culture noun (WAY OF LIFE)
The way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people
The attitudes, behaviour, opinion etc. of a particular group of people within society
In Luke 11 we read the account of Jesus driving out a demon from a man who was mute, and the man spoke. Immediately there was a kerfuffle and some people in the crowd said “He drives out demons by [the power of] Beelzebul (Satan), the ruler of the demons.” Others, trying to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. (verses 15 and 16)
Jesus rebuked them with these words, found in verse 20…
“But if I drive out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already come upon you.”
Here Jesus shows us that Kingdom Culture is a culture of freedom from oppression. There is no room for oppression, manipulation, or control in the Kingdom of God. God gives us free will and choice, but the enemy puts us in bondage and controls us by enslaving us in addiction and demonic mindsets, which the Bible refers to as strongholds. Jesus, on the other hands says to us, in John 8:36 “So if the Son makes you free, then you are unquestionably free.”
Let me ask you this…if you are to be very honest with yourself…how free are you? If your answer is 100% free, I will stand amazed and I would like you to pray for me because most of us will have to admit that we do not fully walk in the freedom that Jesus bought for us at the cross.
You see, as citizens of the Kingdom of heaven we have tolerated the enemy in our lives, our homes, our churches, our families, and our nations. But I am here to tell you that we need to have our minds washed with the word of God, so that we can have Kingdom thinking, or a Kingdom mindset…we need to think freedom every day. Every time we are confronted by an enemy, we need to remember who we are, and what authority has been given to us. We are a new creation in Christ…the old sick, fearful, powerless Nicky is nailed to the cross, and buried and a new Nicky lives with Christ, sits in heavenly places and have all authority delegated to her. If you are in Christ, you are like me. If you are not in Christ, there’s only one remedy for your problem…surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Love and honour are the currency of the Kingdom of God. How can I say I love someone, and I am not deeply offended when I see them oppressed by sickness, or enslaved by the demonic agendas at work in their lives?
James 2:18 (AMP) says “But someone may say, “You have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without the works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].”
Another scripture that confirms this is Matthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
If we are to test ourselves against these scriptures, what does our actions and our fruit tell us? Do we live with a kingdom mindset or are we a law unto ourselves? Are we building Kingdom culture into our families and our church families, or are we tearing it down?
Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 12:30? He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters.
This scripture alone should humble us and scare us into repentance if we are not actively opposing the works of the devil. Freedom matters, if fact it matters so much to God that He gave His only son to die horrifically on the cross to ensure that we are liberated and delivered.
The first 6 verses of 2 Corinthians 10 says this “I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
This is the mindset of Jesus Christ, and the culture of the Kingdom. Freedom at any cost and the total annihilation of the works of the enemy and the accuser of the brethren. Remember this…every time we cast out demons, we are expanding the Kingdom of God. May the warriors and deliverers arise!