal. In other words, though the Kingdom of Heaven will last forever, the kingdom of this world will one day pass away and will be replaced by a new King on a new Earth. King David said: Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. Psalm 45:6 Keep in mind, a king’s scepter is the symbol of his power, authority and favor. Read what King Jesus said when telling the parable of the fig tree: “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Mark 13:28-32
Again, hear the anointed words of King David: All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your Kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His Kingdom. Your Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Psalm 145:10-13 The kingdoms of this world can never equal or compete with the Lord God’s eternal Kingdom. The knowledge that you are a citizen of a kingdom that can never be overthrown and will never pass away should give you boldness as you engage the kingdoms of this present world and its culture. Our challenge is that we see this world with our physical eyes, which is far easier and more real than God’s Kingdom, which we must see with our spiritual eyes by transforming our mind into God’s Kingdom mind. Open your eyes--That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Ephesians 1:17-21
Whenever you pray “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10, you are praying for the celestial--heavenly, invisible and spiritual—to transform the terrestrial--something living or growing on land, physical. As a child of the Lord God and created in His image and likeness, you have a firm connection to both worlds. On the one hand, you are a celestial—spiritual—being who will live forever; while on the other hand, that spirit is being “housed” in a terrestrial, physical body of clay that will eventually die and decay only to one day be replaced by a new body that will not decay or die. Ambassador Paul explains it quite well. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-54
There is no other creature in the Lord God’s Kingdom that has this dual—celestial/terrestrial—nature. We are His only creation made in His image. We are spirit, soul and body. We are ideally suited by God’s design to be His instrument to transform the terrestrial realm into the likeness of the celestial. All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 1 Corinthians 15:39-40
Our prayer is that you will see God’s Kingdom as clearly as you see the world around you. Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. Colossians 3:1-10 NLT
Open your eyes and see all that God has for His citizens in His Kingdom! But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17
Remember, your faith in His Word is your greatest asset in the Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
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