I have touched on this subject before, but I feel led to go into greater detail today. The key to understanding mankind’s presence and purpose here on earth is to understand the Lord God’s original intent for his existence. Intent may also be described as His original purpose for which something was made. It is more important for you to know what an individual’s intention is than to know what they actually said or did. If you do not properly discern their intent, believe me, misunderstandings will follow! It is a common source of strife between people. It is vital that you understand their intent, especially from the very beginning. That is one reason there are so many confused, offended people in this world. Where purpose is not known, abuse—or misuse—is inevitable.
For example: I have a friend that built a birdhouse bird feeder for me to put in my yard, specifically for small birds. But the squirrels kept climbing the pole, getting into it and eating the seeds. The intent was to accommodate the birds, not other animals. It couldn’t fulfill the purpose for which it was made because it was taken over by the squirrels, driving away the birds for which it was created! Understanding the original intent gives you the big picture to understand fully. If you see or hear only a part of the whole, you will misunderstand and draw the wrong conclusion.
The Lord God has a purpose for everything He does and everything He has created. All citizens of His Kingdom are part of His overall plan. But too often what we can see is the tiny portion that involves us at any given moment. If you regularly start referring to the Lord God’s Constitution, which is the guidebook for life in His Kingdom, it will inform you of His intent, which will in turn, assist you in keeping that picture before you. 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 Our minds may only be renewed and transformed by God’s Word. His Word washes away the lies of this world and fills it with God’s Truth. It tells us of His intentions for His people and will reveal who we are and why we are here—our purpose!
Yes, to understand the Lord God’s intent, you must be filled with His Word, while being filled with the Holy Spirit, our Governor. The phrase “having the mind of Christ”, is to listen to the Holy Spirit in you. No amount of education will give you the mind of Christ (remember that Christ means “anointed one”); it is only through the Holy Spirit. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
As I stated earlier, if intent is unknown, misunderstanding is inevitable. By the way, misunderstanding the intent or purpose of anything guarantees a waste of time, talent, energy, gifts and resources. Unless you know what the Lord God intended, everything you do will be a waste of time and energy. This is where a transformed mind comes into play. That is the problem with religion and its people. Their focus and energy is on programs, campaigns and ministries that were not the Lord God’s intent for them. Remember, religion, at its best, is mankind’s well-intended guess at the Lord God’s original intent.
God’s original intent was laid out in the beginning. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28
Note that He said nothing about a man ruling over another man. Also note the difference between dominion and domination. To have dominion is to have all authority and power over a designated territory. With that authority and power comes responsibility. On the other hand, domination is a carnal, fleshly term, describing when one takes away another’s free will and imposes their will upon them.
When the Lord Jesus came on the scene, He came to restore the Lord God’s original intent for mankind. In order to facilitate this, the Lord God prepared a special environment for mankind, a “home base” from which he would fulfill God’s intent and fill the earth with the culture of Heaven. The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. . . Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Genesis 2:8, 15 The Lord God’s original intent was to populate the earth with mankind, who then would rule and have dominion over this planet for the Lord God, all in His Name. And the Lord God would commune with mankind. It is really that simple. Once again, He didn’t say that one man would dominate another man. That was not His intent.
Now we have been restored and empowered to commune with the Lord God through the Holy Spirit, our Kingdom Governor. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:9-11
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.
For example: I have a friend that built a birdhouse bird feeder for me to put in my yard, specifically for small birds. But the squirrels kept climbing the pole, getting into it and eating the seeds. The intent was to accommodate the birds, not other animals. It couldn’t fulfill the purpose for which it was made because it was taken over by the squirrels, driving away the birds for which it was created! Understanding the original intent gives you the big picture to understand fully. If you see or hear only a part of the whole, you will misunderstand and draw the wrong conclusion.
The Lord God has a purpose for everything He does and everything He has created. All citizens of His Kingdom are part of His overall plan. But too often what we can see is the tiny portion that involves us at any given moment. If you regularly start referring to the Lord God’s Constitution, which is the guidebook for life in His Kingdom, it will inform you of His intent, which will in turn, assist you in keeping that picture before you. 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 Our minds may only be renewed and transformed by God’s Word. His Word washes away the lies of this world and fills it with God’s Truth. It tells us of His intentions for His people and will reveal who we are and why we are here—our purpose!
Yes, to understand the Lord God’s intent, you must be filled with His Word, while being filled with the Holy Spirit, our Governor. The phrase “having the mind of Christ”, is to listen to the Holy Spirit in you. No amount of education will give you the mind of Christ (remember that Christ means “anointed one”); it is only through the Holy Spirit. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
As I stated earlier, if intent is unknown, misunderstanding is inevitable. By the way, misunderstanding the intent or purpose of anything guarantees a waste of time, talent, energy, gifts and resources. Unless you know what the Lord God intended, everything you do will be a waste of time and energy. This is where a transformed mind comes into play. That is the problem with religion and its people. Their focus and energy is on programs, campaigns and ministries that were not the Lord God’s intent for them. Remember, religion, at its best, is mankind’s well-intended guess at the Lord God’s original intent.
God’s original intent was laid out in the beginning. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28
Note that He said nothing about a man ruling over another man. Also note the difference between dominion and domination. To have dominion is to have all authority and power over a designated territory. With that authority and power comes responsibility. On the other hand, domination is a carnal, fleshly term, describing when one takes away another’s free will and imposes their will upon them.
When the Lord Jesus came on the scene, He came to restore the Lord God’s original intent for mankind. In order to facilitate this, the Lord God prepared a special environment for mankind, a “home base” from which he would fulfill God’s intent and fill the earth with the culture of Heaven. The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. . . Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Genesis 2:8, 15 The Lord God’s original intent was to populate the earth with mankind, who then would rule and have dominion over this planet for the Lord God, all in His Name. And the Lord God would commune with mankind. It is really that simple. Once again, He didn’t say that one man would dominate another man. That was not His intent.
Now we have been restored and empowered to commune with the Lord God through the Holy Spirit, our Kingdom Governor. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:9-11
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.
