A WORD FOR THE CHURCH: WE ARE TRUE CITIZENS OF ONLY ONE KINGDOM
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A WORD FOR THE CHURCH: WE ARE TRUE CITIZENS OF ONLY ONE KINGDOM
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Where does your heart lie? To whom do you give your allegiance? We are living in a day and age where believers have tried to live as “dual citizens” – living in this world, fully embracing life and culture, compromising to be accepted. All the while, these “dual citizens” are attending church weekly, reading their Bibles, and wanting all the benefits of being believers in Christ.
Our world allows for dual citizenship – where you simultaneously swear allegiance to two different nations – accessing full rights and responsibilities to each. However, some countries do not allow naturalized citizens to maintain dual citizenship. Instead, one must relinquish the citizenship of their home country of origin in order to become a naturalized citizen of certain nations. With these countries, it is assumed that if you vow allegiance to a new nation, that you cannot maintain the same loyalty for another.
Pray with Suni Piper—Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 12:15 pm ET or anytime on Rumble.
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Our God is like those nations. He is a jealous God and He does not accept us bowing down to another. There are NO other gods before Him. I am not speaking anything against being a proud patriot of this land. I am speaking about being “equally committed” to two entirely different entities. Only one can truly have our true allegiance. Where does yours lie?
What the Bible Says About Citizenship
Let’s consider what the Bible has to say about this. Read this passage from Philippians 3 in three different translations:
For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things. But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself, will [not only] transform [but completely refashion] our earthly bodies so that they will be like His glorious, resurrected body. (Phil 3:18-21 AMP)
They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. (Phil 3:19 NLT)
Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him. (Phil 3:17-21 MSG)
But we live in this world, right?
I have given to them Your word [the message You gave Me]; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world and do not belong to the world, just as I am not of the world and do not belong to it. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth. Just as You commissioned and sent Me into the world, I also have commissioned and sent them (believers) into the world. For their sake I sanctify Myself [to do Your will], so that they also may be sanctified [set apart, dedicated, made holy] in [Your] truth. (Jn 17:14-19 AMP)
We are called to be in this world but not of this world. We do not belong here; this is not our home. Our citizenship, our loyalty, and our devotion are to a kingdom that is not of this world – a heavenly home, a place of which we are called to bring to this earth.
Friends, we cannot have it both ways. And chances are, I am speaking to the choir. But there are MANY who are living the LIE that they can have it both ways, that they can straddle the line, without any consequence.
True, it is easier and more socially acceptable to live like those around us, to compromise what we know to be true in order to be accepted by those around us. No one wants to look different, to stand out as “that one.” And yet, isn’t that what we are called to do?
Consider the disciples: Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13 AMP)
Just like the disciples, people should see us and KNOW there is something different about us – whether they like it or not. We are not called to look like everyone around us. We are called to look like Him, like Jesus!
He was radical! He ruffled the feathers of all the highest leaders and put them on edge. He did things that weren’t acceptable (like heal or pick grains on the Sabbath). He was most often kind, gentle, and loving; other times he was bold, confrontational, and unsettling. He wasn’t afraid or worried about other people’s opinions. He lived to do the will of the Father. He lived to uphold the values of the Kingdom and His Lordship.
And then He did the most ludicrous thing! He gave up His own life – willingly, when He could have called on a legion of angels to halt ALL that was coming against Him. He spoke the world into being and He could have spoken one word and silenced every last opposing voice, annihilating His enemy. And yet, isn’t that EXACTLY what He accomplished!? He conquered death! Our God could not stay dead! He has the POWER over sin and death! HIS Name is the Name above all names and it’s at HIS name in which EVERY knee will one day bow.
Friends, we serve a LIVING God, a God who is intimately involved in the affairs of His people – a God who calls us up and out, to reach higher. And we have been created to give praise to His Glory!
The Challenge
So many are straddling the line. Let’s break off the chains. It’s time to lay down complacency, lukewarmness, and tolerance. It’s time to lay down double-mindedness (Jas 1:8). Divided hearts cannot co-exist; at the end of the day, we will each need to decide where our loyalty lies. We cannot live in and FOR this world and receive full benefits of another. It is like a man caught in adultery. He cannot have both; he will have to choose. And there is GREAT risk in that dabbling – that a heart will become hardened. A hardened heart will become desensitized to reality. It will forget how good, mighty, and holy our God is. Perception and understanding will become muddled. Truth will become grey and dull.
As Truth loses its significance, pride will often take over. As one’s affections and attentions divert, self-will unconsciously takes the center-stage of life. As God is pushed off the throne of one’s life self, world, and man focus will becomes the idolization.
Although the context is money, I believe the following verse highlights the fact that we cannot serve “two masters” (God AND this world):
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].” (Mt 6:24 AMP)
We are believers FIRST, patriots second. And the FIRST must have full influence over the other! As HE influences us, we cannot help but be a ripple to the culture around us. We cannot help but usher forth our/His heart’s desire for REVIVAL! Our citizenship/our identity/our value is determined by the Kingdom, not by the world.
Are you all in? Or are you straddling? Who are you building an altar to? Only ONE can sit on that throne! Let the Kingdom be the overflow from which you operate, and HE will make your paths straight – as a citizen, as a neighbor, as a friend, as a family member and yes, even as a patriot!
Share in the comments below how you are able to live “all in” and walk in the fullness of your heavenly citizenship.
Suni Piper is a writer and passionate intercessor for the nation and for the Church. She is determined and surrendered to be a voice of truth and encouragement to the Body of believers. Follow Suni at her website ASurrenderedLife.com. (Photo by Levi Ventura on Unsplash ).
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I remember a warning several years back about the convention of states. Research all that means diligently. Who would be the ones setting the agenda and casting the votes about the changes being made to the constitution. If it is the same folks who have been “elected” the end result would be “unintended consequences.” When I asked a leader if he still saw this problem with convention of states….he confessed was not sure (now) how it would work. Since he is the one that pointed out the problem originally (as an outspoken representative), that was a very troubling answer.
SADLY, many Christians are operating under the FALSE IDEA that we are EITHER a CITIZEN of HEAVEN –OR– A Citizen of America. Actually, Christians are called to be BOTH:
…FIRST and FOREMOST a CITIZEN of Heaven, while also advancing Jesus and His principles in America, preserving America as the “greatest fountainhead” of the Gospel to the nations as we PRAY and WORK together to preserve America’s Biblical foundation (separation of powers–Is. 33:22, consent of the governed–I Tim. 3, private property with Christian charity–Acts 5:4, tax exemption of churches–Ezra 7:24, etc.) and our God-given liberty to share Christ.
IF we Christians fail to “Occupy till Jesus returns” (Lk. 19:13), THEN the wicked (Marxist, socialists, Islamists, climatists, etc.) will RULE the day by default! I believe the LORD will NOT hold those Christians “guiltless” who have sat idly by, being too “cowardly” (Rev. 21:8) to either: 1) boldly share Christ in America and beyond, –OR– 2) stand for Jesus and His principles in EVERY AREA including civil government (which clearly is one of God’s institutions–Rom. 13:1-4).
Where JESUS and His principles (life, marriage, rule of law, etc.) GO, life, health, liberty, order, and blessing FLOW! And the only way for His Kingdom to come on earth is for us Christians to “Occupy till HE returns,” FIRST as CITIZENS of Heaven, AND ALSO as Citizens of America, AND with the leading and help of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 3:6).
It’s NOT and EITHER/ OR situation — we are to be Citizens of BOTH Heaven and America (and Jesus’ Kingdom ALWAYS comes FIRST, AND EVEN EMPOWERS US to “Do business in His behalf” here in America, being “salt and light” for Him!
If you’d ever like to join us for informative and encouraging tele-PRAYER, where we PRAY on SAT. MORNINGS at 8am PT for our leaders and our nation, please dial 951-799-9376 – I’ve been blessed to lead such prayer for many years, and PRAYER in Jesus’ Name IS our first and greatest “lever of influence.”
Reply to “TRUST in JESUS!!” below:
In a perfect world, which is either 1st Eden or 2nd Eden, we will have the ability to be perfect, but so much of your discussion, while academically correct, leaves no room for humanness or grace. As we plod along our earthly path, so much of what we encounter is obviously sin, but so much also has to have perspective. Let’s use your medicine for example. If one has something available that will save a life of a human, should it be utilized – even if one knows that it was manufactured by a “human” company (mostly unbelievers) or developed by known atheists? How far down this rabbit hole do we go? Food production, manipulation & handling? Clothing production? Home products, building & maintenance? The auto industry & the local mechanic? What about the undertaker? oh, yeah, the 2 BIG ones – Military service & cremation?
Each one of these, when examined under a Spiritual microscope can fit into your argument used with pharmaceuticals. Do we throw them all out, then? Let me ask the same question Francis Schaeffer asked “How, then shall we live?” Yeah, a bit out of context, as I’m using it reversed to his discussion, but it works. If we were to live to the standards that you state, we’d need to basically live hermitically, as we couldn’t interact with anything or anyone that even hinted sinfulness. Yet, I’m sure that you’d expect those same sinful people & operations to be available when needed. The soldier/policeman, the baker/grocer, the auto manufacturer/mechanic and on and on INCLUDING medicine, doctors, pharmacists, etc.
Again, if the sinfulness is direct & known, that’s one argument (murder vs. defense) but as with Paul’s discourse on eating meat, if the matter is unknown, inscrutable or so tremendously arduous to obtain information, then I see this to fit Paul’s answer to eat and enjoy. Because something is produced in a sinful situation in a sinful world, us using it in and of itself is not a sinful act.
Thank you so much for such an important reminder.
Eyes Jesus
Eyes Jesus
Eyes Jesus
In the end; nothing else matters.
The LORD Himself said in Matthew 12:30…
“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”
Are we ‘Advancing Christ’s Kingdom’? HOW? Worship, fervent prayer, & sharing our precious faith.
We know why we trust in HIM… and He has delegated to us ‘The Keys of the Kingdom’:
https://zionsgate.wordpress.com/2007/06/09/the-messiah-according-to-the-scriptures/
https://zionsgate.wordpress.com/2007/06/29/the-key-to-evangelism/
ABBA Father, we thank You for Your unspeakable gift of salvation through our LORD Jesus Christ, Your love letter to mankind known as The Holy Bible, and the indwelling Presence of Holy Spirit in our lives. We Praise YOU Alone!
This was beautiful, Suni. Thank you so much.
WOW! This is truly a breath of fresh air! I am hearing so much from the Church about the ‘stolen election’ and very little about Jesus Christ. It is God who puts men in position of authority and it is God who removes them. We have spent so much space putting people down and then in the same breath, praising God. This ought not be. Is Jesus Our Savior or not? Did any political leader die for our sins? Not mine. What are we doing as Salt and Light? We have blended so much into the world system that people can’t see the difference. We have to choose before it’s too late. Time is quickly winding down. “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, ‘How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.’ And the people answered him not a word.” And we wonder why our country is in such a mess. (1 Kings 18:21). The end of all things is near. “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28). Man can’t help us. They need Jesus too. Some of them need to be told that. When you really care about someone, you give them the TRUTH, whether it hurts or not. Their very souls depend on it. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! THANK YOU JESUS! THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT! HALLELUJAH! AMEN!
Even though I find it difficult to even put in words
all that your comments generated in my spirit, first;
and then my mind and my purpose (to give my over-coming
testimony to the greatness of my Lord and Savior, Jesus) –
I will humbly try to express in an acceptable manner
what my response is to this truly encouraging post of
yours. Don’t we see this double-mindedness all around us?
Isn’t it even in our children who are striving so hard to
live in this world and overlooking the very thing that will
enable them to do so? I have (long ago) shed allegiance to
the ways of the world – even to the point of thinking “am
I no earthly good because of being so heavenly-minded?”
But, the Lord always reminds me: “In Him I live and move and
have my being.” The love of God lifts us up and sustains us
no matter what happens. We are so blessed to even speak His
name. I am so thankful for the faithful testimonies of God’s
people and the encouragement that they offer by sharing them
with others. Our great reward comes from leaning and relying
on Him and being confident in Him.
In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
Thank you for so boldly stating what many of our pastors have not. Mine included. I am all in for Christ! What does it look like? Starting my day thanking the Lord for calling me to his heart. Grateful for all he has provided. #1 Putting on my Ephesians 6 armor. Not being afraid to tell my sisters/brothers in Christ that NO I will not get the vax because I trust the Lord not man! Sending my pastor emails asking why we are being fed milk each week when we need meat for such a time as this. Bringing issues I read here to my bible study group for discussion and prayer. Getting involved with My Faith Votes and making calls, writing cards/letters to believers in every state urging them to vote and letting them know others are praying for them. There are polls that show some 25M self identified Christians do not vote regularly.
Joining the prayer team for Convention of States Action, attending local events and making calls to new petition signers in my state. Asking my town’s Republican club to support me in securing a committeeman seat. I missed the deadline for this years school board election, but will prayerfully seek an answer for next year. And of course, sending prayers and emails to our political leaders through IFA.
Yes! This perfectly explains what the Lord has been showing me! The line has been drawn, separating spirit from flesh. The godly from the worldly! We are being called to walk with faith in the spiritual calling over our lives. Too many people have lived straddling the line between spirit and flesh.. it is time to choose and rise up.. the battles are not going to be easy and the evil one will test us but our hope and strength must be in the Lord! We are to show that we are not of the world, only in it.
Also in today’s publication is a discussion of the choices we make as Christians and our rights to claim religious exemptions. If we choose not to have the covid shot, a particular employer argues that we must also ‘across the board’ choose not to use any products that are developed and/or tested by using fetal cell lines. The list is endless of these products…all the way down to the simplest aspirin. Read https://www.liveaction.org/news/vaccines-modern-medicine-end-reliance-fetal-cells/
Many are pain relieving drugs, but then others are life saving drugs. They may be using fetal cell lines from an aborted fetus in the 1970s, but the issue is ‘aborted fetus’ and not whether the cells are in the product but the use of the cells are in the testing and development of the product. We serve one master,Jesus Christ and He alone…thus how can we justify buying any product from a company that supports Planned Parenthood? Do we believe life begins at conception? And that God alone is the giver and taker of life? I for one, would be curled up in pain in some corner begging to die but for medication (and not even opiates) or I would have stroked out long ago without blood pressure medications. How do we reconcile this question of ‘dual citizenship’ in light of all this? We see so many places in Scripture where God will use evil for good. Pharoah and Judas Iscariot leap to mind. He does not want us to be useless to Him for lack of an ‘aspirin’.
A lot here… I’ve argued all this to myself, too. One thing about the “aborted fetus” argument that my wife (works in Pharma industry for major company) reminded me of is that this fetus, although aborted, was as likely to have been a “spontaneous” abortion as a forced abortion. No one knows, there are no records of this and using spontaneous abortion fetuses are basically the same as offering one’s body for science. I hope that when I pass, that my wife/kids do offer my body that someone else can gain from it. So, that decision is going to have to be made by each of us on incomplete information.
To me, at this point, the argument reminds me of Paul discussing meat offered to idols. If your faith in the development of these drugs & vaccines leads that you’re ok not knowing the true status of the fetus, then take the shot & pills, while if your faith dictates to you that not knowing is just as wrong as knowing, then so be it. I don’t see that there’s any cut & dry argument, so base it on your faith, NOT feelings, stand firmly, but don’t be condemning your brother/sister for their faith being a touch different. They are still children of God, saved through the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ and this issue will not change that fact.
I do believe there is grace for the unknown but this is a dry run for the mark of the beast so the Body of Christ MUST discern the truth here! The devil will tell people it will be good for their health to take the mark. When that day comes there will be no grace for those who say they didn’t know what was actually in it or what they were doing. It will be too late, that’s why Jesus said DON’T be deceived! Remember to avoid the yeast that leavens the whole loaf! Sin contaminates what it touches but when God cleanses something He removes the sin, He does not justify it! I think Paul was referring to the power that Jesus blood is powerful enough to cleanse any witchcraft put on something so for those whose faith says, God has purified it, they should partake but I don’t think that means we should partner with murder just because “some” babies were miscarried. When did those babies say it was ok to kill them and harvest their bodies? Even if someone already born and old enough to consent did, is that what God wants them to do, no! What they are doing with these babies IS NOT research, it is from hell! Many in the medical field have conformed to the world’s ways so much, they don’t see the problem with what they are doing because they “think” they are doing good. God will NEVER give a cure for something by using other humans as a sacrifice. He HATES human sacrifice! He said in scripture it NEVER entered HIS mind. He also said people will think they are doing Him a service but it will be evil they are doing, not good. Just tell your wife to be very careful, it is called a deception for a reason, one “thinks” they are fine. Be open for God to tell you if you are wrong about something. It may mean someone has to leave the field of work they are in or make a big change in life or belief but Jesus, life, and truth ARE worth it! We MUST humble ourselves and repent, RIGHTLY divide the Word by HOLY SPIRIT, and be open to be corrected which can be very uncomfortable at times. Sometimes we’ve been involved in evil and didn’t even realize it. Yes, Jesus blood cleanses away ALL evil but that doesn’t mean He wants us to keep sinning. I plea the blood of Jesus over my family and ALL things pertaining to our entire existence everyday including what we intake into our bodies because of such contamination but I also tell Him if I need to change my thinking about something or throw something away, tell me and help me so I am HOLY as He is HOLY! God loves you and wants you ONLY rooted in Him who is the TRUTH! Be blessed! All is meant with the love of Christ!
I’m not going to argue against the Biblical aspects of what you’re saying, but a couple of your ideas. One – where in the Bible does it say that we cannot donate our bodies for science /research? If that grieving parent back in ’73 spontaneously aborted and chose to donate, that’s up to her & God. You push the forced abortion instead, which is not my premise.
These arguments can go so many different directions. Clothing produced in overseas factories by virtual slaves, Where food is being produced & how. These arguments present themselves almost daily and this is why the meat offered to idols comes into play. We make moral choices every day. God gave us free choice and then a brain to think through things. We each wrestle through our own salvation, as no one else can do that for you, and by such, that wrestling gives you the spiritual strength and wisdom to proceed in life. If one is always spending their time looking back 50 years ago trying to find reasons for/against, then one is not facing today’s issues and today’s opportunities to worship & serve & witness our Great God.
If we knew for certain that this tissue was from forced abortion, then there’s a mountain to stand on. As we don’t know positively, then it cannot be a mountain, but an individual hill that in the long run (just as the meat issue) doesn’t affect one’s salvation but a daily choice of how strict your moral law is going to be (legalism vs grace).
Not every sin is listed in the Bible, but we can deduce from scripture what is sin and not. Abortion itself is not mentioned in scripture but it IS MURDER none the less and so SIN. What I’m saying is donating your body when you don’t know what they are actually doing with it, is not good. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, it contains the very building blocks of your human existence (DNA). I don’t think it should go into the hands of a mostly atheistic field that doesn’t, as a whole accept God, His authority or limits to what man OUGHT to do, for them to do “research” on it. I believe God will be revealing the truth about a lot of things we though were ok that haven’t been the whole time and God wants to clean His House which is us and His footstool which is the Earth. I understand what you are saying, I just feel differently. Praise God for His grace but it has to be accepted as He meant it, to ENABLE us to live HOLY, not shove sin under a rug. I’m not saying that’s how you use grace, just making the point. Legalism is from the devil to try to condemn people so they are afraid of God and therefor end up with no relationship with Him. The relationship is the POWER that changes you. Jesus destroyed man’s “religion” on the cross to bring us into Daddy’s loving, forgiving arms to propel us into HIS plans for our lives. I believe God will tell His people what they NEED to know and enable them to make the things that ACTUALLY HELP the body WITHOUT HARM and done in a HOLY way! That’s what it means for His Kingdom to come and will to be DONE on Earth AS it IS in Heaven, for it to be done His way, NOT man TRYING to FIGURE it out. WE MUST let HIM GUIDE how WE do things. Adam was given dominion over the Earth to subdue it and take care of it as Daddy God, Jesus (The Word), and Holy Spirit did in Heaven! He and we were and are SUPPOSED to COPY HIM and do the exact same as He did but they failed and so we failed BUT through Christ have been given the ability to fulfill His original assignment bring HIS ways to the Earth even in this fallen state. That’s what Christ prayed for and He will have His way! He said ALL things are POSSIBLE with GOD, and I only do and say what I hear and see My Father do and say! We are to be the same! There is a right way to make medication and a wrong way which is the devil’s counterfeit called witchcraft. A lot of “medication’ make people lose their mind or causes other illness! I can tell you God is NOT behind medications that make people sick! That’s all I mean is that God is HOLY and commands us to be HOLY and HE enables us through Christ in us and Holy Spirit! Be NOT conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. THEN you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? All I am saying is we are to be TRANSFPRMED into HIS full likeness to be as He is and I think Paul is talking about the journey, the walk but we MUST always GROW! Paul extends grace to the believer as they walk out their salvation but we can’t be so set in OUR ways that when God says “My ways are higher, come up here and see how and what I see” that we miss it! Again we are all on our own journey, just prepare yourselves to be shocked by the exposure that GOD is bringing and is about to pour out to ALL areas of influence! He is about to bring MUCH change, setting up HIS Kingdom RULE on the Earth of which will be completed WHEN Jesus returns!
First of all, no employer or government gets to dictate what foreign substance goes into one’s body. Modern medication IS the problem! We NEED God to purify it, keeping only what He ordained and trashing the rest! I believe God can use HIS medication to help people but not all “medication” comes from Him. The word pharmacy comes from the word pharmakeia Strong’s #5331: pharmakeia from 5332; medication (“pharmacy”), i.e. (by extension) magic (literally or figuratively):–sorcery, witchcraft. That means much is downright evil. God WILL NEVER mingle Himself with darkness. There is a difference between God TURNING an evil act and using it for good as He did with Joseph versus God mingling with it for good which He’ll never do, He can’t, He’s HOLY. His Holiness destroys evil. If ANYONE or company/group of people are using babies or humans of any age to test on or build a so called “treatment” on that is a DESECRATION of a human body and IS SIN and NOT acceptable to the Lord. I believe God Himself has already paid for your healing through Jesus on the cross because God says so and CANNOT lie. Try confessing His promises over your life and taking communion everyday BELIEVING He has ALREADY healed you. The devil just doesn’t want you to know it and so tries to keep you form receiving it in this life. You can, through Christ, go off those medications for good! Whatever ungodly deeds that are taking place in the world, WE as CHRISTIANS should be praying against it and binging it so it MUST be removed, releasing God’s plans to fill ALL. We are to PARTNER WITH God to bring HIS Kingdom to the Earth AS it is in Heaven. So we can’t have an attitude of “well there’s just junk everywhere so whatever” because we are told to be light and salt. I have sought the Lord about these things myself because so much is contaminated by the devil. I think we start with what we know and we KNOW they use murdered babies whose bodies were desecrated for ALL the shots, old and new so that means no more shots of any kind and trust in GOD to KEEP your body, NOT man. We MUST become the church that lays our hands on the sick and they SHALL recover, that is a FAITH filled church not fear based church. Pray for God to cleanse what needs to be cleansed and destroy what needs to be destroyed. For His Kingdom to come and light to shine in ALL places for ALL MUST bow in submission to Jesus! Even the pharmaceutical companies! It’s our job to call them out in the spirit and God WILL take care of it!!
Try to remember Jesus alone heals. Thank him many times a day for healing you. Find every alternative to treat things naturally. Be peace and be love. Do not be fearful
Oddly, to me, currently, the opposite is true.
Many Christians are overwhelmed with the evil that has taken over our country and are not sure what to do about it because we don’t want to have to leave our “comfort zone” where we allowed others to rule us without our participation or consent.
Yes, being tempted to be “worldly” and being “overcome with the cares of the world” is always something we must guard against. But that does not give us the freedom to ignore what is going on in the world (and our country) and sit by, asking God to fix it or saying that it is His Will that are country is destroyed because of our many sins. It is our duty AS Christians to be good stewards of the Gospel and by so doing we will support and defend what is good about our country. Waiting for the return of Jesus as our solution smacks of fear and apathy and an unwillingness to stop being worldly and comfortable and confront the evil that is upon us. Jesus said that “happy is the man who is doing his Master’s business when the Master returns.” In short, this pleases God.
This is still God’s world under attack and we are called to be Stewards of it. Although I believe in the authority and divine inspiration of Scripture, there are times when we must get perspective as to the context of when it was written. Jesus and Paul lived under the world domination of Rome and we have been blessed to live in a country that believes in individual freedom (which history shows that God has given us).
Consequently, when I read “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” I hear a principle that can be applied to our modern times. For Americans, what is required of us is to participate in our government, not ignore it or avoid our duty as citizens to protect it and defend it, while keeping our allegiance to Christ foremost in our hearts and minds. To do so makes us exemplary citizens and examples of courage and faith to the world. Walking away is not an option.
I agree with you Carol. I don’t believe we should ever sit on the sidelines and that we should be fully invested in government and culture. I believe our walk should infiltrate the world around us, as we stand confidently and boldly on the frontlines! Blessings to you.
Thank you. As if often the case there is a tension between our time here on Earth and our time with the Lord and achieving a balance is a challenge. Without keeping my eyes on Jesus, I could not face the evil that is trying to engulf the entire world but would sink beneath the waves of worldly cares.
My concern is there are Christians that either won’t or can’t deal with the evil that is around us and are not willing to at least keep informed so that we can pray and obey. Frankly, it disturbs me that there is not more fervent praying going on in our churches and from the pulpit about these evil attacks from Satan. Pretending that somehow we will return to “life as normal” or defeat what is happening around us without heartfelt prayers to God Almighty is doubtful. We need to stop being afraid of being political and get Spiritual about the Satanic attacks on our country.
You cannot serve two masters. You will love one and despise the other. God and money cannot both be served. We must make a choice who we will serve. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Book of Joshua.
Let that be the cry of our hearts!
Being in the world, but not of the world, is not an easy thing that we are called to do. I must confess that I often fail at following this admonition. Thank you, Suni, for this convicting article. By Your grace and mercy, Lord, please help me to live as a Christian whose citizenship is in heaven. Help me to not get caught up in the trappings of this life, as the Enemy would like me to do. I also know, that if this is a struggle for me, that it must be so for many other Christians. Please send Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin, especially in this area, which covers every aspect of our lives. In Jesus’ holy name.
Yes Brian! Thank you Father for the gift of Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the ways in which we should go!
Dear Lord, please help us Christians be in the world but not of the world. Help us to know where our true citizenship is. We know this earth is Not our home and open our eyes and help us realize to look differently to the world who is watching us. Let us Not be dual-Christians. There are no other gods except You. In Jesus name, amen.
Amen Vickie! No others gods before you Lord. YOU alone are the King of my heart!
1) I AGREE that we are first and foremost CITIZENS of Heaven (Jesus’ eternal Kingdom), 2) BUT that in no way precludes our ALSO being active Citizens of the United States of America (the nation that God designed to give the greatest degree of religious, economic, and civil liberty to its Citizens ever known in human history, for the advancement of the Gospel worldwide).
1) We are focused on our Heavenly destination and sharing Christ with others FIRST, 2) BUT are ALSO concerned with preserving America’s Biblical and Constitutional foundation (which is derived from Scripture) and our God-given liberty to freely share Christ in the future.
1) We are zealously anticipating and watching for Jesus’ return while 2) ALSO sharing Christ at every opportunity while PRAYING for our leaders and nation (I Tim. 2:1-4, II Chron. 7:13-14) and WORKING to elect God-fearing leaders (Exod. 18:21, Luke 19:13) who will preserve America’s Biblical foundation and our God-given liberty to evangelize.
IT IS A PROBLEM when Christians are hyper-focused, for example, on eschatological studies, BUT are not actively engaged in Kingdom work of: 1) sharing Christ, 2) and protecting America’s Biblical foundation by PRAYING for our leaders and nation and WORKING to elect God-fearing leaders.
YES, we’re excited about going to Heaven someday (hopefully soon — “please come quickly Lord Jesus”), BUT we must be “About our Father’s business” down here on earth as American Citizens, using our precious liberty to witness for Christ, elect Godly leaders so we can freely win MORE souls for Him, and OCCUPY till HE returns.
REMEMBER that the Pilgrims wrote (on Nov. 20, 1620) that the purpose for the Plymouth Colony and the colonization of North AMERICA was, “For the glory of God and Advancement of the Christian faith.”
YES, we’re Citizens of Heaven FIRST, BUT ALSO prayerful active Citizens of the USA here and now, seeking to use ALL of our God-given American LIBERTY and AFFLUENCE to continue to be the nation of greatest INFLUENCE for the Gospel presently.
You stated it correctly. This should be shouted from the rooftop of every Bible believing, Spirit filled church in America. Despite what the politically charged schools are teaching, lets teach that factual history lesson of the founding of our nation to young and old alike. I am finding even many senior citizens have forgotten!
Mark – Thank you for commenting, for you are absolutely right in all you shared! I am in full agreement with you. I am a proud American and carry my mantle as a believer boldly and confidently into the public square. Both my identity as a believer AND as an American (with our deep, Christian roots) influence how I carry myself, decisions I make and even how I teach my children.
My heart is broken over the many believers who have allowed the scales to tip into allowing the world/culture/agendas to influence their decisions, their stance and their fight. I have watched proud Americans lay down their faith in their fight – and then pick it back up over the weekend. My heart is that HE takes the center stage, that the scale is tipped towards the Kingdom and that everything else falls into line behind that. If we cannot confidently walk with Him by our side, we may need to check how our motives, our words and our actions might come off – not only to the world, but also to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
There is so much division in the Church today and I feel many are fighting battles not aligned with HIM as the anchor.
Thank you for your heart Mark. It put the Great Commission at the healm!
Blessings,
Suni