“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” -John 18:35-37
I am of the view that The Preacher in Ecclesiastes, though melancholic, is right in Chapter 1 verse 9 that ''What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.'' To decapacitate a body, you remove its parts i.e. you chop it into bits so that it is impotent. Not only is the body dead, the parts wither away as well. The potential of it to be a power (or threat) is removed. You regain control. 'Divide and rule' is a concept as old as the tower of Babel; to decapacitate a cause, just confuse the people's language.
When we say we stand for a Kingdom, what nation are you referring to?
What do you as a minister of God represent?
Oh yes, that is a question that actually needs a reply: What is the Kingdom?
At the start of the year, the Lord explicitly told us there would be battles. But his point was that though not all the battles would require us to do any fighting (some battles are actually the Lord's), ALL would require us to take a stand. So, as an individual, Organisation or ministry, where do you stand? For what Nation?
Every nation has its constitution. To stand for a Nation, you stand for what it represents and its constitution. Our Head Jesus Christ said of his nation: “My kingdom is not of this world. ...But now my kingdom is from another place.”[John 18:36]
and of his followers: '' They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.'' [John 17: 16 -18]
Our battle, therefore, is not 'warred according to the flesh' neither is it 'against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers', that is why at the start of the year, we are told that the armour of God would be needed. However, the armour of God is given not primarily to fight, but to Stand. As Paul said in Ephesians 6:13, ''Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.'' The 'Evil Day' is the day when we have to take our stand. It is also that day that reveals our focus.
If we represent the Kingdom of Jesus, we stand and celebrate its truth.
Allegiance to his Kingdom means, as in verse 37 of the opening scripture, '“ Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'' We are on the side of his Truth. It is his word that sets us apart i.e. 'sanctifies' us: ''Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth''.
A Kingdom mentality means, though we acknowledge earthy constituencies, we are focused on our own Kingdom agenda: the mission of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, ''We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.''
For example the
- Billy Graham Evangelical Association had a crusade last month that reached 70.000 people, of which 6000 made a decision to follow Jesus. With another crusade coming to the UK (26 August), many people will find new life in Jesus Christ as they hear Franklin Graham share the hope of the Gospel at the ExCeL London.
- The Global Healing Streams live healing services scheduled for Friday 28th to Sunday 30th July 2023 (3pm GMT+1) will touch millions around the world with Christ's healing power. [Registration link: https://healingstreams.tv/LHS/hslhs_attend.php?r=WEBMN]
- And a dear friend holding a Ladies' conference will give PEACE to hundreds in London at the Fairfield Theatre, Park Lane, Croydon on the 22nd of July at 11 am. [Register: www.ladytoladyglobal.org]
I have not even started to mention the work of local missions around the world!
This is our focus. This is our Kingdom agenda.
These fulfil the purpose of Christ which is to establish a Holy temple i.e. the family united as one.
Ephesians 2:14 ''For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups (Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility''Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.''
This Temple is our priority. This is the Kingdom family or household we are most interested in uniting. We are its Ambassadors and citizens. We represent the interests of a spiritual nation which is from above. While we are on earth, our mission is that all men might access its peace, goodwill and life! Our mission is of vital importance. It is this new and higher constitution we stand for.
''He [Jesus] has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.''2 Corinthians 3:6
Stay focused.
And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'' Luke 22:29 -30
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—'' John 17:20-22NIV
'' you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.''1 Peter 2:5
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