Kingdom 104: Misrepresenting the Kingdom Gospel
There are many who misrepresent the Kingdom of God through their lack of understanding of the Gospel message. When you don't understand the concept of the Kingdom, you will misrepresent the Kingdom culture. The Kingdom message never changes; because the Kingdom of God remains the same. It is eternal. So then, why do religious leaders feel they have to preach another message? They are truly misrepresenting the King by giving preference to their religious worship services and the traditions of man rather than the Kingdom gospel. Remember, misrepresenting the Kingdom is misrepresenting the King and His government as well as His culture. If you aren't teaching the Kingdom message, you aren't being obedient to His command, as He stated: But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.... And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 6:33; 24:14
Our Lord and King, Jesus never spoke on financial prosperity. He never taught on seeking to become rich. In fact, this is what He said about riches: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:23-24 Having financial wealth is no indication that they are in right standing with the King. There are many pastors, apostles, prophets and bishops who have accumulated wealth from their members, while their members' basic needs go unmet. That is not God's way. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. Acts 4:34-35
In order for one to represent the Kingdom effectively, you must first be filled with the Holy Spirit (the Governor). The Lord Jesus made it quite clear while speaking to His disciples at the time: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:4-5 Jesus didn't want them to misrepresent Him or the Kingdom culture. The Lord Jesus had the Holy Spirit living in His mortal body while He was on the earth. He told us what would happen when they would receive Him. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8
To properly teach the Kingdom message, we must understand the true concept of God’s Kingdom government and that nothing is truly ours, but His, and He gives us access. Many who claim to know the King and speak in His name do not understand His Kingdom. Just because there is a sign over the front of your church building saying "Kingdom", doesn't mean you understand the King's message. To understand is to closely study and comprehend God's Word. To seek means to learn diligently with a hunger to learn more than mental facts and information. This knowledge must become part of your behavior and lifestyle. Just follow the life of Christ while He was here on earth. A key factor is that you must want it bad enough to focus on it. I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find Me. Proverbs 8:17 And Jesus made this statement: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 5:7-8
There is so much misinformation in the airwaves that if we aren't listening carefully to the Holy Spirit, we can be misled. We may act on our own thoughts and think that is the Holy Spirit leading us. This is happening everywhere. Ministries are built on misinformation and false doctrines contrary to the Kingdom message Jesus preached. That is why it is so important to stay in prayer and in the Word. We need to follow our King's example diligently. Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12 On another occasion when the Lord was alone praying His disciples joined Him. He always found time to speak with His Father.
Constant communication (prayer) with the Father is needed more than ever in this age of social media, the internet and cable. We are all very busy, consumed, with pointless distractions but not being productive and growing in the Kingdom of God. Many embrace other's ideas concerning their faith in the Lord Jesus rather than embracing His Word. It sounds good, so we embrace it. Also, being a Kingdom citizen may cost you your biological family and friends. And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:58-62
You must determine your priorities when it comes to following the King. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34
The Lord Jesus wants you to get an appetite for His Word. We often hear people say they love Jesus, yet they have no hunger for the Word. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
Jesus was His Word made flesh. If you truly loved Him you would love His Word! Seeking often involves taking the time to consider and ponder in an effort to understand. This is similar to meditation. There are some things that require deep thought analysis before they become comprehensible. It is in that time that the Lord reveals wisdom to those who are obedient to His Word. It is what we sometimes call "revelation knowledge". But remember, revelation knowledge will ALWAYS line up with God's Constitution. If it is contrary to His Word, it is not from the Holy Spirit.
You become "family". Jesus made this statement in response to a statement concerning His family: But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-35
We are always to keep His Word in the forefront of our minds. It takes effort to soak in God's Word. King David said, Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You...This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your Word has given me life. Psalm 119:11, 50 This is exactly the way I think and feel concerning His Word. When I read and study His Word, I am strengthened and encouraged. It wasn't always that way, but has been a growing process as with any good and lasting relationship. Being full of His Word and full of the Holy Spirit, our Governor, guards us from misrepresenting the Lord God’s Kingdom! Now, when we are in this position, we won’t worry concerning our earthly needs. “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Matthew 6:28-29 I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. Psalm 37:25
We must take God's Word (His Constitution) and consider it, ponder it, chew on it and digest it (get it inside of us by memorizing it). The more we do so, the more we will comprehend the concept of the Kingdom message. We will become one with Him and His Word. When you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, (the operative word is follow) you can never misrepresent the Kingdom of God. The Lord's Spirit dwells in you and with you. “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. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:15-18
Finally, to seek the Kingdom means to become preoccupied with the Kingdom. If you are seeking the Kingdom, that means you are hungry for His Word and you are thinking about it all day long. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8
I would even dare to say be "married" to God's Word, becoming one with it, where people cannot see where you end and He begins!
Remember, your faith in the King’s Word is your greatest asset in His Kingdom. Feeding on God's Word feeds your faith!
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
Our Lord and King, Jesus never spoke on financial prosperity. He never taught on seeking to become rich. In fact, this is what He said about riches: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:23-24 Having financial wealth is no indication that they are in right standing with the King. There are many pastors, apostles, prophets and bishops who have accumulated wealth from their members, while their members' basic needs go unmet. That is not God's way. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. Acts 4:34-35
In order for one to represent the Kingdom effectively, you must first be filled with the Holy Spirit (the Governor). The Lord Jesus made it quite clear while speaking to His disciples at the time: And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:4-5 Jesus didn't want them to misrepresent Him or the Kingdom culture. The Lord Jesus had the Holy Spirit living in His mortal body while He was on the earth. He told us what would happen when they would receive Him. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8
To properly teach the Kingdom message, we must understand the true concept of God’s Kingdom government and that nothing is truly ours, but His, and He gives us access. Many who claim to know the King and speak in His name do not understand His Kingdom. Just because there is a sign over the front of your church building saying "Kingdom", doesn't mean you understand the King's message. To understand is to closely study and comprehend God's Word. To seek means to learn diligently with a hunger to learn more than mental facts and information. This knowledge must become part of your behavior and lifestyle. Just follow the life of Christ while He was here on earth. A key factor is that you must want it bad enough to focus on it. I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find Me. Proverbs 8:17 And Jesus made this statement: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 5:7-8
There is so much misinformation in the airwaves that if we aren't listening carefully to the Holy Spirit, we can be misled. We may act on our own thoughts and think that is the Holy Spirit leading us. This is happening everywhere. Ministries are built on misinformation and false doctrines contrary to the Kingdom message Jesus preached. That is why it is so important to stay in prayer and in the Word. We need to follow our King's example diligently. Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12 On another occasion when the Lord was alone praying His disciples joined Him. He always found time to speak with His Father.
Constant communication (prayer) with the Father is needed more than ever in this age of social media, the internet and cable. We are all very busy, consumed, with pointless distractions but not being productive and growing in the Kingdom of God. Many embrace other's ideas concerning their faith in the Lord Jesus rather than embracing His Word. It sounds good, so we embrace it. Also, being a Kingdom citizen may cost you your biological family and friends. And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:58-62
You must determine your priorities when it comes to following the King. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34
The Lord Jesus wants you to get an appetite for His Word. We often hear people say they love Jesus, yet they have no hunger for the Word. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
Jesus was His Word made flesh. If you truly loved Him you would love His Word! Seeking often involves taking the time to consider and ponder in an effort to understand. This is similar to meditation. There are some things that require deep thought analysis before they become comprehensible. It is in that time that the Lord reveals wisdom to those who are obedient to His Word. It is what we sometimes call "revelation knowledge". But remember, revelation knowledge will ALWAYS line up with God's Constitution. If it is contrary to His Word, it is not from the Holy Spirit.
You become "family". Jesus made this statement in response to a statement concerning His family: But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-35
We are always to keep His Word in the forefront of our minds. It takes effort to soak in God's Word. King David said, Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You...This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your Word has given me life. Psalm 119:11, 50 This is exactly the way I think and feel concerning His Word. When I read and study His Word, I am strengthened and encouraged. It wasn't always that way, but has been a growing process as with any good and lasting relationship. Being full of His Word and full of the Holy Spirit, our Governor, guards us from misrepresenting the Lord God’s Kingdom! Now, when we are in this position, we won’t worry concerning our earthly needs. “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Matthew 6:28-29 I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. Psalm 37:25
We must take God's Word (His Constitution) and consider it, ponder it, chew on it and digest it (get it inside of us by memorizing it). The more we do so, the more we will comprehend the concept of the Kingdom message. We will become one with Him and His Word. When you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, (the operative word is follow) you can never misrepresent the Kingdom of God. The Lord's Spirit dwells in you and with you. “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. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:15-18
Finally, to seek the Kingdom means to become preoccupied with the Kingdom. If you are seeking the Kingdom, that means you are hungry for His Word and you are thinking about it all day long. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8
I would even dare to say be "married" to God's Word, becoming one with it, where people cannot see where you end and He begins!
Remember, your faith in the King’s Word is your greatest asset in His Kingdom. Feeding on God's Word feeds your faith!
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
http://www.kingdomcitizens.org/kingdom-104-misrepresenting-the-kingdom-gospel.html
