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This week I want to continue talking about the protocol of the Kingdom. The first week we talked about protocol, we have seen that the Kingdom has priority. Last week we looked at the protocol of how to approach a King or Ruler. This week I want to look at some of the things that represent the protocol of the Kingdom. 

 

First a definition of the word protocol.

 

noun

  1. the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions.
  2. the original draft of a diplomatic document, especially of the terms of a treaty agreed to in conference and signed by the parties.
  3. synonyms: agreement, treaty, entente, concord, concordat, convention, deal, pact, contract, compact, settlement, arrangement

 

From the definition, we can see that the meaning of the word protocol means the rules and systems that govern an agreement or contract. In the Kingdom, it is the rules that govern the Covenant that God made with us through Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. 

 

A contract or agreement is a powerful thing. The Kingdom does not operate by contract or agreement though but by Covenant. What is a Covenant? It is much stronger than an agreement or contract. A Covenant required that a life be given to make it and a life was taken when it was broken. In Biblical times a sacrifice was made as part of making a covenant. The sacrifice symbolized both the life that was given to make it and the life that would be lost if it was broken. This whole concept of Covenant only strengthens the fact that the protocols of the Kingdom carry much more responsibility to obey and adhere to than any normal contract or agreement would. 

 

Faithfulness:

The protocol of staying faithful in the Kingdom is far-reaching. Jesus did not beat around the bush when he talked about this. He clearly states that if you want to be in the kingdom, you have to deny everything else and stay faithful to the call and purpose of what the Kingdom stands for – Matt 10:37-38, Mark 8:34. 

 

In today’s world, we are constantly challenged with where our faithfulness and loyalty lies. Politics, finances, and religion are constantly trying to get our vote and loyalty. If you have pledged your loyalty to the Kingdom, you cannot claim to be anything else. He is Lord of all or not Lord at all. I am not saying you can’t budget or vote for something, I am saying your decision should be influenced by the Kingdom, not your job or your denomination or your political affiliation. 

 

Faithfulness also means you stay until the end. When I married my wife, I promised to be faithful until death parts us. It was not a marriage agreement, it was a covenant I made with her. I know some marriages do not work out and there are grace and forgiveness for that, but divorce does not negate the fact that the original intention was that marriage was to be a picture of faithfulness until the end. 

 

What about being faithful with your money? In the Kingdom, it is called stewardship. Jesus talked more about this than any other subject. The parable about the talents is one example. How do we steward our relationships? How do we steward our prayer life and our commitment to serving others? All these are part of being faithful. The number one thing I learned about stewardship in the Kingdom is that it is not just about how you protect what God gives you but how you spend it and increase it. The guy who got one talent hid it and protected it, but Jesus rebuked him for doing so. Are you faithful in the way you spend your finances and increasing it? The best way to increase what God gave you is to bless those in need or who do not have. God loves a cheerful giver.

 

Matt. 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 

Well done. We all want to hear that one day. You can take your temperature now. I know where I can do much better.

 

You will know how committed you are by the price you are willing to pay to take your stand for the Kingdom! 

 

 I want to challenge you to do the same. 

 

Next week we will look at another protocol of the kingdom called “Forgiveness.”