
Satan uses religion and mankind's desire to be in relationship with the Lord God as a tool to divide as well as to cause mankind to think that by being religious they become closer to God. Notice that I stated “God”, not His Son. Religion keeps people from seeing and comprehending the Kingdom. There are many religious leaders who may be aware of the Kingdom message but are afraid to proclaim it because it will interfere with their financial flow. For them to do so, they would have to admit they were wrong in their teaching.
One clear sign that a religious leader/pastor/minister either doesn’t understand the Gospel of the Kingdom as King Jesus taught or is misrepresenting His Kingdom, is if they focus on building “Kingdom Wealth”. King Jesus never taught the multitudes or His disciples how to build Kingdom wealth! God’s Constitution is your measurement for Truth. “Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart [soul desires] will be also. . . No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]. Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:19-21, 24-25 AMP
You don’t have to attend a religious institution in order to reach the Father God. Do you recall what the Lord Jesus stated to the religious leader named Nicodemus? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:13-17
First, in our minds, we must separate the Lord God and King Jesus from our religious mindset. Religion does not equal God. Religion is an emotional tool that the evil one uses to control the masses. Look at the religion of Catholicism. They have much hierarchy that their members must follow to be in good standing; but King Jesus made this statement: “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17
Remember, the devil is a spirit—a fallen angel—and those that give themselves to him, through disobedience of the Lord God’s Constitution, will be misled every time. Religion gives one a false sense of eternal security. It can feel like a “get out of jail free” card. Rules are created by the hierarchy; some in line with God’s Constitution, some have nothing to do with it. Now follow these rules “religiously” and you’ll go to heaven. You won’t need to read and study His Word or listen to the Holy Spirit, just follow your leaders.
In order to operate in this world as a Kingdom citizen, you must put ALL your faith and trust in Him. You must listen to the guidance of the Governor—the Holy Spirit. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Faith is a lifestyle, not a religious mindset. Many who claim to live by faith, really depend on the world’s assistance for their survival: doctors, government benefits, and even their earthly family and friends. By the way, I am speaking of those who claim to believe in the Lord Jesus the Christ, not those who are lost in the world. It is the believer who is being so greatly deceived. Too often, they are lulled into a fugue of complacency, by attending weekly services, giving tithes and offerings, believing they are pleasing the Lord God. But remember that it is faith that pleases Him. 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 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
Do not become stagnant when it comes to your faith in the King! If you are sick, don’t let your first thought be of doctors and medicine. Pray! Ask the One who created you for healing. If you are in financial need, ask the One who is your Source, not friends or family or for yet another loan. King Jesus’ command to us is to “Have faith in God!” This is a constant, not a momentary, command. So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:22-24 Those are some strong words from the Lord Jesus, but can you believe them? They are not being spoken by your religion, but by your Lord and He cannot lie!
Build your faith. If you consistently study God’s Constitution, your faith in the King will grow every day. No one in the world needs religion to reach the Lord God. They need to embrace His Son, Jesus the Christ. The Lord Jesus, who is the King, made it quite clear in this statement when speaking to His disciple, Thomas: Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:5-6 Even though He was speaking to Thomas, it applies to the whole world as we know it.
Remember, your faith in the King’s Word is your most valuable asset in His Kingdom.
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
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Part 3