KINGDOM IDEALS

The kingdom operates on an extreme platform of unchanging ideals. The ways of the kingdom form the planks of the platform. The ways mentioned by Jesus are, ‘the poor in spirit, the gentle, the hungry and thirsty for righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted, and the reviled.’ These are beatitude blessings, but they are also kingdom ways that are derived from asking for each of these as spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. No one could possibly live these principles without the grace given to ask for them as gifts and live them out in some kind of reality.

The ways of God for kingdom life and thought are as unchanging as He is. The kingdom produces love, order, peace, creativity, joy, beauty, faith, compassion, kindness, giving, forgiveness, mercy, humility, etc. and to have personal and corporate production of kingdom ways fully requires asking and receiving spiritual gifts for each incremental plank and step. Otherwise a platform of mans best efforts is all that can be expected and achieved. Strong will, strong practices and dogmatic positions can produce a way, but it is not the kingdom way because the kingdom stands alone on its self-producing and demanded commandment of love, and from this love all other methods and ideas must yield. The kingdom is without alternatives. To completely engage in kingdom ways is to completely engage in the gifts of the Spirit because only these can produce the perfect compatibility.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Jesus