Crowning Ignorant Kings: Cultivating A Kingdom Culture

We are here to Cultivate a Kingdom Culture. Returning to the Original Mandate of Jesus Christ for Kingdom Government, Management, Citizenship, Relationship, and Community; Manifesting the Culture of Heaven on Earth. This online content is comprised of notes, studies, and resources based on the messages of Dr. Myles Munroe, (used with his permission), and other Kingdom Citizens, to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, as taught by our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Now Let's Adjust Our Crowns!

The Roman Empire and the Kingdom of God

To gain a better understanding of the Lord God’s Kingdom concept, we will look back to the Roman Empire in Jesus' time on earth. Earlier empires, such as the Assyrians, Babylonians and Medo-Persians empires, conquered new territories and expanded through a process of invasion, destruction and enslavement. Their invading armies would sweep into a region, destroy its army, lay waste to its cities, tear down its infrastructure and slaughter its people. Most of those who were not killed outright were enslaved and taken away from their own country to the home territory of the conquering power. This is exactly what happened to the Northern Kingdom of Israel when it fell to the Assyrians in 722 B.C. and to the Southern Kingdom of Judah in 587 B.C. when the Babylonians invaded.

But Rome followed a different kingdom expansion strategy. Instead of wreaking widespread destruction and slaughter in a newly conquered territory, the Romans recognized the wisdom and value of preserving the people and leaving their infrastructure intact. While the Roman occupation army maintained order, Roman citizens and government officials were sent in to establish Roman government in the new territory. Their job was to reproduce the culture and society of Rome and teach the conquered people to think, act and live like Romans. The Roman Empire was the first human kingdom to practice colonization to any significant degree.

Remember, in doing so, it also became the first manmade kingdom and culture to illustrate by example the process by which the Lord God would reproduce the Kingdom and culture of His heavenly Government throughout this earth. Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus Himself certainly acknowledged the legitimacy of Rome’s authority in mankind’s government. There was a day when Jesus’ enemies tried to trap Him with a religious and politically motivated question. They asked Him whether it was correct to pay taxes to Caesar. His answer surprised them:

Then the Pharisees met together to plot how to trap Jesus into saying something for which He could be arrested. They sent some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to meet with Him.

“Teacher,” they said, “We know how honest You are. You teach the way of God truthfully. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” He said. “Why are you trying to trap Me? Here, show Me the coin used for the tax.” When they handed Him a Roman coin, He asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

“Well, then,” He said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

His reply amazed them, and they went away. Matthew 22:15-22 NLT

Everything Jesus said and did while here on earth was done to teach His citizens what life in God’s Kingdom looks like.

God’s Kingdom didn’t come to rebel against or dismantle the earthly government. To do that, would lower the Kingdom of God to an earthly kingdom. His Kingdom has come to change individuals, thus changing the culture around us. We represent our Lord and King. When the world sees us, they see our Kingdom’s culture.

When the Lord Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, he asked Jesus if He was a king. Throughout His public ministry, the Lord Jesus never plainly referred to Himself as King because He knew the people, as a whole, would misunderstand. But when He was asked if He was a king by Pilate, He never denied it. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My Kingdom is not from here.”

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. John 18:33-40

Keep in mind, the Lord God waited to send His Son to the earth until an earthly kingdom, however imperfect, appeared that modeled His Kingdom. When the Lord Jesus preached about His Kingdom, everyone would know what He was speaking about. It was a model of how God’s Kingdom operated. The Lord Jesus came at the right time, into the right setting, the correct culture, and correct earthly kingdom to frame His Kingdom message. He was teaching exactly what was happening at that time in the world under the Roman Empire. The Lord God’s timing is always perfect and will perform exactly as He has ordained that it would! But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

When we see and understand how the Roman government colonized new territories—keeping the people in their home land while changing the culture into the Roman culture—we gain a better perspective of the workings of God’s Kingdom colonization. It also helps us to understand how we live in this world without becoming like this world, while not striving to take over this world’s system. We must have a clear picture of how God’s Kingdom government works and what it is to be an ambassador in a foreign land, representing our Lord and King. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God’s Word.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org

Surrender and Change Your Life

For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

To all of you who haven't yet accepted Jesus the Christ as your Lord and Savior, we invite you to do so after viewing Kingdom Citizens. This is an invitation to those of you who don't have a personal relationship with Him or who have strayed away from your commitment to Him.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". John 14:6

God sent His son Jesus the Christ to bring humankind back in the right relationship with Himself; not to create another religion called "Christianity". Keep this in mind: Jesus the Christ is the only way to the Father. By accepting Him as Lord and Savior of your life, you are ushered into the right relationship with the Father God. All the blessings, favor and rights as a son of the most high God are yours to walk in as you grow in your faith and understanding of God's word.

The very first step to seeing and experiencing the Kingdom of God is that you must be born again of the Spirit of the living God, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit." John 3:3-5

We ask you now to repent-- to make a change and turn from what you have been doing and the life you have been living-- and accept Jesus the Christ as your Lord and Savior. Honor and worship Him alone.

"Dear Lord Jesus, Forgive me! I repent of all my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior."

When you make this decision, please contact us so we can rejoice with you. Also, be sure to contact us if you have any questions. We will respond as quickly as possible.

Read God's Word, the Bible, daily, and when you do, pray for God to give you wisdom and understanding through the Holy Spirit. Start with the life of Jesus--the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Congratulations! God be with you always. Be blessed!

W.R. & Arlene

Psalm 51--King David's Prayer of Repentance

Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in Your sight.
You will be proved right in what You say,
and Your judgment against me is just.
For I was born a sinner--
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But You desire honesty from the womb,
teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again;
You have broken me--
now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins.
Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God.
  Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from Your presence,
  and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
  and make me willing to obey You.
Then I will teach Your ways to rebels,
and they will return to You.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of Your forgiveness.
Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise You.

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then You will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit--
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on Your altar.
~Amen~

Kingdom 103: He Needs No Assistance in Keeping His Promise

The Lord God's Word is sovereign. He will always keep His Word regardless of what others say. Remember what God said to His representative Balaam when Balak the king of Moab wanted Balaam to curse the children of Israel. “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it." Numbers 23:19-20

If the Lord God gives you a promise, He will always make it good. The problem with people is that they think He (meaning God) acts in our time period. The Lord God operates in eternity. He does not have a time limit in order to fulfill His promise. This is what happened to Sarai (Sarah), Abram's (Abraham) wife. She thought that the Lord God operates in their concept of time, but He operates in eternity. In eternity, there is no "late" or "early", there "is"!

Abram (Abraham) was seventy-five years of age when he first heard the voice of his Source (Creator). Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Genesis 12:1-4

From Abram's perspective, God took a long time to fulfill His promise. Remember, the Lord God doesn't operate in time but in eternity. Abram was seventy-five years old when he first heard from his Lord. The Lord God waited until the right time, but Sarai thought she would help the Creator along. It was because of her impatience and lack of faith that Ishmael was born. I must say, it was also the lack of faith on Abram's part to be patience and wait on the Lord timing. It was Sarai's lack of faith in the Word and voice of God and Abram's lack of leadership to lead and speak on behalf of the voice and Word of God. Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. Genesis 16:1-4

Did you notice the attitude of Hagar toward Sarai (her mistress) after she conceived? It was one of contempt. At the age of eighty-six, Abram became the father of Ishmael. So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. Genesis 16:15-16

Thirteen more years passed without a son being born to Sarah. My point is this: we must learn to wait on the promise that God made to us either through His Word or through a prophecy.

When we try to "make it happen" it is never God's best that He has for us!

There were four times the Lord spoke to Abram:

All that the Lord God required of Abram was to serve Him and to live a life that would represent Him. When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless." Genesis 17:1

Remember this one thing, the Lord God never needs assistance from an individual to fulfill His promise to them. Ishmael was the result of man assisting God's promise.

God lives in eternity--outside of time--we live in time. Ishmael was the result of Abraham being impatient and listening to His non-believing wife. They took God's promise and tried to make it happen with their finite minds.

Remember, your faith in the Lord God's Word is your greatest asset in His Kingdom

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org

The Divine Priority

While the Lord Jesus was here on this three dimensional world, He made this statement:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25

That was a shocker to all those who heard it. Even now as we read this statement, many are in need of food and clothing. He turned human culture and society on their ear. What He said was a foreign sound to their way of thinking. He was telling us not to worry about these things. He was teaching an integral lesson for His Kingdom.

The Lord Jesus stripped away all confusing, energy-draining, deceptive, distracting, misleading and misplaced priorities. He left one simple focus—seeking the Kingdom of the Lord God. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 The Lord Jesus states that when you make the Kingdom of God your number one priority, all those things that you spent your whole life pursuing will turn around and pursue you. My wife and I are living examples of this. We are not wealthy, but we always have all that we need and lack nothing. Our car is not a luxury car but it has always done the job it was created to do—get us to our destinations! Don’t let a few very wealthy ministers fill you with envy and feeling in lack. Contentment with what He has provided brings such peace! Seeking the Kingdom is a fundamental principle of His Kingdom. “Seek the Kingdom and His righteousness” is the most simple statement in God’s Constitution and yet least obeyed.

Remember that all who seek and gain the Kingdom of God also gain access to all its riches and resources, according to the Lord God’s decrees. Kingdom citizens don’t live just to make a living; they live for the Kingdom. They live to fulfill His purpose. Kingdom citizens don’t work just to get paid from their employer; they work for the Kingdom. Even in our jobs, we do our work with excellence because we do it to the Lord! And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Colossians 3:23 The Lord God is our only source as Kingdom citizens. No matter who hands you the money, our Father is the source. For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Romans 11:36 NLT Kingdom citizens don’t strive day in and day out to meet their needs. They strive continually for the Lord God’s Kingdom.

Keep in mind, as citizens of the Kingdom and children of the Lord God; they are aware that all these things already belong to them. Kingdom citizens understand that their lives are not for the pursuit of selfish gain but for seeking opportunities to introduce others to His Kingdom. What if you are in a job that is less than you desire, but you are there to advance His Kingdom through the people you meet and work with? Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

The other week, I took my wife to a clinic and was in the waiting room. This is VERY out-of-the-ordinary for us. It was some place we never went. There were two other men, also waiting for their wives. Well, the Governor had me to share with them the Kingdom message. They knew about Jesus from a religious perspective, but not of the Kingdom government. By the way, I will note that if a person doesn’t embrace that Kingdom message, let it be. Always remember what the Lord Jesus told His disciples: And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Matthew 10:14 Don’t argue with anyone concerning the Kingdom. Your responsibility is to share the Kingdom message, not to get into a religious argument or debate. By the way, my interaction with those two men was a mutually beneficial one. I learned such interesting things about their lives and I planted a seed in each about God’s Kingdom government!

I will boldly state that the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven was the only message that the Lord Jesus preached. He did it at every opportunity. “The Kingdom is…” “The Kingdom is like…” There is no divided loyalty, no double vision and no double mindedness. He was single minded and focused in everything He said and did. The Kingdom message was His priority over everything and everyone else. Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

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 9:57-62

These are good examples of situations and how we should choose to seek His Kingdom in each situation. The Kingdom of God should always be your number one priority, not your family, job, business or anything else. It may sound harsh, but these are the Lord Jesus’ words on seeking and advancing God’s Kingdom.

We live in an entertainment driven world. Too often that is true of today's church also. That is pablum, baby food. But Kingdom citizens don't need to be spoon-fed baby food that doesn't need chewing. We need to be educated in God's Kingdom government and life within it!

Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God’s Word.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org

His Divine Command is to Seek

First and foremost, the Lord Jesus came into this world to re-establish His Kingdom government here, not to establish a religion called Christianity. For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.
Isaiah 9:6-7a NLT

His earthly cousin John first announced the King’s Kingdom. In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” John 3:1-2 The King Himself also announced His Father’s Kingdom when He began teaching. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 Then He taught about the Kingdom everywhere He went. It was His priority.

Remember, whatever you prioritize in your life you will pursue. He identified the Kingdom of the Lord God as the first and only priority in man’s life. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 To seek is to search out by any means necessary. To seek has but one goal, one purpose, and that is to find! Seek is a verb that requires focus and action and our Lord Jesus promised that if we would seek, we would find. Only a few verses after Matthew 6:33, He reinforces the importance of persistent seeking: “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 7:7-8

I must say that only those who seek God’s Kingdom will find it and with seeking comes understanding of His Kingdom, how it operates and what life is like for His citizenry. There are no exceptions. King Jesus made this statement when responding to His disciples’ question:

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” Matthew 13:10-13 When you understand how the Kingdom of the Lord God operates, you will understand how to live in His Kingdom and you will experience the fullness in your life.

Keep in mind, your first priority is the most important activity in your life—seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Seek with vigor, focus and determination. King Jesus’ parables were often examples of what it feels like to seek the Kingdom: “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46

Has there ever been anything that you HAD to have? Something that you have searched and searched for and when you finally found it, you HAD to find a way to purchase it? It was priceless to you. That is how we should seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. It is priceless and nothing is as important to us as living in His Kingdom!

To seek also means to study fervently. Students seek knowledge and understanding. In the same way, Kingdom citizens must be students of God’s Kingdom and of its Constitution. That is our source for wisdom and understanding of God’s Kingdom government. Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalm 1:1-3 NLT Did you catch that? They bear fruit in EVERY season, their leaves NEVER wither and they PROSPER in ALL they do! That is life in God's Kingdom, when His citizens know and delight in His laws.

As ambassador Paul said, “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 AMP

Please note that the Greek word for be diligent is spoudazo, which also means to study or labor. Seeking God’s Kingdom means studying it with all due diligence. Seeking also means to explore. We must explore His Kingdom. We must explore its power, laws, government, culture, society, commands, economy…everything. Anything worth seeking is always worth pursuing with diligence and dedication. It may mean turning off the television and internet. It may mean rearranging your schedule in order to have more time to communicate with the Lord. Seeking the Kingdom is a deliberate and proactive mindset. It will not just happen. You will never stumble on it by accident. It is that “pearl of great price”. To seek His Kingdom means to become preoccupied with His Kingdom. I will ask, for your consideration, “What consumes your mind in your daily life?” That is what you are seeking after.

Remember this; evaluate every decision in light of how it will affect your pursuit of God’s Kingdom. Your every thought, word, motivation should be Kingdom first!

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Remember, your faith in the Word of God is your greatest asset in His Kingdom.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org

In Pursuit of the Kingdom of God

It is one thing to know how to seek the Kingdom of God but another thing to understand God’s Kingdom and the principles under which it operates.

As King Solomon said, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

As a high school student, growing up in Brooklyn, New York, my favorite class was history. Whatever you greatly enjoy, you will do well! In that class, I learned about medieval times and how they operated. One of the main things that I learned was that the king owns everything, even the citizens. He is responsible for their well-being. To live in a true kingdom, means that all your needs are met, you are there at the behest of the king, all your needs are met, and you don’t have to concern yourself with the basics of life.

Keep in mind, keeping the Kingdom first does not mean first among many, but first and only. Seeking the Kingdom of God first means considering the interests of the Kingdom before meaning any other decision—what school to attend, who to marry, what job to accept, and how to spend money and handle our finances. Before deciding on these and other life decisions, we should ask ourselves, “Is this in line with God's Kingdom principles?” Developing the habit of considering everything in reference to God’s Kingdom first will help to avoid a lot of mistakes and poor decisions. Remember what King David stated:  Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Psalm 37:3-6

Seeking the Kingdom of God is a command, not a suggestion. The word kingdom means to have influence over that territory. When you seek His Kingdom first, you are seeking His influence to be extended over your entire world: your private life, your thoughts, your business life, your marriage, your relationships, your sexual life and every other dimension of your life. We know that nothing is hidden, with total submission to be His territory, under His rulership.

This has to do with being under the “administration of Heaven’s government”. The Lord God—our King—becomes your point of reference and standard for everything. This raises an important point: you can tell which kingdom you are in by the way you live and conduct yourself. I must say that in my lifetime, I have lived in both this world’s kingdom (even while being religious) and the Lord God’s Kingdom. I don’t ever want to live in the world’s kingdom again because there is nothing better than life in the Kingdom of God! It is worth everything! Nothing I may "give up" is of greater value to me than the Father, my Lord and King! The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT

If you believe and follow the King, your life will reflect the influence of His government and its administration in your life. Those who are not in God’s Kingdom will wonder and perhaps even ask why you are so different. Why aren’t you fearful? Why don’t you worry? How can you have peace? Then you can state that it is because you are under a different government than in this world, with a different culture, different laws and a different leader. You are a citizen of God’s Kingdom. He is your Lord and King and He meets your needs and cares for you. As ambassador Paul stated:   For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20

Remember what the Lord Jesus said about our fruit:  “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” Matthew 7:15-18 Believe it or not, others can tell what kind of tree you are by the fruit you produce in your life.

In God’s Constitution, the Hebrew word for kingdom is mamlakah. In the New Testament Greek the word is basileia. Both words carry the same general range of meaning:  dominion, kingdom, sovereignty, to rule and reign, rulership and royal power.

The following describes the Kingdom of God, and what we are to seek, perfectly:  The governing influence of a king over his territory (domain), impacting it with His personal will, purpose and intent, producing a culture, value system and lifestyle that reflects the King’s desire and nature for His citizens. It is the seeking of His Kingdom, not in religion, that we will receive all of our needs in life that the rest of the world toils, labors, frets, worries and strives for. “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:24-33 NLT No religion has such a guarantee as the Kingdom of God.

The best example of life in the Kingdom of God vs. life in the world is Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden vs. Adam and Eve after they disobeyed God’s Word. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:8-13

To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:16-19

Disobedience is sin and sin is when they lost the Kingdom of God. The stark difference in Adam and Eve’s life in the Garden and life after they sinned against God shows us life in the Kingdom of God and life in the world.

Remember, your faith in the Lord God’s Word is your greatest asset in His Kingdom.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org

The Lord God's Righteousness

In my last days in the world, I give thanks to my King and Lord for showing me my purpose and giving me my assignment. What is my position here on earth? I am the writer, and my wife plays a great part in what I do for the King. We always seek the Kingdom. In addition to seeking the Kingdom of God first, you are to seek His righteousness as well. Keep in mind His righteousness comes through your obeying His Word. That should be a priority. I can't stress that any better.

The Lord’s Kingdom cannot be separated from His righteousness, His Word. A kingdom always reflects the nature and character of its king. The Lord God is righteous and therefore His Kingdom is righteous also. Keep in mind that only the righteous will enter the Kingdom. We cannot be righteous without the Holy Spirit operating in our life. As King David stated:  The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. Psalm 14:2-3

Ambassador Paul tells the Romans that it is only through the Holy Spirit living inside us that we may become righteous. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 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

When you are born again through the new birth by repentance of sin and faith in King Jesus the Christ, the Lord God considers you as belonging to His family. He is our Father. He declares you as righteous on the basis of the righteousness of His Son. Through His Son you gain entrance into His Kingdom. This is why it is so important to accept Jesus the King as your Lord and Savior. In God’s Constitution this transaction is called justification. The word justification (or justified) is a legal term, not a religious term. It means to declare an individual innocent just as if that individual had never committed an offense. Do you recall what ambassador Paul said to those at Antioch? “Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in Him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.” Acts 13:38-39 NLT

He also made it very plain when he spoke to the citizens of Rome:  “When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in His sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know His law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.” Romans 2:12-15 NLT

Keep in mind, when you are justified by the Lord Jesus, you receive a royal pardon from the King. He naturalizes you as citizens of His Kingdom with all the rights, privileges and resources that come with the Kingdom. You also come under Heaven’s government and administration and are accountable to the King. Remember what ambassador Paul stated:  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21

Seeking the righteousness of God is vital because His righteousness protects you. His Word keeps you under His Kingdom covering. Keeping His Word is so important. Jesus told His disciples, “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.” John 14:15-17

Once you understand the covering of being in the Kingdom of God, all our protection and needs are automatic. Understanding what your position is in the Kingdom, confidently seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness, you will not need to pray for "things"—all your needs.  “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“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. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” Matthew 6:25-32

Remember, the Lord Jesus talked about praying to our Father and told us how to pray. “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your Will be done; On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:5-13

That wasn’t a model prayer; it is how we are to pray. We should always seek His Will over ours. To pray anything else is to say that we prefer our will to be done, not recognizing that His Will is the best outcome for our life!

The word righteous is also a legal term, not a religious term. It means right positioning or right standing, to be in correct alignment with the Lord God’s standard. Being righteous means that you aren’t violating the laws of the King’s government. In other words, you live by His laws and commands. As long as you are abiding by His laws and standards of His government, you have nothing to fear at all. You have a clear conscience. I am a living example of this.

Remember, your faith in the Lord God’s Word is your greatest asset in His Kingdom.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org

The Benefit of Being Obedient - That is the Key

Being obedient to the King’s Word is a great benefit to your life. There are many books written on how to get wealth and how to prosper, but they fail to mention that to be in good standing with the King we must be obedient to His Word throughout our life. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:13-15

A Kingdom citizen in good standing has access to all the King’s benefits. A citizen in good standing follows the example of our Lord and King. Jesus was a walking, talking example of what being a Kingdom citizen looks like! He submitted His Will to His Father’s. He had to learn obedience through the trials and things He suffered while on this earth. While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue Him from death. And God heard His prayers because of His deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. Hebrews 5:7-8 NLT Did you note what the writer of Hebrews said? He learned obedience through the things He suffered while here on earth. Our prayer should always be “Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus was obedient till the end of His journey on earth. What does that say for His Kingdom citizens here on earth? He left us the Governor—the Holy Spirit—to reside in each and every one of us who obey His Word. We are obedient in what we say, do and even think. And we can be sure that we know Him if we obey His commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6 NLT

Regardless of what you are going through, your purpose is to allow His Will for your life to be completed. When you are being attacked by spiritual forces, humble yourself to His Word. Remember what James said: “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:6-7

You never have to battle with the evil one. Only submit your whole being to His Word. (Remember that Jesus was the Word made flesh) 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. John 1:14

Do you recall what ambassador Paul wrote to the Philippians? Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

When you are obedient to the King’s laws, you become in good standing with the King. Your faith grows in His Word. Always remember that you aren’t battling people, as religious people do. As ambassador Paul stated in the Constitution in his second letter to the Corinthians: 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… 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 By the way, we should hold our thoughts in check by the Word of the King and the leading of the Holy Spirit, our Governor. This is why it is so important to stay in the Word, the Lord God’s Constitution. …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, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:5-6

Keep in mind that the enemy always uses your past life to try to hinder your progress as Kingdom citizens. The enemy wants you to get involved with the activities of this world and not discover your purpose and assignment for the King. It is a distraction! To be obedient to anyone is to surrender your will to their will. Always remember, disobedience to God’s Word is sin. Sin is separation from God and in time brings with it, punishment. So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”

To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:14-19

In essence, when you are obedient, you are demonstrating your trust, love and confidence in His Word. You are submitting your will to His Will.

Remember, your faith in His Word is your most valuable asset in the Kingdom.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org

Speaking the King’s Word in Every Situation

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 NKJV

You will never believe anything you hear more than the words you speak. We as citizens of God’s Kingdom have a responsibility to speak the King’s Word into every situation in our lives. We shouldn’t speak our thoughts and opinions but what God’s Word says about it. Often when we speak, we are verbalizing our fears, doubts and anxieties. That makes the situation worse. This is why it is so important to fill our mind and emotions with scriptures so we will be ready and able to speak what God says about our problems.

The tongue is a mighty weapon. Use it wisely. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. Proverbs 18:21 AMP

People say things and then say they don’t mean it and were only joking. But if you slashed someone with a knife and then said you were only joking, would the cut be any less damaging? A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Matthew 12:35-37 He who guards his mouth and his tongue guards himself from troubles. Proverbs 21:23 AMP

Jesus always modeled what our behavior and responses should be. He didn’t only teach about the Kingdom of God, He led by example. When King Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tested by the devil, He showed us clearly how we must always respond to temptations and trials. He responded with God’s Word. He went without food for forty days and nights. His flesh was very weak and at that time the devil came. The devil always comes at our time of weakness, whether it is physical, emotional or mental weakness.

Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After He had gone without food for forty days and forty nights, He became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took Him into the holy city [Jerusalem] and placed Him on the pinnacle (highest point) of the temple. And he said [mockingly] to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You [to serve, care for, protect and watch over You]’;
and ‘They will lift you up on their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’” (Isn’t it funny that the devil would even use scripture to tempt us?)

Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall not test the Lord your God.’”

Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory [splendor, magnificence, and excellence] of them; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

Then the devil left Him; and angels came and ministered to Him [bringing Him food and serving Him]. Matthew 4:1-11 AMP

This is how we are to handle every problem, every temptation, every challenge, every situation that comes to challenge our faith; It comes to see if we truly know who we are in the Kingdom of God. Jesus was at His weakest physically but He was full of the Word. There is power in God’s Word. After that time of testing, He was ready to begin His time of ministry and teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Matthew 4:17

God’s Word is your ammunition. We must be full of the Word, ready to “shoot it off” the moment that trouble, trials or temptations come. “In the moment” is not the time to do a word search in God’s Constitution. His Word needs to be in you, ready to be spoken over any situation or confrontation. I will be compiling some scripture pages by subject to get started and adding to them as I complete them. If there is a specific topic you would like to see, let us know. Do scripture topic searches to keep building His Word in you. “Stockpile” His Word in your heart (mind and emotions) and be ready for anything that comes your way. The Holy Spirit will remind you of the appropriate Word in every situation.

You will be tested at times when you are at your weakest point of faith. Do not ever respond with what you think or feel. In those times, remember King Jesus in the wilderness at His body’s time of great weakness.

Respond as He did, “It is written. . .”

Deborah Luchie

www.kingdomcitizens.org

Knowing Who You Are in His Kingdom

Once you realize who you really are, you will conduct yourself with a different mindset. Ambassador Paul is an example to follow. Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example… But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:17, 20 NLT

There are many who wear the religious title of Christian, but fail to study the Lord God’s Constitution. In His Constitution, the Lord Jesus promised to send us the Holy Spirit—our Kingdom Governor—if we keep His Word. 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… Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” John 14:15-17, 23

The problem is that many who call themselves Christian fail to study and obey the King’s Constitution (Bible). They are believers in name only, not in actions. Because of this, they fall prey to false messages and doctrines. How can they be citizens of God’s Kingdom if they don’t know God’s Constitution? They don’t know who they really are.

If you really want to know who you truly are through the Lord God’s eyes, read and study His Constitution. Learn what life in the Kingdom of God looks like. Learn what your rights and responsibilities are. Learn what He says about you! For example, as Jesus tells us: “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!” John 14:12-14 NLT

When you don’t know who you are, you are vulnerable to the evil one’s tricks and deceptions. What better way for Satan to deceive believers than through false religious doctrine! He uses religion, money, power and sex to deceive those who claim to know the Lord Jesus. When you claim to know the King but don’t know His Word, you will fall for whatever sounds and feels good. Ambassador Paul addresses this very thing: For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their stomach, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19

Keep this in mind, a citizen of God’s Kingdom is filled with the Governor—the Holy Spirit—and knows his priority according to God’s Word. Note that the ambassador Paul stated that “their god was their stomach”. I notice on social media many who are always posting the foods they eat and what they are cooking. But stomach represents hungers and appetites. What do you hunger and thirst after? Your focus reveals what you have an appetite for. “Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those who actively seek right standing with God], for they will be [completely] satisfied. Matthew 5:6 AMP

Understanding who you are in His Kingdom causes you to see and think in a different way when it comes to His Constitution. Remember, the Holy Spirit—our Governor—is the key to understanding the Lord God’s Constitution. Without Him, you are operating in this world on your own strength and knowledge. Again, I say, remember what our King Jesus stated when He was here on this earth. 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. John 14:15-17

Knowing who you are in God’s Kingdom causes you to become bold in His Word. You stand taller and speak more confidently. You have faith and do not doubt when you speak God’s Word and principles wherever you go! The apostles, now having the Holy Spirit residing inside of them, spoke boldly to a hostile crowd of religious people. Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Acts 14:1-3

Keep this in mind, the hostility came from their own people, yet they spoke boldly because they were of a Kingdom mindset and were being led by the Holy Spirit. They knew who they were.

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 NLT

Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Word of the King.

All scriptures are NKJV unless noted

W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org

Pages

Psalm 51--King David's Prayer of Repentance