Those are the words that rang out from John’s heart and mouth. In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” His assignment was to introduce the King to the world and so he did. The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for Him!’”
Then came along King Jesus, after being tried and tempted by the evil one (the devil), repeating the same words. From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Remember that the Lord Jesus is the only door and way to the Kingdom. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. NKJV Note that the King compared people to sheep. Why? Because they are so easily led astray by others. Most people are easily led by individuals with money or are famous, but know nothing of their standards or what they truly believe. Just look around in your own country, wherever that may be. Watch how the people respond to those people who make the most noise.
Now, for those of us who are of a Kingdom mindset and a Kingdom school of thought; we follow the King’s commands and principles. Do you recall this lesson Jesus taught? One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So, don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Kingdom citizens rely on prayer and depending on His Word and promises. Citizens of the Kingdom learn not to “sweat” the problems and challenges of this world. We learn to live and follow the leading of the Governor (Holy Spirit). 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. Those of us who are citizens of the Kingdom, know we are never alone. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
Once again, I urge every one of you to make the Kingdom of God your top priority. In doing so, the crises of the world will not affect you at all. Remember what King Jesus said while He was here on earth: “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."
When the King speaks, it is not a subjection but a law. This operated in faith in Him. Need to build your faith? Read and study His constitution. You cannot have total faith in someone you do not truly know. It is by His Word that we will be judged.
When the Lord Jesus sent out His twelve disciples, He instructed them to say the same title and message. He gave the power and authority to represent His Kingdom government. He instructed them where to go and where not to go; what to preach, what to do, what to take and what not to take. He told them how to respond to those who refused their Kingdom message.
Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
“Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.
“Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. When you enter the home, give it your blessing. If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing.
Notice that He never instructed them to condemn those that refused to listen, but He did say: If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.
“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” Sheep don’t fight back, but often religious people do.
Kingdom citizens trust in the King’s Word. The King’s angels fight for His citizens. Do you remember ambassadors Paul and Silas? It was through faith, prayer and praise that set them free from their prison: Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
Also remember, the King sent angels to assist Peter to leave prison: But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.
So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So, they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent His angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”
Keep in mind, your faith in His Word is your greatest asset to operating in the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 3:1-3 John 10:7-9 Luke 18:1-8 John 14:16-17
Matthew 6:25-34 Matthew 10:5-13, 14-16 Acts 16:25-28 Acts 12:5-11
All NLT except where 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
Then came along King Jesus, after being tried and tempted by the evil one (the devil), repeating the same words. From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Remember that the Lord Jesus is the only door and way to the Kingdom. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. NKJV Note that the King compared people to sheep. Why? Because they are so easily led astray by others. Most people are easily led by individuals with money or are famous, but know nothing of their standards or what they truly believe. Just look around in your own country, wherever that may be. Watch how the people respond to those people who make the most noise.
Now, for those of us who are of a Kingdom mindset and a Kingdom school of thought; we follow the King’s commands and principles. Do you recall this lesson Jesus taught? One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So, don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Kingdom citizens rely on prayer and depending on His Word and promises. Citizens of the Kingdom learn not to “sweat” the problems and challenges of this world. We learn to live and follow the leading of the Governor (Holy Spirit). 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. Those of us who are citizens of the Kingdom, know we are never alone. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
Once again, I urge every one of you to make the Kingdom of God your top priority. In doing so, the crises of the world will not affect you at all. Remember what King Jesus said while He was here on earth: “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."
When the King speaks, it is not a subjection but a law. This operated in faith in Him. Need to build your faith? Read and study His constitution. You cannot have total faith in someone you do not truly know. It is by His Word that we will be judged.
When the Lord Jesus sent out His twelve disciples, He instructed them to say the same title and message. He gave the power and authority to represent His Kingdom government. He instructed them where to go and where not to go; what to preach, what to do, what to take and what not to take. He told them how to respond to those who refused their Kingdom message.
Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
“Don’t take any money in your money belts—no gold, silver, or even copper coins. Don’t carry a traveler’s bag with a change of clothes and sandals or even a walking stick. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.
“Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. When you enter the home, give it your blessing. If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing.
Notice that He never instructed them to condemn those that refused to listen, but He did say: If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.
“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.” Sheep don’t fight back, but often religious people do.
Kingdom citizens trust in the King’s Word. The King’s angels fight for His citizens. Do you remember ambassadors Paul and Silas? It was through faith, prayer and praise that set them free from their prison: Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
Also remember, the King sent angels to assist Peter to leave prison: But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.
The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.
So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So, they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent His angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”
Keep in mind, your faith in His Word is your greatest asset to operating in the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 3:1-3 John 10:7-9 Luke 18:1-8 John 14:16-17
Matthew 6:25-34 Matthew 10:5-13, 14-16 Acts 16:25-28 Acts 12:5-11
All NLT except where 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
