Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 31

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged to be transformed from following after the world's system, beliefs and philosophies to knowing and doing the things of GOD. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged not to conform to the things of the world because we no longer belong to the world. Conforming to the world will take our focus off spiritual things and it will become increasingly difficult to know and follow after God's good, perfect and pleasing will.

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that doing God's good, perfect and pleasing will is the only way to achieve lasting fulfillment of our spiritual desires. 

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 30

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 1 John 2:15

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged to seek and love King Jesus and the New Kingdom to which we now belong. We seek daily to love the things of GOD more than the things in this world.

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that whenever we take our eyes off our King and what he desires for us we will start seeking the things of the world. When we try to fulfill our spiritual desires with things from this world we are left feeling even more empty because the things of this world are foreign to our spiritual nature and cannot bring lasting fulfillment.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 29

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. John 15:19 

Citizens of the New Kingdom do not belong to the world's system. As we live in this world, the temptation is for us to assimilate into what we see around us because our human nature seeks to belong. We are encouraged to focus on living and assimilating into the New Kingdom for we now belong to King Jesus. 

King Jesus chose his citizens out of this world's system. Our focus is now on our King and what he wants us to do. The world's system and philosophies can no longer bring fulfillment and satisfaction to citizens of the New Kingdom because it is foreign to our spiritual nature.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 28

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged to approach King Jesus with confidence as he invites us to ask him for anything. We have the guarantee that if we pray according to his will he will hear and grant our requests. If our prayers are not answered we are not praying according to his will for us.

Citizens of the New Kingdom have the promises of King Jesus as recorded in the words of Scripture. His promises to his children will always be his will for his citizens.  He promised to be with us always; he promised that we will overcome the world as long as we are in him; he promised that we will not be as abandoned orphans because his Holy Presence will always be with us; He promised eternal life; he promised the forgiveness of sins; he promised to prepare a place for us so we will always be with him; he promised rest for our burdened days and his promises go on... The secret to getting our prayers answered is praying according to the WILL of God.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 27

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that our heavenly Father will only give to his citizens good and perfect gifts. All circumstances and situations that our King allows into our lives will be pronounced good and perfect, not usually when we are going through it, but when it is completed and we see the finished product. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that our very existence is to bring glory to our King. When we intentionally seek his glory we can accept hurt, betrayal, pain, suffering as temporary and incomplete, because in the end, we will see that the purpose and goal of what we endured and perceived as negative, were actually working to bring goodness and perfection to our lives.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 26

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Citizens of the New Kingdom have the wonderful potential of living an abundant life. A life overflowing with joy, happiness, contentment, optimism, excitement, etc... We have the possibility of enjoying our lives to the fullest. King Jesus came to bring this life to his citizens. It does not depend on the circumstances of our physical lives but it has the potential to change us from within. This abundant life flows outward gradually changing our outlook on the situations and circumstances of our earthly lives.

Citizens of the New Kingdom are blessed with fulfilled lives as we accept this wonderful gift of abundant life that our King offers.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 25

... Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. ..John 7:37-39

Citizens of the New Kingdom have the Holy Spirit flowing like living waters through us. Living waters is not 'still' water; it is not stagnant water; it is a flowing, living stream. The Holy Spirit is alive in the believer and as he flows in us and through us, he makes the dry, parched ground of our lives fertile and full of life.

King Jesus invites all who are thirsty to go to him and drink from this living water. We drink from this living water when we believe and accept our King. This belief gives us a new birth into his New Kingdom and it allows the Holy Spirit to flow like living waters in and through us.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 24

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that there will be times when we may get discouraged and our faith may be shaken. We may not feel as close to our King like we want to be. Sometimes we may want to hide from the searching eyes of our King.

One reason Citizens of the New Kingdom may want to flee from the presence of our loving King is because we don't feel that we are deserving of forgiveness. What we need to realize is that our King has already forgiven all our sins. There is absolutely no reason for us to ever be ashamed to be in the presence of our loving King.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 23

You have searched me, Lord , and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. Psalm 139:1-2 

Citizens of the New Kingdom have a personal relationship with the King. King Jesus knows everything about us; He sees us completely; nothing about us is hidden from him. He knows where we are at all times. He can read our minds, hearts and motivations. He knows and understands why we do what we do.

Citizens of the New Kingdom have a King who knows everything about his children and yet loves us enough to forgive all our sins and grant us eternal life.

We stand amazed at this great love!

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 22

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that there is safety in the presence of the King. We have security, protection and eternal life as we live in fellowship with our King.

Citizens of the New Kingdom have no need to worry about abandonment from our King. King Jesus promises that he will never leave us as orphans; he will never forsake his children; he will never allow us to wander away from the fold if he cannot bring us back. He serves notice to anyone who thinks they can take us away from him.

Let us live in the freedom of our security today!

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 21

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

Citizens of the New Kingdom are like sheep having our King as the good shepherd. The King seeks intimacy with his citizens as he knows each of us individually.

Citizens of the New Kingdom listen to the voice of the King. We intentionally choose to listen to the words and instructions from our King. We know that we can trust our King because he loves us and gave up his life for us as a good shepherd does for his sheep.

Citizens of the New Kingdom follow the King. Listening without obeying and following is like the sheep that keeps wandering away from the safety and protection of the shepherd. The instructions the King gives to us are for our protection and safety. When we wander away from him he does everything he needs to do to bring us back to the safety of his love and protection.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 20

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— John 10:14

Citizens of the New Kingdom have a King who calls himself a shepherd because of the relationship he wants to have with his children. The role of the shepherd is to protect and care for his sheep. He ensures their safety by always being prepared to defend the sheep as lions or wolves seek them for meals. A good shepherd will stand his ground even when the odds are against him, choosing to give up his own life if it means the safety of his flock.

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged by the words of the King when he speaks of intimacy with his citizens. As a good shepherd he knows his sheep. He knows their tendencies, their preferences, likes and dislikes, what brings joy, what may cause sadness or anxieties, etc.

Citizens of the New Kingdom also seek to know their King. It should not be a one sided relationship. We seek to know King Jesus. We know what he likes, how he wants us to live, to love, to forgive, to fellowship with him. He wants us to be able to sit at his feet and share our lives with him, our daily troubles, our desires. He loves us when we are good, bad or indifferent. Intimacy allows us to go to our King even when we are afraid. There is no fear in intimate, complete love.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 19

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6 

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged to have discernment as we interact with others in this world. What we have to offer is a priceless treasure! We need to know who will be appreciative of the good news we are sharing or who will use our words against us and cause problems. In another conversation, King Jesus advised his followers that if people in a village were not ready to accept them they should shake the very dust of the village streets off their feet.

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that sometimes people need to be prepared in order to accept what is being offered. If the good news of the gospel is like a seed to be planted the quality and preparation of the soil makes all the difference in the harvest later.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 18

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged by the final words of our King as he said goodbye to his followers about 2000 years ago.  He did not give them the assurance that living in this world would be an easy thing to do but he prepared them as much as he could for what they would face.

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that the secret to going THROUGH trials, problems and troubles is abiding in King Jesus. When we are holding on to our King we can have peace in the midst of the tribulations. King Jesus knew we would have troubles but he cheers us up by letting us know he overcame the world. He didn't overcome only the troubles of the world, he was victorious over the entire world. 

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 17

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that as long as we are living on this side of eternity there will be times of trouble and hardships. Life will not always turn out the way we want it to be. Our entire world is living with the consequences of sin.

King Jesus promises his citizens that he will always be with them. His promise echoes the words that were given to the Prophet Isaiah as God proclaimed his love for his people. He didn't tell them they would have an easy life. He promised to be there as they go THROUGH the hard times. We don't go around our troubles or fly above our problems. We go through them holding on to our King.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 16

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 

Citizens of the New Kingdom are known by our Creator from eternity to eternity. Our existence may have started at conception but our Creator God already had big plans for us. Our physical birth was not an accident and our spiritual birth was definitely not an accident.

Citizens of the New Kingdom are set apart and appointed to serve King Jesus. He has a unique task for each one of us. We are completely at peace when we are doing the work that our King has called us to do.

Let us serve King Jesus today!

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 15

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13

Citizens of the New Kingdom are individually created, formed, put together by God, our Father and Creator. We are not just one of the crowd; we are each different from everyone else; we are unique. King Jesus sees each of us as individuals.

Citizens of the New Kingdom are personally responsible to faithfully do the work that each of us are called to do. There is a specific work for each citizen to do in our own individual and unique way. The Holy Spirit gives us what we need in order to serve our King to the best of our abilities.

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged to serve King Jesus as individual servants, using the gifts and talents he gives to us. We should never envy the gifts of others because our gifts are custom made for us.  Our King knows exactly what we need and what we can do.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 14

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:47 

 Citizens of the New Kingdom know that we have been forgiven much. When we take time to reflect on the holiness of God we see how undeserving we really are of our King's love and forgiveness. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that even if they were born into the New Kingdom when they were children it does not mean that they were forgiven little. The Psalmist David wrote, 'Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.' Psalm 51:5. God's wrath was what we truly deserved; rejection and destruction by a holy righteous God would be fair. Our King chose to love us instead and forgave all our sins - past, present and future. We are all forgiven much indeed!

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 13

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. Romans 14:4 

Citizens of the New Kingdom are servants of the King. We have one master, King Jesus. He is the perfect, righteous King and he is the only one who has the ability and the authority to judge his servants. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged to work on our own daily struggles so that we can be better servants. If we are busy working on ourselves we will not have time to see the splinters in the lives of our brothers and sisters. We won't be judging but we will be encouraging each other.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 12

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged to have compassion for others; we are encouraged to love others, forgive others etc. We are admonished to never judge others. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom live in an imperfect world and we are still being changed and transformed into God's masterpiece. Judging each other because of an action or behavior would be premature because we are not seeing the finished product. We, ourselves are still not where we should be.

Citizens of the New Kingdom carry the sign,  'under construction. ..work in progress'

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 11

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that we are God's special possession. It is a privilege and an honor to be held in such affection by our God. It is awesome to meditate on these words written by the beloved apostle, Peter, whom many of us can identify with as he displayed his human frailties constantly.

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that privileges also bring responsibilities. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood and a holy nation for the express purpose of serving our King. We are encouraged to declare his praise; we should be boasting about him; we are witnesses of all the wonderful blessings he has bestowed on our lives and we are the only people who can declare the truth about King Jesus because we know him personally.

Let us take our status of being God's special possession seriously!

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 10

...To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1: 5b-6

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that we are loved by King Jesus. He loved us before we were even born. The Plan of Redemption was formulated when the foundation of the earth was laid.

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that King Jesus freed us from our sins by shedding his blood on Calvary for us. We are no longer slaves to sinful desires but we are free to live righteous lives in our King. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that we are not only born into the Kingdom of King Jesus but we are also priests before God. We do not need a special envoy to approach the throne of God for us. As priests we can go to God, our Father, directly. 

To him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen!

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 9

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Revelation 1:4-5a

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that there are three distinct persons in the Trinity. John, the beloved apostle in writing to the seven churches in Asia sent greetings from the One who is, was and is to come; he sent greetings from the seven spirits before his throne and he sent greetings from King Jesus. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that King Jesus is the faithful witness who revealed to us who God is. King Jesus was the firstborn from the dead, walking out of the tomb on Resurrection Sunday. King Jesus is above every kingdom and every ruler on this earth.

Let us worship our King as the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords!

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that contrary to the image portrayed by skeptics and unbelievers that the Lord God is sovereign and omnipotent. His status of Almighty God affords him the power to do exactly as he pleases. He does not need man's permission to do anything. He is God!

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that it is impossible to understand the all encompassing magnitude of the nature of God. Questions of 'why does God allow bad things to happen' show our finite and incomplete knowledge of who God is. A better thought may be 'how do I fit in the sovereign plan of the Almighty God.'

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 7

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”  and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”  So shall it be! Amen. Revelation 1:7

Citizens of the New Kingdom live in anticipation of the physical return of King Jesus. The Scriptures proclaim that our King is returning to this earth and we wait for his return, not by doing nothing, but by living the abundant life that he promised his followers. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom are privileged people. We have the blessings of God, salvation from the wrath of God, eternal life and the assurance that King Jesus is returning to take us to our eternal home.

So shall it be! Amen

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 6

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that we should not become tired of obeying our King. No matter how hard it gets sometimes or how frustrating our situations may become we need to keep watch because King Jesus is coming back.

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that when the storms of this life are hitting us from every angle our King can be trusted to keep us safe. We will get tired, we will feel exhausted, we may even have to take a break and rest for awhile but we always keep a vigilant and watchful heart. Our King is in control and he is coming back for his children

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 5

“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest..." Matthew 13:29-30a

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that as long as we have breath in our bodies and we are still alive in this world, we remain a work in progress. King Jesus will not call us home until our work on earth is done. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that only our King can read the motivations of our hearts. He alone knows who truly is wheat and who truly are weeds. Sometimes, we prematurely judge others and we cause more harm than good in the end.

Let us be patient with our fellow citizens as we each seek to eliminate the weeds from our own hearts.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 4

So you also when you have been told everything that you are supposed to do, should say, 'we are unworthy servants, we have only done our duty'. Luke 17:10

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that we are servants of King Jesus. We are not called to part time duty, we should always be serving our King. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that if it weren't for the sacrifice of King Jesus we would have no hope of redemption or eternal life. It is out of eternal gratitude that we serve, not for rewards we think we deserve. Our attitude should always be, 'Is there anything else that I can do for you Lord? '

Let us strive to be worthy servants of our King!

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 3

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that we have a Father. We are sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. We are not orphans to be pitied by anyone. We have a great heritage. King Jesus encouraged us to have a relationship with our Father. 

Citizens of the New Kingdom communicate with our Father through prayer. We talked to God believing that he exists and he knows us as individuals. We share our needs with him not because he doesn't know them but because he enjoys the relationship that he has with us where we can freely tell him everything that is happening in our lives.

Our Father who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name!

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 2

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:29

Citizens of the New Kingdom are taught to believe in King Jesus. We believe that King Jesus is the divine Son of God. We believe that he became man to teach mankind how to be reconciled to God.

Citizens of the New Kingdom believe that King Jesus' shed blood is the only remedy for our forgiveness and righteousness before God. We are justified before God because the divine Son of God died in our place and paid the penalty for our sins.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Citizens Of The New Kingdom - October 1

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
John 6:10 -11

Citizens of the New Kingdom are encouraged to embrace King Jesus' teaching on non-condemnation of ourselves and others when we are caught in sin. As long as we live on this earth our human carnal nature and our new spiritual nature battle each other for prominence in our lives. This means that sinning is inevitable when we choose our human nature above our spiritual nature.

Citizens of the New Kingdom know that King Jesus has made provision for our sins. Not only does he forgives but he also does not condemn any of his children.

Let us live in freedom of grace and non-condemnation today!