Kingdom Culture

Bringing Kingdom Values that Change the World

By Pastora Monique Lopez Ong

The church represents the kingdom. But it is not only about the church. When you talk about the kingdom, you cannot not talk about culture. But what is culture? It is a set of shared attitudes, values, goal and practices that characterize an institution or organization. You will find it everywhere you go. You have your own family culture. your workplace has their own culture. the church, definitely, has their own culture. culture answers very big questions like, “what are you doing here?’ Do you know what your culture is?

All your values can be brought back in alignment with God, in the truth of His word and in the power of the Holy Spirit. What are some examples of a Christian’s culture? He reads the Bible, prays everyday, worships the Lord, goes to church on Sundays and fellowships with other believers. What you think, how you feel and how you act will show you who you are and in what culture you are living in.

How is a culture built? To build a culture, values play a very big role. But do you know that God instructed his people to create their own culture? In the Garden of Eden, God asked man to take dominion over the earth. You were called by design and authority to create culture. God wanted you to be aligned with Him. But the question is, are you able to maintain that same culture at this time? You know that God is a triune being and He wants you to express that through all the earth. God brought Jesus to establish your freedom. After Jesus’ resurecction, He sends the Holy Spirit to restore your desire and capacity to create culture that is not of the world.

It has been said that values create culture? What are values? It is your fundamental belief that directs your life. It filters your perception of certain things. For example, do you believe that God can solve your problems? If you say yes, then you should not worry and you should always see the miracles that He performs. If you believe that God heals, then you know that it can be healed. But then again, if you see that it is difficult to talk to God and you see Him as a punisher, then all the bad things that you experience will be His fault. That is why it is important to know your core values because it will dictate the direction of your everyday life. It represents your convictions.

In Revelation City Church, we honor God in everything, obey the word, mentor others, and empower families. But there are aspirational values. You aspire it, but you cannot really accomplish it. It is only in the mind but not in the heart. When you know the kingdom values, you can create a kingdom culture. And you will be different from the rest because the presence of God will not be missed.

You need healthy core values will help you have a healthy identity as sons and daughters of the King. If you have this, your character will be changed in a positive way. Can people see that you are the son of God? Are you empowered with the Holy Spirit? Some Holy Spirit led core values are being joyful, generous, brave, and forgiving. How beautiful it is if the Holy Spirit leads takes lead and brings you into values that usher you into the kingdom.

Kingdom values build a kingdom culture. It is the most important assignment you have in life: to discover and implement the values of heaven so that you can see God and His will fully realized in your life.

What is Kingdom Culture?

1. If there is a kingdom, there must be a king. Zechariah 14:9 says, “The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.” Matthew 25:34 also says, ““Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” You cannot come if you do not know who your king is. There is a bigger kingdom you cannot see that is eternal. And it is prepared for you. The real idea of a kingdom was destroyed by man because they do not want to follow their king. Start with the kingdom and the king whose name is Jesus.

2. Residency in the kingdom requires a new lifestyle governed by the laws of the kingdom. - Philippians 3:20 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 2:19-20 also says, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” When you receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you have citizenship in heaven.

3. The kingdom of heaven is different from the kingdom of this world. - John 18:35-37 says, “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” The kingdom of heaven is so upside down. What you have here on earth multiples a hundred fold.

It is a deep seated connection with God’s word. - You cannot talk about the kingdom of heaven without reading the word of God because you will hunger and thirst for more. Matthew 5:18-19 says, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. You cannot be called a follower of Jesus if you do not know His word. That is the power.

On earth as it is in heaven - the prayer in Matthew 10:6 says, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” You do not have to die to have a taste of heaven. If you are suffering on earth right now, you can still taste heaven.

Does the will of my Father - The reason you need to learn about the kingdom culture is because you need to learn how to walk heaven here on earth. You also need to learn to follow the will of the Father. Matthew 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

It’s a command - Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” You need to learn what the kingdom culture is all about because it is available to you.

To reign in the future, one must know how to live in the kingdom - 2 Timothy 2:12 says, “if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us.” Do you know your future? Your future is that you are going to reign. But you are also invited by the Lord to reign and rule with God in the future. Thus, you need to know everything about the kingdom. Do you know of somebody who ran for office in the Philippines without a knowledge of its laws? He will be laughed upon. It is the same with heaven. God gives you the keys to the kingdom. What kind of keys? He will give you the authority to do things for the kingdom of God. He looks at the heart. To reign in the future, one must learn how to live in the kingdom.

The call of the church is to walk into the kingdom. You have to expand the kingdom of God through His manifest presence. God gave you the authority to step on snakes and scorpions and you will trample them. Remember that the prize is Jesus. God is center. In the kingdom, it is all about the king.