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Contemplating the "mysteries" of the Kingdom of God
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EarsToHear.net eNewsLetter - Contemplate
September 20, 2007 -
Righteousness
EarsToHear.net
He that
has ears to hear, let him hear.
Contemplating the "mysteries" of the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God is not a religion
Challenge your worldly wisdom or religious doctrines
Will our descendants know moral virtue?
Righteousness
Upfront: The Jewel of Peace A Sermon By Dr Charles S. Price - Published in the GOLDEN GRAIN - Volume 29 - Number 6 - November, 1954
[Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 - ETH]
In order to enjoy the peace that passes understanding we not only have to learn how to ask but also must be instructed in the art of appropriation. Based upon faith and confidence in God, we must come to the place where once having made our petitions known, we leave them with the Lord. The promises have already been given. We do not have to question them.
When my children were young, many times on hot days they would come to me asking for a coin with which to buy a cold drink or an ice cream cone. I loved them with all my heart and was happy in the love they had for me.
I remember well the days in which I used to anticipate those requests. I would make them a promise, "After dinner, when the work has been finished, I am going to give you money so you can run down to the store and buy what you want." If my memory serves me right they needed to ask me only once for the thing I had promised.
Continuous begging and beseeching would have meant to me a lack of faith in my word. They trusted me. They believed me. The little "prayer" they made to me, if I can use that expression, finished with thanksgiving. Their intercession was based upon a promise; and being founded upon a promise, faith asserted itself and intercession turned to praise.
We older folk have to learn that lesson. I am not speaking now about the spirit of intercession that comes upon the saints of God and is there by the Holy Ghost Himself. I am speaking about those everyday experiences of life in which we fret and worry and become emotionally nervous because we do not receive all we desire. Perhaps it is because we have not learned how to "take." We cannot know how to lake unless we have learned how to believe God.
A Story of Mueller
I think I can best illustrate my thought by telling you the story of an episode in the life of that apostle of faith, George Mueller. It is said that one day when his orphan's home was small the larder became empty. The supplies had become diminished and the little mouths needed feeding, for little boys and girls who play have a habit of getting hungry. Down he went into the room that he used for prayer, taking the child of God from whose pen the story was given to the world. (Click here for complete sermon.)
Contemplate (What is the Kingdom of God?)
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ...And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Matthew 4:17,23
The Kingdom of God is not a religion but a government based upon the legal terms (not theological terms) of righteousness and justice. How and why did Jesus react and respond to those who were the religious sects of His day?
Jesus did not come to earth to get us into heaven. Jesus came to earth to get heaven into us, by the Promise of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Religions do not bring heaven to earth, only the Holy Spirit brings heaven to earth. No religion can claim it belongs to the Kingdom of God, fro "the Kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17
The life Jesus lived on earth provided us with a demonstration of what Adam and Eve lost when they rebelled and chose to leave the kingdom of heaven on earth and chose instead to live without the King who created them. This rebellion against the King resulted in the King's rejected representative, the Holy Spirit, to leave earth and return to heaven. It is the restoration of the same Holy Spirit who Jesus came to earth, from the Kingdom of God, to pay the penalty of our rebellion with His unblemished blood instead our own blood, thus providing the reconciliation necessary for us to receive that which was lost.
Religion would have you believe entering the Kingdom comes after death. Jesus did not say Unless You change and become dead you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. He said: Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 (See Born Again)
The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Matthew 13:11
When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and doesn't understands it, then the wicked one comes, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. Matthew 13:19
Not every one that say to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
See also
- A Sermon By Dr Charles S. Price - A Sermon By Dr Charles S. Price
In the world, but not of the world (Dual citizenship)
The Kingdom of God does not have members, it is made up of citizens.
God created the Kingdom of Heaven (spiritual) and created earth and man (physical) to expand and share His Kingdom upon the earth. Although the kingdom concept is the same, the Kingdom of God in not like the failed kingdoms of the earth, where sinful men were kings. It is a Kingdom where Jesus is King, in whom there is no sin, (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22). Jesus said His Kingdom was not of the world. He never said His Kingdom was not in the world. The Kingdom of God is the government of the Kingdom of Heaven and Christ is its King, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou should take them out of the world, but that thou should keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. John 17:13-16
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice. John 18:33-37
Jesus said entering the Kingdom of Heaven is for the here and now, not sometime in the future. And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God comes not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20-21
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:9-10
Luke 11:1-13 - And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Not a "religion" but a government
In the Kingdom of God it is not "we the people," it is "Thus says the Lord." Christians may be religious, but not Kingdom wise. Christians living in western civilizations under "democracies" may find it difficult to identify with Kingdom precepts. There are no elections in the Kingdom, their is one King Jesus, King of Kings, Who is Lord of Lords. While the U.S. Constitution has and can be amended, there are no amendments that can be made to the Law of God, the Word of God. (Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Matthew 24:35 Scripture cannot be broken John 10:35 The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isaiah 40:8)
Adam and Eve did not loose a religion, they lost the Kingdom of Heaven on earth (Genesis 1:26-31, 3:15), which is what Christ announced and restored: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mathew 4:17
Keep in mind, throughout the Bible, there was no democracy. There were Kings and kingdoms, thus when John the Baptist and Jesus began to proclaim the Kingdom of God, the analogy was well understood. Those who have lived under a democracy have to consider these differences to be able to comprehend the Kingdom of God and Christ as King. The Disciples understood that to be a citizen of a kingdom, one had to be obedient to what the king deemed righteous and just for a kingdom to prosper. Kingdom citizens do not get to vote on rights, for all rights were given by the king and known as the king's righteousness. In a kingdom, what the king says is a decree upon those residing in the kingdom.
Righteous in Greek is dikaios, meaning those who are upright, just, righteous, conforming to God's laws. Justice and righteousness are not religious or theological terms, they are legal terms.
The inhabitants of the kingdom trust the King because the King, as a Lord, is personally responsible for the well-being of everyone in His Kingdom. People desire to enter the Kingdom and are willing to obey and be subjects of the King in order to reap the benefits (care and protection) of the Kingdom. (You must become as children...) This actually places a burden on the King of the Kingdom to provide these benefits, whereby the inhabitants will respect and trust that through obedience to His Laws, they can rely on the Lord to care and protect them. (For the children are not obligated to store up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 2 Corinthians 12:14b - PNT)
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:9-13
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Hebrews 12:28
Reconsider these Scriptures in light of the Kingdom of God
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Mark 10:15
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5-6
Righteousness, Obedience, Holiness
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1 John 2:3
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6
God does not consider us righteous by our works. Our works are to be a product of His "gift of righteousness" (Romans 5:17) working in and through you. Holiness is obedience to God's righteousness as commanded in His Holy Word. Thereby, "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16, Leviticus 20:7), seems unattainable to a man, it now becomes possible with God in you, according to righteousness. What is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27).
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
Now consider what Jesus said immediately before that (Matthew 6:24-34). Is it not what was lost in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:26-30)? As long as Adam and Eve were obedient, God was obligated (2 Corinthians 12:14b) by His Word to take care of "all these things." Obedience and holiness are products of being righteous in God's eyes, "if we keep His commandments."
They "will be given." Jesus turned man's priorities and purpose upside down with this statement. Jesus is essentially saying instead of laboring for your needs ("all these things"), if you seek God's Kingdom and God's righteousness, God will provide them. What then should be the purpose and priority of our life? Should we continue to do what we think or feel is right, or should we do what God commands? Should we be obedient to our reasoning and logic in satisfying our provisions, or should we have faith in God, which God attributed as Abraham's righteousness.
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." Romans 4:1-4 NIV
Our salvation is not the result of our works of righteousness. Our works are to be a result of our salvation. We are not made righteous by our works. Our works are to born out of His "gift of righteousness." Our good works are to be a result of our transformation in Christ (Romans 12:1-2) - to "have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Romans 8:4-10
O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministers to you the Spirit, and works miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:1-6And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Acts 19:1-6
Kingdom Resources
An EarsToHear.net Book
Lessons of the Holy Spirit
A Guide for Entering the Kingdom of God
Discover Why it Pleased God to Hide His Kingdom from the Wise
Discern the difference between worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom.
Book Series by Myles Munroe
Rediscovering the Kingdom A relationship, not a "religion." A Kingdom is
not a democracy.
Kingdom Principles
Preparing for Kingdom Experience and Expansion (Understanding the Kingdom)
The Most Important Person on Earth
The Holy Spirit: Governor of God's Kingdom
Applying the Kingdom
Understanding God's Priority and Primary Interest in fulfilling His purpose
for your life.
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