KINGDOM COMMUNITY: TRANSACTIONAL vs RELATIONAL CULTURE

KINGDOM COMMUNITY: TRANSACTIONAL vs RELATIONAL CULTURE

Transactional behavior and culture — earth bound creatures do NOT see the importance of "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you"; and they surely aren't willing "to pay it forward as a common every-day practice" without HAVING or TAKING ADVANTAGE in that relationship, first!!

Relational behavior and culture — heaven bound citizens destined for an eternity with a universal community of believers committed to releasing LIGHT, LOVE and TRUTH on every occasion, so that JESUS CHRIST "receives the reward of His Sufferings" on behalf of ALL HUMANITY, because bringing honor, renown and adoration in His Name, to His Fame, and for His Glory is "the air we breath"; as committed and devoted CHRIST FOLLOWERS for all of eternity!

RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY..

There's no doubt about the absolute importance of RELATIONSHIPS in the Kingdom of God! Although we ALL tend to be somewhat transactional in our everyday exchanges, it's totally necessary — especially when you're trying to get something done, and "Sister or Brother Compliment" ("Laugh out loud!") got to tell EVERYBODY they see "how lovely" their "hair, tennis shoes, umbrella, purse, BIBLE, or gym bag" is, AND… "God loves them" too!!

LISTEN ("Laugh out loud!") we all need to consistently work to maintain good and healthy relationships, and the key is REMEMBERING that "it" is the primary vehicle for "Kingdom building" in the Kingdom of God; and, we can't treat it as a secondary issue either!

WHAT "IS" CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY?

People often refer to the "Christian community," but what is it? The term can encompass all Christians in general: people sometimes speak of the "Christian community" as a particular demographic, akin to the "rural demographic" or the "college-educated demographic." Other times, Christian community can refer to a formal denomination or the following of a particular Christian leader. Christian community can also refer to the camaraderie of Christians who fellowship together and have relationships with one another. Based on their shared attitudes and beliefs, Christians feel a sense of "community" with each other.

For some, "the Christian community" refers to networks of churches or Christian organizations. Others view megachurch pastors, bestselling authors, musicians, or other Christian celebrities as voices of the Christian community. The media often promotes this perspective, quoting a well-known pastor, for example, as if he speaks for all Christians.

The Bible's original word for "church" is ekklesia, Greek for "called-out assembly" or "gathering." This word took on the meaning of "all Christians" in some contexts and of "local gatherings of believers" in other places. When a person trusts in Jesus for salvation, he or she becomes part of the universal body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Smaller groups of believers come together in local churches to worship God, to grow in their understanding of God's Word, and to live out their lives in Christ in community.

Acts 2:42–47 reveals that the original "Christian community" was known primarily for its devotion to the apostles' teachings, to fellowship, to prayer, and to loving one another. Jesus Himself had promoted this sense of community: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). A Christian community is marked by the way people treat each other, and the local church should strive to model Christlike attitudes.

The Bible instructs believers on how a Christian community can love one another (1 John 4:12). Believers are called to encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), "spur" one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), be patient with one another and forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32), bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2), and speak the truth to one another (Ephesians 4:25). The local church is the place where the Christian community can put these callings into practice.

Simply put, the Christian community is composed of those who love Jesus and fellowship with each other. When the world sees the church in action, they should see the true love of Jesus and perhaps find themselves attracted to Christ, too.

EMOTIONAL DECISION-MAKING..

THE WEB OF EMOTIONAL DECISIONS:

EXCITEMENT > ANXIETY >  PERFORMING = STRONGHOLDS, BOTTLE NECKS, & AN UNPRODUCTIVE LIFE (BARRENNESS) 

"Emotional decision-making" is NOT a curse. But, it's also NOT a good barometer for a righteous standard (plumb line) in the life of a true disciple or follower of Christ; especially when thoughtfully choosing what is "the Good, Pleasing and Perfect Will of God", either!

Think about this..Every holiday has a sea of emotions and "good feelings" connected to the: presents, food, friends and family, time off, and seasonal festivities! It's certainly NOT evil or out of bounds to enjoy these activities or borrow some traditions, party ideas, or future plans from the incredible time you had during the holiday season..The real issue is — Do we allow those "healthy emotions" to become "toxic feelings", by allowing an unbalanced emotionalism to develop over time, until we turn the perfectly innocent holiday season into our unhealthy crusade to "do things a certain way" at the expense of getting on everybody's nerves or eventually "making the holidays a horror"!?!

Because you're trying to capture a feeling that wasn't really all about the STUFF in the first place — but the person that was actually leading the efforts that made the experience "an absolute delight", by being RELATIONAL, HEART-FELT, and LOVING "on purpose"!

When DECENCY, ETIQUETTE, ORDER, LAWS, PRINCIPLES, VALUES,  and RULE-KEEPING “don’t matter” because we’re having an “emotional moment, THAT’s a demonic stronghold — rooted in “the flesh” indeed!!

WHAT IS "THE FLESH"?

The noun flesh (sarx in Greek) refers to "the physical aspects of a person in distinction to the nonmaterial soul." Technically, flesh describes the body's soft tissue but is often used in the New Testament to indicate the "sinful nature" or the seat of sin and rebellion against God in humanity. In the Old Testament, flesh is frequently used in reference to mortal humans in contrast with God, a life-giving Spirit. The term translated as "profit" in John 6:63 means "to be of use, help, aid, facilitate, accomplish."

The New Living Translation renders Christ's words this way: "The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life" (John 6:63).

The flesh profits nothing means there is absolutely no hope of salvation or any spiritual insight or gain that can be achieved through human effort. The apostle Paul had nothing good to say about the flesh: "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out" (Romans 7:18, ESV). Paul urged Christians to "put no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).

UNCONSCIOUS EMOTIONAL COMMITMENTS & REWARD SYSTEMS = Because we choose NOT to “indulge our flesh” (as an example) we determine that “rewarding our flesh is the least we can do”, and we choose to eat UNHEALTHY and out of TOXIC EMOTION, which may not be “willfully sinning” (I.e. Sexual Sin) but following the INTERNAL VOICE of our souls that KNOWS fleshly rewards always cost you; but we deserve it after all!

BLOG LINK: "Christian Liberty — God's Way!" https://www.askpastorwalter.com/2022/10/christian-liberty-gods-way.html?m=1

WHAT IS "KINGDOM COMMUNITY"?

A snapshot of the LANGUAGE, LOVE & LEADERSHIP required to foster a true "kingdom culture" and "kingdom community" that creates a place where the unlimited power and presence of Christ can be revealed, as a habitation of God is created in the Spirit..

The world's way is "supply and demand", and the Kingdom's Way is "demand that supplies"!

KINGDOM COMMUNITY "is":

• A BELIEVING COMMUNITY
• A GIVING COMMUNITY
• AN ENGAGING COMMUNITY
• A RIGHTEOUS COMMUNITY
• A LOVING COMMUNITY

The "Kingdom's expression" is connected to and with The Inexhaustible Treasure, Jesus Christ, and as an outlet for the advancement and expansion of "the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven" in the RESTORATION, RECOVERY, and RESTITUTION tied to the Last Adam's Redemptive Agenda (RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE and JOY) in the Holy Spirit!!

In the AskPastorWalter Blog, there is a timely word that spells out how this "Kingdom Community" is to function in the earth as a mobilized force and community of faith, and it's called 

"True Prophetic Engagement": https://www.askpastorwalter.com/2022/08/true-prophetic-engagement.html?m=1

Excerpt from "True Prophetic Engagement":

""Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'"  (Matthew 25:37-40 NKJV)

If you look at the state of Christendom from an objective point of view (according to God's Word), and in light of Christ's mandate to the Church - the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, the Great Community, and the Great Exchange are as significant now (to God's remnant), as they were prior to Christ's ascension back to the right hand of The Father!

What is the "Spiritual Mandate" associated with Christ commissioning to the Church?

#1. The Great Commission - GO!

- Because many churches no longer walk in authority or have dominion (righteous influence and reach) into the heart of our communities through strategic prayer and evangelistic outreach, Satan is able to maintain a dominating influence in the hearts of the masses.  The next "great revival won't be in our church-buildings, but in our families, homes and surrounding communities that sing the praises of the impact and influence of the "engaged church" (which is real, relevant and relational) upon their lives; whether their active "church goers" or not.

The Great Commandment - LOVE!

- The "one commandment" to obey (in our New Testament reality) is LOVE, and we're sorely lacking in our love for one another, as we permit "the accuser" to use us to create dissidence and division amongst ourselves?!?  And, until we have a genuine love that challenges the world to truly see us as "HIS disciples", we'll partially impact the world that defines love as a tolerant approval of whatever we want - whenever we want it! While our hatefulness and judgment towards one another - shouldn't even exist, accountability, correction and church discipline is just as much "God's love" as forgiveness, prayerfulness, and watchfulness is!

The Great Exchange - RECONCILE!

- We're called to reach beyond every societal line of difference or distinction, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. God delivered "you", so you'd become a "deliverer" - to go right back into the "gutters from wince you've come" victoriously without fear!

The Great Community - BUILD! (The Kingdom of God)

-The corporate "shield of faith" has "gaps", because of disunity, denominationalism, and spiritual deadness (unwilling to leave the "four walls mentality") that rarely seeks the greater good of the community of faith; but singularly focused on their particular church, ministry and membership!

Jesus provides the basis for what "true prophetic engagement" should look like, and if we are failing to act in accordance with God's Word, as a "counter-cultural force" - full of light, love and truth; we're NOT truly fulfilling the mandate of Jesus Christ at all!

WHAT's NEXT?

NOW, all we await is the fulfillment of 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭ASV‬‬:

"Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all." 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭ASV‬‬

#DGIT #KingdomCommunity #Relationships #RelationalCulture

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