Kingdom Principles

Kingdom Concept #9

Kingship is always a matter of birthright or genealogy. You will remember that when Jesus stood before Pilate the morning He was crucified, and Pilate asked Him if He was the king of the Jews, Jesus answered, “ You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born… ” (John 18:37b). Jesus was not the only one to recognize His kingship. Even as early as His birth, there were those who knew who He was and why He had come:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:1-2).

The coming of Jesus Christ as King demonstrates another important characteristic of God: He is a giver . First, He gave man the earth to rule. Then, after man lost his Kingdom, God gave His Son so that He could get man’s Kingdom back. Jesus gave Himself, even to the point of death, to salvage man from the effects and conse quences of his rebellion against God. In the coming of Jesus, and throughout the Bible we see over and over that giving is a funda mental principle of the Kingdom of Heaven. God is a giver . In fact, His honor as King of Heaven demands a gift. As God, He gives because it is His nature. As Kingdom citizens, we give because we are like Him, created in His image and likeness, and because giving is a proper way to honor a king. THE SIX ROYAL KINGDOM PRINCIPLES OF GIVING 1. The power of kings is displayed in their wealth. The wealthier the king, the greater his power (or at least the perception of his power in the eyes of others). This is why kings are always seeking to increase their wealth and

205

Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator