God's government

Engage God’s Government

Dr. Mike 2024 , , , ,

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.   Romans 14:17

The gospel message of the Kingdom of God was a strong motivating influence for the early Church. When you read the Book of Acts, the good news being preached was about Jesus Christ and HIS Kingdom (Acts 8:12, 28:13, 28:31). Whether a Jew or a Gentile, the message resonated to the people who lived under an authoritative government. If you were a Roman citizen, you had special privileges. If you were the other two/thirds of the population, you struggled to put food on the table for your family. But if you expressed your allegiance to Caesar, submitted yourself to the government, you had a better chance to survive.

In this pagan culture of many gods, entered the message of Jesus and HIS Kingdom. The Jewish messiah who was raised from the dead. When walking on earth, taught a way of life contrary to the norm. HE perform miracles healing people from major diseases and even raising them from the dead. He claim to be a king. But HIS kingdom was not yet of this world, but to appear in the future. Until then though, one could live under its rule and benefit from its presence.

Enter today. HIS government is still available. I became more familiar with its operations and methods as a student of organizational leadership. While working on my graduate degree in management, I was challenged by our professor. He taught us over a thirteen week period all the latest theories and methods of leading people within organizations. But concluded the course with the statement that none of it actually works. The proof is in the real world. His final statement for us was to go out into the world and discover what does work.

When he made that statement, the Holy Spirit must have convicted me. Then and there I accepted the challenge to show how God’s Kingdom is the best way to lead people and manage systems. The rest is now history.

At the time there were few books on business and faith. So one had to do their research through the pages of the Bible. And so I did. That started a stewardship career leading organizations with a Kingdom of God perspective. Yes, I made some poor judgements in the process. But learned. We witness how living and working under the umbrella of God’s Kingdom allows one to witness God’s amazing grace in action.

In hindsight, most people want God’s gift of joy and peace in their world. But, don’t want HIM. They believe through their own efforts they can make themselves happy. They can make themselves tranquil.  They can experience godliness apart from the Maker. So they work hard. They manipulate circumstances their way. They use people as the means to their end. And yes, they may reap material prosperity along the way, but their inner-world is in turmoil. The stress and tension leaves them looking twenty years older than they are. Their outer world looks impressive. But their inner-world hurts.

When one lives under the tutelage of Jesus Christ, one obtains the benefits of HIS domain and HIS Spirit. As one builds a relationship with the King of the Heavens, one finds a teacher, Lord, and friend along the way. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, one inherits a whole list of good things (read the first chapter of Ephesians). One is blessed beyond measure. One’s life becomes full of the fruit of HIS Spirit. Yes, one learns when one seeks HIS Kingdom first, HE can be trusted. HIS promises of all the other necessary needs also come packaged together.

You may want to read Brother Lawrence’s classic book, The Practice of the Presence of God. He lived a life as a friar serving in the kitchen of a monastery. To him, the kitchen was like a chapel. He experienced God’s presence while he prepared meals and worked to keep the kitchen in operation. He shows how we can do likewise in our everyday life.

So if you haven’t yet learned how to live under the presence of Lord Jesus and HIS Kingdom, give it a try. Ask HIM to show you how and then begin.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

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Role of Government

Dr. Mike 2024 , , ,

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.   Isaiah 9:7

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Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.   Psalm 89:14

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Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.   Matthew 6:10

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Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.   Matthew 25:34

Most governments operate from a top-down sphere. Those at the top exercise lordship. They control others to produce the end result they desire. God’s government though operates differently. HE works through the hearts of all. God unleashes the individual to serve others. The govern lead by following the Spirit that resides in them.

Today’s government bureaucrats design systems to benefit themselves rather than the citizen. Visit any DMV and notice how the center of their operations are the employees, not the citizen. Policies are established for the employee sake, not the citizen. When one enters the room, one quickly recognizes the bureaucracy of the process. The citizen is expected to jump through all the hoops to make it easier for the government employee.

Likewise, standards are established for the masses. But if you are a privileged person, you get preferred treatment. Everyone must follow the rules except those who they determine don’t have too. Justice is now determined by those in power.  Those citizens who don’t agree with their viewpoint are treated as second-class peons.

As a society, we have murdered the concept of justice and righteousness. We ignore the Creator’s instructions for human relationships and governmental operations. The end result is people suffer. When a society loses sight of the government’s primary purpose, the people always suffer.

Those in power pursue ambitions rather than altruistic service to their fellow citizens. Again, they have thrown out God’s instructions of leadership. In its place, they follow principles of lordship.

If they knew God, they would see the beauty of HIS ways. They would recognize the importance of justice and righteousness for all. They would be committed to serve their fellow citizens in love and faithfulness. They would seek what is best for all rather than reward their personal donors. They would not make exceptions that would only benefit a few. Justice would be blind. The same rule would apply to the rich and poor. The formally educated or uneducated. The right extremist and well as the left ones. The liberal and the conservative. Everyone would abide by the same standards.

This is how God’s government operates. Everyone is included under Jesus Christ. He is King. His word and purpose is the standard of righteousness and justice. As we follow HIM, he shares HIS Spirit within us. We follow the lead of the Holy Spirit. There are very few rules and laws to follow in God’s Kingdom. Everyone is treated with love and respect. Everyone is a child of the living God and thus is valued by God and others within HIS government.

Bureaucracy doesn’t not exist in God’s government. Each citizen serves the other as they would want to be served. But of course, human nature doesn’t want God’s Spirit leading them. They want the benefits without the responsibility and accountability. They want to be lord of the house. But they lack the character and willpower to lead and serve like Jesus. They do not want to be told what to do. But rather create the rules for others to follow. They are above the rules. They are the exception. They are the elite.

What they don’t see is how blind, poor, and ignorant they are. They compare themselves to others in their insecurity. But when they look in the mirror of Jesus, they fall short. So they destroy the mirror and live in their self-denial and fantasy world of make believe. The sad truth though, they inflict pain and suffering on those they lead or influence. If they ran a business, the owner would fire them. But because they are in a position of power, there is no one in their way.

God’s government, HIS Kingdom, sets the standard for all to follow. When practiced, the people prosper. When ignored, the people suffer. I pray that HIS Kingdom fully comes sooner than later.  

PS: For those who want an in-depth study of Biblical principles of government, the Institute for Principle Studies offers a course. I have no association with their organization and only make this suggestion for those who want to know more. There link is: https://principlestudies.org/product/biblical-principles-of-government-course/

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

Books By Dr. Mike:

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved

Kingdom Living

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Back in graduate school, I was challenged by our professor to find the means to motivate and create a winning culture within an organization. He spent 13 weeks discussing various concepts and theories of organizational leadership then currently being exercised within the workplace. His conclusion on the last week of class was none of them effectively work and laid out the challenge for those of us willing to accept to find out what does work. I accepted the challenge right then and there.

So, over the next thirty years, with six different corporate operations, I made business my ministry and began the journey of how best to implement God’s ways in the marketplace. I wasn’t perfect. I made mistakes. But I leaned on Christ and learned.

The conclusion of the matter: ownership always loved the results, but the majority of company leaders disapproved of bringing godliness into the workplace. Their response in many cases was “what does God have to do with business?”

The fact is – everything. One college study demonstrated that almost 50% of the profitability of an organization is the result of its culture. God’s ways when properly implemented produces the fruit of successful Kingdom living. The byproduct is both personal and communal freedom, flourishment, and fulfillment.

Personal freedom is found only in Jesus Christ. When one begins to recognize the foundation of identity comes from being made in God’s image, and when we reflect HIS glory, we are able to separate the temporary roles of life from the permanency of belonging as a child of HIS. Parenthood, Spouse, Executive, Electrician, Computer Programmer, Consultant, Teacher, etc. are simply roles we fulfill. They are not who we are but what we do. We are children of the Creator God who longs for a human family.  When we accept the fact we are included in Christ, then we begin to experience our true identity. We participate with HIM in daily work, knowing we are in union with HIM and are in fellowship with others who likewise belong to God. 

The result is practicing the means of flourishment which comes from strategically serving others. Jesus taught servant-leadership. Taught those who want to be great must prioritize serving others before themselves. His way is of mutual submissiveness with each other. An attitude of respecting and lifting up others. Throughout Scriptures, HIS teachings emphasize relationships and good work from a Godly mind/heart centered perspective.  

As one walks with the Lord, one grows in spiritual maturity and may accumulate physical wealth in the process. You know you are wealthy when you have more than you need to sustain one’s life. The amount isn’t necessary how one measures wealth, but how one uses the resources at their disposal. You may be financially wealthy, but bankrupt spiritually. For true Fulfillment comes by blessing others from your storage house. And hopefully your storage house includes a substantial amount of love, joy, and peace which comes from God’s Spirit living in you. After you had a taste of God’s character, and realize the more you share HIM with others, the more HE gives you, and the more you continual give others, the richer you become in finding fulfillment in the everyday routine of living life. Jesus stated that it is more blessed to give than receive. That is where real fulfillment comes from.

Yes, after you learn to live as an Ambassador of God’s Kingdom in a dark, secular world, and begin to show the love of God before you speak about HIS love, the more your actions and words will carry with those you live with, work with, and play with. And as God showers HIS grace upon you, and opens favorable doors for you, and directs your steps toward living out your micro purpose within HIS macro plans, HIS Kingdom becomes more real within the culture of your world. And like a little mustard seed, your world will grow through the influence of HIS Spirit within you and HIS Kingdom will be recognized by the people around you.

Living life within HIS Kingdom begins with Jesus as the central core of everything you do. He will lead you as you submit to HIM. He will open the doors for you and bring people into your world that you will enrich and they you. God’s Kingdom is what the world needs. One day our entire world will be encompassed by the ways of HIS Kingdom. Until then, we have the honor and privilege to live out HIS ways as we colonize the small pockets of humanity which we currently share space with on this third rock from the sun.   

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager & Author of e-Books 

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