Think about this: All Kingdom citizens are children of the most high God; but all children of God are not Kingdom citizens. Kingdom citizens live a life that reflects His standards and principles to this world. Kingdom citizens must always be careful of how they conduct themselves because of Who they represent. The Holy Spirit and God's Word gives us that ability. We are ambassadors of God's Kingdom. We must keep in mind that we are not our own. We belong to the King and should conduct ourselves in that manner. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
When you act to the contrary--you fail to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit--you can cause others to stumble. Keep in mind that your behavior is always being watched by others, including the King. Remember, He is the one that you have to please. That is why it is so important to stay in God's Word (His Constitution to us).
In this world, filled with social media and cameras everywhere, there is very little privacy. Even in our homes! Your representation is quite critical to those who are young in the Kingdom. This is even more vital if we are in any type of leadership position. It is our responsibility to strengthen those who are weak and young in the faith. We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
There are some brothers and sisters who hold to traditions and customs from their religious life. Those who are strong in God's Constitution of the Kingdom should guard what we say to them, for we will be held accountable. Too many religious leaders speak loudly of what they believe, but the Word of the living God doesn't back them up. What you believe doesn't matter unless it lines up with God's Word. Ambassador Paul made this statement: And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. NKJV Now what did he mean by "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ"? He meant to stay in the Word. 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. NKJV When you wear or put on the Lord Jesus Christ, in essence that means you are living by His Word. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God. In my spirit I am shouting and praising Him! For He is King of kings and Lord of lords! On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
We, as citizens of the Kingdom and children of the King, must realize that if we follow the leading of the Governor--Holy Spirit--we will live above reproach. We cannot accomplish this on our own. It is only through the leading of the Holy Spirit and the Word within us. Remember that fire and water can't mix and cannot occupy the same space at the same time. So it is with the Holy Spirit and the carnality of this world. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Glory! In essence, if you have the Holy Spirit (Our Governor) residing inside of you, you have no desire to disobey the King's Word. Now, thoughts and temptations will come to your mind because the evil one is at work. However you aren't subject to those thoughts. Hold those thoughts captive and do not entertain or welcome them into your mind! Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. NKJV
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Romans 15:1; 13:11-14 John 1:14
Revelation 19:13, 16 Romans 8:5-14 2 Corinthians 10:1-5
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
When you act to the contrary--you fail to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit--you can cause others to stumble. Keep in mind that your behavior is always being watched by others, including the King. Remember, He is the one that you have to please. That is why it is so important to stay in God's Word (His Constitution to us).
In this world, filled with social media and cameras everywhere, there is very little privacy. Even in our homes! Your representation is quite critical to those who are young in the Kingdom. This is even more vital if we are in any type of leadership position. It is our responsibility to strengthen those who are weak and young in the faith. We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
There are some brothers and sisters who hold to traditions and customs from their religious life. Those who are strong in God's Constitution of the Kingdom should guard what we say to them, for we will be held accountable. Too many religious leaders speak loudly of what they believe, but the Word of the living God doesn't back them up. What you believe doesn't matter unless it lines up with God's Word. Ambassador Paul made this statement: And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. NKJV Now what did he mean by "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ"? He meant to stay in the Word. 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. NKJV When you wear or put on the Lord Jesus Christ, in essence that means you are living by His Word. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God. In my spirit I am shouting and praising Him! For He is King of kings and Lord of lords! On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
We, as citizens of the Kingdom and children of the King, must realize that if we follow the leading of the Governor--Holy Spirit--we will live above reproach. We cannot accomplish this on our own. It is only through the leading of the Holy Spirit and the Word within us. Remember that fire and water can't mix and cannot occupy the same space at the same time. So it is with the Holy Spirit and the carnality of this world. Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Glory! In essence, if you have the Holy Spirit (Our Governor) residing inside of you, you have no desire to disobey the King's Word. Now, thoughts and temptations will come to your mind because the evil one is at work. However you aren't subject to those thoughts. Hold those thoughts captive and do not entertain or welcome them into your mind! Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. NKJV
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Romans 15:1; 13:11-14 John 1:14
Revelation 19:13, 16 Romans 8:5-14 2 Corinthians 10:1-5
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
