Kingdom Principles-Part 1

Over the next several posts, I would like to address the topic of Kingdom Principles for Christian Educators. I started investigating this topic several years ago with the intent of turning it into a book. However, after careful review, I decided to share my thoughts as part of Delpublications Insights.

Since the principles are based on the uncompromised Word of God, they can completely transform a classroom. And as educators introduce these Kingdom principles across the school, not only will each classroom be transformed, but the entire school can be changed.

Kingdom

What is a kingdom? We know that every living creature on earth belongs to one of the six kingdoms of life. Furthermore, we classify all inorganic objects as part of the mineral kingdom. However, when we refer to kingdom principles, we focus on the Kingdom of God spoken of by Jesus. It is the Kingdom of heaven brought to earth, one that every Christian participates in and is in a position to receive the blessings that are part of this Kingdom.

The idea for God’s Kingdom on earth began at the time of creation. God gave man dominion over all the earth when He created Adam. He was to rule over all the earth. Genesis 1:26-28 says,

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Unfortunately, this rulership was delivered into the hands of the devil when Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden and ate the forbidden fruit. As a result of sin, death passed on to humankind. However, God had a plan of redemption that included sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, to earth to suffer and die, providing an avenue to obtain eternal life and to share in the blessings of God’s Kingdom, which Jesus brought to earth in His life.

In his book, Kingdom Principles, Miles Monroe says, “Jesus’ message, assignment, passion, and purpose were not to establish a religion of rituals and rules but rather to reintroduce Kingdom Principles. Everything Jesus said and did—His prayers, teachings, healings, and miracles—was focused on a kingdom, not a religion. Jesus was preoccupied with the Kingdom; it was His top priority, His heavenly mandate.” (Monroe, p. 17, 2006)

The Kingdom of God was God’s spiritual reign in the life of the believer, brought to earth through the teachings of Jesus and evident through His life. When followed by believers, the principles that Jesus revealed as part of His Kingdom would produce a lifestyle that leads to blessing. This book presents kingdom principles that Christian educators can apply in their lives, classrooms, and schools to lead to success. Since Scripture is the basis for each principle, the book could be titled “Biblical Principles for Christian Educators.”

Christian Educators

The primary audience of this book is born-again Christians who are educators and have acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives. Furthermore, it is for Christian educators who sense a divine call to teach, whether in a public, private, or Christian school, and who want to impact their students’ lives positively. Applying these principles requires educators to go beyond their professional training, experience, and knowledge of methods and instructional techniques. The application will produce the most significant results when the Christian educator is filled with the Holy Spirit and desires to be Spirit-directed.

When we say “filled with the Spirit,” we mean more than just having the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life that takes place when a person is born again. Every Christian educator already has a measure of the Holy Spirit in their life. He is there, fostering the fruit of the Spirit.

Being “filled with the Spirit” is like the electrical service coming into your home. Most older homes have only a 60-amp service. Newer homes have at least 100-amp service; many are rated at 200 amps, or like mine. I have 300 amps, which provides all the electricity a plugged-in family could want, and enough power to run my workshop and charge an electric vehicle.

These principles are greatly enhanced when the Christian educator is full to overflowing with the Spirit, as mentioned in Acts 2:4. This experience is much like having a 500-amp service. The Christian educator will accomplish so much more.

If you want to know how to bring a 500-amp service into your life, I highly recommend downloading our YouTube video, Session 3, Part 3: Spirit-Directed Education. This video focuses on the importance of being filled with the Spirit, and on how this experience can now take place. You will also find the process in our book. Spirit-Directed Education: A New Approach to Education.

The successful application of these principles requires Christian educators to go beyond being merely dedicated, consecrated, and tuned in to the Holy Spirit, much like adjusting a TV antenna to improve reception. Allowing the Holy Spirit to work through them will lead Christian educators to know how best to apply the principles we present in the posts that follow.