Are You Kingdom Minded?

The last several days, the Lord has been really pressing on my heart for Kingdom-mindedness. Between Saturday and Sunday, in a dream, I kept hearing the scripture “you will be my witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the utter ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) I would wake up, and hear it again, and again, and again. I woke up with a vision in mind, something to equip and inspire our people here at First Christian, Murfreesboro to be Kingdom minded workers for the Gospel. Yesterday, I met with several brothers in Christ in a neighboring town, and we spoke to that same effect: building the Kingdom as God’s Church, not our congregations.

Loved ones, many times, we think we’re helping God, but we’re acting antithetical to Scripture. In my own ministry I thought that if I preached through the Bible, chapter and verse like some of the great expository preachers, or if I just did it this way or that way, then I was being faithful. My mandate, as a Gospel preacher, though, is to preach the Gospel and equip and train the saints for the work of ministry. I want to be fully conformed to God’s ways. The world is always changing, and the more and more I trust in Jesus, the more radical I will seem. But if I am sold out to Christ, then the things of this world do not matter; God will provide the means if He is the One sending!

So today, I’m pledging to be radical in my Kingdom-mindedness, not by way of lip service, but in thought and action. I will not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but I will be transformed by the renewing of my mind. I will take every thought captive, indeed, I will test every word, thought and action against Scripture, and if I am found lacking, then I will change my mind toward Scripture, and seek to be like Christ in all I do. How about you? Will you join me? Will you give your life, mind, soul and body to the One who died and rose again for you? It’s time to go all in. There is world that is perishing, and Jesus is the cure!

Romans 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.