Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay Who is a bridge builder? A bridge to what or whom? Let’s look at Saul—later known as Paul. Saul of Tarsus was appointed to be an ambassador of the Kingdom of God by the Lord Jesus and given his assignment as a bridge builder to the Gentiles. So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:11-15
When you are appointed as a bridge builder, you will be tried and tested. Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus gave Saul a heads up on what he was to suffer. “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:16 It isn't an easy path!
He didn’t state to Saul that he would always be comfortable or happy, blessed or prosperous. But when you are doing what the Lord has assigned for you, you have peace with it. King David made this statement: Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:6-8 NLT In other words, when you are in His Will, doing the King’s assignment for your life, you won’t “sweat the small stuff” because you are in His divine will for your life. “You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:9b-10
A bridge builder doesn’t blend in and go along with the status quo.
In God’s Kingdom, a bridge builder is assigned to overcome a gap. It isn’t an easy assignment because sometimes you must say and do things people do not understand or agree with. My wife Arlene and I are bridge builders. We are to span the gap between a religious mindset and a Kingdom mindset. When we started this website, we didn’t realize that we would be bridge builders!
The ultimate bridge builder ever is the Lord Jesus! He bridged the gap between God and mankind. The Lord Jesus came, presenting the Kingdom to the world, not a religion. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
But He said to them, “I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” Luke 4:43
Somehow the enemy made it a religion in the minds of believers. That is ironic because it was the religious leaders who had the Romans crucify King Jesus. It was the religious leaders that orchestrated the Roman authority to assist in His death. Take a few minutes to read and study. See the difference between religion and God’s Kingdom. They had murder in their hearts and minds toward Jesus but wouldn’t “go into the Praetorium, lest they be defiled and not able to eat Passover"! That is a religious mind. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”
Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.”
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:28-40
The Lord Jesus spoke only of His Kingdom, not His religion. That is because a kingdom is a government and the king is the one with all the authority.
We as Kingdom citizens are to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, who is our Kingdom Governor. This is why it is vital to be filled with His Spirit. Kingdom citizens are to lead others to a Kingdom mindset, by being a bridge to those who have a religious mindset. We all at some point in our lives had a religious mindset. Even when we see more clearly how life in God’s Kingdom is, religious traditions will pop up from time to time. But as you take time to seek His Kingdom and with an understanding of being led by the Holy Spirit, that will gradually change. Bridges aren’t built in a day! We don’t have to do it in our own strength!
Remember, God’s Kingdom is inside of you and His Kingdom Governor is there to lead and guide you. Remember what King Jesus said to one of the Pharisees concerning the Kingdom: 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
Know this one thing; you do not become a Kingdom citizen just by attending a church. You may become a citizen of the Kingdom anywhere, even in a desert. It doesn’t matter where you are, only that you are seeking! You must be born again by His Spirit. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 Your spirit must be reborn and submitted to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8
Are you a bridge builder?
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God’s Word.
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
Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:11-15
When you are appointed as a bridge builder, you will be tried and tested. Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus gave Saul a heads up on what he was to suffer. “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:16 It isn't an easy path!
He didn’t state to Saul that he would always be comfortable or happy, blessed or prosperous. But when you are doing what the Lord has assigned for you, you have peace with it. King David made this statement: Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:6-8 NLT In other words, when you are in His Will, doing the King’s assignment for your life, you won’t “sweat the small stuff” because you are in His divine will for your life. “You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:9b-10
A bridge builder doesn’t blend in and go along with the status quo.
In God’s Kingdom, a bridge builder is assigned to overcome a gap. It isn’t an easy assignment because sometimes you must say and do things people do not understand or agree with. My wife Arlene and I are bridge builders. We are to span the gap between a religious mindset and a Kingdom mindset. When we started this website, we didn’t realize that we would be bridge builders!
The ultimate bridge builder ever is the Lord Jesus! He bridged the gap between God and mankind. The Lord Jesus came, presenting the Kingdom to the world, not a religion. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
But He said to them, “I must preach the Kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” Luke 4:43
Somehow the enemy made it a religion in the minds of believers. That is ironic because it was the religious leaders who had the Romans crucify King Jesus. It was the religious leaders that orchestrated the Roman authority to assist in His death. Take a few minutes to read and study. See the difference between religion and God’s Kingdom. They had murder in their hearts and minds toward Jesus but wouldn’t “go into the Praetorium, lest they be defiled and not able to eat Passover"! That is a religious mind. Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”
Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”
Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”
Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here.”
Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the Truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.”
Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:28-40
The Lord Jesus spoke only of His Kingdom, not His religion. That is because a kingdom is a government and the king is the one with all the authority.
We as Kingdom citizens are to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, who is our Kingdom Governor. This is why it is vital to be filled with His Spirit. Kingdom citizens are to lead others to a Kingdom mindset, by being a bridge to those who have a religious mindset. We all at some point in our lives had a religious mindset. Even when we see more clearly how life in God’s Kingdom is, religious traditions will pop up from time to time. But as you take time to seek His Kingdom and with an understanding of being led by the Holy Spirit, that will gradually change. Bridges aren’t built in a day! We don’t have to do it in our own strength!
Remember, God’s Kingdom is inside of you and His Kingdom Governor is there to lead and guide you. Remember what King Jesus said to one of the Pharisees concerning the Kingdom: 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
Know this one thing; you do not become a Kingdom citizen just by attending a church. You may become a citizen of the Kingdom anywhere, even in a desert. It doesn’t matter where you are, only that you are seeking! You must be born again by His Spirit. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 Your spirit must be reborn and submitted to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:5-8
Are you a bridge builder?
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God’s Word.
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
