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Kingdom People!

June 24, 2019 / / 0 Comments

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First the Kingdom Part 20 – Kingdom People

If you haven’t already noticed, Jesus was first focused upon the will of His Heavenly Father, and secondly upon people who are the object of His Father’s love. These two priorities come together in the Good News of the Kingdom of God. His entire life was devoted to bringing the Kingdom of God to people and to bringing them into the Kingdom of God. Even after His resurrection He continued to speak of things related to the Kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

His Kingdom is not of this world system. His people are in the world system but not of it. But make no mistake, His Kingdom is more than an experience or a state of mind, as some would teach! To be born from above and to enter into the Kingdom of God is most definitely a life-changing experience, but it is also one that impacts the world around us. Rather than looking to escape this world and its ways, we are to pray as Jesus taught for the Kingdom to come and for God’s will to be done in earth as in heaven!

The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of heaven after all. These terms are interchangeable in the Gospels. Those of us who have truly repented and believed in Christ as our Lord and Savior have already tasted of heaven in a measure. There are those who believe that most of what is prophesied in the Bible concerning the Kingdom is in the future, and there are also those who believe it has fully come now. I would ask, Why not simply take the words of Jesus and His apostles and the prophets as they were given?

Throughout the Gospels there are plain statements that the time for the Kingdom of God had come. Jesus declared that His power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse the lepers was evidence that the Kingdom of God had come upon the people. (Matthew 10:8, Luke 9:2, 10:9, 11:20) Paul wrote to the church at Colossae that “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love..” (Colossians 1:13) NKJV

On the other hand, many statements are made relating to future aspects of the Kingdom. In Hebrews 6:4-5 we are told that those who have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come. It should not be difficult to see that the Kingdom of God has broken forth into the earth through the life, the work and person of the Lord Jesus Christ! This world will never be the same! And yet He has taught His followers to pray for the Kingdom to continue to come. I for one am thrilled to know that there is more to come even in this earth, but I am equally grateful to know that we can be Kingdom people, living in God’s presence, enjoying many of the privileges of the Kingdom of heaven now!

Paul said he was an ambassador of Christ. An ambassador is one who represents another. Christians should think of themselves as ambassadors who represent Christ and His kingdom to the world. I found an interesting illustration for this upon my first visit to India. In order to get a visa to enter the country I had to contact the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C.. Even though the office of the Embassy of India is in the USA, it is actually a part of India. That office had the authority given by the Indian government to give me permission to enter the country. The Indian Ambassador represents his country and possesses certain powers granted by his government.

Can you see where I am headed with this? Believers in Christ are in this world, but we are ambassadors, representatives of another world, that is the Kingdom of Heaven. We are given special privileges as citizens of heaven. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have a new nature by the New Birth, and are given the authority and ability to represent His Kingdom in this world!

Without Christ we can do nothing of eternal value. But in Christ, and in His mission we have been granted the power of the Holy Spirit! Our local gatherings are like outposts that create the environment of heaven here on earth. We are the light of the world, a city set on a hill, a real and significant demonstration to the world of what the Kingdom of God is like!

Sadly, some today believe the authority of the Kingdom of God is for serving our own purposes. They confess faith, make claims and hope to obtain the things they want for themselves. Guess what, this often works for them. Why? Because human beings do have great potential in themselves. They can do great things, have great accomplishments and build empires from sheer willpower and determination.

We however are talking about a kingdom that cannot be threatened, shakened or moved. This kingdom might not even look like much from the outside, but it is precious in the sight of God and those who love Him. It is realm of total dependence upon the supernatural power of a Holy God. In it there is no place for greed or selfishness, and yet there is prosperity of heart, soul, mind and body.

The Kingdom of God is demonstrated through a people who acknowledge and worship Jesus Christ as their Lord. He is the motivating force of their lives, the very reason for the beating of their hearts. They depend upon His power for their next breath, but by His power they are breaking down the very gates of hell today! He is their King and they are in His Kingdom now, but they also look to the time when “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ!” (Revelation 11:15)

Workers Together With God

June 15, 2019 / / 1 Comment

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First the Kingdom 19, Workers together with God

While everything around us seems to be falling apart, we have hope in Christ! That hope is not only in the promise of a better existence after this life, but also of a chance to have a better life now! Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundantly! While everything that can be shaken is being shaken, that which cannot be shaken is the Kingdom of God! We have been considering what it means to seek first the Kingdom of God, and what happens when we do just that!

Many people do not believe that there is much hope for a better life now. Others are determined to have a better life for themselves now at all cost. I submit that your best life now is a life of serving and giving of yourself to the benefit of others. I submit that Jesus has a perfect plan for you and a place where you can serve others for the glory of God and the joy of pleasing Him.

Consider the apostle Paul. What an inspiration he was for scores of generations to follow. His was a life of purpose and a passion to fulfill that purpose. He declared himself to be a fellow worker with God!

How would you like that honor? You do not have to be a missionary to foreign lands like Paul, or the leader of a local congregation, but you do have a purpose for which God has saved you. In that purpose you can have the same level of passion and joy in service that was in Paul and many others who were so touched by Jesus Himself.

First of all let’s get something clear. The man behind the pulpit is not “The Minister.” He and other leaders are called to serve other members in the Body of Christ and to equip them for ministry! We are all called to minister which means to serve. Jesus said that the greater one is the servant of all. Those who have a vision of the kingdom of God begin to see a purpose in their serving that is greater than one can imagine. They see the increase of the Kingdom of God in every act of love, kindness, or encouragement. They see the building up of the Body of Christ as a part of building up the Kingdom of God in the earth.

In Romans from chapters eight to eleven, Paul made some fantastic declarations concerning what God was going to do for people, through people and in His creation. At the end of chapter eleven, he becomes overwhelmed by these considerations and breaks out in praise to God!

Romans 11:33-36:
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
NASB

Then in chapter 12 he begins to plead with the church by reason of what has been said before. “I beg of you therefore…..”

These opening verses of chapter 12 are well known and often memorized and quoted. But how often are they connected with the great purpose that was stated earlier? Paul is saying, “Because of the wonderful plan of God for His creation, here is what I hope you will do. Why? Because you have a part in that plan!”

In Paul’s letters there is a heavy emphasis on the sovereignty of God and His amazing divine plan of the ages. Because of this some conclude that there is absolutelly nothing for us but to witness the unfolding of that plan. We could assume this to be so if not for the fact that Paul himself labored consistently and passionately in the Kingdom of God. In each of his writings he also gave equal space to encourage others to do the same in their own capacity and sphere of influence.

Human beings were created by God with great potential. They were to rule the earth by His authority and in His image. They were to expand His kingdom by multiplying and filling the earth with people who also reflect His image. That potential was seriously limited after they sinned against God. When Jesus came He began to destroy the works of the devil who initiated the fall. Christ is our redeemer who is restoring us to our proper place in the universe!

The Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 sounds very much like Genesis 1:26-28 in the sense that the apostles were commissioned to “fill the earth” with disciples of Christ by “filling the earth” with His teachings! God’s Kingdom reign is on the move, and that through His workers — your and I!

At this point I feel to get a bit bold concerning our “do nothing” brothers and sisters in Christ who claim that because we are weak and powerless, God must do it all. Could this be an indication of apathy, laziness or even cowardess on their part?  Worse of all it reveals disobedience to Christ who challenges us through Paul to be stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord!

One thing I have noticed in my life: pessimism is the easiest of all roads to take. To see one’s pessimistic view to be realized, all that is required is to do nothing. Weeds do not need our help to grow, but a fruitful garden needs care and cultivation. Those who are convinced that evil will ultimately prevail until Christ comes at the very end of time only have to watch and observe the rising tide of evil, and perhaps complain about it.

However, those who believe the advance of the Kingdom of God from the First Century and up to the present are asked to courageously take part in that advance today! Paul in his letter to the Romans encourages us to worship and serve God in such a way that the will of God is demonstrated through us! Yes, we too are workers together with God!

Romans 12:1-2:
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
NASB

After encouraging the church to continually surrender our bodies and live a sacrificial life, he gives some very practical instructions to each member of this mysteriously connected body of Christ. He tells us that each of us has been given unique gifts from God that can lift up and strengthen others. In this way the entire body of believers is strenthened.

Romans 12:3-8:
For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
NASB

It is obvious to me that every possible gift is not mentioned here, but some examples are given. In other words, what ever gift is found in you, it is your responsibility to excercise it. Peter put it this way:

1 Peter 4:10:
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
NASB

It is important to remember the context in which Peter and Paul were writing. The early church gathering was not simply a place to gather and watch a performance on a stage. Believers usually came together to share a meal, pray for one another and share the Word of God as a family. Today many are realizing that small groups like Bible studies, prayer meetings, womens and mens groups and the like provide great opportunities to discover the unique gifts that each member possesses.

The human body is intricately designed with each component depending upon the other. we need to see today how important each believer is to the other as we build up one another in the love of God. Each born-again believer in Christ is special and important to the health of the whole, and each gift needs to be used for the entire body to grow.

So instead of trying to imitate the function of someone you respect and admire, you can imitate the same passion and dedication to the function God has given to you. In this way, we actually become workers together with God!

We hope this series on First the Kingdom has been helpful to you. To continue in this study with us, we invite you to “like” and “follow” https://www.facebook.com/livingtruthcom/ or subscribe to our blog on https:livingtruth.com

Building in the Kingdom

May 16, 2019 / / 0 Comments

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First the Kingdom 18, Building in the Kingdom

In a well-known passage of scripture Jesus said that He would build His church, and in that context He also spoke of the keys to the kingdom. It is being said today that only Jesus can build His church and His kingdom. But is that true? Are we simply passive spectators, watching the rise and fall of worldly kingdoms while we wait for that glorious day in the future when Christ finally comes to set up His Kingdom?

Maybe the ancient philosophers were right. Maybe God is like the two great powers, Fate or Fortune who control everyone’s lives. Or maybe the Eastern Guru’s could teach us how to passively accept the way things are — their path to inner peace?

The apostles of Christ and the First Century Church evidently did not have this information. They took risks every day as they carried out His directions. Some were beaten and killed. others were driven out of their homes because they were driving back the very gates of hell! All of these troubles could have been avoided if they had simply stayed to themselves and quietly meditated in private.

Of course we must always remember, Jesus said without Him we can do nothing. Absolutely nothing! I cannot take my next breath without Him! However He also said that all things are possible with God! With God. In Christ. Through Christ. These words describe the reality wherein believers in Him have power. The earliest believers were said to have God working with them! They are also described as being filled with God the Holy Spirit!

There are times to be passive as we await the Spirit’s direction. There are also times when we know what to do and that is nothing! This should not define the overall mindset or mode for those following Christ. The accounts we have of the lives of men and women in the Bible are there for a reason. It is not always that we should copy their actions precisely, but we can certainly learn from them. We can easily see that God often moved them to actions which impacted situations in the world around them. When they moved with Him, He moved with them.

Prayer to God was always the undergirding force. They were people who knew their God. Some of them were educated and intelligent. Some were simple people. Some were important figures in the world, others were virtually unknown. The important thing was that God wanted to use them, and that they responded to His call.

There are many instances in the Bible where God used people instead of His direct intervention. I am convinced that He is still working for the being He created in Genesis to reflect His image, and to care for His creation. Our participation is required in that process. One does not become responsible overnight. As a child my mother did everything for me. Gradually I learned to feed and to dress myself. Amazingly I can still remember being taught to tie my shoes. That was a rewarding experience! I was growing up, and I felt the satisfaction of that simple accomplishment!

God knows His children are not ready to command the wind and the waves, and to rule over creation under His authority. He only gives us greater responsibilities as we are able to shoulder them.

Sadly, many people are denied the privilege of growing in both their natural and spiritual responsibilities and the satisfaction this growth brings. They are being tricked by the same snake in the garden that fooled Adam and Eve into relinquishing their rightful place in the universe to him. The same desire for physical pleasure and foolish pride keeps people today from finding the greatest pleasure and fulfillment of them all, the glory of God!

Jesus proved without doubt that human beings were here for greater things. He demonstrated the dominion and power that was available to those who return to the simplicity of living in and loving the One Who designed us for that very purpose. We were never intended to be subservient to the powers of nature. Jesus revealed the future He has in mind for the creation. As God’s people grow unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, when they are finally revealed to be who they really are in Him, the groaning of the creation will end. As we fully find our place in his plan, and as we demonstrate that we are free from the results of the fall, so will creation be set free. Then will this planet be ruled and cared for by the nature of God revealed in humanity!

But we have to start now, by assuming the responsibilities God gives us little by little, day by day. He has brought those who have repented and placed their trust in Him into a special place. We are in His Kingdom now! We are learning to be faithful in small things so He can allow us to be in charge of greater things later. Having a view of the goal is important, but taking steps toward that goal is even more so.

People who believe that it is not yet the time for God’s Kingdom to come, for God’s will to be done in the earth now are constrained by false limitations. They put off important Kingdom activities to a future time when Christ Himself will do it all. They see these efforts as doomed from the start. I admit that the mission Christ has given looks more like the Mission Impossible, or the Impossible Dream of Don Quixote sometimes. And yet He often surprises us through simple people who are naive enough to believe Him! Jesus said some amazing things to those who believed in Him. He announced that from them would rivers of living water, and that they would do greater works than He had done!

Jesus also said He would build His Church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Why then do we see ourselves as weak and unable to obey Him? It was Paul who called himself a wise master builder and a fellow worker with God. I submit that the proper perspective is that we are helpless without Him, but also more than conquerors though Him! Our mission is not doomed to failure, but only because it is God’s desire and plan. He cannot fail. Next time we will look in detail to see how each of us has a different part in His plan to transform this world.

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