Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Kingdom thinking will compel us to embrace our secular communities and in so doing will bring the Kingdom of God to bear in those communities.

Two examples of this: A brother that I know is a contractor-building hotels, commercial buildings, etc. The company that he worked for was owned by Muslims from Pakistan. This brother was exhibiting the Kingdom of God in the work place. He would pray over his job and he let it be known to the Muslim owners who his God was and gave Him the credit for the wisdom given to get the job done.

What was this brother doing? He was embracing the secular world around him – his work place and demonstrating the principles of the Kingdom of God. He was not a preacher or a great orator, but he could build and he gave God the credit.

Satan has broken this world into little kingdoms and through the bars of acceptance and rejection he holds people prisoners in these kingdoms. The Kingdom of God must invade these kingdoms and set the prisoners free.

We read that “the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) When we enter the secular society around us we are bringing into the mix the Kingdom of God.

Another example is when I worked in India with the movement that I am in. When it was time to travel back to the States I went to Calcutta and there found an American commercial ship that was headed to the States. I was able to get a job on the ship and for the next six weeks I was in the midst of another kingdom – a kingdom of sailors.

It was quite an experience to be among these rough men. I decided that I would not preach, but go about my duties. I would get up in the morning and do what I have always been doing: have my quiet time. The only cool place on the ship was the dining room and so I would be there with a cup of coffee and have my time in the Word. These sailors would get up and come in and see me reading the Word. At the time they did not say anything, but later I noticed that there was a change. Some would begin to ridicule me, but others began to seek me out and this gave me a chance to share the Gospel with them that resulted in at least one making a public confession for Christ.

What happened? I was dropped into the midst of a very secular society of merchant seamen and because the Kingdom of God within me – truth and righteousness – was prevalent and invaded that kingdom of the world. However, this is not unique just with me, but is true of every believer. Everyone, young or old, in school or job in the midst of a secular society has the kingdom of God within.

Two things come out here. First, as believers with the kingdom of God within we need to make sure that we are seeking first the kingdom of God in our lives. Secondly, we need to be taught on how to give a response about the hope that is within us when people ask questions. This is where the equipping of the saints comes in.

We need to be training the members of our churches to not only embrace their communities with humility, but how to exhibit the kingdom of God in their midst.

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

In one sense Kingdom thinking is bringing in or working towards a ‘new Christendom.’ What I mean by this is that we desire to interweave Biblical precepts into our culture, society and nation. Not only do we want to see people saved, but being the salt and light in the area where they are located, by bringing Biblical principles into their situation.

We mentioned in our last weekly letter: If we want to live straight, we have to think straight. If we want to think straight, we have to have renewed minds. We can add that if we want to see righteousness and truth being played out in our society then we will need people who are righteous through the sacrifice of Christ presenting truth (through an understanding of the Word of God) in the midst of all the fallacies and falsehoods.

Our society in the West as well as many others throughout the world is characterized by what Isaiah described in Isaiah 59:14,15 “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.” Is this what God wants? I do not think so. Kingdom thinking wants to see and bring a change.

God is the One who creates, judges, redeems and perfects, but we are admonished to go, preach and bring the Gospel to every people group in the world and to make disciples that will shine in their community and bring about the change the Lord wants – places where righteousness and truth prevail. It is not enough to just see people changed through the Gospel, but to see them mentored and equipped for the ministry.

Kingdom thinking is to know what the fear of the Lord is. Job 28:28 “And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord — that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'”

Kingdom thinking recognizes in human experience two major realities – good and evil. Though not being equal they do dominate life here on earth. To one God brings human fulfillment and the other, evil, human alienation and despair. Kingdom thinking recognizes both and has the right attitude and evidence of loving God and hating evil.

Secularism which has taken over most of the West today not only dethrones God, but it also destroys human beings. Secularism is a closed worldview which denies God and even glories in a spiritual vacuum it creates. TS Eliot was right to call it a wasteland.

The Christian mind is a humble mind. When Nebuchadnezzar was strutting around his palace like a peacock claiming for himself instead of God the kingdom, the power and glory, he went mad. It was only when he acknowledged the rule of God did his sanity come back. Pride and madness go together, so do humility and sanity.

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Kingdom thinking embraces a Biblical worldview that takes in all of life. There is no Agnostic Greek view of Scripture that regards only spiritual things as important.
Scripture clearly brings out that the earth is the Lord’s and not Satan’s. Satan might have usurped Adam, but God is the Creator. Psalms 24:1,2 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”

We also read that the Word became flesh and because of that the material world is sacred as well. Genesis 2:15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

In Romans 12 Paul states that we need the renewing of our mind. In this passage in Romans we have an alternative. One way, is to be conformed to this world or age – to its standards its values and its goals. Or, we can be renewed in our mind which will enable us to discern and accept God’s will. If we want to live straight, we have to think straight. If we want to think straight, we have to renew our minds with the truth in God’s Word. (Romans 12:1,2)

When we come to Christ it means we become a new creature for a total renewal. When Adam fell in sin it was total depravity that came into the world. It does not mean that every human being is as depraved as he could be, but it does mean that our humanness, including our minds, has become distorted by the fall. What Paul is referring to is not only a renewed mind, but the mind of Christ. “Your attitude (mind-set) should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5

This type of mind is not necessarily concentrating only on ‘spiritual’ topics, but is able to think through the most secular topics within a Christian framework. Harry Blamires said: “A mind trained is informed and equipped to handle data of a secular controversy within the framework or reference which is constructed of Christian presuppositions.”

Dr. David, head of New College, Berkeley – in his book called, “The Opening of the Christian Mind,” brings out six characteristics of what a Christian mind is like:

1. “Theological — focused on God and his incarnate Word.
2. Historically informed by the past, responsibly alive in the present and thoughtful about the future.
3. Humanist — deeply concerned for persons.
4. Ethical — submissive to God’s moral standards.
5. Truthful — committed to God’s self-revelation in nature and in Scripture.
6. Aesthetic — appreciative of beauty as well as truth and goodness. In other words, the Christian mind is centered around God, history, persons, ethics, truth and beauty.”

This is why it’s important to have a full grasp of the Bible. Reading the Bible through every year would be very important.

The Bible divides human history in two different eras, which are marked out not by the rise and fall of empires, dynasties or civilizations, but by four major events — the creation, the fall, the redemption and the end. It is interesting because these four things, especially the first three, lay down the basis for a worldview; a biblical worldview. If a worldview cannot answer the first three questions that these different eras have mentioned then it is a worldview that does not meet the needs intellectually or in any other way.

What are these questions?

Where did we get our universe, and why is man different from the rest of creation?

Secondly why are we in such a mess?

Thirdly, what is the solution?

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Kingdom thinking also understands Romans 13 that civic leaders are also called ‘ministers’ and if God is calling them ministers then kingdom thinking understands that they can partner with political and community leaders to reach a common cause for the kingdom sake (cities, states and nations).

So often we have isolated people from us and kingdom teaching because they did not agree on core issues or values. By isolating ourselves from the world around us we have not been the salt and light that we should have been and today we are reaping the result of this.

In the 21^st century we are moving into a very complex world and with it come problems that are unprecedented, the problem of war and peace, the development of nuclear weaponry, micro-technology, the unraveling of the genetic code and in a new field of bioethics the possibilities of genetic engineering etc.

Dr. Hugh Whelchel director of a Christian think tank “Institute of Faith, Work and Economics,” in his book called  HOW THEN SHOULD WE WORK states the following: “As Christians fulfill their mission vocationally, we will find ourselves working together with non-Christians for the common political, economical or cultural causes. Joseph worked with the Egyptians to alleviate famine (Genesis 41). Daniel served faithfully in Nebuchadnezzar’s court (Daniel 2). We also see what Jeremiah wrote to the exiles in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:7).”

William Temple who was this past century the Archbishop of Canterbury said: “The church is both entitled and obliged to condemn the society characterized by these evils; but it is not entitled in its corporate capacity to advocate specific remedies.”

He went on to say: “The church lays down principles; the Christian citizen applies them; and to do this he utilizes the machinery of the state.” Kingdom thinking will inspire the church members (whatever capacity that they are in) to apply principles and not necessarily remedies. One of the reasons for this is that the church often lacks the necessary expertise, though some of her members may have it.

Working out Biblical principles is no easy matter either. Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple went on to say: “The age long problem such as war, economics and divorce, have always divided Christians. They have always been pacifists and non-pacifist, capitalist and socialist, lax and rigid attitudes to divorce. Our modern problems, are more complex, are also more divisive.”

When we look at some of these problems facing us it is easy to give up in despair and think there are no solutions, but we must keep in mind Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” The Word of God is capable of bringing light through the complexities of these problems that we are faced with.

Kingdom thinking will result in several things:

1. To pray together. Here in my area several different churches gather together the first Saturday of the month to pray for our country, state, community and the world to see some of these problems resolved.
2. Will result in us wanting to listen to one another’s position (no matter what it is) and to try and understand the deep concern that lies behind them.
3. Help each other to understand the cultural prejudices in our thinking and learn to be open to alternative viewpoints.

This kind of discipline is painful, but kingdom thinking demands it. We need to keep in mind that we dishonor God if we assert that there are no solutions or try and to offer slick solutions.

We need to develop a Christian mind or Kingdom mind-set. This is the type of mind that has grasped the basic ‘presuppositions of Scripture’ and is thoroughly saturated with Biblical Truth. “Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.” (1 Corinthians 14:20)

The proper use of our minds is very beneficial:

1. It glorifies God, because He has made us rational beings in His own image and has given us in Scripture a rational revelation which He intends us to study.
2. It enriches us, because every aspect of our Christian discipleship — worship, faith and obedience — depends for its maturing on our reflection, especially, upon God’s glory, faithfulness and will.
3. It strengthens our witness in the world, because like the apostles we are called not only to preach the gospel, but also to defend and argue it and so persuade people of its truth. Acts 17:2; 19:8; 2 Corinthians 5:11; Philippians 1:7

Like Paul says in Romans 12, we need the “renewing of our minds.”

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Kingdom thinking realizes that the offices mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-12 have been given by the Lord to equip the saints for the work of the ministry and that this ministry involves the community in which they live.

Kingdom mind-set realizes that only a few in the congregation are called to one of these offices in order to equip the saints for the ministry. This ministry includes all aspects of one’s society – government, market place, media, entertainment, etc. There is room for all to be trained for the ministry.

Back in the forties and fifties if a young man came to a pastor and said that he wanted to be in full-time Christian work the pastor would have told him to become a lawyer, judge, politician, business man, pastor, evangelist or missionary. However, recently the advice the young man would get is narrowed down to just a few – pastor, evangelist or missionary.

Praise God that this is beginning to change and kingdom thinking is coming in and seeing that every aspect of man’s society needs the influence of kingdom minded people.

Paul tells us in Romans that: “Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (1:21) The word “futile” in Greek brings out the idea of making something empty. I asked my Marathi translator in India what that word meant in his language and he told me it means ‘nothing,’ or ‘zero.’

Look at our culture today here in the Western world where we have basically abolished God from our schools, public places, etc. and we see decisions made where good is becoming evil and evil becoming good. So many of our laws are senseless; they mean nothing!

Kingdom minded leaders see the need to equip kingdom-minded believers for the work that is needed in the different segments of society. In the reformation that took place in Germany a little over 500 years ago, the Word of God was placed in the hands of the common people and it changed the Western world. We now need a second reformation where the work of God is placed into the hands of the common people.

Kingdom thinking sees that there is no difference between the spiritual and the secular. It is God who is in control of all creation and there is no ‘upper’ (spiritual) and ‘lower’ (secular) floor (as Francis Schaffer points out) when it comes to God’s creation. It is all of God’s creation and we need to be involved in every aspect of it.

We need to realize that a man who is called of God to work in a secular profession is just as important as the man who is called of God to preach. We need godly men in both. Our work matters to God.

There are several things that we must look at. First, we must see that the church (an integral part of the Kingdom of God), the Body of Christ is not an institution, not an organization, but rather an organism. It is not something that is inanimate, but alive. It is a living, breathing organism. This is the first thing that we must begin to realize. This is important for us to see.

By “organism” we mean: “Life-pulsating people who are animated by the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ.” This pulsating life needs to infiltrate every aspect of our culture.

Matthew 6:10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

In my travels, reading, praying I have noticed that there is a definite shift taking place in the Evangelical church today. We do not hear so much about ‘church talk,’ but more ‘kingdom talk.’ In other words, we are moving from a church mind-set to a kingdom mind-set.

What used to be within the walls of the church is now breaking out and encompassing the community as well as the systems and structures with the Gospel of the Kingdom. Christ-followers are now getting more involved within their community.

For example, I just got a letter from one of these Christ-followers who had gone for a walk and when she came back to her car she saw a homeless woman sitting on the curb. When she was in her car looking at this woman the Lord was speaking to her about going and talking with her and wanting to be obedient to the Lord and she did just that. End result was that they both wound up praising Jesus together. Also this homeless woman wants to introduce Jesus to others within her framework as well.

A kingdom mind-set interprets Matthew 28:19-20 as referring to discipling all nations. I sense that we are in what might be known as the ‘fourth wave’ and possibly this will be the final wave of missions.

The first wave under William Carey, brought in new structures called “mission agencies” and Christ-followers began to go out to unknown and unreached parts of the world. Most of the work was done along the coastal areas in these different places.

Later, the ‘second’ wave ushered in by Hudson Taylor, started going into the interior and with this new wave new structures were needed and so we read about the China Inland Mission, African Interior Mission, and etc.

At the beginning of the 20^th century we moved into what ‘missionologists’ call the ‘third’ wave and that is reaching the different people groups or ethnic groups that are in different countries.

With these three waves the ‘church’ is reaching people with the Gospel and seeing lives changed. But now there is an emphasis on discipleship to see those whose lives have been changed by the Gospel moving into their sphere of influence – to see a change taking place in the culture. In other words, to see world systems and structures of sin torn down and coming under the sway of the King of kings.

Kingdom mind-set sees that Matthew 28:19-20 and Genesis 1:28 go together: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”

Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Kingdom mind-set takes in the fact that Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” John 3:8

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”

Kingdom mind-set works towards seeing justice and righteousness being carried out in the culture and society where we live. It begins with the Gospel because it is the Gospel that can change a man’s heart, but it does not stop there, but to see society around us being affected.