The Bible says we reign in life. Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests unto our God and we shall reign upon the earth.
It doesn't mean some will rule over others. It means we mutually reign in life!
Your goal as a Christian should not be to rule over others. Our goal is that we all get to reign together, in life.
Mutual reigning comes about through mutual serving.
As an illustration, imagine a large multi-national corporation that is considering entering a foreign market in a developing country, or considering opening an operation in that country. The company has a reasonable expectation - to make a profit. And since the company's activities meets a perceived need, or provides a desired service or product - its presence in the developing country is more than tolerated - it is sought. So both are happy. Both feel they are profiting. Both have served the other. That's the principle of business. It is consistent with Gospel values.
In this way the living standard of a developing country can be elevated and doors of opportunity can open to share the Gospel because everyone perceives a profit all around.
This is reigning, not one over the other, but mutually, in life.
This is not colonization for monopolization alone - it is co-operation for mutualization of benefits - and God gets the glory through Jesus Christ.
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it".
We are to seek the well-being of each other, not of ourselves.
Everything we take to the nations is to be offered with love and in a spirit of serving - no matter whether it's the Gospel we are taking, or whether it's a service, or a product or an ideology.
Some of us are called to be separated unto the Gospel. Others are called to remain in business. Each of us has a different calling. But our heart must be to serve. And notice this remarkable promise Jesus made:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
Notice that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Therefore despite any gains or persecutions we may realize in this world, our steadfast hope remains in the coming of Christ, and the prize we seek is eternal life in the world to come.
Monday 17 December 2007
Tool for Dominion
The Bible says we reign in life. Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests unto our God and we shall reign upon the earth.
It doesn't mean some will rule over others. It means we mutually reign in life!
Your goal as a Christian should not be to rule over others. Our goal is that we all get to reign together, in life.
Mutual reigning comes about through mutual serving.
As an illustration, imagine a large multi-national corporation that is considering entering a foreign market in a developing country, or considering opening an operation in that country. The company has a reasonable expectation - to make a profit. And since the company's activities meets a perceived need, or provides a desired service or product - its presence in the developing country is more than tolerated - it is sought. So both are happy. Both feel they are profiting. Both have served the other. That's the principle of business. It is consistent with Gospel values.
In this way the living standard of a developing country can be elevated and doors of opportunity can open to share the Gospel because everyone perceives a profit all around.
This is reigning, not one over the other, but mutually, in life.
This is not colonization for monopolization alone - it is co-operation for mutualization of benefits - and God gets the glory through Jesus Christ.
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it".
We are to seek the well-being of each other, not of ourselves.
Everything we take to the nations is to be offered with love and in a spirit of serving - no matter whether it's the Gospel we are taking, or whether it's a service, or a product or an ideology.
Some of us are called to be separated unto the Gospel. Others are called to remain in business. Each of us has a different calling. But our heart must be to serve. And notice this remarkable promise Jesus made:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
Notice that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Therefore despite any gains or persecutions we may realize in this world, our steadfast hope remains in the coming of Christ, and the prize we seek is eternal life in the world to come.
It doesn't mean some will rule over others. It means we mutually reign in life!
Your goal as a Christian should not be to rule over others. Our goal is that we all get to reign together, in life.
Mutual reigning comes about through mutual serving.
As an illustration, imagine a large multi-national corporation that is considering entering a foreign market in a developing country, or considering opening an operation in that country. The company has a reasonable expectation - to make a profit. And since the company's activities meets a perceived need, or provides a desired service or product - its presence in the developing country is more than tolerated - it is sought. So both are happy. Both feel they are profiting. Both have served the other. That's the principle of business. It is consistent with Gospel values.
In this way the living standard of a developing country can be elevated and doors of opportunity can open to share the Gospel because everyone perceives a profit all around.
This is reigning, not one over the other, but mutually, in life.
This is not colonization for monopolization alone - it is co-operation for mutualization of benefits - and God gets the glory through Jesus Christ.
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it".
We are to seek the well-being of each other, not of ourselves.
Everything we take to the nations is to be offered with love and in a spirit of serving - no matter whether it's the Gospel we are taking, or whether it's a service, or a product or an ideology.
Some of us are called to be separated unto the Gospel. Others are called to remain in business. Each of us has a different calling. But our heart must be to serve. And notice this remarkable promise Jesus made:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
Notice that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Therefore despite any gains or persecutions we may realize in this world, our steadfast hope remains in the coming of Christ, and the prize we seek is eternal life in the world to come.
Tool for Dominion
The Bible says we reign in life. Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests unto our God and we shall reign upon the earth.
It doesn't mean some will rule over others. It means we mutually reign in life!
Your goal as a Christian should not be to rule over others. Our goal is that we all get to reign together, in life.
Mutual reigning comes about through mutual serving.
As an illustration, imagine a large multi-national corporation that is considering entering a foreign market in a developing country, or considering opening an operation in that country. The company has a reasonable expectation - to make a profit. And since the company's activities meets a perceived need, or provides a desired service or product - its presence in the developing country is more than tolerated - it is sought. So both are happy. Both feel they are profiting. Both have served the other. That's the principle of business. It is consistent with Gospel values.
In this way the living standard of a developing country can be elevated and doors of opportunity can open to share the Gospel because everyone perceives a profit all around.
This is reigning, not one over the other, but mutually, in life.
This is not colonization for monopolization alone - it is co-operation for mutualization of benefits - and God gets the glory through Jesus Christ.
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it".
We are to seek the well-being of each other, not of ourselves.
Everything we take to the nations is to be offered with love and in a spirit of serving - no matter whether it's the Gospel we are taking, or whether it's a service, or a product or an ideology.
Some of us are called to be separated unto the Gospel. Others are called to remain in business. Each of us has a different calling. But our heart must be to serve. And notice this remarkable promise Jesus made:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
Notice that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Therefore despite any gains or persecutions we may realize in this world, our steadfast hope remains in the coming of Christ, and the prize we seek is eternal life in the world to come.
It doesn't mean some will rule over others. It means we mutually reign in life!
Your goal as a Christian should not be to rule over others. Our goal is that we all get to reign together, in life.
Mutual reigning comes about through mutual serving.
As an illustration, imagine a large multi-national corporation that is considering entering a foreign market in a developing country, or considering opening an operation in that country. The company has a reasonable expectation - to make a profit. And since the company's activities meets a perceived need, or provides a desired service or product - its presence in the developing country is more than tolerated - it is sought. So both are happy. Both feel they are profiting. Both have served the other. That's the principle of business. It is consistent with Gospel values.
In this way the living standard of a developing country can be elevated and doors of opportunity can open to share the Gospel because everyone perceives a profit all around.
This is reigning, not one over the other, but mutually, in life.
This is not colonization for monopolization alone - it is co-operation for mutualization of benefits - and God gets the glory through Jesus Christ.
"The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it".
We are to seek the well-being of each other, not of ourselves.
Everything we take to the nations is to be offered with love and in a spirit of serving - no matter whether it's the Gospel we are taking, or whether it's a service, or a product or an ideology.
Some of us are called to be separated unto the Gospel. Others are called to remain in business. Each of us has a different calling. But our heart must be to serve. And notice this remarkable promise Jesus made:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."
Notice that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Therefore despite any gains or persecutions we may realize in this world, our steadfast hope remains in the coming of Christ, and the prize we seek is eternal life in the world to come.
Business Ethic
It is not inconsistent with the heavenly calling to engage in profit-making business - unless you have been called to be separated unto the Gospel. In fact, employing Christ-like principles will enhance success in every sphere of life - with persecutions.
Consider for example Christ's principle of serving. To succeed in business, you must provide a service or a product that people desire. In other words, you need to serve them. If you serve only your own desire and not the consumer's - your business will go down.
Here's an important point. Placing a profit-margin on your price is not ripping the consumer off. It is still consistent with Jesus' principle of serving. I'll explain.
The business owner offers to provide a service or product which the consumer desires, in exchange for a commodity which he or she places more value on - money. At the same time, the consumer places more value on the business owner's service or product than on keeping his or her commodity, money. Therefore both seller and buyer profit from the exchange; they have mutually served each other's desire or need. It's a win-win situation.
As soon as either party perceives an imbalance of service over profit, they will reduce their demand. So there is a built-in check to make sure this principle of mutual service and profit remains in balance. Notice therefore that neither supplier nor consumer is sovereign. Mutual profit thrives on mutual serving. And as soon as one party stops serving, his own profit will suffer.
I call it service at a profit. Someone once called it benevolent capitalism. It's mutual profit through mutual service.
In the post entitled Tool for Dominion I will show how this principle can be used as a tool to enhance opportunities to spread the Gospel and as a tool to export improved living standards.
Business Ethic
It is not inconsistent with the heavenly calling to engage in profit-making business - unless you have been called to be separated unto the Gospel. In fact, employing Christ-like principles will enhance success in every sphere of life - with persecutions.
Consider for example Christ's principle of serving. To succeed in business, you must provide a service or a product that people desire. In other words, you need to serve them. If you serve only your own desire and not the consumer's - your business will go down.
Here's an important point. Placing a profit-margin on your price is not ripping the consumer off. It is still consistent with Jesus' principle of serving. I'll explain.
The business owner offers to provide a service or product which the consumer desires, in exchange for a commodity which he or she places more value on - money. At the same time, the consumer places more value on the business owner's service or product than on keeping his or her commodity, money. Therefore both seller and buyer profit from the exchange; they have mutually served each other's desire or need. It's a win-win situation.
As soon as either party perceives an imbalance of service over profit, they will reduce their demand. So there is a built-in check to make sure this principle of mutual service and profit remains in balance. Notice therefore that neither supplier nor consumer is sovereign. Mutual profit thrives on mutual serving. And as soon as one party stops serving, his own profit will suffer.
I call it service at a profit. Someone once called it benevolent capitalism. It's mutual profit through mutual service.
In the post entitled Tool for Dominion I will show how this principle can be used as a tool to enhance opportunities to spread the Gospel and as a tool to export improved living standards.
Business Ethic
It is not inconsistent with the heavenly calling to engage in profit-making business - unless you have been called to be separated unto the Gospel. In fact, employing Christ-like principles will enhance success in every sphere of life - with persecutions.
Consider for example Christ's principle of serving. To succeed in business, you must provide a service or a product that people desire. In other words, you need to serve them. If you serve only your own desire and not the consumer's - your business will go down.
Here's an important point. Placing a profit-margin on your price is not ripping the consumer off. It is still consistent with Jesus' principle of serving. I'll explain.
The business owner offers to provide a service or product which the consumer desires, in exchange for a commodity which he or she places more value on - money. At the same time, the consumer places more value on the business owner's service or product than on keeping his or her commodity, money. Therefore both seller and buyer profit from the exchange; they have mutually served each other's desire or need. It's a win-win situation.
As soon as either party perceives an imbalance of service over profit, they will reduce their demand. So there is a built-in check to make sure this principle of mutual service and profit remains in balance. Notice therefore that neither supplier nor consumer is sovereign. Mutual profit thrives on mutual serving. And as soon as one party stops serving, his own profit will suffer.
I call it service at a profit. Someone once called it benevolent capitalism. It's mutual profit through mutual service.
In the post entitled Tool for Dominion I will show how this principle can be used as a tool to enhance opportunities to spread the Gospel and as a tool to export improved living standards.
The Answer to this World's Political Problems
World leaders are meeting to discuss a roadmap for peace in the Middle East.
Bloggists are debating how to solve Australian reconciliation issues.
Industrial relations are split into left and right.
I was asked how I would end the violence in Iraq.
I was asked whether I have the answer.
I said, "Sure I do."
If every one of us were like Jesus, there'd be no problem, would there.
It would solve the Middle East crisis.
It would end the lawlessness in Iraq.
It could have averted the American Civil War.
It would eliminate the barriers to reconciliation. It would answer the question of indigenous policy.
It would solve every relationship problem.
It would solve every problem faced by mankind in every generation.
If we all had the heart of Jesus.
But not everyone in the world has the heart of Jesus - yet. But the time will come when He that shall come will come. In that day He will uproot the wicked like tares from among wheat and the righteous shall shine like the sun forever upon the earth.
But for the time being the children of the wicked continue alongside the children of the Kingdom. And that's why we still experience trouble in this world.
Why doesn't the righteous Judge come straightaway? Because He is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish. His patience gives sinners space to repent. If not for His mercy, who among us would have been saved?
Nevertheless history is moving towards that great day when, after He shall have put down all authority and rule, He shall then destroy the last enemy which is death. Jesus is the answer even to the problem of death!
Until then let's be patient in tribulation and continue to be like Jesus, in order to attain to the resurrection from the dead and to enter into His eternal Kingdom. That is our heavenly calling. Our calling is heavenly. Our citizenship is in heaven.
Until then we shine as lights in the world.
"As He is, so are we in this world."
You might be surprised to know how much difference the salt and light is making.
The Answer to this World's Political Problems
World leaders are meeting to discuss a roadmap for peace in the Middle East.
Bloggists are debating how to solve Australian reconciliation issues.
Industrial relations are split into left and right.
I was asked how I would end the violence in Iraq.
I was asked whether I have the answer.
I said, "Sure I do."
If every one of us were like Jesus, there'd be no problem, would there.
It would solve the Middle East crisis.
It would end the lawlessness in Iraq.
It could have averted the American Civil War.
It would eliminate the barriers to reconciliation. It would answer the question of indigenous policy.
It would solve every relationship problem.
It would solve every problem faced by mankind in every generation.
If we all had the heart of Jesus.
But not everyone in the world has the heart of Jesus - yet. But the time will come when He that shall come will come. In that day He will uproot the wicked like tares from among wheat and the righteous shall shine like the sun forever upon the earth.
But for the time being the children of the wicked continue alongside the children of the Kingdom. And that's why we still experience trouble in this world.
Why doesn't the righteous Judge come straightaway? Because He is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish. His patience gives sinners space to repent. If not for His mercy, who among us would have been saved?
Nevertheless history is moving towards that great day when, after He shall have put down all authority and rule, He shall then destroy the last enemy which is death. Jesus is the answer even to the problem of death!
Until then let's be patient in tribulation and continue to be like Jesus, in order to attain to the resurrection from the dead and to enter into His eternal Kingdom. That is our heavenly calling. Our calling is heavenly. Our citizenship is in heaven.
Until then we shine as lights in the world.
"As He is, so are we in this world."
You might be surprised to know how much difference the salt and light is making.
The Answer to this World's Political Problems
World leaders are meeting to discuss a roadmap for peace in the Middle East.
Bloggists are debating how to solve Australian reconciliation issues.
Industrial relations are split into left and right.
I was asked how I would end the violence in Iraq.
I was asked whether I have the answer.
I said, "Sure I do."
If every one of us were like Jesus, there'd be no problem, would there.
It would solve the Middle East crisis.
It would end the lawlessness in Iraq.
It could have averted the American Civil War.
It would eliminate the barriers to reconciliation. It would answer the question of indigenous policy.
It would solve every relationship problem.
It would solve every problem faced by mankind in every generation.
If we all had the heart of Jesus.
But not everyone in the world has the heart of Jesus - yet. But the time will come when He that shall come will come. In that day He will uproot the wicked like tares from among wheat and the righteous shall shine like the sun forever upon the earth.
But for the time being the children of the wicked continue alongside the children of the Kingdom. And that's why we still experience trouble in this world.
Why doesn't the righteous Judge come straightaway? Because He is longsuffering and not willing that any should perish. His patience gives sinners space to repent. If not for His mercy, who among us would have been saved?
Nevertheless history is moving towards that great day when, after He shall have put down all authority and rule, He shall then destroy the last enemy which is death. Jesus is the answer even to the problem of death!
Until then let's be patient in tribulation and continue to be like Jesus, in order to attain to the resurrection from the dead and to enter into His eternal Kingdom. That is our heavenly calling. Our calling is heavenly. Our citizenship is in heaven.
Until then we shine as lights in the world.
"As He is, so are we in this world."
You might be surprised to know how much difference the salt and light is making.
How We're Meant to Live
Peter the ApostleFirstly, take note there is a day coming in which Jesus Christ is going to be revealed.
Secondly, consider that on that day there is an abundant grace which is going to be brought to us who believe.
Thirdly, we are to live mindful of that day and what it will bring us. We are to hope perfectly for it, to hope to the end for it.
So the primary object of the faith Jesus Christ gave you is not things in this life only - such as prosperity, dominion or success. The primary object of your faith is that day and what it will bring you - things like vindication, resurrection, eternal life and eternal glory in His Kingdom.
Since that is the case, we ought to set our affection on, and make our goal, things above - not things of the earth. For the things that are seen are only temporary but the things that are unseen are eternal. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our calling is heavenly.
In the meantime, we shine as lights in a dark world among the wicked and those who know not God.
To be thus-minded eliminates avarice, which is the root of all evil and it elevates charity (love) above all else.
Does that mean we don't engage the world - the academic, economic, social, political & cultural spheres of this world? No, because love doesn't withdraw - love engages. Being heaven-minded mints our earthly activity with a Christ-like stamp of quality. And whose life has influenced this world for good, throughout every generation, more than our Savior Jesus Christ. And second to him might be the Apostle Paul.
They showed that through aspiring to the heavenly calling rather than focusing on the earth; through serving, rather than dictating; through dying rather than living; through seeking the will of our heavenly Father not our own will; through sacrifice for the sake of the Name of Jesus and the Gospel - we leave in our wake a vastly improved world, improved in all of its spheres, benefiting all nations and generations - until He comes.
How We're Meant to Live
Peter the ApostleFirstly, take note there is a day coming in which Jesus Christ is going to be revealed.
Secondly, consider that on that day there is an abundant grace which is going to be brought to us who believe.
Thirdly, we are to live mindful of that day and what it will bring us. We are to hope perfectly for it, to hope to the end for it.
So the primary object of the faith Jesus Christ gave you is not things in this life only - such as prosperity, dominion or success. The primary object of your faith is that day and what it will bring you - things like vindication, resurrection, eternal life and eternal glory in His Kingdom.
Since that is the case, we ought to set our affection on, and make our goal, things above - not things of the earth. For the things that are seen are only temporary but the things that are unseen are eternal. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our calling is heavenly.
In the meantime, we shine as lights in a dark world among the wicked and those who know not God.
To be thus-minded eliminates avarice, which is the root of all evil and it elevates charity (love) above all else.
Does that mean we don't engage the world - the academic, economic, social, political & cultural spheres of this world? No, because love doesn't withdraw - love engages. Being heaven-minded mints our earthly activity with a Christ-like stamp of quality. And whose life has influenced this world for good, throughout every generation, more than our Savior Jesus Christ. And second to him might be the Apostle Paul.
They showed that through aspiring to the heavenly calling rather than focusing on the earth; through serving, rather than dictating; through dying rather than living; through seeking the will of our heavenly Father not our own will; through sacrifice for the sake of the Name of Jesus and the Gospel - we leave in our wake a vastly improved world, improved in all of its spheres, benefiting all nations and generations - until He comes.
How We're Meant to Live
Peter the ApostleFirstly, take note there is a day coming in which Jesus Christ is going to be revealed.
Secondly, consider that on that day there is an abundant grace which is going to be brought to us who believe.
Thirdly, we are to live mindful of that day and what it will bring us. We are to hope perfectly for it, to hope to the end for it.
So the primary object of the faith Jesus Christ gave you is not things in this life only - such as prosperity, dominion or success. The primary object of your faith is that day and what it will bring you - things like vindication, resurrection, eternal life and eternal glory in His Kingdom.
Since that is the case, we ought to set our affection on, and make our goal, things above - not things of the earth. For the things that are seen are only temporary but the things that are unseen are eternal. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our calling is heavenly.
In the meantime, we shine as lights in a dark world among the wicked and those who know not God.
To be thus-minded eliminates avarice, which is the root of all evil and it elevates charity (love) above all else.
Does that mean we don't engage the world - the academic, economic, social, political & cultural spheres of this world? No, because love doesn't withdraw - love engages. Being heaven-minded mints our earthly activity with a Christ-like stamp of quality. And whose life has influenced this world for good, throughout every generation, more than our Savior Jesus Christ. And second to him might be the Apostle Paul.
They showed that through aspiring to the heavenly calling rather than focusing on the earth; through serving, rather than dictating; through dying rather than living; through seeking the will of our heavenly Father not our own will; through sacrifice for the sake of the Name of Jesus and the Gospel - we leave in our wake a vastly improved world, improved in all of its spheres, benefiting all nations and generations - until He comes.
The Main Point of the Gospel
Some people don't feel any need to receive Jesus.
Maybe they're not addicted to drugs.
Maybe they have a beautiful family.
Maybe they are privileged to have citizenship in a peaceful and prosperous country that has a good government.
Maybe they already feel good about themselves and are enjoying life.
So what need would they feel for Jesus?
There is one unfortunate problem which every human-being knows they face no matter how good their life currently is - and that is death. Death and the grave come to all of us.
So if you meet somebody who thinks his or her life is so good that they have no need of Jesus, you can always say to them: "That's great! Now would you like to know how you can be raised from the dead and enjoy life forever?"
It may be that death is the only problem your unsaved friend has no answer for! So you can tell them that Jesus purchased resurrection to eternal life for everyone through His death on the cross. All they need do now is hear it, believe it, receive Him and repent - and it's theirs.
A way to live forever is something everybody needs. The hope of the resurrection is therefore a relevant message to everyone. The Gospel brings us that hope.
When Paul shared the Gospel with people he made a point of telling them about the hope that is laid up for us in heaven. We believers are to set our hope fully upon the grace that is to be ours when Jesus Christ comes again in His glory and in His Kingdom.
The Source of Death
Death entered the human race because a Divine law was broken:
"All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God."
It all started when the first man Adam sinned. And we've all sinned.
"The wages of sin is death."
As a result, death was passed onto the whole human race. Whether your friends realize it or not, all of us have broken God's laws. And the fruit of sin is death.
The Source of Life
Yes, God is coming to judge the world one day, but although the wages of sin is death, "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."
God loved the world so much that He didn't leave us in that mess. He gave His only Son - so that whoever believes in Him shall receive eternal life.
When Jesus died on the cross He satisfied the demands of God's broken laws and took away the sins of all mankind. He was buried. And on the third day God raised Him from the dead - which assures us that God has accepted His sacrifice as payment in full for the sins of the whole world.
It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin. Whoever believes in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confesses with his mouth: "Jesus is Lord" - shall be saved.
God assured us through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that He shall also raise us up from the dead - when Jesus comes again to receive us into His eternal Kingdom.
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved " (John 3:16,17)
That's something every person knows they need. That's a relevant message to everyone - no matter who they are and no matter whether their life is good or bad. It's good news for all of your friends. It's good news for the whole world! So try sharing that message with your friends.
The underlying reason why everyone of us needed Jesus is because we've all sinned. And death came by sin. But Jesus took away our sins and abolished death through the Gospel.
Whoever believes it shall be saved.
The Main Point of the Gospel
Some people don't feel any need to receive Jesus.
Maybe they're not addicted to drugs.
Maybe they have a beautiful family.
Maybe they are privileged to have citizenship in a peaceful and prosperous country that has a good government.
Maybe they already feel good about themselves and are enjoying life.
So what need would they feel for Jesus?
There is one unfortunate problem which every human-being knows they face no matter how good their life currently is - and that is death. Death and the grave come to all of us.
So if you meet somebody who thinks his or her life is so good that they have no need of Jesus, you can always say to them: "That's great! Now would you like to know how you can be raised from the dead and enjoy life forever?"
It may be that death is the only problem your unsaved friend has no answer for! So you can tell them that Jesus purchased resurrection to eternal life for everyone through His death on the cross. All they need do now is hear it, believe it, receive Him and repent - and it's theirs.
A way to live forever is something everybody needs. The hope of the resurrection is therefore a relevant message to everyone. The Gospel brings us that hope.
When Paul shared the Gospel with people he made a point of telling them about the hope that is laid up for us in heaven. We believers are to set our hope fully upon the grace that is to be ours when Jesus Christ comes again in His glory and in His Kingdom.
The Source of Death
Death entered the human race because a Divine law was broken:
"All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God."
It all started when the first man Adam sinned. And we've all sinned.
"The wages of sin is death."
As a result, death was passed onto the whole human race. Whether your friends realize it or not, all of us have broken God's laws. And the fruit of sin is death.
The Source of Life
Yes, God is coming to judge the world one day, but although the wages of sin is death, "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."
God loved the world so much that He didn't leave us in that mess. He gave His only Son - so that whoever believes in Him shall receive eternal life.
When Jesus died on the cross He satisfied the demands of God's broken laws and took away the sins of all mankind. He was buried. And on the third day God raised Him from the dead - which assures us that God has accepted His sacrifice as payment in full for the sins of the whole world.
It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin. Whoever believes in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confesses with his mouth: "Jesus is Lord" - shall be saved.
God assured us through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that He shall also raise us up from the dead - when Jesus comes again to receive us into His eternal Kingdom.
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved " (John 3:16,17)
That's something every person knows they need. That's a relevant message to everyone - no matter who they are and no matter whether their life is good or bad. It's good news for all of your friends. It's good news for the whole world! So try sharing that message with your friends.
The underlying reason why everyone of us needed Jesus is because we've all sinned. And death came by sin. But Jesus took away our sins and abolished death through the Gospel.
Whoever believes it shall be saved.
The Main Point of the Gospel
Some people don't feel any need to receive Jesus.
Maybe they're not addicted to drugs.
Maybe they have a beautiful family.
Maybe they are privileged to have citizenship in a peaceful and prosperous country that has a good government.
Maybe they already feel good about themselves and are enjoying life.
So what need would they feel for Jesus?
There is one unfortunate problem which every human-being knows they face no matter how good their life currently is - and that is death. Death and the grave come to all of us.
So if you meet somebody who thinks his or her life is so good that they have no need of Jesus, you can always say to them: "That's great! Now would you like to know how you can be raised from the dead and enjoy life forever?"
It may be that death is the only problem your unsaved friend has no answer for! So you can tell them that Jesus purchased resurrection to eternal life for everyone through His death on the cross. All they need do now is hear it, believe it, receive Him and repent - and it's theirs.
A way to live forever is something everybody needs. The hope of the resurrection is therefore a relevant message to everyone. The Gospel brings us that hope.
When Paul shared the Gospel with people he made a point of telling them about the hope that is laid up for us in heaven. We believers are to set our hope fully upon the grace that is to be ours when Jesus Christ comes again in His glory and in His Kingdom.
The Source of Death
Death entered the human race because a Divine law was broken:
"All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God."
It all started when the first man Adam sinned. And we've all sinned.
"The wages of sin is death."
As a result, death was passed onto the whole human race. Whether your friends realize it or not, all of us have broken God's laws. And the fruit of sin is death.
The Source of Life
Yes, God is coming to judge the world one day, but although the wages of sin is death, "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."
God loved the world so much that He didn't leave us in that mess. He gave His only Son - so that whoever believes in Him shall receive eternal life.
When Jesus died on the cross He satisfied the demands of God's broken laws and took away the sins of all mankind. He was buried. And on the third day God raised Him from the dead - which assures us that God has accepted His sacrifice as payment in full for the sins of the whole world.
It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin. Whoever believes in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confesses with his mouth: "Jesus is Lord" - shall be saved.
God assured us through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that He shall also raise us up from the dead - when Jesus comes again to receive us into His eternal Kingdom.
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved " (John 3:16,17)
That's something every person knows they need. That's a relevant message to everyone - no matter who they are and no matter whether their life is good or bad. It's good news for all of your friends. It's good news for the whole world! So try sharing that message with your friends.
The underlying reason why everyone of us needed Jesus is because we've all sinned. And death came by sin. But Jesus took away our sins and abolished death through the Gospel.
Whoever believes it shall be saved.
Thursday 6 December 2007
John Howard
"Sometimes the really big decisions, although the responsibility involved in them is enormous, the pathway is fairly clear."
John Howard
"Sometimes the really big decisions, although the responsibility involved in them is enormous, the pathway is fairly clear."
John Howard
"Sometimes the really big decisions, although the responsibility involved in them is enormous, the pathway is fairly clear."
Friday 16 November 2007
Sunday 11 November 2007
God's Plan or Our Own?
Many ministers spend their whole lifetime busy in Christian service without ever having taken the time to discover the unique plan God had for their life. In this 13-minute testimony I share how Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM) challenged me to find-out what God wanted me to do - and how you can start on the road to your destiny and to fulfillment and fruitfulness.
God's Plan or Our Own?
Many ministers spend their whole lifetime busy in Christian service without ever having taken the time to discover the unique plan God had for their life. In this 13-minute testimony I share how Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM) challenged me to find-out what God wanted me to do - and how you can start on the road to your destiny and to fulfillment and fruitfulness.
God's Plan or Our Own?
Many ministers spend their whole lifetime busy in Christian service without ever having taken the time to discover the unique plan God had for their life. In this 13-minute testimony I share how Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM) challenged me to find-out what God wanted me to do - and how you can start on the road to your destiny and to fulfillment and fruitfulness.
Wednesday 7 November 2007
A Visit by Jesus
This is the testimony how the Lord Jesus Christ miraculously intervened, enabling us to begin a weekly lunchtime Christian meeting in our High School - back in the days when we were still students, in Ipswich, Queensland (duration 15:16).
A Visit by Jesus
This is the testimony how the Lord Jesus Christ miraculously intervened, enabling us to begin a weekly lunchtime Christian meeting in our High School - back in the days when we were still students, in Ipswich, Queensland (duration 15:16).
A Visit by Jesus
This is the testimony how the Lord Jesus Christ miraculously intervened, enabling us to begin a weekly lunchtime Christian meeting in our High School - back in the days when we were still students, in Ipswich, Queensland (duration 15:16).
Saturday 3 November 2007
Pastor Francis Bundock
Pastor Francis will truly be missed.
When still a young man he resigned from a promising football career with Muli Muli All Blacks, accepting the call of God to succeed his father (and grandfather before him) as Pastor of Muli Muli Full Gospel Church. Pastor Francis led the Muli Muli Christmas rally into its 100th successive year, possibly making it Australia's oldest and longest-running Pentecostal convention. He also maintained a busy itinerant ministry in which many all over Australia found hope, salvation, healing and the baptism with the Holy Ghost. He faithfully held forth the Word of Life, ever loyal to the old-fashioned Pentecostal Gospel message. In addition, he was an anointed Gospel musician with a golden voice. He was awarded the Good Citizens Award for Aboriginal leadership by New South Wales Parliament in 2001. The Woodenbong State School Principal announced the creation of the Francis Bundock Scholarship in 2007. Pastor Francis was known most of all for his love.
He was both Pastor and friend.
Pastor Francis Bundock
Pastor Francis will truly be missed.
When still a young man he resigned from a promising football career with Muli Muli All Blacks, accepting the call of God to succeed his father (and grandfather before him) as Pastor of Muli Muli Full Gospel Church. Pastor Francis led the Muli Muli Christmas rally into its 100th successive year, possibly making it Australia's oldest and longest-running Pentecostal convention. He also maintained a busy itinerant ministry in which many all over Australia found hope, salvation, healing and the baptism with the Holy Ghost. He faithfully held forth the Word of Life, ever loyal to the old-fashioned Pentecostal Gospel message. In addition, he was an anointed Gospel musician with a golden voice. He was awarded the Good Citizens Award for Aboriginal leadership by New South Wales Parliament in 2001. The Woodenbong State School Principal announced the creation of the Francis Bundock Scholarship in 2007. Pastor Francis was known most of all for his love.
He was both Pastor and friend.
Pastor Francis Bundock
Pastor Francis will truly be missed.
When still a young man he resigned from a promising football career with Muli Muli All Blacks, accepting the call of God to succeed his father (and grandfather before him) as Pastor of Muli Muli Full Gospel Church. Pastor Francis led the Muli Muli Christmas rally into its 100th successive year, possibly making it Australia's oldest and longest-running Pentecostal convention. He also maintained a busy itinerant ministry in which many all over Australia found hope, salvation, healing and the baptism with the Holy Ghost. He faithfully held forth the Word of Life, ever loyal to the old-fashioned Pentecostal Gospel message. In addition, he was an anointed Gospel musician with a golden voice. He was awarded the Good Citizens Award for Aboriginal leadership by New South Wales Parliament in 2001. The Woodenbong State School Principal announced the creation of the Francis Bundock Scholarship in 2007. Pastor Francis was known most of all for his love.
He was both Pastor and friend.
Tuesday 23 October 2007
Use Your Faith for Personal Holiness
I've noticed that we are taught to use our faith in order to receive a variety of things from God, such as: salvation, healing, money, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But what about using our faith to overcome lingering behavioral flaws in our character? For some reason it seems we've thought that the solution is we just need to try a little harder.
But God hasn't only made provision for us to be like Jesus in external things like our ministries - He has also made free provision for us to be like Him on the inside. God hasn't only made provision for us to prosper and be in health - He has also made provision for our souls to prosper. So that means we can use our faith in order to be done with carnality and any other type of lack of victory in our lives.
Someone once said that any failure in the Christian life is really a failure in faith - because all the blessings of the Christian life are received through faith. So instead of trying to overcome in your own strength - use your faith!
How does it work? Well if it was sickness you were dealing with and you felt a symptom return, you would maintain the confession of your faith. You would say, No. I'm not accepting that as reality. The reality is, "By His stripes I was healed," then the manifest power of God backs up your confession.
In the same way, when it is a character issue you're dealing with and you feel tempted by an old weakness, do the same thing. Rather than try a little harder, maintain the confession of your faith! Believe! Say, No. That's not me - because the power of the cross has given me the victory! I have the character of Christ. And the devil will flee. It's not just a matter of will-power. It's a matter of believing.
Very often when a believer yields to temptation and sins, somewhere along the line, somewhere in the equation, there was unbelief. Very likely, at some point he caved-in and said in himself, Yeah, it's no use - I don't have the victory yet. And then he acted-out his negative belief. If we correctly label unbelief as part of the equation of our past failures - then we've identified the key to future victory.
When you think about it, trying to overcome the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life) through any means other than through faith, is bound to fail - because the victory is in the cross alone. Jesus Christ didn't save us through faith and then expect us to become perfected by striving in our own strength. He already knew that would be impossible. The faith that saved us is the same faith that keeps us.
Then someone may ask, But what if hereditary curses, demons or personal sin are at the root of the problem? Even if they are, all Jesus Christ ever asked anyone to do was believe. Jesus Christ never called anyone to fight the devil. He said, "Only believe." To say, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk," or to say, "Man, thy sins be forgiven thee," are six and one-half dozen: either one achieves the same thing. Jesus saw their faith - He did the forgiving.
On another occasion Jesus healed a woman in response to her faith, and then said, "Go and sin no more." Faith was all Jesus ever looked for. When we believe, God takes care of the rest. The only fight we are called to fight is the good fight of faith. "This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith."
Now that doesn't mean you'll never have to resist the devil, rebuke a demon or cast one out - especially when you're ministering to someone else. But when the Holy Spirit leads you to do so, remember you'll be doing so on the basis of victory, from the standpoint of faith, on the basis of Christ's victory and Name, on the basis that your sins and the curse have already been dealt with on the cross - not from the angle of a person who is still legally defeated by the devil.
Make Christlike character a point of faith, just as you would prosperity or healing. Faith is always in the now, therefore say you have Christ-like character now. When the devil challenges that truth, hold fast to your confession. When you are tempted say, I have Christ's character.
This is the victory that overcomes the world. We will never achieve through striving what is already an established fact. Since it is already an established fact, we only need to believe and confess that it is so. I already have the character of Christ.
The Gospel itself (the Word, the message of the finished work on Calvary) is the power of God unto salvation - to all who believe. And that salvation includes personal holiness. God's way is always by grace through faith. Faith is the only way to receive the grace we need to walk in personal holiness and victory.
But God hasn't only made provision for us to be like Jesus in external things like our ministries - He has also made free provision for us to be like Him on the inside. God hasn't only made provision for us to prosper and be in health - He has also made provision for our souls to prosper. So that means we can use our faith in order to be done with carnality and any other type of lack of victory in our lives.
Someone once said that any failure in the Christian life is really a failure in faith - because all the blessings of the Christian life are received through faith. So instead of trying to overcome in your own strength - use your faith!
How does it work? Well if it was sickness you were dealing with and you felt a symptom return, you would maintain the confession of your faith. You would say, No. I'm not accepting that as reality. The reality is, "By His stripes I was healed," then the manifest power of God backs up your confession.
In the same way, when it is a character issue you're dealing with and you feel tempted by an old weakness, do the same thing. Rather than try a little harder, maintain the confession of your faith! Believe! Say, No. That's not me - because the power of the cross has given me the victory! I have the character of Christ. And the devil will flee. It's not just a matter of will-power. It's a matter of believing.
Very often when a believer yields to temptation and sins, somewhere along the line, somewhere in the equation, there was unbelief. Very likely, at some point he caved-in and said in himself, Yeah, it's no use - I don't have the victory yet. And then he acted-out his negative belief. If we correctly label unbelief as part of the equation of our past failures - then we've identified the key to future victory.
When you think about it, trying to overcome the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life) through any means other than through faith, is bound to fail - because the victory is in the cross alone. Jesus Christ didn't save us through faith and then expect us to become perfected by striving in our own strength. He already knew that would be impossible. The faith that saved us is the same faith that keeps us.
Then someone may ask, But what if hereditary curses, demons or personal sin are at the root of the problem? Even if they are, all Jesus Christ ever asked anyone to do was believe. Jesus Christ never called anyone to fight the devil. He said, "Only believe." To say, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk," or to say, "Man, thy sins be forgiven thee," are six and one-half dozen: either one achieves the same thing. Jesus saw their faith - He did the forgiving.
On another occasion Jesus healed a woman in response to her faith, and then said, "Go and sin no more." Faith was all Jesus ever looked for. When we believe, God takes care of the rest. The only fight we are called to fight is the good fight of faith. "This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith."
Now that doesn't mean you'll never have to resist the devil, rebuke a demon or cast one out - especially when you're ministering to someone else. But when the Holy Spirit leads you to do so, remember you'll be doing so on the basis of victory, from the standpoint of faith, on the basis of Christ's victory and Name, on the basis that your sins and the curse have already been dealt with on the cross - not from the angle of a person who is still legally defeated by the devil.
Make Christlike character a point of faith, just as you would prosperity or healing. Faith is always in the now, therefore say you have Christ-like character now. When the devil challenges that truth, hold fast to your confession. When you are tempted say, I have Christ's character.
This is the victory that overcomes the world. We will never achieve through striving what is already an established fact. Since it is already an established fact, we only need to believe and confess that it is so. I already have the character of Christ.
The Gospel itself (the Word, the message of the finished work on Calvary) is the power of God unto salvation - to all who believe. And that salvation includes personal holiness. God's way is always by grace through faith. Faith is the only way to receive the grace we need to walk in personal holiness and victory.
Use Your Faith for Personal Holiness
I've noticed that we are taught to use our faith in order to receive a variety of things from God, such as: salvation, healing, money, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But what about using our faith to overcome lingering behavioral flaws in our character? For some reason it seems we've thought that the solution is we just need to try a little harder.
But God hasn't only made provision for us to be like Jesus in external things like our ministries - He has also made free provision for us to be like Him on the inside. God hasn't only made provision for us to prosper and be in health - He has also made provision for our souls to prosper. So that means we can use our faith in order to be done with carnality and any other type of lack of victory in our lives.
Someone once said that any failure in the Christian life is really a failure in faith - because all the blessings of the Christian life are received through faith. So instead of trying to overcome in your own strength - use your faith!
How does it work? Well if it was sickness you were dealing with and you felt a symptom return, you would maintain the confession of your faith. You would say, No. I'm not accepting that as reality. The reality is, "By His stripes I was healed," then the manifest power of God backs up your confession.
In the same way, when it is a character issue you're dealing with and you feel tempted by an old weakness, do the same thing. Rather than try a little harder, maintain the confession of your faith! Believe! Say, No. That's not me - because the power of the cross has given me the victory! I have the character of Christ. And the devil will flee. It's not just a matter of will-power. It's a matter of believing.
Very often when a believer yields to temptation and sins, somewhere along the line, somewhere in the equation, there was unbelief. Very likely, at some point he caved-in and said in himself, Yeah, it's no use - I don't have the victory yet. And then he acted-out his negative belief. If we correctly label unbelief as part of the equation of our past failures - then we've identified the key to future victory.
When you think about it, trying to overcome the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life) through any means other than through faith, is bound to fail - because the victory is in the cross alone. Jesus Christ didn't save us through faith and then expect us to become perfected by striving in our own strength. He already knew that would be impossible. The faith that saved us is the same faith that keeps us.
Then someone may ask, But what if hereditary curses, demons or personal sin are at the root of the problem? Even if they are, all Jesus Christ ever asked anyone to do was believe. Jesus Christ never called anyone to fight the devil. He said, "Only believe." To say, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk," or to say, "Man, thy sins be forgiven thee," are six and one-half dozen: either one achieves the same thing. Jesus saw their faith - He did the forgiving.
On another occasion Jesus healed a woman in response to her faith, and then said, "Go and sin no more." Faith was all Jesus ever looked for. When we believe, God takes care of the rest. The only fight we are called to fight is the good fight of faith. "This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith."
Now that doesn't mean you'll never have to resist the devil, rebuke a demon or cast one out - especially when you're ministering to someone else. But when the Holy Spirit leads you to do so, remember you'll be doing so on the basis of victory, from the standpoint of faith, on the basis of Christ's victory and Name, on the basis that your sins and the curse have already been dealt with on the cross - not from the angle of a person who is still legally defeated by the devil.
Make Christlike character a point of faith, just as you would prosperity or healing. Faith is always in the now, therefore say you have Christ-like character now. When the devil challenges that truth, hold fast to your confession. When you are tempted say, I have Christ's character.
This is the victory that overcomes the world. We will never achieve through striving what is already an established fact. Since it is already an established fact, we only need to believe and confess that it is so. I already have the character of Christ.
The Gospel itself (the Word, the message of the finished work on Calvary) is the power of God unto salvation - to all who believe. And that salvation includes personal holiness. God's way is always by grace through faith. Faith is the only way to receive the grace we need to walk in personal holiness and victory.
But God hasn't only made provision for us to be like Jesus in external things like our ministries - He has also made free provision for us to be like Him on the inside. God hasn't only made provision for us to prosper and be in health - He has also made provision for our souls to prosper. So that means we can use our faith in order to be done with carnality and any other type of lack of victory in our lives.
Someone once said that any failure in the Christian life is really a failure in faith - because all the blessings of the Christian life are received through faith. So instead of trying to overcome in your own strength - use your faith!
How does it work? Well if it was sickness you were dealing with and you felt a symptom return, you would maintain the confession of your faith. You would say, No. I'm not accepting that as reality. The reality is, "By His stripes I was healed," then the manifest power of God backs up your confession.
In the same way, when it is a character issue you're dealing with and you feel tempted by an old weakness, do the same thing. Rather than try a little harder, maintain the confession of your faith! Believe! Say, No. That's not me - because the power of the cross has given me the victory! I have the character of Christ. And the devil will flee. It's not just a matter of will-power. It's a matter of believing.
Very often when a believer yields to temptation and sins, somewhere along the line, somewhere in the equation, there was unbelief. Very likely, at some point he caved-in and said in himself, Yeah, it's no use - I don't have the victory yet. And then he acted-out his negative belief. If we correctly label unbelief as part of the equation of our past failures - then we've identified the key to future victory.
When you think about it, trying to overcome the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life) through any means other than through faith, is bound to fail - because the victory is in the cross alone. Jesus Christ didn't save us through faith and then expect us to become perfected by striving in our own strength. He already knew that would be impossible. The faith that saved us is the same faith that keeps us.
Then someone may ask, But what if hereditary curses, demons or personal sin are at the root of the problem? Even if they are, all Jesus Christ ever asked anyone to do was believe. Jesus Christ never called anyone to fight the devil. He said, "Only believe." To say, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk," or to say, "Man, thy sins be forgiven thee," are six and one-half dozen: either one achieves the same thing. Jesus saw their faith - He did the forgiving.
On another occasion Jesus healed a woman in response to her faith, and then said, "Go and sin no more." Faith was all Jesus ever looked for. When we believe, God takes care of the rest. The only fight we are called to fight is the good fight of faith. "This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith."
Now that doesn't mean you'll never have to resist the devil, rebuke a demon or cast one out - especially when you're ministering to someone else. But when the Holy Spirit leads you to do so, remember you'll be doing so on the basis of victory, from the standpoint of faith, on the basis of Christ's victory and Name, on the basis that your sins and the curse have already been dealt with on the cross - not from the angle of a person who is still legally defeated by the devil.
Make Christlike character a point of faith, just as you would prosperity or healing. Faith is always in the now, therefore say you have Christ-like character now. When the devil challenges that truth, hold fast to your confession. When you are tempted say, I have Christ's character.
This is the victory that overcomes the world. We will never achieve through striving what is already an established fact. Since it is already an established fact, we only need to believe and confess that it is so. I already have the character of Christ.
The Gospel itself (the Word, the message of the finished work on Calvary) is the power of God unto salvation - to all who believe. And that salvation includes personal holiness. God's way is always by grace through faith. Faith is the only way to receive the grace we need to walk in personal holiness and victory.
Use Your Faith for Personal Holiness
I've noticed that we are taught to use our faith in order to receive a variety of things from God, such as: salvation, healing, money, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But what about using our faith to overcome lingering behavioral flaws in our character? For some reason it seems we've thought that the solution is we just need to try a little harder.
But God hasn't only made provision for us to be like Jesus in external things like our ministries - He has also made free provision for us to be like Him on the inside. God hasn't only made provision for us to prosper and be in health - He has also made provision for our souls to prosper. So that means we can use our faith in order to be done with carnality and any other type of lack of victory in our lives.
Someone once said that any failure in the Christian life is really a failure in faith - because all the blessings of the Christian life are received through faith. So instead of trying to overcome in your own strength - use your faith!
How does it work? Well if it was sickness you were dealing with and you felt a symptom return, you would maintain the confession of your faith. You would say, No. I'm not accepting that as reality. The reality is, "By His stripes I was healed," then the manifest power of God backs up your confession.
In the same way, when it is a character issue you're dealing with and you feel tempted by an old weakness, do the same thing. Rather than try a little harder, maintain the confession of your faith! Believe! Say, No. That's not me - because the power of the cross has given me the victory! I have the character of Christ. And the devil will flee. It's not just a matter of will-power. It's a matter of believing.
Very often when a believer yields to temptation and sins, somewhere along the line, somewhere in the equation, there was unbelief. Very likely, at some point he caved-in and said in himself, Yeah, it's no use - I don't have the victory yet. And then he acted-out his negative belief. If we correctly label unbelief as part of the equation of our past failures - then we've identified the key to future victory.
When you think about it, trying to overcome the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life) through any means other than through faith, is bound to fail - because the victory is in the cross alone. Jesus Christ didn't save us through faith and then expect us to become perfected by striving in our own strength. He already knew that would be impossible. The faith that saved us is the same faith that keeps us.
Then someone may ask, But what if hereditary curses, demons or personal sin are at the root of the problem? Even if they are, all Jesus Christ ever asked anyone to do was believe. Jesus Christ never called anyone to fight the devil. He said, "Only believe." To say, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk," or to say, "Man, thy sins be forgiven thee," are six and one-half dozen: either one achieves the same thing. Jesus saw their faith - He did the forgiving.
On another occasion Jesus healed a woman in response to her faith, and then said, "Go and sin no more." Faith was all Jesus ever looked for. When we believe, God takes care of the rest. The only fight we are called to fight is the good fight of faith. "This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith."
Now that doesn't mean you'll never have to resist the devil, rebuke a demon or cast one out - especially when you're ministering to someone else. But when the Holy Spirit leads you to do so, remember you'll be doing so on the basis of victory, from the standpoint of faith, on the basis of Christ's victory and Name, on the basis that your sins and the curse have already been dealt with on the cross - not from the angle of a person who is still legally defeated by the devil.
Make Christlike character a point of faith, just as you would prosperity or healing. Faith is always in the now, therefore say you have Christ-like character now. When the devil challenges that truth, hold fast to your confession. When you are tempted say, I have Christ's character.
This is the victory that overcomes the world. We will never achieve through striving what is already an established fact. Since it is already an established fact, we only need to believe and confess that it is so. I already have the character of Christ.
The Gospel itself (the Word, the message of the finished work on Calvary) is the power of God unto salvation - to all who believe. And that salvation includes personal holiness. God's way is always by grace through faith. Faith is the only way to receive the grace we need to walk in personal holiness and victory.
But God hasn't only made provision for us to be like Jesus in external things like our ministries - He has also made free provision for us to be like Him on the inside. God hasn't only made provision for us to prosper and be in health - He has also made provision for our souls to prosper. So that means we can use our faith in order to be done with carnality and any other type of lack of victory in our lives.
Someone once said that any failure in the Christian life is really a failure in faith - because all the blessings of the Christian life are received through faith. So instead of trying to overcome in your own strength - use your faith!
How does it work? Well if it was sickness you were dealing with and you felt a symptom return, you would maintain the confession of your faith. You would say, No. I'm not accepting that as reality. The reality is, "By His stripes I was healed," then the manifest power of God backs up your confession.
In the same way, when it is a character issue you're dealing with and you feel tempted by an old weakness, do the same thing. Rather than try a little harder, maintain the confession of your faith! Believe! Say, No. That's not me - because the power of the cross has given me the victory! I have the character of Christ. And the devil will flee. It's not just a matter of will-power. It's a matter of believing.
Very often when a believer yields to temptation and sins, somewhere along the line, somewhere in the equation, there was unbelief. Very likely, at some point he caved-in and said in himself, Yeah, it's no use - I don't have the victory yet. And then he acted-out his negative belief. If we correctly label unbelief as part of the equation of our past failures - then we've identified the key to future victory.
When you think about it, trying to overcome the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life) through any means other than through faith, is bound to fail - because the victory is in the cross alone. Jesus Christ didn't save us through faith and then expect us to become perfected by striving in our own strength. He already knew that would be impossible. The faith that saved us is the same faith that keeps us.
Then someone may ask, But what if hereditary curses, demons or personal sin are at the root of the problem? Even if they are, all Jesus Christ ever asked anyone to do was believe. Jesus Christ never called anyone to fight the devil. He said, "Only believe." To say, "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk," or to say, "Man, thy sins be forgiven thee," are six and one-half dozen: either one achieves the same thing. Jesus saw their faith - He did the forgiving.
On another occasion Jesus healed a woman in response to her faith, and then said, "Go and sin no more." Faith was all Jesus ever looked for. When we believe, God takes care of the rest. The only fight we are called to fight is the good fight of faith. "This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith."
Now that doesn't mean you'll never have to resist the devil, rebuke a demon or cast one out - especially when you're ministering to someone else. But when the Holy Spirit leads you to do so, remember you'll be doing so on the basis of victory, from the standpoint of faith, on the basis of Christ's victory and Name, on the basis that your sins and the curse have already been dealt with on the cross - not from the angle of a person who is still legally defeated by the devil.
Make Christlike character a point of faith, just as you would prosperity or healing. Faith is always in the now, therefore say you have Christ-like character now. When the devil challenges that truth, hold fast to your confession. When you are tempted say, I have Christ's character.
This is the victory that overcomes the world. We will never achieve through striving what is already an established fact. Since it is already an established fact, we only need to believe and confess that it is so. I already have the character of Christ.
The Gospel itself (the Word, the message of the finished work on Calvary) is the power of God unto salvation - to all who believe. And that salvation includes personal holiness. God's way is always by grace through faith. Faith is the only way to receive the grace we need to walk in personal holiness and victory.
Monday 22 October 2007
A Win-Win-Win Situation
If I set out to buy things for myself that I like, the quality and quantity of what I am able to buy is going to be limited, because of the limits of my funds. But if instead I buy to give, then God shall give to me - and God is far better resourced than me to be able to afford the quality and quantity that I desire and need. Therefore what I end-up obtaining will be far better, and in the meantime my focus can continue to be God and others. If I put Him first and give to others, He will give me what I need and desire. And I'd rather it be Him than me that's in charge of my needs and desires. Meanwhile I get to be an agent of His provision for others; and above all - I remain free to focus on Him Who is the source of all true enjoyment in life.
That's better than a win-win situation - it's a win-win-win situation. Praise the Lord!
That's better than a win-win situation - it's a win-win-win situation. Praise the Lord!
A Win-Win-Win Situation
If I set out to buy things for myself that I like, the quality and quantity of what I am able to buy is going to be limited, because of the limits of my funds. But if instead I buy to give, then God shall give to me - and God is far better resourced than me to be able to afford the quality and quantity that I desire and need. Therefore what I end-up obtaining will be far better, and in the meantime my focus can continue to be God and others. If I put Him first and give to others, He will give me what I need and desire. And I'd rather it be Him than me that's in charge of my needs and desires. Meanwhile I get to be an agent of His provision for others; and above all - I remain free to focus on Him Who is the source of all true enjoyment in life.
That's better than a win-win situation - it's a win-win-win situation. Praise the Lord!
That's better than a win-win situation - it's a win-win-win situation. Praise the Lord!
A Win-Win-Win Situation
If I set out to buy things for myself that I like, the quality and quantity of what I am able to buy is going to be limited, because of the limits of my funds. But if instead I buy to give, then God shall give to me - and God is far better resourced than me to be able to afford the quality and quantity that I desire and need. Therefore what I end-up obtaining will be far better, and in the meantime my focus can continue to be God and others. If I put Him first and give to others, He will give me what I need and desire. And I'd rather it be Him than me that's in charge of my needs and desires. Meanwhile I get to be an agent of His provision for others; and above all - I remain free to focus on Him Who is the source of all true enjoyment in life.
That's better than a win-win situation - it's a win-win-win situation. Praise the Lord!
That's better than a win-win situation - it's a win-win-win situation. Praise the Lord!
Christ's Kingdom is not Earthly
I think it pays to make sure we're preaching the same Gospel today that Jesus preached when He was on earth; and that we do so with the same emphasis as His.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Many in Israel were waiting for the Kingdom of God, but Jesus explained the Kingdom of God in a way that surprised many of them.
For starters, Jesus said that His Kingdom is not of earth - it's of heaven. If His Kingdom was of earth, His disciples would have carried arms and attempted to prevent Jesus' arrest by the Roman soldiers. But His Kingdom is not of earth, it's of heaven. Therefore Jesus called the Kingdom of God the Kingdom of heaven.
Jesus also explained that to enter the Kingdom of heaven a person first had to understand it. That must have really weirded some of the Jews out because they were expecting the coming Kingdom to be centred in the city of Jerusalem which anyone could simply walk into, or hop on a donkey and ride into - so why would someone need a spiritual understanding to enter it? It's because, as Jesus explained, the Kingdom does not come observably or to a specific location - instead, the Kingdom is inside you.
Then Jesus told a Jewish leader that a man would never even see the Kingdom of God unless he is born from above. That concept would really have pulled the rug out from underneath some of them, because they thought that having been born as a physical descendant of Abraham was qualification enough to see the Kingdom of God. But Jesus said - you must be born from above to see it. Anyone who travels to Jerusalem can see the physical city of Jerusalem - but as for the Kingdom of heaven: you've got no chance of seeing it unless you're born again.
That tells you - as Paul said - that the true Jerusalem is not the earthly city of Jerusalem - it's the heavenly Jerusalem. And the true place of worship is no longer the earthly Jerusalem - the true worshipers now worship in spirit and in truth - and the Father is looking for such to worship Him. True Jewishness is of the heart - it's not a matter of physical birth, and even Gentiles who believe are included. The true mount Zion is in heaven, not on the earth. The true tabernacle or temple is in heaven, not on the earth. The new Jerusalem is actually people - it is the bride of Christ - for she has made herself ready, and to her it has been given to be clothed in white linen, for the white linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.
Another aspect about the Kingdom which was completely hidden from most of them was that Christ the Messiah first had to be mistreated and suffer and die on the cross for our sins and be buried and be resurrected on the third day, before entering into His glory, into heaven. And the disciples would become witnesses of all these things, and this Gospel of the Kingdom would first be preached to all nations, with various signs accompanying believers, such as: in Jesus' Name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with tongues; they shall see visions, and prophesy; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover; and nothing shall by any means harm them; and all who believe and are baptized, all who call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved - and then the end shall come. All this would happen before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the day they were all expecting.
Not many of the Jews saw that coming! They had a totally different idea of the nature of the Kingdom. (They thought Messiah would immediately welcome all of the Jews into His Kingdom, with it's capital being Jerusalem.) But this is what the Father has actually been up to ever since the days of John the Baptist until now - He wants the Name of Jesus, and the cross - this good news of the Kingdom - to be preached all over the world. He is drawing all men to Jesus, because Jesus was lifted up on the cross to be the Saviour of all men. The Father is looking for true worshipers, those who now worship not in Jerusalem, nor on mount Zion, but in spirit and in truth.
The parables of Jesus illustrate the true nature of the Kingdom. Messiah would go away to receive His Kingdom - because it's in heaven, not on earth, that He receives His Kingdom. Furthermore, it was almost implied that there would be a long delay which would test the hearts of those who claim to be waiting for His promise. Then it was explained how that the children of the wicked will continue to live alongside the children of the Kingdom in this present world until the time of the end - and then the Father will divide the wicked from the among the righteous and only after that will the righteous - and only the righteous - enter into His Kingdom. Jesus even foretold that the Son of God would be collectively mistreated by physical Israel (to whom the promises were originally given) and that as a result, the Kingdom would instead be given to another nation - which is the Church, comprising of both Jews and Gentiles who believe. The promises originally made to Israel have not failed: the elect have obtained them. The Church is more Jewish than Israel is.
Jesus told His disciples to expect persecution just as He was persecuted - but He comforted them by promising to return soon. His delay does not mean God is slack concerning His promise: it means God is patient, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Besides, a day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. "Soon" is from heaven's perspective - from God's perspective Who dwells in eternity - not from earth's perspective.
But the day of His coming and Kingdom shall come. This is the great, hoped-for salvation that we look for and that we announce. It includes the resurrection of the dead. Christians who have already died won't miss out on that great day because Christ shall bring them with Him when He comes. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds - and we shall all forever be with the Lord. This is the blessed hope which saints of God have looked forward to and prophesied about since the beginning of time. This is the hope of the Gospel which we preach! This is the good news of the Kingdom: Jesus is coming! There will be new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
In the meantime, men must prepare to enter it, regardless of whether they are Jew or Gentile. God has concluded all under sin, that He may have mercy upon all. God gave us the Way to enter in, which is His Son Jesus. Therefore the message of the cross, of the Name of Jesus, of repentance, and of faith and love are an intrinsic part of the equation, a central part of the message, crucial to a correct understanding of the nature of the Kingdom. God has redeemed us through His blood. That's the part the Jews stumbled over! That's the understanding of the Kingdom which we must preach. That's the true nature and message of the Kingdom: it's all about Christ Jesus and His cross and about the second coming of Christ. The sufferings of this present time as we live for Jesus are not even worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us when Christ returns. We know we have access through His blood, therefore we look forward to His coming. God is bringing many sons unto glory: we are heirs, joint-heirs with Christ through faith, which is symbolized by baptism. In the meantime we have the witness of His Spirit in our hearts, we have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. These things are our guarantee of eternal life in His Kingdom when He comes. All men need to hear this.
"Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Many in Israel were waiting for the Kingdom of God, but Jesus explained the Kingdom of God in a way that surprised many of them.
For starters, Jesus said that His Kingdom is not of earth - it's of heaven. If His Kingdom was of earth, His disciples would have carried arms and attempted to prevent Jesus' arrest by the Roman soldiers. But His Kingdom is not of earth, it's of heaven. Therefore Jesus called the Kingdom of God the Kingdom of heaven.
Jesus also explained that to enter the Kingdom of heaven a person first had to understand it. That must have really weirded some of the Jews out because they were expecting the coming Kingdom to be centred in the city of Jerusalem which anyone could simply walk into, or hop on a donkey and ride into - so why would someone need a spiritual understanding to enter it? It's because, as Jesus explained, the Kingdom does not come observably or to a specific location - instead, the Kingdom is inside you.
Then Jesus told a Jewish leader that a man would never even see the Kingdom of God unless he is born from above. That concept would really have pulled the rug out from underneath some of them, because they thought that having been born as a physical descendant of Abraham was qualification enough to see the Kingdom of God. But Jesus said - you must be born from above to see it. Anyone who travels to Jerusalem can see the physical city of Jerusalem - but as for the Kingdom of heaven: you've got no chance of seeing it unless you're born again.
That tells you - as Paul said - that the true Jerusalem is not the earthly city of Jerusalem - it's the heavenly Jerusalem. And the true place of worship is no longer the earthly Jerusalem - the true worshipers now worship in spirit and in truth - and the Father is looking for such to worship Him. True Jewishness is of the heart - it's not a matter of physical birth, and even Gentiles who believe are included. The true mount Zion is in heaven, not on the earth. The true tabernacle or temple is in heaven, not on the earth. The new Jerusalem is actually people - it is the bride of Christ - for she has made herself ready, and to her it has been given to be clothed in white linen, for the white linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.
Another aspect about the Kingdom which was completely hidden from most of them was that Christ the Messiah first had to be mistreated and suffer and die on the cross for our sins and be buried and be resurrected on the third day, before entering into His glory, into heaven. And the disciples would become witnesses of all these things, and this Gospel of the Kingdom would first be preached to all nations, with various signs accompanying believers, such as: in Jesus' Name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with tongues; they shall see visions, and prophesy; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover; and nothing shall by any means harm them; and all who believe and are baptized, all who call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved - and then the end shall come. All this would happen before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the day they were all expecting.
Not many of the Jews saw that coming! They had a totally different idea of the nature of the Kingdom. (They thought Messiah would immediately welcome all of the Jews into His Kingdom, with it's capital being Jerusalem.) But this is what the Father has actually been up to ever since the days of John the Baptist until now - He wants the Name of Jesus, and the cross - this good news of the Kingdom - to be preached all over the world. He is drawing all men to Jesus, because Jesus was lifted up on the cross to be the Saviour of all men. The Father is looking for true worshipers, those who now worship not in Jerusalem, nor on mount Zion, but in spirit and in truth.
The parables of Jesus illustrate the true nature of the Kingdom. Messiah would go away to receive His Kingdom - because it's in heaven, not on earth, that He receives His Kingdom. Furthermore, it was almost implied that there would be a long delay which would test the hearts of those who claim to be waiting for His promise. Then it was explained how that the children of the wicked will continue to live alongside the children of the Kingdom in this present world until the time of the end - and then the Father will divide the wicked from the among the righteous and only after that will the righteous - and only the righteous - enter into His Kingdom. Jesus even foretold that the Son of God would be collectively mistreated by physical Israel (to whom the promises were originally given) and that as a result, the Kingdom would instead be given to another nation - which is the Church, comprising of both Jews and Gentiles who believe. The promises originally made to Israel have not failed: the elect have obtained them. The Church is more Jewish than Israel is.
Jesus told His disciples to expect persecution just as He was persecuted - but He comforted them by promising to return soon. His delay does not mean God is slack concerning His promise: it means God is patient, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Besides, a day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. "Soon" is from heaven's perspective - from God's perspective Who dwells in eternity - not from earth's perspective.
But the day of His coming and Kingdom shall come. This is the great, hoped-for salvation that we look for and that we announce. It includes the resurrection of the dead. Christians who have already died won't miss out on that great day because Christ shall bring them with Him when He comes. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds - and we shall all forever be with the Lord. This is the blessed hope which saints of God have looked forward to and prophesied about since the beginning of time. This is the hope of the Gospel which we preach! This is the good news of the Kingdom: Jesus is coming! There will be new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
In the meantime, men must prepare to enter it, regardless of whether they are Jew or Gentile. God has concluded all under sin, that He may have mercy upon all. God gave us the Way to enter in, which is His Son Jesus. Therefore the message of the cross, of the Name of Jesus, of repentance, and of faith and love are an intrinsic part of the equation, a central part of the message, crucial to a correct understanding of the nature of the Kingdom. God has redeemed us through His blood. That's the part the Jews stumbled over! That's the understanding of the Kingdom which we must preach. That's the true nature and message of the Kingdom: it's all about Christ Jesus and His cross and about the second coming of Christ. The sufferings of this present time as we live for Jesus are not even worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us when Christ returns. We know we have access through His blood, therefore we look forward to His coming. God is bringing many sons unto glory: we are heirs, joint-heirs with Christ through faith, which is symbolized by baptism. In the meantime we have the witness of His Spirit in our hearts, we have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. These things are our guarantee of eternal life in His Kingdom when He comes. All men need to hear this.
"Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Christ's Kingdom is not Earthly
I think it pays to make sure we're preaching the same Gospel today that Jesus preached when He was on earth; and that we do so with the same emphasis as His.
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Many in Israel were waiting for the Kingdom of God, but Jesus explained the Kingdom of God in a way that surprised many of them.
For starters, Jesus said that His Kingdom is not of earth - it's of heaven. If His Kingdom was of earth, His disciples would have carried arms and attempted to prevent Jesus' arrest by the Roman soldiers. But His Kingdom is not of earth, it's of heaven. Therefore Jesus called the Kingdom of God the Kingdom of heaven.
Jesus also explained that to enter the Kingdom of heaven a person first had to understand it. That must have really weirded some of the Jews out because they were expecting the coming Kingdom to be centred in the city of Jerusalem which anyone could simply walk into, or hop on a donkey and ride into - so why would someone need a spiritual understanding to enter it? It's because, as Jesus explained, the Kingdom does not come observably or to a specific location - instead, the Kingdom is inside you.
Then Jesus told a Jewish leader that a man would never even see the Kingdom of God unless he is born from above. That concept would really have pulled the rug out from underneath some of them, because they thought that having been born as a physical descendant of Abraham was qualification enough to see the Kingdom of God. But Jesus said - you must be born from above to see it. Anyone who travels to Jerusalem can see the physical city of Jerusalem - but as for the Kingdom of heaven: you've got no chance of seeing it unless you're born again.
That tells you - as Paul said - that the true Jerusalem is not the earthly city of Jerusalem - it's the heavenly Jerusalem. And the true place of worship is no longer the earthly Jerusalem - the true worshipers now worship in spirit and in truth - and the Father is looking for such to worship Him. True Jewishness is of the heart - it's not a matter of physical birth, and even Gentiles who believe are included. The true mount Zion is in heaven, not on the earth. The true tabernacle or temple is in heaven, not on the earth. The new Jerusalem is actually people - it is the bride of Christ - for she has made herself ready, and to her it has been given to be clothed in white linen, for the white linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.
Another aspect about the Kingdom which was completely hidden from most of them was that Christ the Messiah first had to be mistreated and suffer and die on the cross for our sins and be buried and be resurrected on the third day, before entering into His glory, into heaven. And the disciples would become witnesses of all these things, and this Gospel of the Kingdom would first be preached to all nations, with various signs accompanying believers, such as: in Jesus' Name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with tongues; they shall see visions, and prophesy; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover; and nothing shall by any means harm them; and all who believe and are baptized, all who call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved - and then the end shall come. All this would happen before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the day they were all expecting.
Not many of the Jews saw that coming! They had a totally different idea of the nature of the Kingdom. (They thought Messiah would immediately welcome all of the Jews into His Kingdom, with it's capital being Jerusalem.) But this is what the Father has actually been up to ever since the days of John the Baptist until now - He wants the Name of Jesus, and the cross - this good news of the Kingdom - to be preached all over the world. He is drawing all men to Jesus, because Jesus was lifted up on the cross to be the Saviour of all men. The Father is looking for true worshipers, those who now worship not in Jerusalem, nor on mount Zion, but in spirit and in truth.
The parables of Jesus illustrate the true nature of the Kingdom. Messiah would go away to receive His Kingdom - because it's in heaven, not on earth, that He receives His Kingdom. Furthermore, it was almost implied that there would be a long delay which would test the hearts of those who claim to be waiting for His promise. Then it was explained how that the children of the wicked will continue to live alongside the children of the Kingdom in this present world until the time of the end - and then the Father will divide the wicked from the among the righteous and only after that will the righteous - and only the righteous - enter into His Kingdom. Jesus even foretold that the Son of God would be collectively mistreated by physical Israel (to whom the promises were originally given) and that as a result, the Kingdom would instead be given to another nation - which is the Church, comprising of both Jews and Gentiles who believe. The promises originally made to Israel have not failed: the elect have obtained them. The Church is more Jewish than Israel is.
Jesus told His disciples to expect persecution just as He was persecuted - but He comforted them by promising to return soon. His delay does not mean God is slack concerning His promise: it means God is patient, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Besides, a day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. "Soon" is from heaven's perspective - from God's perspective Who dwells in eternity - not from earth's perspective.
But the day of His coming and Kingdom shall come. This is the great, hoped-for salvation that we look for and that we announce. It includes the resurrection of the dead. Christians who have already died won't miss out on that great day because Christ shall bring them with Him when He comes. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds - and we shall all forever be with the Lord. This is the blessed hope which saints of God have looked forward to and prophesied about since the beginning of time. This is the hope of the Gospel which we preach! This is the good news of the Kingdom: Jesus is coming! There will be new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
In the meantime, men must prepare to enter it, regardless of whether they are Jew or Gentile. God has concluded all under sin, that He may have mercy upon all. God gave us the Way to enter in, which is His Son Jesus. Therefore the message of the cross, of the Name of Jesus, of repentance, and of faith and love are an intrinsic part of the equation, a central part of the message, crucial to a correct understanding of the nature of the Kingdom. God has redeemed us through His blood. That's the part the Jews stumbled over! That's the understanding of the Kingdom which we must preach. That's the true nature and message of the Kingdom: it's all about Christ Jesus and His cross and about the second coming of Christ. The sufferings of this present time as we live for Jesus are not even worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us when Christ returns. We know we have access through His blood, therefore we look forward to His coming. God is bringing many sons unto glory: we are heirs, joint-heirs with Christ through faith, which is symbolized by baptism. In the meantime we have the witness of His Spirit in our hearts, we have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. These things are our guarantee of eternal life in His Kingdom when He comes. All men need to hear this.
"Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Many in Israel were waiting for the Kingdom of God, but Jesus explained the Kingdom of God in a way that surprised many of them.
For starters, Jesus said that His Kingdom is not of earth - it's of heaven. If His Kingdom was of earth, His disciples would have carried arms and attempted to prevent Jesus' arrest by the Roman soldiers. But His Kingdom is not of earth, it's of heaven. Therefore Jesus called the Kingdom of God the Kingdom of heaven.
Jesus also explained that to enter the Kingdom of heaven a person first had to understand it. That must have really weirded some of the Jews out because they were expecting the coming Kingdom to be centred in the city of Jerusalem which anyone could simply walk into, or hop on a donkey and ride into - so why would someone need a spiritual understanding to enter it? It's because, as Jesus explained, the Kingdom does not come observably or to a specific location - instead, the Kingdom is inside you.
Then Jesus told a Jewish leader that a man would never even see the Kingdom of God unless he is born from above. That concept would really have pulled the rug out from underneath some of them, because they thought that having been born as a physical descendant of Abraham was qualification enough to see the Kingdom of God. But Jesus said - you must be born from above to see it. Anyone who travels to Jerusalem can see the physical city of Jerusalem - but as for the Kingdom of heaven: you've got no chance of seeing it unless you're born again.
That tells you - as Paul said - that the true Jerusalem is not the earthly city of Jerusalem - it's the heavenly Jerusalem. And the true place of worship is no longer the earthly Jerusalem - the true worshipers now worship in spirit and in truth - and the Father is looking for such to worship Him. True Jewishness is of the heart - it's not a matter of physical birth, and even Gentiles who believe are included. The true mount Zion is in heaven, not on the earth. The true tabernacle or temple is in heaven, not on the earth. The new Jerusalem is actually people - it is the bride of Christ - for she has made herself ready, and to her it has been given to be clothed in white linen, for the white linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.
Another aspect about the Kingdom which was completely hidden from most of them was that Christ the Messiah first had to be mistreated and suffer and die on the cross for our sins and be buried and be resurrected on the third day, before entering into His glory, into heaven. And the disciples would become witnesses of all these things, and this Gospel of the Kingdom would first be preached to all nations, with various signs accompanying believers, such as: in Jesus' Name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with tongues; they shall see visions, and prophesy; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover; and nothing shall by any means harm them; and all who believe and are baptized, all who call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved - and then the end shall come. All this would happen before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the day they were all expecting.
Not many of the Jews saw that coming! They had a totally different idea of the nature of the Kingdom. (They thought Messiah would immediately welcome all of the Jews into His Kingdom, with it's capital being Jerusalem.) But this is what the Father has actually been up to ever since the days of John the Baptist until now - He wants the Name of Jesus, and the cross - this good news of the Kingdom - to be preached all over the world. He is drawing all men to Jesus, because Jesus was lifted up on the cross to be the Saviour of all men. The Father is looking for true worshipers, those who now worship not in Jerusalem, nor on mount Zion, but in spirit and in truth.
The parables of Jesus illustrate the true nature of the Kingdom. Messiah would go away to receive His Kingdom - because it's in heaven, not on earth, that He receives His Kingdom. Furthermore, it was almost implied that there would be a long delay which would test the hearts of those who claim to be waiting for His promise. Then it was explained how that the children of the wicked will continue to live alongside the children of the Kingdom in this present world until the time of the end - and then the Father will divide the wicked from the among the righteous and only after that will the righteous - and only the righteous - enter into His Kingdom. Jesus even foretold that the Son of God would be collectively mistreated by physical Israel (to whom the promises were originally given) and that as a result, the Kingdom would instead be given to another nation - which is the Church, comprising of both Jews and Gentiles who believe. The promises originally made to Israel have not failed: the elect have obtained them. The Church is more Jewish than Israel is.
Jesus told His disciples to expect persecution just as He was persecuted - but He comforted them by promising to return soon. His delay does not mean God is slack concerning His promise: it means God is patient, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Besides, a day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. "Soon" is from heaven's perspective - from God's perspective Who dwells in eternity - not from earth's perspective.
But the day of His coming and Kingdom shall come. This is the great, hoped-for salvation that we look for and that we announce. It includes the resurrection of the dead. Christians who have already died won't miss out on that great day because Christ shall bring them with Him when He comes. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds - and we shall all forever be with the Lord. This is the blessed hope which saints of God have looked forward to and prophesied about since the beginning of time. This is the hope of the Gospel which we preach! This is the good news of the Kingdom: Jesus is coming! There will be new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
In the meantime, men must prepare to enter it, regardless of whether they are Jew or Gentile. God has concluded all under sin, that He may have mercy upon all. God gave us the Way to enter in, which is His Son Jesus. Therefore the message of the cross, of the Name of Jesus, of repentance, and of faith and love are an intrinsic part of the equation, a central part of the message, crucial to a correct understanding of the nature of the Kingdom. God has redeemed us through His blood. That's the part the Jews stumbled over! That's the understanding of the Kingdom which we must preach. That's the true nature and message of the Kingdom: it's all about Christ Jesus and His cross and about the second coming of Christ. The sufferings of this present time as we live for Jesus are not even worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us when Christ returns. We know we have access through His blood, therefore we look forward to His coming. God is bringing many sons unto glory: we are heirs, joint-heirs with Christ through faith, which is symbolized by baptism. In the meantime we have the witness of His Spirit in our hearts, we have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. These things are our guarantee of eternal life in His Kingdom when He comes. All men need to hear this.
"Christ in you, the hope of glory."
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