"All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household." (Philippians 4:22)
Again, so much for the "separation of church and state." The Bible knows no such political correctness. Paul could not have gotten any "higher up" in the Roman Government than, "they of Caesar's household."
The Church and the Kingdom are not the same. The Kingdom includes, but is also beyond the Church. The Kingdom is where the Church is not. The King of the Kingdom, Jesus, is working throughout the earth, yes, even where Believers are not. I repeat Mumford's insightful statement, "You can control the Church, but you can't control the Kingdom." No matter what the Church is doing throughout the earth, "The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.'
Could it be that if we want to see some of the most powerful things the Holy Spirit is doing, we need to get more involved with, "Caesar's household"? Now if some think I'm putting down the Church, I'm not going to respond to that. But if the Church does not think, move, and work more with, "The Kingdom of Heaven/God," in our hearts and theology, we will miss much of what King Jesus is doing in the Earth.
Now, what has this to do with a "devotional?"-- Everything. You and I are Citizens of, "the Kingdom of Our Lord and of His Christ." You may be a member of a "small church," but you are also a Citizen of the Kingdom, the Kingdom described in the Book of Daniel, "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never destroyed....It shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.....Then to Him (the Son of Man) was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him....And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High....And all dominions shall serve Him." As ones in whom Jesus Christ lives, this is ours!
Father, in Jesus' Name, "lift our vision higher." Amen.
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A further, most revealing article on Germany at: jhs58.blogspot.com
The Church and the Kingdom are not the same. The Kingdom includes, but is also beyond the Church. The Kingdom is where the Church is not. The King of the Kingdom, Jesus, is working throughout the earth, yes, even where Believers are not. I repeat Mumford's insightful statement, "You can control the Church, but you can't control the Kingdom." No matter what the Church is doing throughout the earth, "The Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.'
Could it be that if we want to see some of the most powerful things the Holy Spirit is doing, we need to get more involved with, "Caesar's household"? Now if some think I'm putting down the Church, I'm not going to respond to that. But if the Church does not think, move, and work more with, "The Kingdom of Heaven/God," in our hearts and theology, we will miss much of what King Jesus is doing in the Earth.
Now, what has this to do with a "devotional?"-- Everything. You and I are Citizens of, "the Kingdom of Our Lord and of His Christ." You may be a member of a "small church," but you are also a Citizen of the Kingdom, the Kingdom described in the Book of Daniel, "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never destroyed....It shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.....Then to Him (the Son of Man) was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him....And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High....And all dominions shall serve Him." As ones in whom Jesus Christ lives, this is ours!
Father, in Jesus' Name, "lift our vision higher." Amen.
*********************************
A further, most revealing article on Germany at: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
