Just because something is labeled ‘church’, it doesn’t mean that it is ‘Kingdom’. In fact, we must search our hearts and ensure that we are building one kingdom only, and that is the Kingdom of God.
I’ll never forget our youth pastor saying, ‘check the fruit… the evidence is in the fruit’. The fruit is not in the size of a church/organization but in the fruit of the people. Are they empowered, are they free, are they growing into maturity? Is the church/organization focused on building people or building themselves? Are they operating from a place of unity bonded in love, or are they breeding competitors, fighting for positions? Are they leading as servants, or are they leading servants?
Do they consider the personal lives of their members, or are they using ‘servanthood’ as an excuse for ‘ministry’ abuse? Are their people weighed down by burdens and chains to feed the camouflaged ambitions of leaders, manipulating, controlling with smiles and graces?
Church-building is not necessarily Kingdom-building. For the Kingdom of God is filled with leaders who stop to listen, with ears bent low to hear the whispers of widows, and cries of the poor. They seek out sons to mentor and father, looking beyond themselves into the future, walking as stewards of this generation.
They empower, they build, they push forward others. For they see potential, hidden as it may seem, speaking life and destiny over every living being.
Let’s embrace this Kingdom Model in all that we do. Let’s become God’s Kingdom builders in our nation.
Galatians 5:16-26
Keep in Step with the Spirit16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,21envy,d drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who doe such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
