Christians are the Kingdom Property of Jesus Christ

Sealed

Ephesians 1-12-13(KJV)
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,

What does it mean to be “sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise?”

What is the “earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession?”

Highlighting certain aspects of this most wonderful Church epistle of Ephesians 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 scrptures 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 is 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 scripture declare 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 (Galatians 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
(I Corinthians 12:1-13).

Paul told the Galatians 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.

Kingdom Call To Prayer

May God’s richest blessings be upon you and your families.

In light of the recent global challenge presented by the corona-virus we are inviting all believers in Christ world-wide to join together spiritually during Easter Week for unified prayer, worship, and communion.

You are invited to join us for prayer, worship and communion.

How may we accomplish this?

Even though we may not be able to physically come together, we are united by the spirit of God and thus we are the One Body of Christ.

The following guidelines are simple and may be used in any culture:

During Easter Week each individual may fit a time in their lives to pray, worship and partake in communion.

I encourage you to reach out to others to join us in the spirit for this Kingdom Call to Prayer.

You are Invitd
Philippians 4:6-7 KJV

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Love in Christ

Brother Frank

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.””Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”( Mark 1:14, 15).

The birth of The Christ was first announced in Judea. (Luke 1:30-33)

The Shepherds in the fields tending their flocks on the hills of Bethlehem heard and saw the angels fill the skies proclaiming the birth of Christ. (Luke 2:8-18)

Forty days after His birth when Mary and Joseph took the baby to the Temple in Jerusalem where Simeon and Anna testified to His divinity. (Luke 2:22-39)

When Jesus was about two years old the Magi bearing gifts had come to Jerusalem in search of the King of the Jews. They did not find Him in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) but in a house in Nazareth.(Luke 2:39-40)

When Jesus of Nazareth was 12 years old He was in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions (Luke 2:46-47).

“Jerusalem and all Judea” had heard the preaching of John the Baptist; and the official rejection from the Sanhedrin, with the multitude, had heard his testimony concerning Jesus.

In Judea, Christ called His first disciples and much of His early ministry was centered on and around the Sea of Galilee.

Christ demonstrated of His divinity in the cleansing of the temple, His miracles of healing, and the lessons of divine truth which He spoke, all proclaimed that which He had declared before the Sanhedrin, His Son ship to the Eternal Father.

Israel was chosen by the Father to receive the first oracles of the Word of God, (Romans 3:1-2). Therefore Jesus of Nazareth was first sent to the House of Israel to announce that the Kingdom of God was at hand.

If the leaders in Israel had received Christ, He would have honored them as His messengers to carry the gospel to the world. To them first was given the opportunity to become heralds of God’s Kingdom and grace.

This announcement that the Kingdom of God is at hand was rejected by the religious leaders of Israel and the Sanhedrin. Clearly, Israel was officially given the opportunity to accept the responsibility of declaring the Kingdom to the world but Israel knew not the day of their visitation. Luke 19:41-44.

Israel missed their visitation because they were spiritually blinded by the leadership of the Pharisees. Jesus confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees warning them by saying “Your House is left unto you desolate.” (Luke 13:35) (Matthew 23:38) (Luke 21:5-38).

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they rejected Him and the message of the Kingdom of God. He knew the misery and extreme tribulation that would come upon Israel during that generation. The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple occurred as prophesied by Christ in 64AD. Matthew 23:34-36) (Luke 19:44)

Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the people who had been instructed in the law, and turned to others who would commit to proclaiming His message of the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations.

The Apostles were chosen by Christ to follow Him. After His resurrection from the dead, He spent 40 days teaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3)

On the day of Pentecost the Apostles were endued with Power from on High and became witnesses of Him (Acts 14-9) (Acts 2:1-3) and they began to preach and teach others how to become citizens of the Kingdom of God and live a kingdom lifestyle. (Acts 2:42-47)

Jesus of Nazareth taught how to pray and live in the Kingdom of God.

I believe there are pro-active positive, scripture based solutions to the many problems our nation and the world are facing as we move into the future.

Some will not accept and prepare, others will say we will hear you again later, however others will listen and embrace scripture based solutions that will bring Heaven’s Kingdom blessings upon them. Notice I said Heaven’s Kingdom blessings and not the establishment of God’s kingdom upon the earth.

The institution of both the Millennial Kingdom and God’s final kingdom will occur at some unknown future time. However until these thing s take place, the blessings of the kingdom of God of a coming Age has the power to reach back to this present evil age and touch the lives of those who by faith seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Faith is needed in order to see the kingdom of God because for now the kingdom is invisible. Therefore by faith we see what our natural eyes cannot see.

This faith I speak of here is only available to those who have been born again from above as it is not available to the unregenerate natural man. Therefore the natural man cannot see or even perceive the kingdom of God. This is why Jesus of Nazareth the Son of God was born into this world . . . to teach and show us by His example what the kingdom of God is and how to become a citizen of this kingdom.

When Jesus taught the disciples “How” to pray He said, “Our Father.”

We pray, communicate; talk to and acknowledge not a distant god but Our Father who is in Heaven. This is powerful, personal, and intimate!
“Hallowed be thy name.”

We acknowledge Him by giving Him all glory all honor and all praise.

“Thy Kingdom come”

We are to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and we have been given the authority to invoke His kingdom’s power and blessings on earth until the Age comes when Christ sets up the Kingdom of God physically upon Earth.”

“On Earth as it is in Heaven.”

It is interesting the goal of many churches is to help people get to “Heaven.” This seems to be opposite of the Lord’s goal which is to get “Heaven to come to earth.”

We are to look with anticipation for The Lord’s government for our solutions, and not to man’s government. Especially if the people running the government are not acting according to the truth of God’s Word. Bur when His government is established by Him upon the earth, He alone will rule over the entire Globe.
I personally believe part of our responsibilities as God’s Children is to follow the example of Jesus of Nazareth to be going about “Our Fathers Business.” This begins with preaching the “The Gospel of the Kingdom of God” which includes the “Gospel of Salvation.” Preaching does not necessarily include standing before thousands but many times it is simply sharing the good news of the remedy (Kingdom) for this fallen earth

“Give us this day our daily bread”

The Father knows we have needs even before we ask Him. He provides for the birds that do not sow, reap nor do they store up into barns. This is a beautiful picture The Lord painted with words to illustrate to us “How” Our Father will provide for those who “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness”.

“And forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

This is the part of the Kingdom attitude we are to have as “Kingdom Citizens.” Jesus taught the Eight Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice these are Be Attitudes and not Do Attitudes, meaning these are the attitudes a Kingdom Citizens should endeavor to live by in the way they treat others.
The very first beatitude is one of being “Poor in Spirit” or having the attitude of true humility. How can we expect forgiveness if we will not forgive?

“Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”

Matthew 6:13 (K J V)13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

James 1:13 (King James Version)
13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

The Heavenly Father does not tempt us with evil; however He does deliver us from evil. Our Father does not lead us into temptation in order to test us to see if we will resist temptation or not.

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Lord Jesus closes His instruction of “How” to pray by teaching His disciples to again to submit by acknowledging the Fathers Kingdom, Power and Glory!

The message of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is what I have come to believe was the main focus of the Lord’s mission while living on the earth. His main mission was to preach the Kingdom of God is at hand and then to teach others who responded on “How” to become a Kingdom Citizen and to live in this world as a Kingdom Citizen in the attitudes (Be Attitudes) of the Kingdom of God.

If we can learn to live as Jesus lived and also taught others to live we can again be blessed by God with His Kingdom Blessing. By living this way we will be blessed (happy) and prepared to be with the Lord during His Millennium Kingdom and beyond.

The Cross and the Kingdom

The Cross and the Kingdom

Revelation 13:8-9

And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

Everything the Father has done for mankind since the creation will culminate when His Kingdom is established on earth. The New Jerusalem, will come to earth and God’s righteousness will rule forever.

This all began at the Cross.

Those of us who have believed in and put our trust in Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the Messiah are now citizens of His coming Kingdom. We have the promise of Jesus Christ that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness all things we need in this life will be supplied to us. We may not always get what we ask, but we are promised our needs or daily bread will be supplied by the Father’s provision.

So then the ultimate Plan of God will be fulfilled at the culmination of this present evil age when His Kingdom is established on earth. At that time those who are citizens will have eternal life and live in His Kingdom in a lifestyle which the world has been clamoring for, but are not able to achieve.

A question one might ask is where does this Kingdom life begin and who is this Kingdom for?

I believe the Kingdom life begins at the Cross of Jesus Christ. I believe the Kingdom life is available for all men and women who accept God’s grace, and mercy, of the gift of salvation.

With this said, I would like to share my personal story with you:

About twenty years ago my manner of life brought me to the place where I was confronted with the reality of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Something happened that day that changed my life forever.

I was alone at home and had come to the conclusion that even though I wanted to serve Jesus Christ, I could not because in all honesty I was still a sinner. I was well aware of my shortcomings and struggles and was ready to throw in the towel and quit trying to serve Him.

This is when I began getting a deep agonizing feeling in my gut, or as the Apostle Paul would say in my “bowels.” Like I said, I so wanted to serve the Lord but I knew I was still a sinner. Therefore I concluded that I could not do anything for Him. This deep feeling was so strong that it felt as if my gut was going to burst at the seams. I began to realize there was a battle going on within myself. I was lying flat out on my living room floor and telling the Lord with tears I could not serve him due to the weakness of my flesh. Then suddenly a scripture flashed in my mind. “Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death?”

Immediately another thought quickly followed indicating that Paul was a spiritual man trapped inside a sinful body, and that whenever he desired to do good, evil was present in him. Paul was trapped and he realized that within his flesh was dwelling no good thing.

It was then I realized that Paul at one time felt similar to the way I was. After contemplating this, I finally came to understand that as long as I am alive sin would be dwelling in my flesh. I also realized that in Christ I was given a power to exercise dominion over this evil.

When I was saved I was given a gift of holy spirit which is the spirit that has the power to overcome the sin dwelling in my flesh. This may also be called the spirit of obedience.

I began to see that through what Christ accomplished on the Cross I was given the power to overcome sin and given the ability to serve my Lord.

Now I could serve Him even in my imperfection.
Now Grace made strong in my weaknesses.
Now Grace is an ever present unmerited divine favor.
Now Grace is power given by Christ which is sufficient for me to overcome the infirmities in my flesh.

Then suddenly as if in a dream I found myself at the foot of the cross at Calvary. In my mind’s eye this was as real to me as if I were watching a movie with all its color and sound.

There I was laying stretched out with my arms wrapped around the foot of the cross sobbing. As I looked up I saw His bruised and bloodied feet, and the rusty nail that had been cruelly driven through them.

As I clung to the cross I slowly lifted my head and looked higher until I saw His legs which showed the marks of the cuts caused by the whips. They were badly bruised with the blood running down and dripping on my face.

I began to weep as I heard the wind howling and saw the low hanging ominous dark clouds blocking out the sun. The wind and dust in what seemed like a crazed frenzy blowing around the place of the skull. Some of the bystanders stared at Him while some wept uncontrollably.

There He was my Lord hanging helpless. His life almost gone from His body. He had been brutalized and mangled beyond recognition. His bones were out of joint and parts of His ribs were exposed. It looked as if there was not any place on his body that was not bruised or broken, or torn. The wound made by a soldiers spear in His side was open and oozing out both blood and water. I saw Him struggle to take each breath, while some people spit on Him and called Him names.

With my eyes, now flooded with tears, began to look higher until I saw His head hung to one side with the thorns insisting on digging deep into His bloodied scalp. His face was bruised and swollen, worse than any boxer I had ever seen after a brutal fight. His left eye was swollen shut, and His right eye was barely visible.

All this seemingly happening before my very eyes and not realizing that I was in a position of prayer called obeisance with my arms stretched around the base of the cross with His blood drops falling on my face.

Then He took one last deep painful breath. Just then His almost shut right eye caught my eyes and I realized He was looking at me with a pure love, forgiveness, and acceptance. No matter what I had done to sin against God and humanity before He loved me.

Suddenly He cried, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Then came His last words.

“It is finished!”

Suddenly the labored breathing which caused Him excruciating pain stopped. He offered up His live as a sacrifice to the Father.

His head fell limp.

He was dead!

Then as they slowly and carefully took Him down from the cross, I could hear some say, “Will He rise again in three days as He said He would?”

Three days later He arose from the dead and He is still alive today active in the affairs of men. He is still calling all who will believe in His name and saving and forgiving all of their transgressions committed against God and man.

As took this all in I was filled with the most relieved emotion I had ever felt before. A flood of peace came over me as any doubts of being able to serve Him were now washed away and gone!

I was cleansed by His precious blood.

I was empowered by His grace.

In this moment of time that I spent on my living room floor, I realized without a doubt that I had been to the cross where my Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.

I cannot explain this occurrence but it is real to me. Now I am able to serve Him because His willing sacrificial death paid the full payment for all my sins. And not only my sins but yours also and the sins of the entire world.

Now I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am His and He is mine! He is my Lord and my savior and He is my King.

Nothing will ever be able to separate me from Him ever again.

Without the Cross of Christ there is no forgiveness of sin and there would be no Kingdom coming in the future.

Without the Cross of Christ all mankind would be still lost and doomed to misery.

Praise the Father Who sent His only begotten Son to usher in eternal life and His coming Kingdom.

What is the Preaching of the Kingdom of God?

What what is the Preaching of the Kingdom of God

 

What is the preaching of Gospel of the Kingdom of God and what are the dynamic effects upon people when this gospel is preached?

 

The subject matter of the kingdom of God has been and continues to be a topic of great interest to me for many reasons. One of which is the importance of this topic in the scriptures, and the weight Jesus Christ of Nazareth placed upon the preaching of the message of gospel of the kingdom of God in the entire world.

 

First of all, we see Jesus actually preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God throughout the Gospels.

Matthew 4:23

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.

 

Matthew 9:35

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.

 

Mark 1:14

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

 

Luke 8:1

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

 

 

After the Lord along with His 12 Apostles preached the kingdom in very city, He then sent out the Seventy in groups of two.

 

Luke 10:1

10 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

 

2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

 

The Lord sent them out with authority and power to preach the kingdom of God and when their mission was complete the seventy returned to the Lord with joy:

 

Luke 10:8-12

8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

 

9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

 

10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

 

11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

 

12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

 

The Lord rejoiced with the Seventy not because the devils were subject to them through His name, but because He saw Satan fall from heaven.

 

Luke 10:17-24

17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

 

18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

 

19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

 

20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

 

22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

 

23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

 

24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

 

 

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the spirit! The Greek word here for rejoiced is, agalliáō.

 

HELPS Word-studies

21 agalliáō (from agan, “much, very” and 242 /hállomai, “jump, leap”) – properly, getting so glad one jumps in celebration; to exult (boast) because so experientially joyful.

 

What is this telling us?

 

This is showing us the emotions the Lord felt in that when He rejoiced He was ecstatic with emotion and was actually jumping for joy!

 

To Be Continued. . .

The New Year of 2016 is Coming

Dear friends and members of this group.

I  wish you all a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year in 2016. Yes 2015 is fading fast and a New Year, filled with all the promises of God, is rapidly approaching. Many of us still enjoy the liberty and freedom to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God with others around us.
Others of you from various countries around the globe may not enjoy this freedom, but still you share the good news of the kingdom of God.

Because of your love and concern for the souls of others who are not yet a part of this kingdom, many are being invited by your words and lives to enter into the kingdom that our Lord Jesus of Nazareth commissioned that we should herald (preach) like a watchman to others who still live in spiritual darkness without God, and without hope in this world.

This is what Christ proclaimed that He was anointed to do in Isaiah 61:1-3.

Isaiah 61:1-3 (KJV)
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Now because we have Christ in us we also share in this powerful anointing to share the Gospel of the Kingdom in what ever manner you are inspired to.

Therefore let us decide to make a concentrated effort to do as the Lord Himself has asked us to do – to spread the Good News.

I received a report from WordPress that we have reached followers in 24 countries around the world through this Blog. Some of which are in the Middle East living in Islamic countries such as Turkey, Pakistan, and Egypt.

Followers in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, France and Ireland have been touched along with Venezuela, New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia.

Still others follow us from Canada, Mexico and the U.S.A.|

I thank God for you all and pray that we may continue to do our part in inviting many more to this Blog through reaching our families, friends and neighbors.

If any of you wish to invited others to follow Kingdomlink then please send me their email address to my email and I will invite them:

fjmanasseri09@gmail.com

God Bless you all and have a great New Year in the Lord.

The Kingdom of God Call to Prayer

This an urgent Kingdom of God call to Prayer to all Christians living everywhere around the world.

We must individually and collectively pray to our Father in Heaven giving Him all glory, honor and praise.

1 Peter 3:12

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil.”

Especially in these days in which we are living we must individually be deliberate in putting on the whole armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace;

16 besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Let us as members of the One Body of Christ unite our efforts to pray invoking the power of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and our Heavenly Father to come against all foes foreign and domestic that would devise to do harm to any and all innocent people of this world.

Let us pray continually with our faces towards heaven “Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”

We have been given so much authority and spiritual abilities to come against the powers of the darkness of this world remembering the battle is not against flesh and blood but against the spiritual powers of evil.

James 5:16b
The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.

 

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.

Once an individual begins to “consider” Jesus as the Apostle and High Priest of our calling then and only then will they begin to experience true liberty in Christ. (Hebrews 3:1 KJV)

When a person is confident of their relationship with Christ then we no longer look to any man for our answers to life’s dilemmas.

When I talk about the Kingdom of God, I’m talking about the primary purpose Christ became a man! He willfully left His place with the Father, leaving behind all of the attributes He left as a divine Son thereby limiting Himself to be born a helpless baby.

This is great love! That Christ left His majesty in heaven and willfully chose to become a servant.

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 is also demonstrating
how a human beings attitude should be towards God. With this 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 should live both individually and corporately in the Kingdom of God which Christ ushered in when He said, “The Kingdom of God is at Hand.”

He taught us how to pray to our Father and not to some distant impersonal 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.

If you read 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 five thousand repented and accepted Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah, Christ (The Boss) set up His kingdom economy and not one of them lacked!

This was the mindset of the first century ecclesia! These people were of one mind concerning the Apostles doctrine which obviously must have been all that Christ taught them about how to live a kingdom life.

The beginning with the miracle of the lame man being healed when Peter and John were on their way to the Temple throughout the entire Book of Acts, everywhere we see the preaching of Christ and the gospel of the kingdom, miracle occurred.

Then 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?

What are not we seeing genuine works of God?

My contention is the gospel of the kingdom which Jesus preached, and His Apostles preached is not being preached today but 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 Boss got my attention I realized I had a lot to learn about what His kingdom was all about, and how absolutely necessary it is for His people to share the good news of the kingdom of God.

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 their being King.

Oh! These preachers may not realize this but if you investigate you will find that most of the Big Time ministries fall into this category.

The Bible declares there is only one true King!

Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

True Christianity

I have a dream that one day Christians will rise up and allow the Christ in them to work His work wherever, and whenever, and to whomever He energizes them to go into action. This to me is the definition of True Christianity!

No degress or credentials needed for this type of Christianity.

Today, we seem to have too many credentialed, pedigreed, and passionless Pastors, or imposters in pulpits rather than the real deal. To some of these people, the sign of the times of Christianity is evidently all about Ministry building, or Church plants on many different Campuses. You know, “One Church in Many Locations.”

I used to tell a Pastor of a chuch I once attended that we (Christians) need to “get out of the seats and into the streets.”

Millions of dollars have been spent on TV, Radio, and Endless Programs. Meanwhile, real needs get missed, but certain churches are full to the brim, and wanting more membership as they see this as success. To these folks it is the number of altar call responses, memberships, TV and Radio Ministry following, Books and CD’s of teachings sold. Why some of these “Christian” TV Broadcast Ministries even have fund raising events similar to “PBS” to raise even more money.

Most of todays gospel message no longer pricks the heart, but has degraded into offering polite altar calls, and so-called decisions being made to join the church. To these, this is counted as success.

I know Pastors who have told me that while at seminary they were warned to not drive people away by mentioning the Blood of Christ, or have too strong of a gospel message.They need to be “seeker friendly.”

What is the result of this apple pie and ice cream gospel? The result is an anemic church with the possibility of many members thinking they are saved, but in reality are not. They are just another member of a nice smiley church, with all the Bless You, Bless You, Bless You.

Todays Christianity has mostly become a real money-maker for some of these men and women who live “high on the hog” so to speak. Gratefully not all of these Clergy are this way, but there seems to be a majority in todays Pulpits that are of this sort.

How do I know this?

Wheres the fruit?

Where is the maturing of the individuals within the so-called body of Christ?

Jesus told us. ” by their fruits ye shall know them.” I have seen some putrified fruits hanging from some of these type of indivdiuals. It is a plain fact that some of the nastiest folks in the world are proud church goers. They will screw you with with a kind smile and a God bless you, without batting an eye. These things aught not be!

What image of Christ are these types displaying to the world. No wonder why statistics are revealing that there are over 46 million people in the USA alone that refer to themselves as Christians, but never darken the doors of any churches. I call them “Christians in a Self-Imposed Exile.”

I beieve the time is near when the world once again will witness what true Christianty is all about. A Christianity that will turn the world upside down or actually right side up. One day they will see genuine followers of Christ who are spiritually grown up , and the faithful will finally become the church (ecclesia) that Jesus Christ initiated when He said “upon this rock I will build my church (ecclesia).”

By the way, the Rock was not Peter or some denomination. The Rock is the words of the revealtion from the Father that was given to Peter, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” This is the Rock. This is the church built upon the Rock that will one day rise up to glory.

Let His Church (ecclesia) rise up and show the world through the compasonate actions of our daily lives, on the streets so to speak, because it dosen’t seem to be working from the comfortable church theater seats, with air conditioning, surround sound, and the theatrical lighting of a building that looks more like a million dollar television studio than a practical place where citizens of the kindom of God come to congregate and are blessed by the sharing of the “Rema” word of God from a Minister that is truly on fire from the Lord.