Kingdom Quote

Matthew 11:12 AMP
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize].

“The Kingdom means a very great deal more than merely getting into it, far more than being converted. There is a great deal more in the purpose of God for our lives than we have ever imagined, and if we are to enter into that, violence has to characterize us. We must desperately mean business. . . . The only way for us to come into all that the Lord means— not only into what we have seen but into all that He has purposed— is to be desperate, to be men of violence; to be men who say, “By God’s grace, nothing and no one, however good, is going to stand in my way; I am going on with God.” Have that position with the Lord, and you will find that God meets you on that ground.”
T. Austin-Sparks

Advertisements

Make Your Life Count

The way I see it no man or woman born has ever or will ever possess the power, intelligence or wisdom to get America and the world out of the mess it is has been in since the beginning of time.

The Globalists or One World enthusiasts think their way is the only way to fix the problems that exist in the world today. This is why these governmental leaders are devoted to coming up with various ideas and programs that will never truly work. The major ingredient missing in their equation for success is faith.

Yes faith in the Creator of this Universe and His way of living.

Most people regardless of world view are saying they want a world order that will bring in the following just a few major points for all the inhabitants of the earth to enjoy:

World Peace and Safety
Conquer disease
Eliminate World Hunger
Remove Poverty

Psychologists have told us there are three basic needs inherent in all humans living throughout the globe. These are:

The need to belong.

The need for significance.

The need for reasonable security.

Whether world leaders are Liberal or Conservative, these seem to be the elusive goals to achieve in order to live in a harmonious, prosperous and safe world.

Keeping these three human needs in mind the United Nations was set up in order to come up with a remedy for problems that face a globe with an ever growing population.

The differences are not these goals but the means in which they should be accomplished.

We who say we are Christians should line up with the only plan that will work to bring about the goals the world is striving for and this is learning how to live in kingdom of God.

Political solutions will always come up short and fail! Therefore instead of joining in the fray of this political season, perhaps we should be telling our family and friends, neighbors and strangers, about God’s solution to the human dilemma in which we are all trapped.

All this fighting about Trump or Hillary is a big distraction for what our Father is expecting of us.

Colossians 3:1-4 (KJV)
3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Our lives may seem insignificant at times but be assured that your life can make a positive impact on the people around you.

Make your life count today by letting your light shine.

Sealed

Sealed
Ephesians 1-1-23
By Frank Manasseri

What does it mean to be “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise?” and what is the “earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession?” Ephesians 1:1-23:

Highlighting certain aspects of this most wonderful Church epistle which declares to the saints (the sanctified ones) The Fathers Great Love to us who BELIEVE!

When God’s Word tells us we were “sealed” it is the Greek word sphragizo which means to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literally or figuratively); by implication, to keep secret or to attest.

This word sphragizo comes from the word sphragis which is a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication, the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally and figuratively.
The Word shows us that what we were sealed with or that the down payment is the holy spirit of promise. And that this holy spirit of promise is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.

The Word here in Ephesians tells us that we were sealed or stamped with a signet or a protective mark for security or preservation or that we are fenced in or protected from misappropriation by a stamp as a mark of privacy or genuineness which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession.

The word earnest is the Greek word arrhabon which is a pledge, i.e. part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest. In our time it would be called a down payment on a purchase or what is commonly called earnest money in real estate for a house or property which you are in the process of buying.

When we first trusted in Jesus Christ after that we heard the good news or the gospel of our salvation, the Word declares that we were buried with Him by baptism into His death (Romans 6:4) and then raised again together with Him to walk in newness of life.

The newness of life (Christ in you the hope of glory) is our spiritual inheritance, or a sort of spiritual DNA we received when we were sealed with the holy spirit of promise. The gift of holy spirit is our spiritual endowment which enables us to walk supernaturally in order to be changed into the image of Christ. This may also be stated as taking upon ourselves the form of Christ in our every day actions. The true work of the gift ministries to the body of Christ is to labor and travail in birth (gal 4:19) until Christ be formed in the saints. This apparent impossibility may only be accomplished by the power of the gift of the holy spirit energized within us by faith so that we may be filled to overflowing in order to manifest any or all if the nine manifestations of that one gift from God (I Corinthians 12:1-13).

Paul told the Galatains in 4:19 that he labored and travailed in birth until Christ be formed in them.

Today all around the world we desperately need true ministers of Christ to be laboring and travailing in birth until Christ be formed in the members of the body of Christ.

We (The church) have been equipped by God by way of His gift to share the gospel or the good news that Jesus Christ the Lamb of God has taken away the sins (past, present and future) of the world.

Hebrews 10:26-29 clearly states that any who have received the knowledge of the truth (the gospel or Good News!) and refuse to accept Him by willfully rejecting The Lord Jesus as the only acceptable sacrifice for their sins have only a certain fearful looking for of judgment.

Heb 10:26-29

This is the Good News! All those who will come to Him and confess His name shall be saved. Again the Word of God states that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Hebrews tells us that He, Christ became our High Priest of good things to come not by the earthly tabernacle, which was made with hands but by a greater and more perfect tabernacle.

Christ did not enter into the Holy of Holies here on earth to sprinkle the blood of bulls and goats, but He entered in once and for all into the Holy of Holies in heaven to sprinkle His own precious blood on the Mercy seat.

Heb 9:11-14

Heb 9:24-28

What great news we have to share with the people of this world! Especially now when we are surrounded with so much darkness and despair we can truly be the lights of the world holding forth the word of life.

Beloved I will leave you with this:

Phil 2:5-16

To God be the Glory through His Son Jesus Christ forever and ever Amen.

Share this:

Kingdom Dynamics

Empowered for Kingdom Living

Reading Matt chapters 5, 6 and 7 gives us a good accounting of the character of Jesus Christ as King of the Kingdom of God.

As we remain connected to the True Vine(John 15:1-20 KJV) and let Christ live through us the characteristics of Christ(Galatians 5:22-23 KJV) will be expressed in our lives.

Some of what the Lord expects from His followers are:

Turning the other check when attacked

Going the extra mile

Loving our enemies when treated unjustly

Forgiving those who hurt us

Treating others in the same manner as you would like to be treated

Being a benefit to others even if you will not benefit.

Suffering persecution for doing good

These are some of the standards of the Kingdom we are expected by Christ to live by.

Although we cannot of our own selves live up to these standards we have been enabled by the gifts from the Holy Spirit and by way of a personal relationship with Christ to overcome our flesh in order to fulfill these characteristics in our every day lives.

This standard of living is what we need to begin to focus on as we continue to learn more of what is expected of us as Kingdom Citizens.

“Unless the Lord Build the House”

Once an individual begins to “consider” Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of our calling then they will begin to experience true liberty in Christ.

Once an individual is confident of their relationship with Christ then we no longer look to any man for our answers to life’s dilemmas.

When I speak about the Kingdom of God I’m talking about the primary purpose Christ became a man! This is known as the Incarnation and it is a definite game-changer.

Christ willfully left His place with the Father, leaving behind all of the attributes He enjoyed as The Divine Son of God thereby limiting Himself to be conceived in the womb of his mother Mary. Then nine months later He was born a helpless baby.

Before Christ was born, when He was still a fetus in the womb of Mary. His cousin John who was also a fetus in the womb of Elizabeth, recognized Him as Christ (Luke 1:41-45 KJV)

This is great love! That Christ willfully left His majesty in heaven and willfully chose to become a servant to humanity ultimately to be sacrificed on the cross for the sins of the world.

Throughout all the gospels Christ is preaching and teaching about the Kingdom of God (Heaven). He is not only preaching and teaching He is also demonstrating what the Father would do and say in any given situation. But even more than this, Christ also demonstrated
what attitude a human being should have towards God. Christ played a dual role of first showing us the Father and secondly showing us how to live before the Father.

Matthew 4:23 (KJV)
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

With His every word and action Christ was showing us by example what the Father would do and how we down to earth through the preaching of the good news of the Kingdom. Every devil was cast out and every miracle was performed because the actual presence of the kingdom was spoken into existence. Therefore no devil, sickness or disease could stand in the atmosphere of the kingdom of God.

Christ taught us how to pray to our Father in heaven and not to some distant impersonal and indifferent God who is far removed from our everyday lives.

Christ also simplified the Law of Moses to two commandments when He said the first and great commandment is to Love God with all your heart, mind and soul and the second was like unto the first that you should love your neighbor as yourselves. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets!

Matthew 9:35 (KJV)
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Notice not just some were healed but everyone.

First He taught them. Then He preached the kingdom. Then He healed them all.

Later will we go through the Book of Acts to see this same progression used when every healing was performed and every devil cast out.

Reading the gospels and the church epistles through the lens of the kingdom of God you will be amazed at what you will discover.

The book of Acts begins with:

Acts 1:1-3 (KJV)
1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

According to this scripture Christ spent 40 days in His resurrected body speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God!

In Acts 2:42-47 after about three thousand souls repented and accepted Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah, Christ set up His kingdom economy and not one of them lacked!

This was the mindset of the first century church (ecclesia)! These people were of one mind concerning the Apostles doctrine which obviously must have been what Christ taught them about how to live a kingdom life. Then logically the Apostles Doctrine must have been “the things concerning the Kingdom of God”

The very next day after the day of Pentecost Peter and John were involved with the notable miracle of the lame man being healed. While Peter and John were on their way to the Temple they encountered the man born lame that sat at the Temple asking alms.

When Peter and John were passing this lame man he asked them if they could help him with some money. Peters response was “silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk!”

Then Peter lifting the man up when suddenly the man was healed and began walking, and leaping, and praising God!

Beginning with this notable miracle and continuing throughout the entire Book of Acts we find that everywhere we see the preaching of Christ and the gospel of the kingdom, miracles occurred.

Finally in the last verses of Acts we find Paul preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Acts 28:30-31King James Version (KJV)
30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

Jesus our “Boss” told His disciples to go into all the word, and preach the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM!

Mark 16:15-16 (KJV)
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

So what is missing today in professional Christianity?

Why are not we seeing genuine works of God on a bigger scale?

My contention is the gospel of the kingdom which Jesus preached, and His Apostles preached is not being preached today by the main stream Church.

The high power preachers of today may talk a bit about the kingdom, and many people including myself thought I knew about the kingdom. However when the “Christ” finally got my attention, I realized I had much more to learn about what His kingdom was all about. I began to see how absolutely necessary it is for His people to share the good news of the kingdom of God with others who have never heard this.

Why? Because it is the only viable remedy for this corruption of this world we live in.

I also contend that many men and women in the pulpit enjoy building a following where they are the King. They like all the benefits of them being the King. These things ought not to be!

Some of these preachers may not realize this fault but if you investigate you will find that most of the Big Time ministries fall into this category.

Jesus Christ said in the kingdom of God the least will be the greatest. This speaks of servant leadership not Royal Hierarchy.

Except the Lord Build the House

Psalm 127:1 (KJV)
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

The Bible declares there is only room for one King!

His name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth!”

A Kingdom Out of Every Tribe Nation and Tongue

According to the Bible the eternal purpose of human history is to bring forth a community of people out of “every nation, tribe, tongue and people.” While living here upon the earth these communities of people may decide to become inhabitants of God’s kingdom. This knowledge of the Kingdom of God is the main purpose Jesus of Nazareth came to make available to all who will accept Him and believe in His name. Eventually this community of people who become born from above or born again will reign with Him in the eternal future of the cosmos in a Kingdom where God rules over all.

In the new heaven and new earth, God’s perfect righteousness will finally prevail because God will dwell there with and among His people. Peace will be constant. Love of serving God will never cease to exist in the eternal Kingdom of God that will arrive in the Age to come.

Everything in the universe is under God’s control and continues to exist by His will. Time for the Earth is limited, and God governs the schedule. Our world – the cities and countryside of every continent and the oceans with all that is in them – and the far reaches of the vast universe will not remain forever in a fallen and darkened state of choas.

The world continues today because of the greatness of God’s patience. Because of His tender mercies and long-suffering, all that will be His may come to repentance and take their rightful place in the Kingdom of the Lord To-Day. However before this occurs there is a harvest to be gathered. Souls to be won over to God’s way of living life..

This is where you and I as true followers of Christ come into the picture. We live in “The now but not yet”, “The land of the in-between”. We now live in a place between The Old Testament (Egypt) and the New Covenant Promised Land (Kingdom). We live in the Wilderness where we see a glass darkly.

Today while living in this “present evil age” there are people who have not yet received or experienced Christ as their Lord and Savior. Many of these fellow earth dwellers have not been told about this glorious Kingdom of God that will one day be established here upon the earth. Unfortunately the only source of spirituality that many of these have been exposed to, are the man-made religions of the world.

In today’s Global society there are many who will not listen to anything that comes from any religious book or from a Bible for no other reason than this Ancient Book of Life has been replaced by many man-made concepts and technologies. The Holy Scriptures have been shunned, marginalized and degraded for centuries. The wisdom contained in the many spiritually gifted teachers of times gone by has been traded in for a new form of dealing with the many problems which exist in today’s cultures. The wise sayings and words of wisdom from the ancients like Buddha, Confucius, Jesus of Nazareth and many others who taught a culture of life and love has been in many instances looked down upon.

For years the young have been indoctrinated to believe that mankind is evolving to a place where humanity will come up with all the solutions to the many problems (Humanism) that face us in a world where not only the population is growing exponentially, but a planet where people are living longer. The seemingly impossible task of eliminating, hunger, disease, war, violence, pestilence, greed, racism, sexism, hatred has all been put upon the shoulders of the brotherhood and sisterhood of man to solve on their own. Therefore there is no need for a God from which to seek help and assistance.

The sad part is this utopian global society where many are striving for a better world already exists but has not yet been discovered by many who would benefit from living in such a state of existence. You may ask where does such a world like this exist?

Many have lost their desire for what they deem is man-made religion but really is Truth.

God has no feet but mine; He has no hands but mine. No voice but mine.

According to the Bible the eternal purpose of human history is to bring forth a community of people out of “every nation, tribe, tongue and people.” While living here upon the earth these communities of people may decide to become inhabitants of God’s kingdom. This knowledge of the Kingdom of God is the main purpose Jesus of Nazareth came to make available to all who will accept Him and believe in His name. Eventually this community of people who become born from above or born again will reign with Him in the eternal future of the cosmos in a Kingdom where God rules over all.

As Kingdom Citizens this should be our daily driving force, to be that Kingdom Preacher, a Kingdom Bringer, A Kingdom Liver!

-adapted from a study of God’s grace

There is a Kingdom of God Race of People that will live Forever Part I

There is a Kingdom of God Race of People that will live Forever
Part I

Today is a day to sing and dance, and give all praise, glory, and honor with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength to our Heavenly Father!

Scripture states that God’s Redemptive Plan for mankind was conceived before the very foundations of the world. His benevolent plan was to create a new race of people from out of every Nation and tribe! Therefore any and all who will accept Jesus of Nazareth as their Lord and Savior become citizens of this new race of the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 1:1-14 (KJV)
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

So what is this new race of the Kingdom of God?

To begin with the Kingdom of God Race is opposite to, and infinitely more improved than the Human Race. The Human Race is fragmented into race (Jew or Greek), gender (Male or Female), and Class, (Slave or Free) or by Skin Color. However in the Kingdom of God none of these distinctions exist for all are one in Christ.

The father of the Human Race is known as the first Adam and is of the earth or temporal.

The father of the Kingdom of God Race is known as the Last Adam, and is Jesus Christ the Man from heaven or spiritual.

The first Adam’s seed is carnal and corruptible.

The Last Adam’s seed is spiritual and incorruptible.

The seed of Christ is also known as the Seed of Abraham. This seed of Abraham is the incorruptible seed of Christ. This seed is being created in all who will accept Christ as Lord from out of every nation and tribe.

Before the time of Christ the Law of God was instituted by the Creator as a temporary covering or atonement for the sins for Israel. However when Christ came He fulfilled the Law and became not just a covering but the full payment for the sins for the world.

John 1:29 (KJV)
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

This word for taketh means to take up and away. A good example of this is when a ship raises the anchor in order to allow the vessel to sail away.
Sin is the anchor which holds people back from being truly free but Christ lifted the weight of the anchor of sin so that we may enjoy liberty in Christ.

So then the Law was a schoolmaster or teacher until the time when Christ arrived and set us free to serve God.

Galatians 3:21-26 (KJV)
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

So then it is through the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and glorification of Christ that those who accept Him as their savior are recreated or regenerated into a new man and are a part of a new race because they have put on Christ the New Man.