WHEN GOD IS KING
1 Samuel 8:7b God said to Samuel, “They have rejected me as King.”
Ephesians 5:1a Mimic God
Ephesians 5:2a Walk in agape (generous concern)
Ephesians 5:3b no sexual impurity
Ephesians 5:4a no indecent, foolish talk or buffoonery
Ephesians 5:5 the immoral, impure, greedy do not participate in privileges (inherit) in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Who’s your Daddy? Who’s your King? Jesus not only redefined the law with the Twenty Commands and gave His heirs (the royal priesthood) privileges of expositing Divine truths (prophet), He set new standards for the kingdom of God, His kingdom. He said that the kingdom of God is within the fruit-producer (Luke 17:21).
Every time I walk the walk of Jesus and honor His commands by keeping them strict, I produce His luscious fruit of agape, as well as the rest of the Galatian spirit-fruit. The reward for mimicking God is participating in the privileges in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
The people of the Old Testament rejected God as their King, and so a political system of government was established, which has been carried through the length of the ages. Kings and presidents have ruled the lands and the seas, but the kingdom of God has heavenly rules, and Jesus is still King of the kingdom. Any spirit-filled baptized believer can enter and abide in this kingdom, but earthly, worldly ways must be left behind.
In this kingdom, the Twenty Commands are the constitution, and Jesus-walking fruit-producers pledge allegiance to the cross, raising their own like a flag that represents their nation. Anytime a citizen of this kingdom produces spirit fruit, those fortunate enough to be within line of sight can catch a momentary glimpse of the kingdom of God.
Part of the privilege of walking in this kingdom is honoring the uniform of holiness, and behavior matters. Words matter. What we value matters. A commitment to mimicking God will most certainly change a heart, change a lifestyle, correct a habit and transform a mind. New Testament writers give instructions for those who choose to walk in the kingdom of God; honor the worldly kings, pray for government officials, obey the laws of the land. Those were enforced in case the Twenty Commands were ever overlooked, forgotten or ignored, because “Do not judge,” “Shine my light,” “Give to the one who asks” and “Rejoice in persecution,” would ensure the expected behavior of a Jesus-Walker in the kingdom of God.
When God is King, when God is my King, why would I ever "be consumed with thoughts (worried or anxious)." My King provides for me. I manage the money that my King provides for me. Money does not manage me.
When God is King, I keep strict the laws of His land, the Twenty Commands. And problems? Why would I ever doubt that He would solve any problem that comes my way. “Be leisurely unoccupied and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Money, words and sex, how I operate and function within their originally designed purposes separate the sheep of the Shepherd from the goats of the gods. The sheep of the Shepherd hear His Voice and guard behavior as it pertains to money, words and sex. Goats of the gods are foolishly swept away by the sinful nature of the flesh and worldly ways that mankind has decided appropriate.
Pride and ego allow greed to snuff out commands such as “Give to the one who asks” and “Store up treasure in heaven.” Words meant for holiness turn to words of anger and dissension, and foolishness and indecency are loosed like arrows that fill the skies of battle.
Misused purposes of sex can turn to impurity or a retaliation weapons system, neither befitting a Jesus-walker in the kingdom of God. When God is King, the world is a different place, and new rules set another pace. God told Samuel of the Old Testament that the people had rejected Him as their King. How ‘bout now?
