"The Kingdom of Heaven" Or "The Kingdom of......."

"I must preach the kingdom of God, to other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." Jesus 

 

I sometimes wonder if the reason over the years I did not "preach the kingdom of God" more was that people were just not interested in "kingdom" talk.  I want to say, "no," but............................

 

Boardman says of the Kingdom of God, "If this is not 'glad tidings,' pray tell me what you mean by good news?"  Most Americans want "good news" preaching which is based on how God will bless them in the "kingdom of me" rather than in "the Kingdom of God."  (Surf the religious channels.)  Have we not learned yet that there is just no blessing in my kingdom, only selfishness and disappointment?  The blessing of the "King of kings and Lord of lords," Jesus the Christ, is the blessing we long for, but cannot find in a me-centered preaching, religion, life style.  

 

Even secular dictionaries define, "kingdom," as, "a country with a king as head of state."  In a Kingdom there is everything which constitutes a nation and culture----- head of state, government, economics, education.  Think of who has ruled your life in these areas over your lifetime.  If we contemplate seriously, we will see just how much we need the "Gospel of the Kingdom." 

 

Here is "kingdom" advice from Colossians 2 Amplified Bible--  "And you are in Jesus, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-- and reaching full spiritual stature].  And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]....Let no one defraud you....[Hold] fast to the Head...."------------- Jesus, King of the Kingdom of God.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, teach me to preach and teach---------- and live Your rule and Your Reign in my life, all of my life.  Amen.

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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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To Whom Do You "Bow Down" and "Serve?"

"You shall have no other gods before Me....You shall not bow down to them nor serve them." (From Exodus 20:3 & 5)

 

I don't have to look for subjects for a devotional.  I just share some thoughts from my daily reading.  Our text is from yesterday's reading in the Pentateuch.   Don't ever let anyone deceive you with, "Oh, that's Old Testament."  The Lord Jesus cleared up all thinking on that.  "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law and the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."  That is your call and my call--- to fulfill "the Law and the Prophets....in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation." 

 

The phrase which stood out to me yesterday is, "nor serve them."  Most people today in America do not have carved idols in their houses.  But they are there, and they do "serve them."  The recent American election revealed just how much we "have other gods" and "serve them."  The number one god in America today is the god of, "Somebody please take care of me; somebody please guarantee my security and all my provision; and please, somebody affirm me in my sin!"  Oversimplification?  President-Elect Obama and the incoming Congress have promised more than any others in our history.  America has despised the "Bread from heaven" and demanded "the leeks, the onions, and the garlic" of Egypt.  As for the affirmation of sin, in the inaugural parade next Tuesday, the popularly elected president, whom many church-goers voted for, will honor and affirm children of Sodom.   

 

I am reading a book, The Kingdom, The Emerging Rule of Christ Among Men, by George Boardman.  He defines the Gospel as "restoring disloyal man to His loyalty," and, "the re-enthronement of God in man."  This is the fulfillment of our text, "restoring disloyal man to [God's] loyalty," and "the re-enthronement of God," Our Father, God, His Son Jesus- Our "Great Shepherd of the sheep," and God, Our Holy Spirit------ "in man!"  In the words of the Christmas carol, The Blessed Trinity has come to us, He abides with us, "our Lord, Emmanuel."  The question today is, "Are we His," have we come to Him, is He the only God before me, the only One Whom I serve?  Only a fool would answer in the negative.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I love Your commands, they bless me and comfort me.  I just pray that they rule me.  Amen.

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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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How Much Do You Understand--------------- Really?

"Jesus said to them, 'Have you understood all these things?'  They said, 'Yes, Lord.'"  (Matthew 13:51)

 

The root word for, "understood," here is, "possession."  The question really was, "Have you possessed all these things?"  Possession means ownership.  Do we own "all these things," or are we just "window shopping," or just mouthing what others are saying?  Observing and agreeing are not synonymous with possessing.  In my reading yesterday, I took special note of the disciples' response to Jesus' question.  Further reading of the Gospels reveals just how presumptuous was there response, how little they "possessed" the Words of Jesus.  A man may say, "Yes, yes," to a prayer, or constantly nod his heading and say amen to a teaching, sermon, or prophesy.  None of this means ownership, possession, understanding.    

 

Here's a good New Year's resolution for us all.  Develop a greater, "I-don't-understand-all-these-things" attitude, along with a, "But-I-press-on" attitude.  Keep seeking, keep knocking, keep asking, keep listening, keep observing, keep learning, keep obeying for the rest of our lives.  This is the pathway to "possession."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I "have [not] understood (or possessed) all these things."  But I press on in You.  Amen. 

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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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The Trinity's "Tear Bottle"

"You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book." (Ps. 56:8--NLT)

 

The word, "sorrows," in our text is translated, "wanderings," in most other translations.  It means "fleeing, disappearing."  This is a description of mankind-------- sorrows, wanderings, fleeing, disappearing.  There are people out there who seem so "together," so self assured, confident, never hassled, but they just seem that way.  Most of it is just an act, just a cover up of the deep hurts of life.

 

Perhaps I caught you at a teary moment.  The "tear bottle" of the Lord God must be immense---- so much suffering, heartache, fear, and despair in the world.  Satan attempts to use these maladies to destroy you and me.  But the "God-Breathed" Word declares that God did more than just "keep track of all my sorrows" and "wanderings," and "collected all my tears" and "recorded each one."   He did something to ensure our victory.  "And Having disarmed the power and authorities, [Jesus] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."  What is out to destroy you and me has been destroyed in Jesus Christ.

       

I do not tire of encouraging people to pray the Psalms, indeed, pray all the God-Breathing Word.  These writers were just like you and me.  Yes, the "times" were different, but they were not.  Contemporary man has the same fears, sorrows, wanderings, "fleeings," and "disappearings" as ancient man.  But just as ancient man, we have Our Father, Our Elder Brother, Jesus, and Comforter, Our Holy Spirit.  Ancient man, Enoch, "walked with God," and ancient man, Abraham, "rejoiced to see [Jesus'] day," and ancient man, David, had his "tears in Your bottle."  The same, "walked," and, "rejoiced," and, "bottle,"----------------------- and Cross are for you and me today.  Now, how about some "triumphing?!"  

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, though I may not understand the "bottle of tears," I thank You for it, because I know that bottle is not on a shelf, but in Your Heart.  Amen.  

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"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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Take Another Look At "Favor"

"As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Thy truth."  (Daniel 9:13, NASB)

 

The Amplified says, "have understanding and become wise in Your truth."  The KJV says, "that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth."  The word translated, "understand," literally means, "intelligent."  You and I are called to be "intelligent in Thy Truth." 

 

I want to focus today, however, on a word in our text of which I have heard much talk in recent years, "favor."  But whose or what kind of "favor" is it of which they speak?  Prophets hand it out as though it were theirs to dispense.  Much of the time it just means getting an unexpected job promotion, new car, or check in the mail so you can "sow" it into some "ministry" and receive even more favor.  But "the favor of the Lord" is so much more than this, sometimes even of another "kind."

 

Some talk of "favor" as though it just appears on certain people or certain groups.  Many believe that we can worship and pray down favor, or, perhaps the worst, we can expect favor because we simply deserve it.  But if we are to understand "the favor of the Lord," we must understand our text.  The key word here is, "by."  This little word reveals a truth little heard of today in Christian circles.  "The favor of the LORD our God" comes to us "by turning from our iniquity and giv[ing] attention to Thy truth."  I have never heard favor discussed in these terms.  The reason is probably that it requires something of us------------------------ "Holiness to the Lord!"

 

Today, the Word of God, Who is Jesus Christ, is saying to us all what He said to Moses of His Words, "They are not just idle words for you--- they are your life."  Could we say, "favor?"   If we turn "from...iniquity" and give "attention to ('understanding,' and become more 'intelligent in') Thy truth," we will watch "the favor of the Lord" Jesus Christ flow like a beautiful mountain stream.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that I do not deserve nor can I earn Your Favor, but I can turn from my iniquity and give "attention to Your Truth."  Holy Spirit, grant me Your grace to so do.  Amen. 

 

 

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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