Kingdom Principles

1. The Kingdom: Mankind's Original and Ultimate Priority

The priority of all human beings is concealed in the words, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything you need for life will be added to you.”

Reordering Priorities. Humanity's inherent search for power and purpose often leads down paths of religion, politics, and material pursuits, yet the true fulfillment lies in prioritizing the Kingdom of God. This involves a fundamental shift from focusing on basic survival needs to seeking God's governing influence and aligning with His righteousness. By making the Kingdom the primary focus, all other needs are met as a natural consequence of living in accordance with divine purpose.

Beyond Religion. The Kingdom is not a religion but a governing influence, a divine project of governing earth from Heaven through mankind. It's about establishing God's will, jurisdiction, and administration on earth, impacting every aspect of life with His values and morals. This requires a deep understanding of Kingdom concepts, philosophy, government, law, culture, society, economy, and citizenship.

Practical Application. Seeking the Kingdom involves pursuing knowledge, understanding, and application of heavenly principles in daily life. It means exploring the nature, function, program, components, and power of the Kingdom, and embracing Kingdom citizenship here and now. This is the key to a full and fulfilled life, experiencing the benefits, promises, and privileges of Heaven on earth.

2. Kingdom Government: God's Solution to Earthly Chaos

Government is God’s solution to disorder.

Divine Order. Throughout history, mankind has struggled to establish peaceful and effective governance, yet the root of societal problems often lies in defective systems of authority. God's original intent was to administrate earth government from Heaven through His image (nature) in man and thus manifest His nature and character on earth. The absence or lack of correct government will always lead to chaos and disorder.

Rejecting Theocracy. The fall of mankind was not the loss of heaven but rather the loss of the Kingdom government of heaven on earth. When the children of Israel left the land of Egypt, God instructed Moses to advise them that they would be governed by the laws of heaven and led by God Himself as their heavenly King on earth. Israel rejected theocracy, the rule of a gracious and loving King who would protect and provide for them.

Superior Government. The kingdom concept originated in the mind of God and was the original governing system designed for earth. The ideal kingdom concept is unique, distinctive, and provides for the greatest benefits to its citizens. The ideal kingdom is such a beautiful idea that only God could have thought of it. And it is the only system of governing that can bring the peace, equality, and fulfillment that mankind longs for.

3. Colonization: Heaven's Strategy for Earthly Transformation

Colonization is Heaven’s system for earthly influence.

Extending Influence. Colonization, in its purest form, is not a human invention but a divine strategy for extending heavenly influence into earthly realms. It involves establishing a presence of citizens from one country in a foreign territory, with the purpose of influencing that domain with the culture and values of their native country and governing it with the laws of their home government. God's original intent was to extend His heavenly government over the earth, and His plan for accomplishing this was to establish a colony of heaven on the earth.

Colonial Charter. God created the earth as a place over which to extend His influence, but He intended to do it through mankind, not Himself. He designed man to be a fit colonizer of the physical world He wanted to colonize. That is why we humans are so well suited physically for life in this world. The Bible says that God created man “from the dust of the ground' (see Gen. 2:7).

Kingdom Citizens. As citizens of heaven, we inhabit the earth for the purpose of influencing it with the culture and values of Heaven and bringing it under the government of the King of Heaven. This involves understanding that the whole earth is Heaven's crown land and that we are merely "aliens" and stewards of God's property. Our presence on earth was a colonial decision by our King.

4. Kingship: The Essence of Kingdom Authority and Responsibility

A king is the central component of his kingdom.

Central Authority. The king is the central component of his kingdom. A king embodies the essence of his kingdom; the kingdom is the king. Without the king, there is no kingdom. The land and the people may still be there, but unless they are ruled by a king, they are not in a kingdom.

Inherent Sovereignty. A king is never voted into power. His power is inherent from birth. Democratic leaders are elected to power; totalitarian dictators seize power; but a king is born into power. A king is king by birthright. His kingship is not conferred by men. Elected leaders rule by the will of the people. Dictators rule through fear, repression, and coercion.

Characteristics of a King. A king’s authority is absolute. That is why he is not a president or a prime minister. Presidents must consult Congress, and prime ministers, Parliament. If the prime minister of the Bahamas makes a decision, the senate can discuss it, the parliament may attack it, the media may mutilate it, and he may change his mind. Dictators, on the other hand, while perhaps exercising absolute power (for a time), possess no legitimate authority.

5. Lordship: Recognizing God's Ownership and Our Stewardship

Submission to a king as lord positions the citizen to receive from the king.

Divine Ownership. While kingship relates to authority, lordship relates to ownership. God, as the King of Heaven, is also the Lord of all creation, possessing absolute ownership over everything. This understanding shifts our perspective from personal ownership to stewardship, recognizing that we are managers of God's resources, not owners.

Living Under a Lord. If Jesus is Lord, He must receive first priority in your life. He is above every other love and every other loyalty. He is above every goal, dream, and ambition. You cannot be a disciple and say, “Lord, first let me...” He must be first...in everything. Otherwise, He is not truly Lord of your life, regardless of what you say.

Principles of Lordship. A king personally owns everything in his domain. Use of anything in a kingdom is a privilege. A king can give or distribute anything to anyone in his kingdom. Submission to a king’s lordship means that we have no right to ourselves. Obedience is acknowledgement of lordship. Thanksgiving is an acknowledgement of the King’s Lordship.

6. Territory: Earth as Heaven's Crown Land and Our Domain

The essence of a kingdom is property.

Defining Kingship. Territory is vital to a kingdom because without territory no kingdom can exist. This is why a king is always interested in expanding his territory. The word kingdom derives from the phrase “king domain.” Domain refers to the property, the territory over which a king exercises his dominion.

Earthly Authority. Our destiny as human beings is wrapped up in land. God created us to be kings over the earthly realm, and He will not rest until we are fully restored to our rightful place. The first thing God gave man was territory. The earth was created to give man kingship legitimacy.

Binding and Loosing. God has given us authority over the earth. That means we’re in charge. Whatever we say goes. This gives us a lot of freedom to do what we please within our domain. But it also means that we can’t blame God for everything that goes wrong, yet that is exactly what we do.

7. Constitution: The Bible as the Kingdom's Governing Document

In a kingdom, the constitution is a royal contract that the king has with his subjects—his citizens.

Royal Contract. In a kingdom, the constitution is a royal contract that the king has with his subjects—his citizens. It is not the contract that the citizens have with the king, and this is a very important distinction. In the first, the contract originates with the king and in the second, with the people.

King's Will. A kingdom constitution, then, is the document that constitutes the king’s desire for his citizens. In a republic, the constitution is the people’s contract with themselves, while in a kingdom it is the king’s contract for the people. In a democracy, the people plan and decide what they want to happen to them. But in a kingdom, the people have no say. Instead, the king tells you what he wants to happen to you.

Principles of the Kingdom Constitution. The source of the constitution is the king, not the citizens. The constitution contains the benefits and privileges of the citizens. The king obligates himself to the tenets of the constitution. The constitution contains the rights established by the king for the citizens.

8. Law: Divine Principles for a Flourishing Kingdom Society

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

Protecting Order. In any civil society, the “rule of law” is the bedrock of order and social justice. As noted in the previous chapter, a constitution is the documented aspirations, desires, and hopes of the people for themselves (in the case of a democratic republic), and in a kingdom, the king’s aspirations and desires for his citizens. Law is produced to protect the constitution and to secure the rights of the citizens to what the constitution promises and guarantees them.

Natural Law. All creation was designed to function by inherent principles. These principles are called “natural law.” Natural law has to do with laws concerning the nature of a thing. For example, birds do not have to be taught to fly; that ability is inherent in them as a natural law.

Purpose of Law. The purpose for law is to protect the constitutional covenant. Laws exist to make sure that the provisions of the constitution are carried out consistently, equitably, and without prejudice for all citizens. For example, the constitution guarantees every citizen the right not to be convicted of a crime until proven guilty.

9. Keys: Unlocking Kingdom Power and Authority Through Knowledge

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Access to Power. The keys of the Kingdom are not physical objects but represent the knowledge and understanding of divine principles that unlock Kingdom power and authority. These keys are given to Kingdom citizens, enabling them to influence earthly situations with heavenly resources. The key to keys is not having keys. The key to keys is knowledge, knowing what the keys are for and how to use them.

Authority and Control. Keys represent authority, access, ownership, control, authorization, power, and freedom. They provide the ability to influence Heaven, control circumstances, and live in abundance, regardless of earthly limitations. The keys of the Kingdom give us immediate access to all the resources of heaven. But we have to know how to use them.

Counterintuitive Nature. The keys of the Kingdom often operate in ways that are counterintuitive to worldly thinking. They require a shift in mindset, embracing principles of giving, serving, and loving, rather than grasping, hoarding, and dominating. The keys of the Kingdom are the keys to ultimate truth, the knowledge of which brings true liberty.

10. Citizenship: Embracing Dual Allegiance and Kingdom Culture

But our citizenship is in heaven.

Dual Allegiance. Kingdom citizens carry dual citizenship, maintaining allegiance to both their earthly nation and the Kingdom of Heaven. This dual allegiance requires a commitment to upholding Kingdom values and principles while living in the world. All Kingdom citizens are simultaneously citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven as well as citizens of the earthly nation of their birth or their naturalization.

Invisible Citizenship. The Kingdom of Heaven is invisible, and so are its citizens. Our citizenship is not defined by outward appearance but by our language, ideals, and values. Our culture should reflect and reveal our citizenship as being here but not from here, as being in the world but not of the world.

Responsibilities of Citizenship. As Kingdom citizens, we are called to represent our King and His government in the earthly realm. This involves living according to Kingdom laws, promoting Kingdom values, and extending Kingdom influence in every sphere of life.

11. Culture: Manifesting Heaven's Values on Earth

The battle for earth is the battle for culture.

Defining Culture. Culture encompasses a nation's land, language, laws, symbols, constitution, moral code, shared values, customs, and social norms. It is the collective thinking of a people, shaped by their beliefs, values, and ideals. Culture is the act of developing the intellectual and moral faculties by education, expert care, and training.

Kingdom Culture. As Kingdom citizens, we are called to manifest Heaven's values on earth, creating a culture that reflects the nature and character of our King. This involves transforming our thinking, aligning our actions with Kingdom principles, and influencing society with heavenly values.

Transforming Society. The battle for earth is the battle for culture. By embracing Kingdom culture, we can transform society, bringing about justice, righteousness, peace, and abundance in every sphere of life.

12. Giving: The Kingdom Economy of Blessing and Increase

Giving is not just a good idea; it is a kingdom law.

Kingdom Economics. Giving is not merely an act of charity but a fundamental principle of the Kingdom economy. It is a law that governs blessing and increase, both in the spiritual and material realms. Giving is not just a good idea; it is a kingdom law.

Releasing Resources. Giving involves releasing resources, talents, and abilities for the benefit of others. It is an expression of love, compassion, and generosity, reflecting the nature of our King.

Receiving in Return. When we give, we activate a divine principle that guarantees a return. This return may not always be immediate or in the form we expect, but it is a promise from our King that He will bless and increase those who are generous and giving.

Last updated: February 28, 2025