Part 4, 2026 The Year of Our Lord
Part 4, 2026, The Year Of Our Lord
Tuesday January 27, 2026
This is a year of faithful obedience to God, using the “Kingdom Principles” rather than “Empire Principles.”
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name,
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done one earth
As it is in heaven.
The early church operated by Principles of the Kingdom of God, which can well be described as “faithful selflessness.”
The focus of the early church was on God’s Name, God’s Kingdom and God’s Will.
The first shift in Christianity happened when in AD 312, Emperor Constantine embraced Christianity. Emperor Constantine attempted, with good intentions, to Christianize the Roman empire. Sadly, that did not happen. Instead, the church of Christ was Romanized. The church became less Kingdom minded, and more Empire minded. The church, for the most part, shifted her focus and started to adopt the principles and values of the Roman Empire. The church began to employ the strategies and methods of Empire building. The church began to employ the strategies and methods of Empire building which can be described as “effective self-promotion.”
We still see this happening today. Every time we try to do God’s work, or to advance His cause by employing worldly methods and strategies, what we get is always a church that is invaded by the world and ends up looking more like the world. Priorities shift because the goals shift. Goals shift because values shift. Christians no longer set their minds on the things of God, but on the things of men.
Before Constantine, the first person to be seduced in this way was the Apostle Peter.
Matthew 16:21-23 NET From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. [22] So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: "God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!" [23] But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but on man's."
Moving away from the big players, we as individuals need to be aware of this sneaky virus in our personal Christian walk.
There are two kinds of Christians. The Bible differentiates by their minds: the spiritually mind and the carnally mind.
Romans 8:5-8 NKJV For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. [8] So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
The spiritually minded Christian is a totally new creature. His values, thinking and pursuits reveal that he is Kingdom minded.
A carnally minded Christian and an unregenerated person are often so similar you cannot tell the difference. Let’s call them Empire minded. They are similar in their values, thinking, pursuits, and manner of life.
Most Christians assume that they are spiritually minded. The reality though is that the same Christian can be spiritually minded one day and be carnally minded the next day. The Bible describes this as being double minded. (James 1:8)
Even more frightening, he can move from one mind to the other mind on the same day, (eg. Apostle Peter in Matthew 16.)
To help us discern better if we are being kingdom minded, please see the following checklist.
SPIRITUALLY MINDED
Kingdom Minded
Focuses on God: His Name, Kingdom, and will (agenda)
Faithful selflessness (Philip Acts 8:5-8, 26-30, 36-40)
Waits patiently for God (Abraham, Joseph, David, Daniel, Simeon all waited for God's promise.)
Seeks to do God’s will (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:17)
Asks “Is God pleased?” (2 Corinthians 5:9)
Lover of God (Cornelius, Acts 10:2)
Perseveres in God’s will (Paul, 2 Timothy 1:12)
Sacrifices self for God’s glory and for others (Stephen, Acts 7:59-60)
Prays for God’s purposes and for others
CARNALLY MINDED
Empire Minded
Focuses on Self: name, empire and will (agenda)
Effective self-promotion; (Simon, the magician, Acts 8:9, 10, 13, 18-24)
Impatiently moves fast.
Carelessly violates God’s will
(Tower of Babel, Genesis 11:4)
Asks, “Am I pleased?”
Lover of self, of pleasure and of the world (2 Timothy 3:2-5)
Jumps ship at the slightest discomfort (Demas, 2 Timothy 4:10)
Sacrifices others for self glory
Prays only for self
Kingdom Minded or Empire Minded
They seek after the things of self rather than seeking after God.
Matthew 6:31-34 ESV Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. [34] "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The unregenerated mind and the carnal Christian mind are similar in their pursuits.
They seek after the things of self rather than seeking after God. The carnal mind is set on the things of man, rather than the things of God.
Matthew 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
