THINK KINGDOM

01/09/2023

"Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." (1 Peter 2:17)

The kingdom of God to which we belong is not an organization even though it contains an element of organization within it. The very idea that we are a kingdom speaks to the fact that we have a king from whom all of our conduct, culture and interactions emanate. Everything we are, have and do is the resultant effect of having a king to whom we belong. 

This is why Jesus said in His parable about the sheep and the goats of those who asked, "When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."(Matthew 25:39-40)

If you look at the parable of the sheep and the goats, what separated both was that while the sheep were kingdom-minded, the goats were organization-minded. 

The kingdom operates in every way like a living being because it is. Ephesians 4:16 captures this essence when it says "from [the king or the head] whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."

The picture in Ephesians 4:16 is that of growth through oneness. Please don't wait to be assigned before you address a need in our midst. Once you identify it, meet the requirement. "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common" (Acts 4:32).

Organization-minded people think in terms of roles and responsibilities per church but kingdom-minded people think in terms of gifting and service per life. They think about where their gifts can best serve the king and this is what produces growth in the body of Christ. 

An example of why you should think "kingdom" is that there's a wealth transfer that will take place this year and some of us have already been equipped with insight for making that flow benefit everyone in the church. If you are organization-minded and work in guest services, you will only apply yourself to ushering and taking care of guests at church but if you are kingdom minded, you will bring that gift to your pastor, in turn, will direct the distribution of your gift in a way that benefits the church and glorifies Jesus. 

Don't let the organizational structure of your church confine you to certain roles and responsibilities. Bring your essence to the fore by thinking of us as a kingdom and let the benefit of your contribution be felt by the king.

God bless you!

Faith-Filled Confession

I think and orient myself as a member of God's kingdom. I supply that which I have been granted by the king for the edification of His body. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Genesis 23-24; Matthew 8

DAY 8 OF 21 DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER

Pray that the heart of this city will be open to receive the ministry of the Word and the Holy Spirit through us. 

Pray that God will cause our ministry and resources (Faith for change television outreach- GDD, Books, Lunch Hour, Social Media outreach and Charis music) to be received by those to whom He has sent us to around the world. Romans 15 :30-31, Galatians 4:13-15, Acts 16:14. Acts 28:31