Kingdom Living

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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Three Times

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , , ,
“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said,“ My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

three1

How do you know when you have prayed and received confirmation from God?

There are scriptures that state we should continue to pray and ask and never quit (Matthew 7:7). This is true. Persistence and patience is rewarded by our Lord. Yet when you receive the same specific reply three different times, maybe it’s time to accept the answer.

For example, we don’t know the specifics of Paul’s request (2 Corinthians 12:8) except that it was a pain to his flesh. Some think it may have something to do with his eyes. Others feel it may have been a demon assigned to agitate him. It could have been some chronic ailment that he received as a byproduct of all the shipwrecks and beatings he received during his ministry. What it was doesn’t really matter.

He asked and received the same reply three times. Rather than continue to make requests unto the Lord, he contentedly accepted God’s answer in obedience and faithfully moved forward.

Another example is Jesus Christ himself. On the night he was betrayed (Matthew 26), he spent three hours making three requests with His Father to find another way to fulfill the mission. Yet after the third prayer, He accepted His Father’s answer and the rest is history.

After his resurrection, Jesus met with Peter (John 21) and asked him three times whether or not “He loved Him.” Though this was for Peter’s sake, who previously denied Jesus, now Peter confirms that he loves him.

Peter witnessed the same vision three times (Acts 10) which confirmed the Lord’s decree that all men are included in His work of salvation.

Three identical replies seems to be the number for confirmation. So if you are looking for confirmation from the Lord, you now know when to stop praying and start obeying.

 

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Consultant, Coach, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married

Entitlement

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,
 ” …all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:15-17 ESV

entitlements 3

 

Where are we taught that the world owes us something?  That government, church, or business exists to satisfy our desires? What does life owe us besides our existence? Are we entitled  to fulfill all our dreams? These are some questions people may ask from the position of “what’s in it for me?”

Like a spoiled child, we believe all our desires and dreams should be instantly gratified.  When they are not, we become emotionally belligerent.  We turn our resentment against whomever has denied us our “rights.”  Whether it is our boss, mate, parent, government, and yes even God.  However, like a repented spoiled child, we learn over time to appreciate and be grateful for what we have. But for most of us, it takes time for the heart to morph into a channel of thankfulness.

One of life’s lessons we eventually come to realize is this world doesn’t exist solely for you and I. The Bible states that the world was created for Jesus Christ.  We are simply his invited stewards.

It is Jesus Christ who surrendered his eternal home on a mission for his Father. Faithfully and courageously he fought the battles of life to overcome Satan, Sin, and Death. He substituted His vicarious life for ours. He redeemed humanity from their initial rebellion against grace. His victory is humanity’s win. He earned the right for supreme leadership as King of all kings and Lord of all lords. He is earth’s and heaven’s ultimate Ruler and Judge.

So what are we entitled too?

How about the opportunity to live?  Even though the quality and quantity is limited by many outside factors beyond one’s control, born in a favorable family or government increases ones odds. However, there is no guarantees under the sun. The results of what we pursue and chase after may or may not occur. Only physical death (and some say taxes, but if you have no qualified income, taxes are legally avoidable) is absolute.  Therefore, the only thing we are truly entitled too is the opportunity to live and die.

Everything else is only because of God’s unmerited favor. In fact, because of God’s grace, those who have gladly chosen to accept his authority have the guarantee of the 1st resurrection.  Otherwise, all other perceived entitlements are simply desires that blind and rob us from a more intimate relationship with our Creator: whose blessings are more than enough to handle in this life.

 

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Consultant, Coach, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married