Maturing in God’s Kingdom
Image by Teodor Buhl from Pixabay
It is time for God’s citizens to become mature and represent His Kingdom, reflecting King Jesus everywhere we go.
There will be a great deal of scriptures here that He gave me to share, which is far more important than my words!
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13
The importance and benefits of that maturity are: Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:14-16
Last night, as I slept, the Holy Spirit did something that I don’t think has ever happened to me before. I slept very lightly because He was speaking this message to me…title, many scriptures one after the other, and phrases to go with those scriptures. There was no dream, only speaking throughout the night. So I know that this is a word that needs to be shared, digested and acted on. There are far too many Christians who have remained babies and have not grown. They are complacent—satisfied to keep one foot in the world and one foot in church, believing that they are “right with God”. For the most part, I blame the leaders for being more focused on entertaining, pacifying and keeping the people happy and attending. Say the sinner’s prayer, be baptized, attend church services, and serve in the church. But we are not called to sit and be happy! Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
People do not grow and mature in God’s Kingdom by being passive and living however they choose. We don't grow healthy living on a diet of empty calories and sugar, with no nutrition! The only sign of their salvation is attending church on Sunday. But life in God’s Kingdom is 24/7. Maturing in God’s Kingdom comes down to three things:
Read God’s Word, consume God’s Word and speak God’s Word.
“If you love Me, obey My commandments.”
If we will do that, He promises He will send the Holy Spirit (and He cannot lie!): 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. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. John 14:15-18
I can tell you from personal experience, as your mind is filled with God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will bring those scriptures to your remembrance when you need them. He will never tell you something that does not line up with God’s Word!
Anyone who doesn’t love Me will not obey Me. And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent Me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:24-26
For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13
Here is one phrase that a maturing Kingdom citizen should never say or even think of as an excuse for their behavior:
“God knows my heart.”
Yes, God does know your heart and this is what He says about it…”The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10
Thinning the Herd
He also spoke a phrase to me that I had never thought of before, and scriptures to go with it. That phrase was “Thinning the herd”. In terms of livestock, it is about getting rid of the weaker ones, keeping the healthier and stronger stock. This is not a physical assessment, but a spiritual one!
We are entering a time when God’s Kingdom citizens must be strong in His Word and unshakeable in His standards and commands. We must raise that standard for all to see and never waver! We cannot do that if we are weak and easily swayed. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8 NKJV
We read of Jesus doing a spiritual “thinning of the herd” in John 6. He had thousands of people following him wherever He went. They wanted what He could do for them. He fed them, healed them, taught them, discipled them. But they weren’t maturing so He said something that anyone who wasn’t a true believer would not understand and many left Him. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with Me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given Me the seal of His approval.”
They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.”
They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in Me even though you have seen Me.” John 6:26-36
They still didn’t understand! They were thinking on a physical (carnal) level, while He was speaking on the spiritual (eternal) level! Then came His “herd thinning” words: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is My flesh.”
Then the people began arguing with each other about what He meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent Me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on Me will live because of Me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” John 6:47-58
How do we grow and mature in God’s Kingdom? By consuming His Word and being led by the Holy Spirit in us! Jesus IS the Word made flesh. We as His citizens understand this. But the crowds, who followed Him for what He could give them, and those who considered themselves disciples of Jesus didn’t understand because they were still thinking with a carnal mind.
Jesus was aware that His disciples were complaining, so He said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe Me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and He knew who would betray Him.)
Then He said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to Me unless the Father gives them to Me.”
At this point many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him.
Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:61-69
Consume God’s Word as you would your favorite food. Hunger for it! Desire it above all else. It will mature you into an unshakeable citizen of God’s Kingdom, ready to face any lie Satan tries to throw at you. We are living in a time when lies, exalting itself above God, saturate our world. You will be able to easily discern Truth from lies. You will be able to stand firm no matter what goes on in the world. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. 2 Timothy 2:15-17a NKJV
Thank you for staying with me, as this is longer than usual. There was so much to share with you! I will finish with the words of Paul, which are so relevant today:
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s Word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5:11-14
Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,
Deborah A. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
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
There will be a great deal of scriptures here that He gave me to share, which is far more important than my words!
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13
The importance and benefits of that maturity are: Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:14-16
Last night, as I slept, the Holy Spirit did something that I don’t think has ever happened to me before. I slept very lightly because He was speaking this message to me…title, many scriptures one after the other, and phrases to go with those scriptures. There was no dream, only speaking throughout the night. So I know that this is a word that needs to be shared, digested and acted on. There are far too many Christians who have remained babies and have not grown. They are complacent—satisfied to keep one foot in the world and one foot in church, believing that they are “right with God”. For the most part, I blame the leaders for being more focused on entertaining, pacifying and keeping the people happy and attending. Say the sinner’s prayer, be baptized, attend church services, and serve in the church. But we are not called to sit and be happy! Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
People do not grow and mature in God’s Kingdom by being passive and living however they choose. We don't grow healthy living on a diet of empty calories and sugar, with no nutrition! The only sign of their salvation is attending church on Sunday. But life in God’s Kingdom is 24/7. Maturing in God’s Kingdom comes down to three things:
Read God’s Word, consume God’s Word and speak God’s Word.
“If you love Me, obey My commandments.”
If we will do that, He promises He will send the Holy Spirit (and He cannot lie!): 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. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. John 14:15-18
I can tell you from personal experience, as your mind is filled with God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will bring those scriptures to your remembrance when you need them. He will never tell you something that does not line up with God’s Word!
Anyone who doesn’t love Me will not obey Me. And remember, My words are not My own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent Me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:24-26
For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13
Here is one phrase that a maturing Kingdom citizen should never say or even think of as an excuse for their behavior:
“God knows my heart.”
Yes, God does know your heart and this is what He says about it…”The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:9-10
Thinning the Herd
He also spoke a phrase to me that I had never thought of before, and scriptures to go with it. That phrase was “Thinning the herd”. In terms of livestock, it is about getting rid of the weaker ones, keeping the healthier and stronger stock. This is not a physical assessment, but a spiritual one!
We are entering a time when God’s Kingdom citizens must be strong in His Word and unshakeable in His standards and commands. We must raise that standard for all to see and never waver! We cannot do that if we are weak and easily swayed. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8 NKJV
We read of Jesus doing a spiritual “thinning of the herd” in John 6. He had thousands of people following him wherever He went. They wanted what He could do for them. He fed them, healed them, taught them, discipled them. But they weren’t maturing so He said something that anyone who wasn’t a true believer would not understand and many left Him. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with Me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given Me the seal of His approval.”
They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.”
They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now He offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in Me even though you have seen Me.” John 6:26-36
They still didn’t understand! They were thinking on a physical (carnal) level, while He was speaking on the spiritual (eternal) level! Then came His “herd thinning” words: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is My flesh.”
Then the people began arguing with each other about what He meant. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.
So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent Me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on Me will live because of Me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” John 6:47-58
How do we grow and mature in God’s Kingdom? By consuming His Word and being led by the Holy Spirit in us! Jesus IS the Word made flesh. We as His citizens understand this. But the crowds, who followed Him for what He could give them, and those who considered themselves disciples of Jesus didn’t understand because they were still thinking with a carnal mind.
Jesus was aware that His disciples were complaining, so He said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But some of you do not believe Me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and He knew who would betray Him.)
Then He said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to Me unless the Father gives them to Me.”
At this point many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him.
Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:61-69
Consume God’s Word as you would your favorite food. Hunger for it! Desire it above all else. It will mature you into an unshakeable citizen of God’s Kingdom, ready to face any lie Satan tries to throw at you. We are living in a time when lies, exalting itself above God, saturate our world. You will be able to easily discern Truth from lies. You will be able to stand firm no matter what goes on in the world. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. 2 Timothy 2:15-17a NKJV
Thank you for staying with me, as this is longer than usual. There was so much to share with you! I will finish with the words of Paul, which are so relevant today:
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s Word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5:11-14
Be a Kingdom light shining in the darkness,
Deborah A. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
All scriptures are NLT unless otherwise noted.
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
