Building a Kingdom Culture!

Can you build a Kingdom culture in your environment? How does it work in the real world? The following information was given to me as I was studying the book of Nehemiah in the Bible. For a completed breakdown on how Nehemiah accomplished rebuilding the wall, click on this link: https://outhouseministries.com/2021/06/14/nehemiahs-business-plan/

When I was getting ready to launch “Outhouse Ministries” website.  I knew it was to be a bridge from the religious structures we were raised in to operating in the world with Kingdom principles. This is what Jesus was, a bridge that crossed the religious teaching to the physical world. I am believing we can build a bridge to bring Christian’s principle is our modern circle of influence without being religious. Jesus wasn’t religious, but He released God’s Kingdom everywhere He went.

The focus of this plan is:

• How to release vision to your people.
• How you face opposition personally.
• How you face opposition on a project.
• How you protect the project.
• How you protect your people and help them face their problems.
• How you motivate people with right assignments for the project.
• How to set up authority structures for function.
• How to address unfairness and unify the people.
• How to lead by example.

As you study these principles, you will see that they can be applied to personal goals, families, churches, and our circle of influences. It is time to get out of our boxes and move beyond the limitations of what we know. The Kingdom of God is the yeast. Once we plant the seeds, God will cause it to grow. We need to stay focused on His Kingdom and not the voices of the world around us. Come let us build together and bring His Kingdom to the earth as it is in heaven.

Accomplishing these Principles in Your Circle of Influence!

I was working for the State of Pennsylvania as a clerk typist II, which is the low man on the corporate ladder. After about six months of learning how and what the mission was for my department, my problem-solving skills kicked in. We had five different groups in our department. Each group was always playing the blame game instead of cooperating with each other. Between the clerks, compliance, engineers, and on-the-ground people was a gap that was fed by what I call, “me and my four” attitude. The clerks I worked with would not train you in their job and would go out of the way to make my job harder.

I went to God and had Him adjust my attitude of resentment. You can’t see the solution if you are looking through glasses of anger, resentment, or judgment. I call this the “Change My Buttons Lord” prayer. Walking in God’s love for people is the only way they will change.

Next, I started noting what were the main things separating the department. This would be why the wall couldn’t be built. Then I started taking simple steps to unite people instead of dividing people. I would stop gossiping and cutting remarks about others by not responding to their comments. We started celebrating birthdays. This was not as easy as you would think. Some people were mad about this, but God will give you ways of calming the ruffled feathers. We made Christmas parties fun by exchanging “worst-gifts-every” presents. I would tell stories and invite others to tell stories.

I got to know each person and what their main complaint was. I would listen and help in little ways or if I couldn’t solve the problem, I would talk to someone that could in a way that would pique their interest, so they would want to solve the problem. Because I spent time with people and got to know them, I could explain why a person acted that way to another person who was frustrated with them. Slowly things changed, and we started working as a group. More work was being done, and things were not slipping through the cracks. The two clerks who had the old mindset of “we are not helping,” retired which help remove the hindrances of us becoming a functioning work family.

Not only did this change our department but because I had worked with all the departments, I had insight into processing applications that even the home office recognized. One of the main office computer programmers wanted to change a process that was against our regulations. He fought against me trying to put me in my place, since I was only a clerk typist II. He emailed his corrections to me and to all the head guys in our corporation office. I calmly emailed the direct quote from the regulations. I explained why his process was wrong in a respectful but unwavering way. The head guy emailed everyone that Ruth was right! Later I found out my boss was mad about this guy doing that to me, but God had my back.

These principles work! We ended up with a great department that accomplished the mission it was assigned.

Steps to Take Your Territory

• Go in with an attitude of learning the job or whole landscape of the department.
• Don’t assume you know what to do. Ask God to remove any attitude and views that you have and ask to see everything the way He see the office. I call this putting on your “Kingdom Glasses”.
• Get the big picture and not just what your job is. Find out the mission then you will see what is stopping you from accomplishing it.
• People will resist change, even good change. It is just part of getting people out of their ruts.
• Spend time getting to know people, not manipulating them, but because you care about them.
• It takes slow and steady steps to change people’s mindsets. Example: One guy didn’t like the birthday signs on the door but was ok with the birthday card.
• People get involved when they feel they have a voice that counts. This allows their gifts to be recognized and causes them to be part of the team. People need to have a voice. Nehemiah accomplished this by allowing people building their wall in front of their home.
• Help people in small ways to make their job easier. Don’t do their job. I made that mistake and ended up with a lot of responsibility without being paid. God said it this way: “Don’t plow in another man’s field and expect them to share their crop!” As a good Christian, I thought I always had to go the extra mile, but I learned, that doesn’t mean I carry that person on my back.
• Protect people by seeing the good and helping others understand each other without divulging confidence. You can do this by saying things like, “I think this is what they meant.” or “He has a good heart but trips over his words sometimes.”
• You starve the complaining and feed the problem-solving ideas.

The fruit of taking the time to walk these steps is worth it. Lives were changed. Goals were met. People became friends. Others who were always fighting each other started extending grace instead of judgment. We became a family and work flowed better.

Prayer

Father God,

Thank You for where You have planted me. I know you said there would be giants in the promise land, but this is where multiplication of resources is available. I want to see through the lens of Your Kingdom view. Change my buttons and show me how to take my territory for Your Kingdom. I am willing to change. I need Your love which You placed in my heart to become stronger and greater than my anger and resentment. These mountains of human obstacles must become level ground. I ask for Your strategy to change this environment. Only You know how to change people.  Your word says every place I put my foot I can be blessed and be a blessing. I am partnering with You, Jesus. I can do all things through Jesus who give me strength through the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Scriptural References

Matthew 13:13 NIV (yeast/leaven); Matthew 6:10 NIV (Kingdom come); Exodus 3:8; Luke 5:53-56; Romans 5:5; Zechariah 4:4-7 Amplified Bible; Deuteronomy 8:1-12; Proverbs 1:7.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Full Life Study Bible – New International Version, Copyright © 1992 by Life Publishers International.

Note: Scriptures are not in quotations but have been written by author in building language for training purposes.