Understanding God’s Concept of His Kingdom
“The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]."
Proverbs 4:7 AMP
Having understanding is vital to totally embracing the Kingdom concept. Keep in mind that every person on this earth is seeking the Kingdom. This is without exception. Every human being’s actions are directed in one way or another toward this pursuit but many use religion to attempt to accomplish this. It is instinctual, but misunderstood and mankind pursues things that will never satisfy. Where there is no understanding of what they truly need, they will never fulfill God’s purpose for their life. The Kingdom concept is the Lord God’s idea, not just some idea that a person thought up.
In order for us to understand this concept, we must first see the “big picture’. Keep in mind that we are the Lord God’s creation and yet we are divided by religion, ethnicity, geography, national identity; in addition to differing governmental systems and economies. Also, religion, cultural differences and territorial loyalties often prevent us from seeing how much we truly have in common with one another. We are to be one citizenry, under one King. Consciously or unconsciously we are all searching for a kingdom. That is another reason we should stay in His Word—His Constitution. It contains all we need to get an understanding of God's Kingdom.
I have a cousin who loves to draw and paint. What I have learned through watching him is this: He had a picture of what he intended to draw already in his mind. That is what made him so good. He had the finished product in his head long before he implemented it on paper or canvas. That is what I meant by the “big picture”. That is what our King did before He put Adam—mankind—in the garden to cultivate it. 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. Genesis 1:26-27 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5
Knowledge is a bank of information. Wisdom is knowing how to optimize that information and use it properly. But understanding is a relationship between the knower and an object of understanding. It is similar to being infused with the object or concept. It is an intimate level of understanding. To have an understanding of something or someone could also be spoken of as being infused with it: to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.
Understand that the words earth and world are often used interchangeably, but in Genesis 1:1 He refers to the place, the physical planet, which He created and where we reside. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 The Lord God created the physical earth and then set on it the “world” of His government and divine order. Earth has to do with location, while world deals with the people, those who run it, and the things on it. The Lord God rules directly from heaven but from the beginning, His plan for the earth was to rule it indirectly through human representatives in His own image. 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 1:28
From the beginning, the earth was designed to be ruled by one government: the Kingdom of Heaven. With that original concept in mind, any other government would be illegal on this planet. This is why the Bible—God’s Constitution—makes it clear that man’s government exists only by the King’s permission and that He ordained them for the protection of society and the common man’s welfare until the day His Kingdom government on Earth is fully restored.
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Romans 13:1-7 NLT
Remember that Satan is the pretender. He may think that he runs the ‘show’ and controls the governments here on Earth, but it is the King of Heaven who guides all of human history for His desired end. Read here what it states in His Constitution: But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. Psalm 75:7
To get understanding: Pursue knowledge in His Word, ask for godly wisdom and embrace what you learn as it becomes part of you! Be infused with His Word and His Holy Spirit--our Kingdom governor!
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in His Word.
All scriptures are NKJV 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
Proverbs 4:7 AMP
Having understanding is vital to totally embracing the Kingdom concept. Keep in mind that every person on this earth is seeking the Kingdom. This is without exception. Every human being’s actions are directed in one way or another toward this pursuit but many use religion to attempt to accomplish this. It is instinctual, but misunderstood and mankind pursues things that will never satisfy. Where there is no understanding of what they truly need, they will never fulfill God’s purpose for their life. The Kingdom concept is the Lord God’s idea, not just some idea that a person thought up.
In order for us to understand this concept, we must first see the “big picture’. Keep in mind that we are the Lord God’s creation and yet we are divided by religion, ethnicity, geography, national identity; in addition to differing governmental systems and economies. Also, religion, cultural differences and territorial loyalties often prevent us from seeing how much we truly have in common with one another. We are to be one citizenry, under one King. Consciously or unconsciously we are all searching for a kingdom. That is another reason we should stay in His Word—His Constitution. It contains all we need to get an understanding of God's Kingdom.
I have a cousin who loves to draw and paint. What I have learned through watching him is this: He had a picture of what he intended to draw already in his mind. That is what made him so good. He had the finished product in his head long before he implemented it on paper or canvas. That is what I meant by the “big picture”. That is what our King did before He put Adam—mankind—in the garden to cultivate it. 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. Genesis 1:26-27 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5
Knowledge is a bank of information. Wisdom is knowing how to optimize that information and use it properly. But understanding is a relationship between the knower and an object of understanding. It is similar to being infused with the object or concept. It is an intimate level of understanding. To have an understanding of something or someone could also be spoken of as being infused with it: to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout," infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.
Understand that the words earth and world are often used interchangeably, but in Genesis 1:1 He refers to the place, the physical planet, which He created and where we reside. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 The Lord God created the physical earth and then set on it the “world” of His government and divine order. Earth has to do with location, while world deals with the people, those who run it, and the things on it. The Lord God rules directly from heaven but from the beginning, His plan for the earth was to rule it indirectly through human representatives in His own image. 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 1:28
From the beginning, the earth was designed to be ruled by one government: the Kingdom of Heaven. With that original concept in mind, any other government would be illegal on this planet. This is why the Bible—God’s Constitution—makes it clear that man’s government exists only by the King’s permission and that He ordained them for the protection of society and the common man’s welfare until the day His Kingdom government on Earth is fully restored.
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Romans 13:1-7 NLT
Remember that Satan is the pretender. He may think that he runs the ‘show’ and controls the governments here on Earth, but it is the King of Heaven who guides all of human history for His desired end. Read here what it states in His Constitution: But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. Psalm 75:7
To get understanding: Pursue knowledge in His Word, ask for godly wisdom and embrace what you learn as it becomes part of you! Be infused with His Word and His Holy Spirit--our Kingdom governor!
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in His Word.
All scriptures are NKJV 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
