Kingdom Living in Christ

By Dr. Paul Taylor

There is absolutely nothing that you cannot do in partnership with God! You were created from the beginning of time to work together with God. Think about that!

This is not only "poieo", but it is "synergeo" or divine synergy. This is why we can believe for more than we can do in our wildest imagination! Isn't that what God's word promises?

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly aboveall that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,21to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations,forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21

Our working with God is an extension of living in obedience to God from a relational position, not a doctrinal one! This is critical and is really the essence of walking in the Kingdom of God.

If I could reduce everything to it's simplest form I would say that Kingdom living is based on relationship with a living God (not only what He has done, but what He is doing now!) and salvation living is based on doctrinal teaching (what God did) of a living God. One focuses on yesterday, today, and forever, while the latter focuses on the past and eternity, but not today!

I want to focus on the statement from Phil. 2:16; “Holding fast the word of life.”

The Greek word is “Logos”; something said including the thought; motive; intent; the Divine expression of Christ! In essence the purpose and existence of life! Where does this life originate? We have to go back to vs. 12. Obedience to Christ and His Kingdom life. It is God who gives us might, power, energy to do what He has determined (will) in our lives all for His good pleasure.

This is not religious life that we think of in western Christianity of traditions, doctrine and observances. This life directly originates from

1. Seeking first the Kingdom of God.

The Word of life is always connected with being the light of men (Jn. 1:4). We will not walk in darkness, but in the light of life. Light means to make manifest; revelation and is directly related to our relationship with the Father who reveals to us what to do and say (Jn. 5:19,36). The result is knowing our purpose or reason for existing. The result of seeking first the kingdom of God is not doctrine, but purpose!

2. From relationship comes forth energy, action, power, and efficiency!

It is interesting that the word “efficient” is in the definition of “to do”; “energeo” or effectual power! Not just power to do, but effective power! When you are working with God you are far more efficient in that work than if you were working in your own strength.

3. Here is the key. We are to do all things without complaining or arguing.


That we may be blameless! The word “blameless” is “amemptos” or irreproachable. It contains the letter “A” which is the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet and carries the sense of union! Union with who? Of course Jesus Christ. A is for ATTITIUDE!
Kingdom living in Christ is relational that results in purpose, not doctrine.

That purpose flows forth with effectual power because of the life we have in Christ.

Hold on to the Word of life. We do not walk in darkness, therefore we need not complain or argue about what is happening in our world because of our relationship with God who knows all things and is in control.

We have union with Him and therefore should walk blameless as sons of God in a crooked and perverse world.

We are to be different because of our partnership with a living God! What is your attitude today? I can’t say I am living up to my responsibility in Christ. I must watch my attitude. God help me and us! We must all possess a Champion's attitude that reflects the God we are working with! This is what being a Champion is all about as we walk with Him in His Kingdom, His realm of authority, which is our realm of authority because we are one with Him!

What a partnership! You were created for the work that is before you. Watch what God is doing and then obey in partnership with Him! You can't go wrong!

Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! 15Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night 16so I’ll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You’ll be living proof that I didn’t go to all this work for nothing. Phil. 2:14-16 The Message

Spiritual Moving

By Dr. Paul Taylor

The longer I walk with the Lord the more I realize the importance of spiritual movement or change. I say “spiritual movement” because you can be still in Him and move. Sounds crazy, but it is true. Spiritual movement often has to do with positioning (how you see yourself before the Lord) that reveals a different perspective, view, revelation, of what is happening or what is required to please Him and release righteousness, joy and peace in our lives. This is Kingdom living! Go to 2 Peter 1:1-11

The first move we have to make is to surrender our ways, to God’s ways (vs. 1). It is the way of the Cross. The stumbling block to this happening is not our sinful deeds, but our sinful pride. The works of the devil that Jesus came to destroy is DECEPTION! Satan deceived man in the beginning and he continues to deceive man today. The statement that we have used “Is He (Jesus) enough?” is more profound than you may have ever thought. Satan convinced Eve that God was not enough. Cain was angry because Able discovered God was enough and offered a sacrifice that did not include his own works. The greatest deception and work of the devil is that you can do something that God can’t do or you don’t need Him to do! First movement is to humble yourself before the Lord!

The second movement is to ascend (vs. 2-4; Ephesians 2:6; Revelation 4:1). It is to move into the mystery of God (the divine) and man becoming one. Just as satan doesn't want you to surrender, he surely doesn’t want you to ascend. This is where religion usually comes in. Religion keeps us at the foot of the Cross. Religion doesn’t change or move. It camps! What I have found is that if you remain at the Cross you only see yourself from the sinner perspective. It is the place of repentance and we must go there, but if we stay there we either do one of two things.

1. We see as a sinner, lowly and unworthy. Remember after you have repented, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

2. We become self-righteous and this leads to pride and works.


Finally you come to the place to ADD(vs. 5-11)! I have read this portion of scripture lots of times and failed to see the importance of adding to my faith. This doesn’t mean faith is not enough! This means movement, enrichment, perspective and a change of position. Adding denotes change! It is essential to the growth process of walking in the Kingdom of God.

To “add” actually means to superimpose things that make your walk in God more fruitful! The important thing to note is that these are all things you have to do! Adding has to do with time, place, and order. Immediately I thought of what Jesus said to His disciples before the resurrection. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now (John 15:12). Time, place, order! There was something that they had to receive before they could add more revelation of both Him and them! They had to have the experience of the cross, the resurrection, the infilling of the Holy Spirit and then they had to choose to follow Him in the midst of the chaos that was before them. That chaos is called life! It is very important for all of us to realize that the Kingdom of God is for daily living!

It is interesting that it is Peter saying that you must add to your faith. Peter the one who denied him, but later chose to repent, chose to ascend (meaning he got over hisfailure), and then chose to obey, move, add to his faith! Add what? Add virtue, moral excellence, character! You have to choose this. God doesn’t do this for you! Add knowledge (understanding), which comes from experience in life. From moving and seeing from a different position. Add self-control or mastery or dominion of ourselves! Do you have control over your temper, over your passions, and over your tongue! Add patience or perseverance to your faith. Think of the people who couldn’t hold on and they lost their reward, their place in the kingdom of God, or their life (King Saul). Add godliness, reverent worship that results in the reflection of the nature of God. God makes me holy, but I have to choose to be godly! Add brotherly kindness or treating others like family. Finally, add charity or love. This is friendly affection because that is simply what God requires. It is not based on what you feel, but what you know you should do.

“These things” require movement that is a part of life experience and yet many go through life, but never change! They never add to their faith these things that make our walk useful and fruitful in the knowledge of Christ. If you don’t add these things you don’t see. You are shortsighted and you have forgotten what Jesus has done for you. You become self-righteous and unbearable, obnoxious and you are not walking in the Kingdom of God.

Here is a Kingdom principle. By adding these things as we move and see differently in life we actually have an abundant entrance supplied to us into the Kingdom of God! Let me say it again, "You must ADD these things to your life! God doesn't do it for you! Character is not a gift from God! It is developed by our choosing to obey Him even when it may be difficult!

ADD!!! MOVE!!! SEE GOD FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE THIS MORNING!