Effort Is Needed To Develop Good Character

Ecclesiastes 12

We are walking in today: Effort Is Needed To Develop Good Character

Witness establish throughout the Bible:  H6965--quwm-- to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up, to cause to arise, raise

Genesis 9:9 And I, behold, I establish H6965 my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

The Torah testifies...............
Genesis 17:7 And I will establish H6965 my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.



The prophets proclaim..................
Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish H6965 the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;


The writings bear witness...........................
1 Chronicles 17:11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up H6965 thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

Psalm 78:5 For he established H6965 a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

Ecclesiastes 12 in its entirety key verses13-14

11 The sayings of the wise are as sharp as goads, and those given by leaders of assemblies are like well-fixed nails; [in this case,] they are presented by a single shepherd. 12 In addition, my son, take heed: one can write many books — there’s no end to it; and one can study so much that it wearies the flesh.

Core Qualities of Principled Leaders

“Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.” —Heraclitus, Greek philosopher

To be effective leaders, we must cultivate many important attitudes and characteristics, such as courage, passion, initiative, patience, teamwork, wisdom, and persistence. But there are several core qualities that we must focus on as we make character our priority in leadership.

Strong Convictions

As I wrote earlier, we can learn all the skills, methods, and styles of leadership, but they won’t mean much if we have no real convictions that guide our lives, or if we sell out those convictions.
As we have seen, convictions refer to two aspects of leadership:

(1) A leader’s certainty that he has a unique purpose in life, and

(2) His wholehearted personal commitment to a vision worth sacrificing for.

Accountability

This core quality helps us to remain fixed, set, predictable, and stable in character. We have a responsibility to be accountable on three levels— to ourselves, to other people, and to our Creator.

A Commitment to Self-evaluation

First, we are responsible for regularly examining our own conduct to assess if we are living according to the moral principles that we value highly and have established as standards for ourselves.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are living the life of trust. Test yourselves. Don’t you realize that Yeshua the Messiah is in you? — unless you fail to pass the test.

A Commitment to Evaluation by Others

Second, to be accountable means to submit the evaluation of our attitudes and actions to another individual or group of individuals qualified to examine them in light of the principles to which we have committed.

We all sometimes need a different perspective on our lives to show us our weaknesses and our strengths alike. We should make ourselves accountable only to someone of proven character who has demonstrated that he has our best interests at heart.

He should be someone who is able to clearly assess our progress in character development and show us how to get back on track when we have strayed. When we are able to take an honest look at our character, and commit to work on our areas of weakness, we will strengthen our integrity. We will integrate our thoughts, words, and actions even further, so they can become “one.”

A principled leader truly welcomes this process of accountability. In contrast, unprincipled leaders are afraid of being held accountable, so they avoid evaluation whenever possible. As a result, many of them become “lone wolves.” They think, I’m accountable only to myself.

A Commitment to Evaluation by the Creator

Third, a principled leader recognizes that his ultimate accountability is to God. That is why he has made a commitment to follow the Creator’s first laws. He knows that even when he is alone, everything he says and does is observed by his Higher Authority.

We each have gifts and talents, but we did not create ourselves, and this fact should cause us to put our accomplishments into perspective and to express gratitude to our Creator for them.

A leader’s willingness to be accountable reflects his commitment to always be consistent in what he says, what he does, and who he is. Accountability— in all three realms we’ve just discussed— protects a leader from being hypocritical, or two-faced, enabling him to align his life with his standards and principles and to establish his character.

Monitoring Your Associations

Let me mention one other subject related to accountability. When we do not exercise discernment about those whom we choose to be our close friends and associates, we can inadvertently become answerable to people who don’t have our best interests in mind, and whose immature character may have a negative effect on us. Consequently, we may end up following unwise advice and false principles.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not yoke yourselves together in a team with unbelievers. For how can righteousness and lawlessness be partners? What fellowship does light have with darkness?

Humility

The next core quality is humility. The word humble is derived from the Latin word humus, meaning “earth.” To be humble, then, means to be “down-to-earth.” In the context of character, this means to express and manifest your true self in accordance with your unique, inherent purpose.

If an individual “tries” to be humble, he has missed the true meaning of humility. If we’re not manifesting our true selves, we cannot be humble. We have inadvertently put on a mask that hides what we are meant to express and reveal to the world.

The quality of humility in a leader is manifested through “servant leadership.” The Romans leaders liked to lord it over people, ordering them around. But Jesus said that whoever wants to become great must serve other people. Ordering people around is not the spirit of a true leader. When a leader is humble, he also has a healthy attitude toward the areas of his life in which he still needs to grow in character.

Leaders who don’t understand their inherent purpose and worth have difficulty being humble because they often need reassurance through the praise of others. But leaders of principle have found something greater than other people’s accolades— they have found a personal “assignment,” or vision, and they are busy pursuing it.

Integrity

One definition of integrity is “incorruptibility.” If you are incorruptible, you will not be enticed by your own desires or the pressure of other people to violate your moral standards or to operate on the basis of self-interest.

1 Corinthians 15:58
58 So, my dear brothers, stand firm and immovable, always doing the Lord’s work as vigorously as you can, knowing that united with the Lord your efforts are not in vain.

Responsibleness

Leaders of principle also act responsibly, and they eagerly accept responsibility. One of the Creator’s first laws is that if we are faithful over the smaller jobs and tasks we have been given, we will be granted even greater ones. 4 This is the process by which leaders grow into increasingly responsible positions.

Luke 16:10 Someone who is trustworthy in a small matter is also trustworthy in large ones, and someone who is dishonest in a small matter is also dishonest in large ones.

Discipline and Sacrifice

Leaders of principle have learned to govern themselves. They exercise self-control without needing to be disciplined externally. As we, too, progress in character development, we will learn to govern and discipline each area of our lives in order to protect it from ethical lapses and prepare it for maximum productivity.

We will train ourselves to do this regardless of whether other people are present, and regardless of whether other people ever find out about it. Many people have a certain awe about those who sacrifice and suffer in order to do extraordinary acts that will aid humanity, or to accomplish a demanding goal.

And that awe is translated into inspiration. In this way, as we have seen, sacrifice based on conviction leads to inspiration. And inspiration is what leads other people to join in fulfilling our vision.

Shema Selah  part 1 part 2 what is it that the Most High is showing you in your character development to be a principled leader?!?! https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1596120523799391/?=3038937828627773848

https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1596174970460613/?l=2296075489367215557

Without First Laws--Life is an Experiment!!!

1 John 2


We are walking in today: Without First Laws--Life is an Experiment!!!

Witness measure throughout the Bible:  H4058 madad--to extend, continue, to be measured 

Zechariah 2:2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure H4058 Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.

The Torah ...............
 Deuteronomy 21:2 Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure H4058 unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:

The prophets  ..................
 Isaiah 40:12 Who hath measured H4058 the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

The writings ...........................
 Ruth 3:15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured H4058 six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.

Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured H4058 nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

1 John 2:3-4

3 What we have seen and heard we declare to you so that you, too, can have fellowship with us. Now this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus, the Messiah. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be full.



The Power of Principles

“Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.” —Victor Hugo, writer


When a consumer product is developed and produced, its manufacturer often publishes important information about it in a user’s manual that is packaged with the item. The manual is actually a book of “principles” indicating how the item functions, how to properly operate it, and how to make it last longer. Some of these principles might be: “Keep away from heat.” “Always clean appliance after using.” “Do not use near or place in water.”


Similarly, after creating the first human beings, the “Manufacturer” gave them valuable information about how they “functioned,” how to properly “operate” their lives, and how to ensure that their leadership would have longevity.


The Creator has “published” His principles and values in various ways in the Bible, which is, in effect, a “Corporate User’s Manual” for human beings. Some of these principles and values are included in compilations of moral standards, two of which are commonly known as the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. But many more may be discovered in its pages—


The Key to Leading Effectively

The key to living effectively on this earth is to know, accept, and apply the Manufacturer’s principles. Comprehending these principles will give us wisdom, and following them will make us leaders of character.

The Manufacturer—Not the Product— Sets the Principles

The first key property to understand about principles is that a manufactured product does not establish the principles by which it functions—the creator/manufacturer does.


The Purpose of Principles


These principles are not arbitrary but are specific to our purpose: We were meant to operate according to principles that can uphold our moral nature in God’s image and likeness. Therefore, it is in our best interest to understand and follow them.


“First Laws”

We have previously defined a principle as “a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption,” “a rule or code of conduct,” and “a primary source.” The word principle is derived from two Latin words meaning “beginning” and “initiator.” Accordingly, principles refer to “first laws.”


The Creator’s “first laws” for life on earth pertain to both the physical and the moral (spiritual) realms. God instituted physical laws, such as the force of gravity, to govern our earthly environment, giving us the parameters for how we may function in the natural world.

Principles Are Permanent

Another key property of God’s principles is that they are unchanging, or permanent. We can resist them, but that does not alter them or the consequences of rejecting them.


Benefits of Knowing and Following the Creator’s Principles--Principles Safeguard Us from Substitutes

Principles enable us to build and maintain personal character as they govern and safeguard our lives. While the “first laws” are those the Manufacturer instituted and stated in His User’s Manual, there are other moral laws we must view with caution because they are substitutes for the originals.

When we try to add “new” principles that don’t fit in with the Creator’s original design—they become burdensome and damaging to us. Some people claim that shifting morals indicate social progress—leading the way for human development and reengineering. Such new laws may garner popular support, but they won’t cancel first laws, which, again, are as fixed, morally speaking, as physical laws are.

Psalms 119:93 I will never forget your precepts, for you have revived me with them.


Principles Simplify Our Lives and Decision-Making

Another reason the Creator’s principles are eminently valuable is that they simplify life. When you understand His principles, you know how to respond in a variety of situations—especially those that involve ethical questions. You must take time to learn God’s laws, but when you do, they will make many of your decisions clearer and easier.

Psalms 119:45 I will walk in liberty, for I seek your precepts.

The writer was saying that because he had “sought out” the Creator’s principles, he knew he would “walk about in freedom.” When we follow God’s first laws, we are liberated. We are, as we discussed, set free to make decisions about various issues and dilemmas without having to wonder what to do. If you study the Creator’s principles, you’ll become much wiser than many leaders today.

Principles Enable Us to Fulfill Our Potential

Violating the Creator’s principles will also prevent us from reaching our full potential. If we follow His laws, we can fulfill our destiny. If we don’t, we will never reach it.

Yet, if you were to violate a key principle related to the vehicle—for example, if you were to continue operating the car after allowing the oil pan to run dry, so that you ruined the engine—you would have nullified the manufacturer’s promises about its functioning. Similarly, the success of your future depends on your obedience to key principles established by your Manufacturer—the Creator.

Obedience is not a negative word. In this sense, to obey merely means to follow proven principles. Suppose you were to place grain seeds on a clean tile floor. When you came back after a few days, you would see that they had not sprouted or taken root. They need to be planted in soil to do that.

So, every time you plant seeds in the ground, you are submitting to the principle of growth established by the Creator. Likewise, when you adhere to His moral principles, you are submitting to a vital standard for fulfilling your personal potential as a leader.

As we saw earlier, the process of applying a principle requires that you must first know what the principle is (for example, you have to know that your car requires fuel to function). Second, you must value, or accept, the principle (you become convinced of the need to put fuel into your car). Third, you must act on the principle (by actually putting fuel into your car’s gas tank).

Without First Laws, Life Is an Experiment

When people don’t know or obey first laws, they begin to experiment with foundational elements of human life, including values and morals. These substitute laws are “experiments” because the people promoting them have little understanding of what is going to happen to individuals and society if the new laws are promoted and practiced.

Experimentation is beneficial and necessary in relation to scientific inquiry, creative endeavors, and so forth. But experimentation in moral matters is a dangerous practice.

Experimentation Leads to Distrust and Disillusionment

One outcome of society’s experimentation with ethics has been people’s growing distrust of authority, leading to their disillusionment. When leaders of all walks of life lack character and experiment with principles, their constituents don’t have anyone they can really trust.

By and large, in our society today, the younger generations don’t trust the older generations, and the older generations don’t trust the younger generations—or even themselves. Citizens don’t have confidence in their politicians, and politicians don’t have regard for the citizens. This widespread distrust has resulted in varying degrees of apathy, compromise, permissiveness, sexual confusion, a devaluation of human life, and a culture of violence and death.

Experimentation in moral matters is a dangerous practice.

Experimentation Leads to Lawlessness

“What’s right for you isn’t necessarily what’s right for me. Therefore, you can’t impose your standards on me.” This viewpoint can apply only so far, because our world was designed with fixed principles and moral absolutes, without which a society can’t function in a healthy way. And individuals must exercise personal responsibility in relation to these fixed principles and moral absolutes.

Experimentation in ethical issues results from not having—or acknowledging—moral references or parameters, so that nothing is “settled.” Instead, relativism and license take over. License contrasts with the freedom that is gained from following sound principles; it leads to lawlessness, which is a rejection of natural laws and standards.

Leaders who have not comprehended moral principles, or who have rejected them, have led us into lawlessness. It will take leaders who understand moral principles, who live by them, and who establish ethical policies to lead us back to lawfulness. Laws can help to create character as people adhere to them.

Experimentation Leads to Loss and Destruction

When leaders try to implement principles that they have fabricated, and that are in opposition to the Manufacturer’s first laws, “malfunctions” will occur. To act in a way contrary to the User’s Manual is to risk damage to the “product.”

Recommit to the Principles in the Corporate User’s Manual

It doesn’t make a difference what the current issues, trends, and fads may be—if you know and follow first laws, you will outlast temporal matters. Leaders of character do not live by transient movements or emotions but by solid principles. Again, emotions are part of the human makeup. However, leaders of character are not guided by how they feel on a particular day; they are guided by the principles that form their lifelong convictions and values.

If you violate the Manufacturer’s principles, you will contribute to the weakening of your nation, your company, or your organization. Recommitting to first laws is like rebooting a stalled computer by pushing the reset button—it allows us to return to the “original mode” where we can function as we were intended to. By studying and implementing the principles in the User’s Manual, you will avoid moral compromise and ethical missteps.

You will protect yourself from the negative effects that such mistakes inevitably have on other aspects of your life, including the exercise of your gifts and the realization of your potential. You will also gain much practical wisdom for leadership. You will be able to say, with the biblical writer, “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.”

Shema Selah we are to walk in the fullness of the first laws to live in order and His liberty!! 

Weekend Mediation: CONVICTED!!! For Good Character!!!

2 Timothy 3


We are walking in today: Weekend Mediation:  CONVICTED!!! For Good Character!!!

The Power of Character in Leadership--By Dr. Myles Munroe

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living;

Character Matters

An ancient proverb declares, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” While some have fallen from higher and more public places than others, they have all suffered losses. These losses are avoidable, but they came about because the leaders lacked “a good name,” or integrity.

Starting Strong Then Self-destructing

Too many leaders start strong but then fail or self-destruct because of the defects in their moral compass. As a result, they lose much or all they have worked for. They nullify their potential, so that they are unable to make future contributions to their generation.

The Greatest Obstacle to Leadership Success

Everywhere, people are struggling with the idea of what it means to be a leader and on what foundation they can build true leadership.  This is a critical time in our world when the future of leadership is at stake.

Yet I have concluded that the greatest threat to a leader’s success is a deficit of character.

What Kind of Character

Character is: the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation.

In the sense of this definition, everyone has “character.” We are each identified by the sum of our mental and ethical traits.

But the question we are asking is this: As we exercise leadership, of what kind, or quality, are our mental and ethical traits? As we talk about character, therefore, we will focus on what it means to develop and manifest honorable principles and ethics that will distinguish our lives.

“Convicted” for Good Character

Asking ourselves some probing questions about our own lives.

. If family, friends, and colleagues were asked to give a statement under oath in court about the strength of my character, what would they say? Would they be able to talk about my good values and the positive contributions I have made to society?

. Changing the analogy around, would their testimony be strong enough to “convict” me for my good character? If so, would their assessment be true in light of what I know about myself?

. How much importance I have placed on having a good name-and the character to back it up.

. What difference would it make to my family, my business, or organization for me to be acknowledged as a person of genuine integrity?

. Am living ethically in all areas of my life- such as the ways I work with others, meet my responsibilities, and treat others in the world?

Your Personal Security System

Good character is like a personal security system for life. We can install character in our lives so that it will work like those security systems. We do this by developing values and establishing a code of ethics that will alert us to, and protect us from, the negative effects of various outside influences- such as life’s pressures, difficulties, and temptations.

A Foundation of Character

A failure in character can happen to anyone, in any vocation or stratum of life. As we will see, the development of character of a individual begins with the realization of his value as a human being and an understanding of what they was born to accomplish.

With that awareness, he can gain a new sense of self-worth, internal strength, and hope for the future. No matter what type of leader you are or how widespread your influence, you face personal temptations, challenges, and stresses. Only a foundation of character will sustain you and your leadership.

Easier Kept than Recovered

We can understand why leaders who have ethical defects lose the trust of their followers, because we have all experienced some type of betrayal, as well as the pain and anger it generates. As leaders, we must ask ourselves, “Am I, in any way, violating the trust of those who are influenced or affected by behavior?” Once you lose the trust of others, it is very difficult to win it back.

The Priority of Character

There are many components to leadership, but I consider the following three areas to be indispensable:

1. Purpose and vision

2. Potential and ability

3. Values, ethics, and principles.

Leaders must believe in their own capacity to fulfill the vision that resides in their mind and heart. Values, ethics, and principles relate to a leader’s character. They are the standards that a leader establishes for himself- and lives according to-in the process of exercising his potential and ability for the accomplishment of his vision.

THE PRICE OF GREATNESS IS RESPONSIBILITY

The Most Powerful Force

1. Character protects a leaders life, Character is the most powerful force a leader can possess because it protects his life, his leadership, and his legacy- it manifest who he is and shapes who he will become.

2. Character extends the longevity of Leadership

You character not your gift is the fuel of your leadership. Your gift is validated by your character. So when you character isn’t maintained and starts to “leak”. Your gift loses the ethical power that propels it.

3. Character Preserves a Leader’s Cause and Legacy
As we have noted, a leaders failure can damage the reputation of the government, company, organization, or associates with which he is connected. A leaders values are personal- but they are never private.

Some leaders fall dramatically and publicly, destroying their legacies in an instant. Others unravel their legacies over a long, slow moral descent that eventually ruins their lives. When the longevity of an individual’s leadership is cut short by a character issues, he is often unable to leave the legacy that he was meant to give to his generation.

You Leadership Rest On Your Character

. What character, or moral force, is, and how to develop it.

. How your beliefs shape your values, morals, ethics, and principles

. How to build you leadership so that it is both effective and enduring

. How to develop specific qualities of principled leaders.

. How to be restored after a failure in character

Character matters to you because

1. It establishes and strengthens your inner life, so that you are a person of integrity and honor

2. It enables you to effectively fulfill your purpose and potential.

3. It protects your leadership and vision- preventing you from canceling them prematurely, and enabling you to leave a legacy for your own generation and future generations.

Character matters to the world because.

1. It is the key to inspirational leadership.

2. It safeguards the well-being of those who are under the authority of leaders or are otherwise affected by leader’s actions and influence.

3. It enables leaders to build and maintain healthy communities while addressing critical problems with ethics and integrity.

Shema Selah what would you be found convicted of???  What characteristics can be found in how you live your life??  https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1570329909711786/?l=6397343762859507750

Men Of Torah Day--Understanding the Kingdom Concept of Giving?

Matthew 2

We are walking in today: Men Of Torah Day--Understanding the Kingdom Concept of Giving

Witness give throughout the Bible:  H5414 nathan--to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned

Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given H5414 you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it
shall be for meat.

The Torah ...............
 Exodus 3:21 And I will give H5414 this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:

The prophets..................
 Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give H5414 thee for a covenant of the people, to
establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

The writings ...........................
 Psalms 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given H5414 to the children of men.


Jeremiah 32:19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give H5414 every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

Matthew 2 in its entirety key verses 1-2

Matthew 2:1-2
After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim 2 and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Hebrews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM CONCEPT OF GIVING TO THE KING

God created the earth, bringing form out of formlessness and order out of chaos, not to leave it empty but for it to be inhabited. His original purpose and plan was to extend His heavenly Kingdom to the earth—to bring His invisible supernatural rule into the visible natural domain.

It was for this reason that He created mankind—male and female—in His own image and clothed them in physical bodies of flesh and blood and bone made from the same stuff as the earth itself, that they might exercise dominion over the earth just as He did in Heaven. They were to be His vice-regents, ruling in His name and under His authority.

Isa. 45:18  For thus says Adonai, who created the heavens, God, who shaped and made the earth,
who established and created it not to be chaos, but formed it to be lived in: “I am Adonai; there is no other.

Adam was created as king and ruler of the earth. This is only natural. God created man in His own image and likeness, and because God was a King, man was to be a king as well. As king of the earth, man possessed certain unique qualities and characteristics that set him apart as distinct from all other creatures on the earth.

One of these qualities was self-determination. Man possessed the ability to reason—to frame his own thoughts and ideas and to make his own decisions. In this he was like his Creator. He was endowed also with the capacity for face-to-face, one-on-one intimate fellowship with God, a privilege that no other creature on earth enjoyed.

The Creator gave Adam the earth as his domain because a king is not a king unless he has territory over which to rule. Man’s rule over the earth was usurped by an “unemployed cherub,” a rebellious and fallen angel who had no right or authority to take it. Man became a slave in his own domain.

But the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable

Roman 11:29  for God’s free gifts and his calling are irrevocable.

Christ entered the public eye proclaiming a simple but profound message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” As a human as well as the Son of God, Yeshua had the authority both to restore the Kingdom and to rule it as King. Kingship was His birthright.

Matthew 4:17. From that time on, Yeshua began proclaiming, “Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!”

“You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born…” (John 18:37b).

Yeshua was not the only one to recognize His kingship. Even as early as His birth, there were those who knew who He was and why He had come:

After Yeshua  was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:1-2).

ma·gus 1. a member of a priestly caste of ancient Persia. See also Magi.
• a sorcerer.


THE SIX ROYAL KINGDOM PRINCIPLES OF GIVING

The coming of  Christ as King demonstrates another important characteristic of God: He is a giver. First, He gave man the earth to rule. Then, after man lost his Kingdom, God gave His Son so that He could get man’s Kingdom back.

God is a giver. In fact, His honor as King of Heaven demands a gift. As God, He gives because it is His nature. As Kingdom citizens, we give because we are like Him, created in His image and likeness, and because giving is a proper way to honor a king.

THE SIX ROYAL KINGDOM PRINCIPLES OF GIVING

1. The power of kings is displayed in their wealth. The wealthier the king, the greater his power (or at least the perception of his power in the eyes of others. Kings who rule over lands that are sparse in resources and whose citizens are poor are judged to be poor kings, lacking in power and influence and therefore dismissed as unimportant.

They may even be perceived as unable or unwilling to take proper care of their citizens and subjects. Poor kings, therefore, develop a poor reputation, which brings us to the second principle.

2. The purpose for a king’s wealth is to secure his reputation—his glory. So a king’s reputation is tied to his ability to take care of his citizens, and that ability is directly related to his wealth.

3. The glory of a king is his power to out-give another king. This is another reason why wealth is important to a king. Kings are deeply and continually concerned with their reputations, and no king likes the thought that another king might be richer, more benevolent, or more giving than he.

3. Giving places a demand on the king’s wealth. Wealth that is not used for anything serves no purpose. Righteous and benevolent kings do not seek riches simply for their own enrichment and pleasure.

They don’t acquire wealth just so they can sit atop the pile and say, “Look at me! See how rich I am!” Good kings use their wealth to bring prosperity to their people and improve the quality of their lives.

This way the king’s riches do not stagnate or rot away. In keeping with a fundamental principle of wealth-building, good kings know how to make their wealth work for them—they give it away in order to receive more. It is a principle of reciprocity—giving begets giving.

5. Giving requires a response from the king. When you give to a king, he is obligated not only to respond to your gift but also to exceed it.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Luke 6:38).

6. Giving to a king attracts His wealth to the giver. Giving begets giving. This principle works both ways. Kings give away wealth in order to gain more wealth. But when we give to the King, it begets giving back to us because our generosity attracts the King’s wealth to us.

SEVEN REASONS TO GIVE TO A KING

1. Royal protocol requires that a gift must be presented when visiting a king. This is why the queen of Sheba brought such lavish gifts to King Solomon even though he was richer than she was. It was royal protocol. He would have done the same had he visited her.

And none shall appear before Me empty-handed (Exodus 34:21b NKJV).

2. The gift must be fitting for the king. Worse than approaching a king with no gift is to bring a gift unworthy of him.

3. The gift reveals our value or “worth-ship” of the king. The quality of what we offer the King and the attitude with which we offer it reveal much more than our words do of the value or worthiness we attach to Him. Quality doesn’t mean expensive or fancy necessarily, but it does mean offering our very best. And our gift does not necessarily have to be of monetary value. Of much greater value to the King is the gift of a heart that seeks first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

Our gifts to the King should always be offered from a sincere heart and a humble recognition of His greatness and awesome majesty.

The Lord says: “These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men (Isaiah 29:13).

4. Worship demands a gift and giving is worship. “Worthship” is where we get “worship.” To worship the King means to ascribe worth or worthiness to Him. And, as we have already seen, that always involves bringing Him a gift. There is no genuine worship without gift-giving.

But giving is itself an act of worship, and worship is always fitting for the King. The Magi who saw His star in the east understood this, which is why they brought gifts when they came to find Him:

On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrhh (Matthew 2:11).

5. Giving to a king attracts his favor. Kings are attracted to people who give with a willing and grateful spirit.

A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great (Proverbs 18:16).

Giving from a generous heart with no thought or expectation of return particularly attracts the King’s favor because that is the attitude closest to His own. And He rewards that kind of spirit.

To “receive” a prophet or a righteous man means to care for and supply that person with no expectation of repayment. Giving with no ulterior motive and with no strings attached—that is the kind of giving that attracts the favor of the King:

Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward (Matthew 10:41-42).

6. Giving to a king acknowledges his ownership of everything.

7. Giving to a king is thanksgiving. One of the best ways to express gratitude is with a gift. Gratitude expressed is in itself a gift.

FIVE REASONS TO GIVE

Giving is natural for kings. As Kingdom citizens and children of the King, we too are kings. That being the case, several principles follow:

1. If we all are kings, then we should give to each other. Remember, you never approach a king without a gift.

2. When we give to the Body, we give to Christ the King. Because Christ lives in us through the Holy Spirit, every time we give to each other, we are giving to Him.

3. Every time we meet one another, giving should be automatic. If we are to be like our King, who created us in His image and likeness, a giving spirit should be second nature for us.

4. The wise men knew there was a greater King on earth. That is why they brought Him gifts and worshiped Him. He is still on earth—in the hearts and lives of His citizens. So whenever we give, we do so as if giving to Him.

5. When you give to a king, you make a demand on what he possesses. Giving begets giving. When we give to the King of Heaven, we obligate Him to give in return. This is not a presumptuous statement but the expression of a principle He established. When we give, He gives; when we withhold, He withholds.

THE ULTIMATE GIFT

The ultimate and greatest gift the King wants from us is summed up in these words:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Giving activates royal obligation. Give Him your life and receive His life. …remembering the words the Lord Himself said:

“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Shema Selah, so we must consider how we come before the king, bearing gifts of worship, we have to understand in a kingdom giving begets giving!!  https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1568141509930626/?l=8612611428503079487

What Is Culture??

Matthew 5

We are walking in today:  What Is Culture??


Witness way throughout the Bible:  H734 'orach--way of living

Psa 27:11 - Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, H734 because of mine enemies.

The Torah ...............
 Genesis 49:17 - Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, H734 that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

The prophets ................
 Isaiah 2:3 - And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: H734 for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

The writings ...........................
 Proverbs 12:28 - In the way H734 of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Isaiah 40:14 - With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path H734 of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

Matthew 5:3-10

3 “How blessed are the poor in spirit!
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

4 “How blessed are those who mourn!
for they will be comforted.

5 “How blessed are the meek!
for they will inherit the Land!

6 “How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness!
for they will be filled.

7 “How blessed are those who show mercy!
for they will be shown mercy.

8 “How blessed are the pure in heart!
for they will see God.

9 “How blessed are those who make peace!
for they will be called sons of God.

10 “How blessed are those who are persecuted
because they pursue righteousness!
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM CONCEPT OF CULTURE
As we have already seen, for example, every country has land— territory. Without land there is no country. Historically, the land a people inhabits significantly influences the culture they develop. Desert dwellers, for instance, are unlikely to develop a maritime culture unless they live along the coast. Their culture will reflect the arid environment in which they live. A second key component of every country is language.

A country is not a country unless it has one major language. Many nations of the world have numerous sub-languages and dialects. But every nation always decides on one major language because language identifies you as a country. Language is the key to unity. It is also a key factor in a nation’s culture.

Another element that all nations share in common is a constitution. As we saw in Chapter Six, a constitution is a contract between the people and their government. Furthermore, all nations have a moral code. A nation’s moral code embodies the moral standards under which the people have agreed to live and by which they have chosen to govern themselves.

Culture may also be defined as the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon man’s capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations.

For you see, culture is also what lies at the very center of the great cosmic conflict between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness. And earth is the battleground. The battle for earth is the battle for culture.

MANIFESTATIONS OF CULTURE

1. Values. Shared values are a defining characteristic of a culture and a nation. What we value reveals who we are. Our values reflect our character. Basically, a value is a belief or conviction that is considered worthy in and of itself by a person or group. It is a standard or ideal that regulates conduct or policy

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3-10).

2. Priorities. Culture manifests itself in the things we regard as most important. In other words, whatever we prioritize in life reveals our culture. Yeshua got right to the heart of priorities when He said:

So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:31-33).

3. Behaviors. The way we behave reveals our culture; it’s that simple.

4. Standards. The standards we apply in everyday life reveal whether we have a culture that indulges and encourages mediocrity or a culture that inspires excellence. Do we take pride in the appearance of our houses and churches and businesses and cities and streets? Do we place a high premium on quality in all things? Or are we satisfied with just enough to get by? Either way, our standards reflect our culture. In fact, our culture will never rise higher than our standards.

5. Celebration. Our culture is revealed in the things we celebrate as well as in the manner that we celebrate. Are holidays and other celebrations opportunities for fun and laughter and togetherness as families, or excuses for drunkenness and other kinds of excess?

6. Morality. The level of our moral conscience and consciousness reveals the level of our culture.

7. Relationships. Who do we relate to? How do we relate to them? How do we treat people? How do we handle the destitute, those who are hurting, and those who are abused? What is our attitude toward the poor? There’s a culture in Heaven that is revealed when poverty is around.

8. Ethics. Is honesty our best policy, or is honesty our only policy? If someone overpays us, do we keep the money or do we take it back? Kingdom ethics is always proactive.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you” Luke 6:31

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” Matthew 18:21-22

9. Social norms. Whatever is regarded as normal in our society reveals our culture. Is shacking up “normal”? Are out-of-wedlock pregnancies and births “normal”? Is cheating on taxes “normal”? Is corruption in government “normal”?

What are the “norms” of the Kingdom of Heaven? Here are a few that Kingdom Ambassador Paul called “the fruit of the Spirit”:

…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law Galatians 5:22-23.

10. Dress. Culture also manifests itself in the way the people dress. How we dress speaks volumes about our values and ideals as well as how we feel about ourselves. All of these relate to culture.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight 1 Peter 3:3-4.

11. Foods. Food has always been a cultural distinctive. Certain dishes, certain ingredients, and certain seasonings are associated with certain regions of the world or certain regions within nations.

Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God Matthew 4:4.

At another time, He told His inner circle of followers:

My food…is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work John 4:34.

12. Permits. We reveal our culture by what we permit. Remember, what we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and what we loose on earth is loosed in heaven. If we “loose” lewdness and immorality, those things will characterize our culture. If we “loose” corruption and dishonesty, we will have a corrupt and dishonest culture.

On the other hand, if we “loose” love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and the like, our culture will reflect these traits. As Kingdom citizens, we have the authority to bind and loose for the social, moral, and spiritual good of our fellowmen. This is why it is important for us to be involved in and to engage the popular culture and challenge it with the culture of Heaven.

13. Acceptance. Our culture is defined also by what we accept. More and more people who claim to be believers and even Kingdom citizens are buying into the popular culture to such a degree that by their language and lifestyle it is impossible to tell which Kingdom they belong to—the kingdom of the world or the Kingdom of heaven.

That’s why we need to be always alert and ever careful to evaluate all the new ideas and philosophies that come down the line. Some of them may be fine. But many, perhaps most, will be contrary to the culture and values and ideals of the Kingdom of Heaven. When this is the case, as Kingdom citizens we have the duty and responsibility to refuse to accept them.

14. Rejections. On the other hand, our culture manifests also in what we reject. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t play both ends against the middle. There is right and there is wrong, and Kingdom citizens must reject the wrong and embrace the right.

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters Matthew 12:30.

15. Distinctions. Culture manifests also in our distinctions. What distinguishes us from other cultures?

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8).

16. Quality standards. And finally, culture manifests in our standards of quality. God never does anything halfway, and neither should His children. In everything we do, Kingdom citizens should always be on the cutting edge of excellence, leading the way for everyone else rather than following in the world’s wake.

In Kingdom life we don’t have to be perfect in what we do because we are imperfect people, but that is no excuse to accept shabby work, half-finished projects, or a just-enough-to-get-by attitude. Our King demands our best. And He deserves nothing less. For this very reason, it should be our joy to give our very best to the King…and to give it freely and willingly.

PRINCIPLES
1. Once you understand the culture of a people, you understand the people.

2. Culture is the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties by education, expert care, and training.

3. Culture is the enlightenment and excellence of taste acquired by intellectual and aesthetic training.

4. Culture is the integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon man’s capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations.

5. Culture is the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group.

6. Culture is the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize a company or corporation.

7. Culture means to grow in a prepared medium.

8. The battle for earth is the battle for culture.

Shema Selah we are being culturized by the Kingdom of Heaven!! https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1567134100031367/?l=6230552217124828012

Weekend Meditation: Believe in the Dark What Was Said In The Light!

We are walking in today:  Weekend Meditation:  Believe in the Dark What Was Said In The Light!

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?
Dr. Myles Munroe says your faith is only as strong as the tests it survives. Many believers walk around daily making claims and praising and worshipping God – testifying to how good He is and how much He blessed them, but their faith has never truly been tested. It is easy to say, “God is good” when things are going well, but what about the bad times?

God allows our faith to be tested so we can see how strong we are. His purpose is to help you grow, because He knows that untested faith is not valid faith and never amounts to much.

The testing of our faith serves not only to show the strength of our faith but also to reveal the motive behind our faith. Motive is birthed by beliefs and convictions. If you say, “I trust in God,” why do you trust in God? Is it because of who He is or because of what you hope to get out of it? Satan accused Job of following God only because God had blessed him, so God allowed Job to be tested. He wanted to reveal the motive behind Job’s faith, to reveal whether or not Job would continue to follow God even after he lost everything.

Dr. Myles Munroe says that in the Kingdom of God, as in any country, your belief in the nation’s constitutional promises and privileges can only be verified when circumstances require that you place a demand on the system. The testing of your faith in the Kingdom of God occurs through circumstances, which provide an opportunity for you to validate your belief in the political, economic, social and cultural system of Heaven on earth.

RE-DISCOVERING FAITH
Why did the people consider Jesus’ words a “hard teaching?” Because they realized He was calling them to follow Him with no guarantees of fish and bread; calling them to be satisfied with Him and Him alone; calling them to follow Him without knowing outcomes in advance, content to leave the future in His hands. That’s Kingdom faith: faith that trusts God whether He blesses or not, whether He delivers or not, whether He heals or not. Kingdom faith trusts Christ no matter what because it knows that He has the “words of eternal life,” and has discovered the same truth expressed by King David who wrote, “Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You” (Ps. 63:3).

Don’t build your faith on what God show you; build it on God. Kingdom faith is tested faith. Here are ten essential qualities of Kingdom faith:

1. Kingdom Faith Is Steadfast and Stable in Storms.
2. Kingdom Faith Is in God’s Omniscient Knowledge, not Our limited Knowledge.
3. Kingdom Faith Is Beyond Our Own Understanding.
4. Kingdom Faith Is Rewarded After the Tests.
5. Kingdom Faith Is Rewarded by the King.
6. Kingdom Faith Is Given and Sustained by the King.
7. Kingdom Faith Is Stronger than Blood.
8. Kingdom Faith Is Purified by Tests.
9. Kingdom Faith Does Not Fear Trials.
10. Kingdom Faith Commits the Future to God.

The author of Hebrews writes that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, but how can we have that faith especially when things seem to be going wrong?  Dr. Myles
Monroe on an interview states the following:

The book Rediscovering Faith was written out of tragedy. I’m a pastor of one of the most significant churches in the Bahamas and this year began with tragedy for us. A young man who was a very dear member of our church literally took his wife’s life, they were both members of the church, and he also took his life. As a senior pastor, you know you’ve never had this experience before, you have to comfort the church, you’ve got to make sure that you protect the security of the people’s faith in God and when things happen that you can’t explain, when your life falls apart, when nothing is working, even when prayer doesn’t seem to be working, What do you do? That’s the question. And I think God took me back to a simple question.

Why do you follow Yeshua? And most of our faith in the twentieth century church seems to be focused on following the Most High to get good things. What happens when bad things happen? Many people actually stop following God because they think it isn’t working, the Most High failed and the biggest issue that came out of this tragedy was the most powerful re-connection to the book of faith. Faith is believing--that’s it. The word faith is the word pistes in Greek and it simply means conviction or belief. I think we’ve made faith into something that has become a problem because people actually use faith like its some kind of manipulating tool, to make God do something good
for them. Also it is easy to talk faith when everything is going well. It’s the moment of crisis that you’re talking about where you either find out your faith stands the test or you need to examine it. You know in this book you’ll find an important quote that I got out of that tragedy. The quote is, “Your faith is only as strong as the test it survives.” No matter how much you brag about how much
faith you’ve got, the test will reveal what quality of faith you have. Everybody has faith in something whether we call it that or not. Sometimes we have faith in ourselves, it might be our money, our position in life but not everybody has faith in the Most High.
This is very important. This book deals with God stripping us and reducing us back to him. Even the present crisis in the world, people think of it as a negative. I think it’s a wonderful experience because God will remove things from your life reduce you back to him and not just to him, but faith only in him. More often in the word, you go back and read him saying to his people over and over and over again, I gave you the blessing and you had such great enjoyment of the blessing, that you forgot
about me.  In this book I take you back to the biblical faith because this modern faith we have been living with cannot handle crisis. 

I think about Daniel's faith when God allowed him to go into the lions den. Was there something wrong with Daniel? Was Daniel in sin? No, the lions den was the greatest act of the Most High's
power to prove Daniel's faith. The three  Hebrew boys, I think they prayed a prayer that we need to pray again. They told the King, our God is able to deliver us from your fiery furnace, but then part of the prayer that we need to learn again is--what if He doesn’t? We know the Most High is able to do anything, but here’s the beauty. He’s also able to do nothing. What happens when God does nothing?
What do you do when God is silent? Do you still believe? You see, the three Hebrew boys had a faith that was on the other side of the coin. He’s able but what if he doesn’t? We still won’t bow.   I want
the people to know today, If you lost your job, your business fell apart, you had a foreclosure on your house, whatever it is, don’t allow it to touch your belief in the Most High because there is always life after the test. Faith is believing in life after the test. Knowing that the test is always temporary. Faith and trust are linked together. They are the same because when you trust God it doesn’t matter what happens after that. The most powerful defense against crisis, is faith because faith tells the crisis, you are only temporary. Faith is telling every crisis you cannot outlast my belief. This is why we have to rediscover the faith that we have lost. Yeshua told Peter a very important statement. He says, Peter satan is going to sift you, that means you are going to go through a crisis, but notice He didn’t say, I’m going to pray for you to get blessed. And he also didn’t tell Peter, I won’t deliver you from the test but he says I’m going to pray for you that your faith fail not. Paul says that we must fight the good fight of faith.

The fight is keeping your belief when you’ve lost everything. When there is a tragedy you still believe. No matter what you’re going through today your faith must outlast it because your faith is the key to victory. We are all going to be sifted at some point in our lives more than once, so there are things, in the times of blessing that we can do to prepare ourselves and strengthen our faith for the time of testing. Corey Tambourine has an excellent quote. She says, “Believe in the dark, what he told you in the light.” Sometimes you only believe God for the light, question is, do you still believe him when it’s all dark? Always remember after every dark, day is on the way and He never changes!!!

Shema selah we have to know and truly believe that He is the same and fails not!!  While His plans are not our plans our faith and trust should never change with the seasons!! 

Citizenship Is Not Membership!!!!

 Luke 16

We are walking in today:  Citizenship Is Not Membership!!!!

Witness fellow throughout the Bible: H7453 rea`--fellow, fellow-citizen
 

Judges 7:22 - And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, H7453 even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.


The Torah  ...............
 Exodus 2:13 - And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? H7453

The prophets  ..................
 Zechariah 3:8 - Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows H7453 that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

The writings  ...........................
 Judges 7:14 - And his fellow H7453 answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

Judges 7:13 - And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, H7453 and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.

Luke 16:16, 31 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

16 Up to the time of Yochanan there were the Torah and the Prophets. Since then the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is pushing to get in.
31 But he replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moshe and the Prophets, they won’t be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!’”

UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM CONCEPT OF CITIZENSHIP

Citizenship is not membership. Religions function on membership, while nations and kingdoms function on citizenship. Citizenship is the most valuable asset of a nation and is not easily given because of its power and impact.

People are attracted to a nation that appears to promise a better life than the one they are living where they are. Some people even become desperate enough to do anything they have to do to become a part of that nation.

Citizenship is necessary for the validity and legitimacy of any nation. Not only that, but citizenship is the most sacred privilege of a nation. So the concept of citizenship is critical to understanding the nature of the Kingdom of heaven. As I’ve said before, all governments and kingdoms operate on governing laws and principles.

THE POWER AND PRIVILEGE OF CITIZENSHIP

As a sacred privilege, citizenship is the most precious gift that any nation can give. That’s why there are laws to protect people from it and protect it from people. Apart from native-born citizens, citizenship is neither awarded lightly nor obtained easily. And it shouldn’t be. Citizenship is too precious a treasure to hand out indiscriminately like handbills.

When it comes to matters of citizenship, the Kingdom of God is no different from any other country. Remember, the Kingdom of God is not a religion. It is a government with a country. Heaven is that country, and  Christ is its King. Referring to Christ, the ancient Hebrew prophet Isaiah wrote:

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders….Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever… (Isaiah 9:6-7, emphasis added).

Like any other country, the Kingdom of God has the principle of citizenship. And, like the example of America above, once people know about the Kingdom, and once they understand what it is and what it has to offer, they clamor to get in. This is what Yeshua was referring to when He said:

The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it (Luke 16:16).

Why then, someone might ask, do we not see people clamoring to get into the churches? Why does the church as a whole seem to have so little impact on our culture? The reason is simple—and sad. Most pastors don’t understand the Kingdom, so they don’t preach it or teach it.

Consequently, most of the people in the churches don’t understand the Kingdom either, so they don’t model Kingdom living. My experience has been that once people know about the Kingdom and see it modeled, they want it!

Such is the power of the lure of citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven.

BECOMING A KINGDOM CITIZEN

All nations, including kingdoms, have citizens. And all nations require immigration status. The Kingdom of God is no different. Every Kingdom citizen today is a naturalized citizen. We emigrated from a foreign country—a “dominion of darkness” where we as a race had been “exiled” ever since Adam’s rebellion in the garden of Eden.

Col. 1:13

13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.

At that time, the human race lost citizenship in heaven. We lost our citizenship because we lost our Kingdom, and we lost our Kingdom because we lost our property—our territory. Don’t forget that without territory, there is no kingdom; and without a kingdom, there can be no kingdom citizenship.

When Christ began His public ministry, He announced that the Kingdom of Heaven had arrived. That was the only message He preached. He brought back to earth the Kingdom we lost at Eden and gave us access to it again.

We enter the Kingdom of heaven through the process that Yeshua called being “born again” changing our mind and turning from our rebellion against God, placing our trust in Yeshua for the forgiveness of our rebellion, and acknowledging Him as Lord (Owner) of our lives. This “new birth” gets us into the Kingdom of Heaven.

John 3:3

3 “Yes, indeed,” Yeshua answered him, “I tell you that unless a person is born again from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

When we become citizens of God’s Kingdom, it means that we voluntarily align ourselves with a new government and a new country, embracing its language, its ideals, and its values. The Kingdom constitution is explicit regarding our citizenship:

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household Ephesians 2:19.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body Philippians 3:20.

Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves Colossians 1:12-13

Not only does the new birth make us citizens of Heaven, but our citizenship begins immediately. We are Kingdom citizens right now. Why is this so important?

Here’s why: Religion postpones citizenship to the future. Religious leaders tell their people, “You will be a citizen…someday. You will be in the Kingdom…you will have joy later…you will be a full citizen. But not today. Not yet. The Kingdom has not yet come.”

You can never appropriate what you postpone. That’s what you call “locking up the Kingdom of God” to those who want to get in. It is for this reason that I am convinced that the greatest enemy of the Kingdom is religion.

Religion keeps pushing the Kingdom away from people: “You can’t get in now; you can’t experience it now; you can’t benefit from it now; wait until later.” And so the people suffer.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP

If you were to visit the Bahamas and happened to lose all your money or face some other crisis, all you would have to do is turn to your country’s embassy and they would help you. That’s what they are there for. One of the responsibilities of any government is to take care of its citizens, whether at home or abroad.

In a very real sense, that’s what the church is (or what it is supposed to be): an embassy! The church is not a religious place. When Yeshua established His ecclesia, He did not have a religious institution in mind.

His purpose was to set up an embassy of His Kingdom—a place where Kingdom citizens (new and old) could receive aid, be trained in the ways, laws, language, and customs of the Kingdom, and be equipped with the Kingdom resources they need for effective life in the Kingdom colony on earth.

All Kingdom citizens are simultaneously citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven as well as citizens of the earthly nation of their birth or their naturalization. We don’t give up our earthly citizenship when we become citizens of the Kingdom.
And in the same way, we don’t have to be in Heaven to benefit from heavenly jurisdiction. Our citizenship is constant, and the Kingdom government exercises jurisdiction over us wherever we are.

My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is from another place (John 18:36).

Speaking as one king to another, Yeshua acknowledged His kingship.

He did not say. He said, “My kingdom is not of this world”; He did not say, “My kingdom is not in this world.” He said, “My kingdom is from another place”; He did not say, “My kingdom is not in this place.” As the official representative of the emperor, Pilate possessed kingly authority in Judea.

In fact, He stated plainly to Pilate:

You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (John 18:37b).

INVISIBLE CITIZENSHIP

The Kingdom of Heaven is invisible does not mean that it has no impact. Yeshua taught this truth about the Kingdom more than once. On one occasion He illustrated it this way:

What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough (Luke 13:20-21).

The Kingdom of God is invisible. We cannot detect it simply by observation. And if the Kingdom of God resides within its citizens, this means that all Kingdom citizens are invisible also.

We bear no physical or outward signs that broadcast to the world, “I’m a Kingdom citizen!” Our citizenship must become known in other ways.

Our language and our behavior should make that known to them. In other words, they should recognize us by our distinct culture.

Culture is a product of the language, ideals, and values of a people or a nation. Even though people cannot recognize us as Kingdom citizens by our outward appearance, our distinctive language, ideals, and values should give us away.

Our culture should reflect and reveal our citizenship as being here but not from here, as being in the world but not of the world.

PRINCIPLES

1. Citizenship is the most sacred privilege of a nation.

2. Citizenship is the most precious gift that any nation can give.


3. Like any other country, the Kingdom of God has the principle of citizenship.

4. Every Kingdom citizen today is a naturalized citizen.

5. The new birth makes us naturalized citizens of the Kingdom.

6. Not only does the new birth make us citizens of heaven, but our citizenship begins immediately. We are Kingdom citizens right now. Our citizenship is a present reality.

7. Religion postpones citizenship to the future.

8. You can never appropriate what you postpone.

9. All Kingdom citizens carry dual citizenship.

10. All colonial governments and citizens are invisible.

11. The Kingdom of God is invisible.

12. All Kingdom citizens are invisible also.

13. Our culture should reflect and reveal our citizenship as being here but not from here, as being in the world but not of the world.

Shema Selah the Kingdom of the Most High is an invisible kingdom!!!  It is at hand but not of this world!!!  https://www.facebook.com/fiveam.prayer/videos/1561703873907723/?l=2602505812965302125