Comments and expositions by Sister Kim Frey
Chinese/Kingdom Culture Study -4
Establishing divine order in various aspects of life (personal, family, community, nation, and world) is how the Kingdom will be brought down to earth.
The relationship that we personally have with God influences our view on governance, decision-making and seeking greater knowledge and wisdom.
Each of us have a divine calling (portion) assigned to us in His ultimate plan for His kingdom rule.
To understand our unique calling, we must communicate with the Holy Spirit through prayer. We must learn how to recognize His voice.
Often times, we put so many limitations on God. But, knowing His Spirit language is essential to properly navigate this natural world and our personal limitations.
Would you rather a map to navigate through an unknown territory or a personal guide?
Both! Yes, of course… and we do! But, maps (the Bible) can ‘t predict the dangers one might encounter on the way. If a pack of wolves surround you in the night, that map might not be of much help. However, an experienced guide (the Holy Spirit) would know how to avoid danger or best how to navigate through it.
Our lives full of choices, and what we do with them governs our whole reality. With each decision, we have a choice to use our human knowledge or use the spiritual intelligence given to us by the Lord. Each time use this spiritual intelligence, new neuropathways are formed in this way of thinking. The more we practice, this new path becomes easier and eventually becomes a habit. Habits are what form our character. When we use His way of thinking in our every day choices and interactions, our minds are continually transformed into His mind. This is an ongoing, ever expounding work.
“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”
Romans 12:2 TPT
Many people might view spiritual abilities/thinking as an inherent part of being “Godly.” However, the use of spiritual abilities is not always automatically linked to one’s ability to achieve great things or make a positive impact on the world. Rather, it is often about learning to be content and controlled in the face of adversity.
Spiritual maturity and a focused perspective on one’s calling/ purpose are both crucial for fulfilling one’s destiny.
-To be spiritually mature, we have to radically prioritize. We are to replace what pleases us, as humans, with that of what pleases God. In other words, we don’t only use the lower dimensional thinking of emotional and intellectual intelligence, but we use a higher spiritual dimension of thinking.
Relational intelligence is where the lower and higher dimensions can collide.
As we walk on this path of sanctification, the Lord will guide us into divine relationships and connections. This is not something we have to seek out, rather when led by the Holy Spirit, we can rest in the daily guiding He will give us. He knows the plans and how He will bring pure/ humble hearts in strategic relationships to establish a kingdom government of peace and justice on earth.
These relationships will be mutual in imparting knowledge and understanding to one another.
-For this to take place, we must not only be kind, but also supportive and encouraging.
-There’s a fine line between words that flatter and words that encourage.
Flattery is selfishly motivated; encouragement is humble.
“Flattery can often be used as a trap to hide ulterior motives and take advantage of you.”
Proverbs 29:5 TPT
On the other hand, encouragement is motivated by humility. It desires to build strength in others. Rather than misusing power, gives it away to empower someone else.
“Our goal must be to empower others to do what is right and good for them, and to bring them into spiritual maturity.”
Romans 15:2 TPT
“God is our witness that when we came to encourage you, we never once used cunning compliments as a pretext for greed, nor did we crave the praises of men, whether you or others. Even though we could have imposed upon you our demands as apostles of Christ, instead we showed you kindness and were gentle among you. We cared for you in the same way a nursing mother cares for her own children.”
1 Thessalonians 2:5-7 TPT
Flattery is insincere; encouragement is truthful.
“When one of your godly ones corrects me or one of your faithful ones rebukes me, I will accept it like an honor I cannot refuse. It will be as healing medicine that I swallow without an offended heart. Even if they are mistaken, I will continue to pray.”
Psalms 141:5 TPT
“If you correct someone with constructive criticism, in the end he will appreciate it more than flattery.”
Proverbs 28:23 TPT
“It’s better to be corrected openly if it stems from hidden love. You can trust a friend who wounds you with his honesty, but your enemy’s pretended flattery comes from insincerity.”
Proverbs 27:5-6 TPT
As they grow in maturity, they will build an exchange of love, respect and kindness that will have an ever expounding impact. For no one can experience this divine relational love and remain unchanged.
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21 NIV
Our words have extreme power. There is no such thing as an idle word. When we speak, we are either bringing down the Kingdom of heaven, or inviting in the realm of deceiver and accuser.
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 12:18 NIV
“When wisdom speaks, understanding becomes attractive. But the words of the fool make their ignorance look laughable.”
Proverbs 15:2 TPT
Like attracts like… so the spirit language you speak (not only in wolds but in conscience) will draw the company you keep. The wisdom each brings is multidimensional and manifold when it unites.
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,”
Ephesians 3:10 NIV
Speaking prudently and avoiding fruitless complaints can also help prevent controversy and division in relationships.
-Prudence means being careful about your choices, stopping and thinking before acting. It is a strength of restraint.
-Prudence does not say or do things that you might later regret.
-Prudence considers the long-term consequences of your actions.
“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.”
Proverbs 8:12 NIV
“Live a cheerful life, without complaining or division among yourselves. For then you will be seen as innocent, faultless, and pure children of God, even though you live in the midst of a brutal and perverse culture. For you will appear among them as shining lights in the universe, holding out the words of eternal life. I haven’t labored among you for nothing, for your lives are the fruit of my ministry and will be my glorious boast at the unveiling of Christ!”
Philippians 2:14-16 TPT
We get rid of a complaining disposition by learning to trust God more and acknowledging His sovereignty in all situations.
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”
Proverbs 21:1 ESV
Contentment is a discipline of being satisfied with whatever the Lord gives you. This is our portion or divine calling.
“Now, I encourage you as an elder, an eyewitness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who shares in the glory that is about to be unveiled. I urge my fellow elders among you to be compassionate shepherds who tenderly care for God’s flock and who feed them well, for you have the responsibility to guide, protect, and oversee. Consider it a joyous pleasure and not merely a religious duty. Lead from the heart under God’s leadership—not as a way to gain finances dishonestly but as a way to eagerly and cheerfully serve. Don’t be controlling tyrants but lead others by your beautiful examples to the flock. And when the Shepherd-King appears, you will win the victor’s crown of glory that never fades away. In the same way, the younger ones should willingly support the leadership of the elders. In every relationship, each of you must wrap around yourself the apron of a humble servant. Because: God resists you when you are proud but multiplies grace and favor when you are humble.”
1 Peter 5:1-5 TPT
The Lord can be found in the low places of life, rather than in the exalted ones. We should strive to see the light of His truth wherever we are placed.
There is peace that surpasses our understanding, but we can only get it by learning to place our trust in God.
The wonderful combination of God’s perseverance, loyalty, and unceasing kindness compels you to have faith in Him.
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.””
Lamentations 3:21-24 NIV
God is always present. We just need to open our spiritual eyes. As we seek God’s presence in circumstances that feel dark and weighty, our faith deepens because He never leaves.
Faith is the foundation for everything in the spirt realm.
“Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for.”
Hebrews 11:1-2 TPT
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.””
Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV
It is not the personal wisdom of a leader that matters but rather their cultural legacy. We must honor this Kingdom culture to rule the nations.
“To everyone who is victorious and continues to do my works to the very end I will give you authority over the nations to shepherd them with a royal scepter. And the rebellious will be shattered as clay pots— even as I also received authority from the presence of my Father. I will give the morning star to the one who experiences victory. So the one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is presently saying to all the churches.”
Revelation 2:26-29 TPT
“Conquest is not simply conquering nations, but imposing a way of life.”
Solomon had much wisdom and influence on a cultural of honor and worship. Wise rulers have inherited and further developed this cultural endowment through not only wisdom, but skill knowledge. These concepts must be practiced in relationships for an inheritance of these ways to be passed down the generations.
Both faith and divine selection play a vital role in inheriting and passing on cultural traditions.
We must collaborate with others, each use our spiritual gifts, and continue to pray for unity in the Spirit.
