Every kingdom of man has fallen or will fall. Jesus is building His Church and establishing His Kingdom on the Earth right now. The common element in this kingdom of God is people. The gospel is all about
The gospel is all about people! The reason He came was people! Jesus values people! The church that Jesus Christ is building and establishing on the earth is a Church not made of building materials, traditions, legalistic rituals, religiosity, or mediocrity.
[shareable cite=”@terrylamasters”]The Church is an outward expression of Jesus Christ.[/shareable]It is a Church full of vibrant, abounding, full of life, full of faith, committed to Christ individuals taking the good news in power to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The Church is an outward expression of Jesus Christ.
Here are some principles regarding the Church and Kingdom Citizenship:
1. Citizenship comes through Immigration.
Principle: People everywhere need an invitation to the Kingdom.
Immigration means to enter and settle in a country or region or kingdom to which one is not native. You and I are not native to the kingdom of God. Romans 5:8 says “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We were not born into this kingdom and citizenship only comes through the finished work of Christ. Acceptance to His invitation of salvation is the requirement for citizenship. When citizenship is obtained, you are then subject to the rule and reign of that particular kingdom or government which offers you the maximum rights and benefits available. Citizenship in the kingdom of God means that you submit to the government of God and His principles walking in favor as His children.
It is God’s desire to open up the borders of the church to no longer be exclusive, but to take Him and declare open citizenship into the kingdom of God. We as Christians seem to want to stop people from entering the kingdom by putting up walls and hiding behind them. This is contrary to the will of God. Today the borders of the church are no longer closed, but open to receive all who would declare Jesus as Lord.
A. The kingdom of God requires citizenship.
John 10:7-14 “Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All whoever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”
Colossians 1:13 “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”
There is no dual citizenship.
B. Citizenship in the kingdom of God is open to all.
John 3:15-17 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.
Acts 2:17 “And it shall be in the last days, God says, That I will pour forth My Spirit on all mankind:”
1 Timothy 2:4 “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
C. Citizenship in the kingdom of God is a choice.
Romans 10:13 “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 “If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth you confess and are saved.”
Acts 2:21 “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
D. Citizenship has its benefits.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
2 Timothy 1:10 “but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Matthew 11:5 “the blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”
2. Citizenship in God’s kingdom is your passport.
Principle: Gospel preached worldwide. We have received the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Jesus gave clear direction, to GO! You need a word from God to stay.
Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Acts 1:8 “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
3. Be a Rapid Response Team.
Principle: Stay Alert in the Presence of the Holy Spirit and be ready to move with Him at any time. We need to be ready to listen to the Holy Spirit. A Rapid Response team is ready at a moments notice. They are always ready and prepared and we must have the same responsiveness to the prompting of the Holy Spirit when He calls us.
Acts 2:14 “But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem let this be known to you and give heed to my words.””
Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts 8:29 “then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”
Acts 10:19 “While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold three men are looking for you. But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.”
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;”
4. Put away the microscope and pull out the telescope.
Principle: Maintain Global Mindset and Prayer life to expand the Kingdom. Telescopes were designed to search and seek the expanse of space. We must maintain a larger perspective and increase our prayer life so we can expand the kingdom. Prayer creates expansion.
Colossians 1:9-11 “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy;”
1 Timothy 2:1 “First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men”
