ARE YOU A RELIGIOUS PERSON OR A KINGDOM PERSON?
Most of us have the qualities of being religious people and not the Kingdom people. We forget that religion is man's effort to find God, while salvation is God's plan to find lost people. Jesus Christ didn’t bring religion on earth. He brought salvation.
The difference between Adam and Jesus Christ
The first Adam was a living being while the last Adam (Jesus) is a life-giving Spirit. 1 Corinthians 15:45 "And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”
The great work given to Adam was not to worship but to
SUBJECT THE EARTH AND RULE THE BEINGS. Genesis 1:28 “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and
multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea,
over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the
earth." The Lord Jesus also came to announce the RETURN OF THE KINGDOM
OF GOD ON EARTH after Adam sold us to the devil. Luke 8:1 “Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and
village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the
twelve were with Him."
That's why Jesus taught his disciples to pray for the KINGDOM OF GOD TO COME ON EARTH - to take away the kingdom from the devil and give it back to God’s people. Matthew 6:9,10 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."
Meaning of SALVATION
The real meaning of saving (sozo) is to make a person whole in all areas of life and not spiritually only. God wants to see us prosper spiritually, emotionally, physically and financially. 3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Salvation is not a conversion from one religion to another but from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of God. We have some believers in Bible-believing churches who have not yet moved from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of God. Others repeated the prayer of repentance but deep down in their hearts they have not yet repented. Colossians 1:13 "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love."
How will you know that you are a Kingdom person?
You will see that your rule the world (king) and your ministry touches people's lives without religious and denominational boundaries (priest). Rev 5:10 " And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
The difference between Religion and Kingdom
1. Religion seeks to reach God, the Kingdom of God seeks to
reach people.
2. Religion seeks to escape the world, the Kingdom seeks to
change the world.
3. Religion prepares a person to leave the world, Kingdom
prepares him to rule the world.
4. Religion focuses more on heaven, Kingdom focuses on both
(heaven and earth).
In short, a person can join a religion without entering the Kingdom of God. A person can also be a religious leader and prevent people from entering the Kingdom of God. Mt 23:13-15 "13 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you close the kingdom of heaven to people; you yourselves do not enter, and those who enter you do not let them in. 14 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you eat widows' houses, and in hypocrisy you pray long prayers; therefore you will receive a greater punishment. 15 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you go about on sea and land to convert one person; and when it is done, you make him twice as much a son of hell than yourselves."
Conclusion
Please don’t misquote me that I said religion is meaningless. I just wanted to remind you that you can be poor and ineffective if you are only religious and not a Kingdom person. You can also miss the reward because you are waiting to go to heaven while forgetting the task God gave you to possess and rule the earth.
That's why I collaborate with the government, the community, organizations, and religious institutions where we have common ground or complement each other.
Dr. Lawi Mshana, +255712-924234, Tanzania
