The next step

[Brother Mark]

Good morning brothers and sisters. Well, if it's evening where you are at, then consider it is always morning in the Kingdom of God. :lol: Each and every moment can be the start of a new thing. Which brings me straight to my topic. The kingdom of God. Consider this first post simply an explanation or preparation of where we are going.

First, let me tell you guys where I am at. God started quickening in me this idea of the Kingdom about a year ago. Off and on, he brings it back to mind. It seems that when he gives me revelation in the word, it is always kingdom related now. Everything seems to me to be about His kingdom. However, I am only beginning to learn about it. As a child, I loved to play in creeks. I feel as though the Lord has shown me a creek full of life! I began playing around in it. As I followed it and the creatures in it, the creek has widened. Eventually, I began to see a small inlet. Now, it's as if an entire ocean lays before me and I feel I have barely tasted it or glimpsed it. For how much of the ocean do we really see even though all we can see from horizon to horizon is the pure Living Water? Is there not much more to see?

Having said that, my life experiences are not yet up to speed with what God is teaching me. My appetite has been whetted. My hunger is abounding. And he promises to fill those that are hungry and thirsty. So I expect soon enough to learn to walk in that which I am learning. It is a process that I am sure many of you are well aware of. For this reason, I ask that you share your experiences on living in the Kingdom in this thread. Now, if you want to argue over what what the word kingdom means or if you disagree with where we are going, then perhaps this isn't the thread for you. Oh, you can post away. But please don't be offended if you don't get a lot of responses. :lol:

OK. I wanted folks to understand 2 basic things about where I am coming from. 1. I know only a little about this kingdom thing. 2. I have walked in even less. So anything you can add from the treasures in your attic, would be greatly appreciated!

Now, on to the second post.

Grace and Peace

[Brother Mark]

Why name a thread on the Kingdom "the next step". Well, there are many reasons and I will mention a few. First, have you ever reached a place in your Christian walk where you just were not satisfied? Oh, you have experienced great moves of God in deliverance, healing, and other areas. But life itself just doesn't seem to have purpose? Then you are ready to take "the next step". For some, it's all about Gilgal. Many prophets of God stay in the city of circumcision i.e. it's all about salvation. Others live in Jerico, where the strongholds are taken down. Other's still cross the Jordan and receive the second mantel from Elijah and enter into fullness. But to what purpose? Why go there?

The next step is not just growing in the Lord. It is becoming consumed with what he was consumed with. Let me put it this way... we are being conformed to the image of Christ.

Rom 8:29
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,
NASB

As a believer, God intends to make you in the image of His Son. If this is the case, then our hearts will beat as one with the heart of Christ. So, if my heart and the heart of Jesus are going to be one and the same, then my heart will beat with the same passion that drives his heart. And what was Jesus consumed with? THE KINGDOM! That was all he talked about. You can hardly read red letters without coming into some kind of teaching on the Kingdom.

What was Jesus ministry all about? Let's see what the book says. We know that Jesus began his ministry after he was baptized by water and by the Holy Spirit. He was led into the wilderness for a time of testing. Immediately after that testing, he came out in the power of the Spirit. It was then that he began preaching. And what did he preach?

Matt 4:17

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
NASB

That the kingdom of heaven was here! He began to preach over and over again the kingdom of heaven.

In Mark, we see the same sequence. The baptism of Christ. The wilderness experience. Then his first words of ministry.

Mark 1:14-15

14 And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
NASB

In Matthew he came out of the wilderness preaching about the kingdom of heaven. In Mark, he came out preaching about the kingdom of God. For this reason, I believe they are the same thing.

The point of this post? That is Christ is consumed with the Kingdom of God, and that we are going to be in his image, then there will come a time in the life of the believer that he too will be consumed with the Kingdom of God.

Grace and Peace

[Brother Mark]

Once God quickened the kingdom to me, I began to wonder. What is this kingdom of God? This is an excellent question. I wanted very badly an answer to it. This think about the kingdom was become life to me, yet I could not get my arms around it. Father Dear, what is this kingdom that your Son is so consumed with? Define it for me so that I will understand what it is!

I began to look and to search. Yet, gloriously, I could find no definition! Paul came the closest to what I could find.

Rom 14:17
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
NASB

At the time, I was unsatisfied with this definition. Because I know it is not full. Over time, I became aware of what Jesus meant when he stood before Pilot and said "My kingdom is not of this world". His kingdom is not about eating and drinking. It is MUCH more than that. Paul, with all his revelation had trouble defining it. Instead, he said it is about righteousness and peace and joy. For me, that was a great teaser, but an unsatisfactory definition. For it did not tell me what this kingdom was even if it did tell me a little bit about what it consisted of and what it was kind of about. :lol:

Another place mentioned this...

1 Cor 4:20
20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power .
NASB

So, the kingdom of God is not about words but about power. Oooohhhh. Now we are getting somewhere. But still, I found no definition that satisfied my hungry soul and spirit. Yet, God promised me that those that hunger and thirst after righteousness (hey, isn't that a kingdom word?) shall be filled! So after reading Paul's first definition, we can be excited that he will show us his kingdom.

Finally, I began to look at the words of Jesus himself as he described the kingdom. In Matthew 13 he said many times "The kingdom of heaven is like..." He also did this in Matthew 20. We see the same thing in Luke 13. I love the way he starts it out in Luke 13.

Luke 13:18

18 Therefore He was saying, "What is the kingdom of God like , and to what shall I compare it?
NASB

It was a great question! Jesus was walking in power (the kingdom is power hehehehe) and people were gloriously enjoying it. Look at the verse before 18.

Luke 13:17
17 And as He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire multitude was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.
NASB

The multitude was glorying over all that Jesus had done in power. So as they were enjoying his presence and his power, he began to teach them about the kingdom. He asked this question.

Luke 13:18

18 Therefore He was saying, "What is the kingdom of God like , and to what shall I compare it?
NASB

To what shall I compare it? What is it like? Ah, can you see the savior searching for words in this question? Paul himself said words could not utter that which had been revealed to him. Jesus went on to describe the kingdom as best he could. But he did not define it. Now, if the kingdom is so big and glorious, that Jesus himself, in his human form could not define it, then why should I? It is too big to simply describe with words. Oh, like Christ, we can speak about what it is like. We can see glimpses of his kingdom. But to get our arms around it is next to impossible. It is too glorious for that. Jesus walked in the kingdom. He lived the kingdom. It was in his heart deeply. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. And Jesus not only spoke about the kingdom, but he preached it over and over again. From the beginning of his ministry until the end, he was all about the kingdom. His preaching ministry in his physical body started with "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" and ended with the inscription "the king of the Jews". From beginning to end, Jesus lived the kingdom.

I hope you are now thirsty and hungry for the kingdom. I hope to share a little more with you on what the Lord has taught me. But it will have to wait for a few more hours or perhaps a day. Until then, enjoy being hungry, for we all shall be filled!

Grace and peace.

[Kahtar]

Good thread, Mark.
As I study the Word, I realize that the Kingdom of God has always been here, from the beginning. It already came. And further, that it is now here, and also, that it is coming. Or put another way, it is, was, and is to come.
That should sound familiar. It is because Christ IS the kingdom. And it is He into which we have entered, to whatever degree we have entered into Him.
It has everything to do with our relationship to Christ.
In the gospels, we saw many standing on the fringes, there simply to harrass, and if possible trap.
We saw others who were there because of the things being said and done. Jesus was often surrounded by a sea of people. Once he miraculously fed 5000 men, and that did not include the women and children that were present.
Then we see the seventy, those who were not content with just hearing and seeing. They wanted more, and got more. Jesus sent them out to heal, cast out demons, and declare that, 'the kingdom of God is at hand'.
But still, they were not all that close to him. They turned away at a hard saying.
Then there was the 12. His inner circle. They had a much closer relationship with Him, and many secrets of the kingdom were opened to them. They were chosen. Yet, one of them betrayed him in the end.
Then there were the 3. Those who ascended the mountain with Him, and saw Him as He truly was/is, transfigured before them into a Being of Light.
They shared a knowledge of Christ that the others did not have.
And then, there was the one. One of the three.
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. John 13:23
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. John 20:2
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his] fisher's coat [unto him], (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. John 21:7
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? John 21:20
He it was who leaned upon Jesus' breast. His was the closest relationship. It was to him that Christ revealed His revelation.

That closeness is available to all who desire it. Many are content standing afar off, hearing His voice, but too afraid to draw nigh, to fully enter in. A few are willing draw close. Fewer still see Him as He is, and rarely do you find one leaning upon His breast.

[Gard]

That closeness is available to all who desire it. Many are content standing afar off, hearing His voice, but too afraid to draw nigh, to fully enter in. A few are willing draw close. Fewer still see Him as He is, and rarely do you find one leaning upon His breast.



I'm not sure what it all means yet, but count me as one who wants to enter in. Telling God that I want to know Him and His Kingdom is one of my constant prayers.

[Kahtar]

I'm not sure what it all means yet, but count me as one who wants to enter in. Telling God that I want to know Him and His Kingdom is one of my constant prayers.You have already taken the most important step, in the desire. As the title of this thread suggests, it's simply a matter of taking one step at a time, allowing Him to show you where to put your foot.:)

[Kahtar]

It may help to have a graphical representation, so try this:

http://www.cprministries.net/smilies/drawnigh.jpg
Let's take a little journey through the Tabernacle.
All the little brown things represent 'camps'.
Many are camped near the kingdom, but not actually IN it. These are those who fill the pews on Sunday, parroting everything they see, but have never actually entered into the kingdom, thinking that thier proximity is all that is necessary, or perhaps that their spouse has, it somehow counts for them also.
But we all know that the ONLY way into the kingdom is by the Door, the One Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Christ Jesus, by accepting the sacrifice He made for them and us, allowing His blood to be applied to their life.
When one enters that Door, he must die to the world. One must turn his back upon the world to pass through the Door.
Once in, many choose to go no farther, content to have made it in the door. Some I suppose believe that that is all there is. They don't see the laver, nor the door of the holy place. So they just stay camped out right there by the altar.
Some advance a bit farther, becoming curious about that big bowl of water, and learn that they need to wash in it. Or they see the door of the holy place, and learn that the only way in there is by way of the laver. They must die to sin, and be cleansed and purified before they can enter in. Passing through that door is dying to sin, separating oneself from the filth of the world. Everything in the courtyard pertains to the world and sin.
Many choose not to enter that door, being pleased to occasionally partake of thier sinful lusts, or things of the world. In fact, their focus is not at all on their journey in the kingdom, but on the things of the world.
Now notice that all those who have entered the Door of the Courtyard are IN the kingdom. But there is so much more to experience! But that requires going ALL THE WAY in. Not becoming satisfied with where we are, striving to continue on to greater holiness and closer relationship.
There are quite a few who do continue on, and they find themselves standing at the table. There is bread and wine. They learn that to eat it and drink it means to become ONE with Christ, ONE with His death, ONE with His resurrection. They learn that His death is their death, and they must take part in it, must claim it as their own. Many eat without really considering what they are taking in.
Thus far, a person has died to the world, died to sin, and now is learning to BE dead in Christ. There are many who believe the table is all there is, that they have arrived, and do not seek to go further. They do not percieve the Source of the Light, nor understand that they can go into it, and partake of it as well.
But there are many who do, and approach the lampstand. There they receive the oil of the Holy Spirit, and they are lit on fire, and they now have power to shed light. And oh, what joy there is! They can suddenly see things more clearly! Of course, occasionally, they find their light dimming a bit, and learn that it is necessary to trim the wicks, and be refilled. That trimming is not comfortable, and many do not understand that process in their lives, and think that they are somehow out of God's will because their light is dim and they are experiencing some painful things, not percieving that in the pain, their wicks are becoming straight again, and soon they will again shine brightly. It's a process, bright, then dim, then bright, then dim.
There are many, many people who hang out at the lampstand. It is, mostly, a place of joy, a place of receiving power, and seeing. And they are happy where they are, and even believe, many of them, that now they have come the full distance. (But they're only halfway in!)
Some venture beyond that, and find themselves standing before the altar in incense. This is a place of many aspects. For one, it is a place burning incense, the smoke and fragrance ascending to the throne. A place of prayer. But it is also a place of praise and worship of the Most High. But there is yet a third aspect. It also is a place of death.
For as one approaches it, he can view his image in the mirrorlike sides of the golden altar. But that image is in the light of the Holy Spirit. It is that Light that reveals what we see there.
When we view our own image in the light of the Holy Spirit, we will do one of two things. First we will scream out in abject horror at the image we behold. But then we must make a decision. A hard decision. We can either totally ignore what we have seen, and simply return to the lampstand and pretend that what we saw does not exist, or we can climb up on the altar and put that thing to death! To continue TOWARDS the throne, it MUST die. It cannot stand in the presence of the Most High.
But that dying is not pleasant, and many never go through it. Surely He cannot require us to die! But He does.
So those who do choose to go on lay thier self upon the altar, and the smoke rises, and becomes a sweet smelling savor before the Lord. When self has died, then, and only then, can one enter through the veil, where the throne is.
So, one must die to the world, he must die to sin, and now he must die to self.
He who gives up his life, will find it. Within the veil is TRUE life. And once tasted, everything outside it bears the stench of death. It is here that one is truly able to 'reckon himself dead', and realize that all we do therein, is not us, but Christ living through us. And such life it is! All else is death.
Those who think they have saved their lives by turning away have no life.

But how to REMAIN within that place? Everyday, we must go through the process, as we enter in and approach the throne. Every day we must put that nasty thing up on the altar and kill it anew. As Paul said, 'I die daily'.
Perhaps it is not possible in this life to remain there.

[crsnmtthw]

Mark, Thanks so much for starting this thread. As I have read through what is posted so far, my heart leaps with hope and excitement. Learning about the next step, gong further in to the things of God with a greater understanding of the Kingdom is something that I am aching for in my spirit. I am not content with where I am, I want more. I need to experience God in so many ways. This thread has put a hunger in me, and I am thankful that you were faithful to start it.
I have enjoyed also the posts by Kahtar. It is very inspirational and encouraging that this next step is possible. I want to take this next step for myself, and also for my little son, who I want to influence in the ways of the Lord.
:bible:

[Kahtar]

I do not want to speak for Mark. But I will say that you have already overcome the greatest hurdle for many, in realizing that have more to go.
We are all in the same boat of course, and none of us have yet arrived, or completed the journey.
But some THINK they have, and are happy where they are. So the first step really is realizing there IS more, and having the desire to find it.
As the title implies, our life is ever a search for that 'next step'. And how do we find it?
It is simply a matter of asking. Don't ask if you don't really want to take a step beyond where you are. But if you TRULY desire to go on, then ask, in truth, and be willing to give yourself to Him, and place ALL your trust in Him.
My first step, when He finally showed me, was something that I did not want to do. But, because I had said I was willing, and had asked where to place my foot, when He showed me, I was immediately confronted with....ME.
Was I willing to put ME behind me, and just do the simple thing He required of me, in SPITE of the fact that I didn't want to do the thing? Or would I back away, and say 'No, not me, Lord'? It was a test, you see. Not so HE would know my heart, but so that I would know my heart.
To take the step required that first, I put myself behind me, and follow Him, whereEVER He led. It required that give up control of my own life, and to put my trust in Him, and His wisdom. This is a difficult step for most people.
I took the step, and having once taken it, I found it to be a HUGE blessing. It was not nearly as distasteful as I had imagined it would be, and He blessed my act of obedience. I was faithful in this one little thing He asked of me.
And that is the synopsis of my life. I ask, He shows me, I take the step. He blesses. I ask, He shows me................................
One step at a time, He leads us. Where we are going, He knows. We only see our next step, when it's time to take it.
I have learned that I can ABSOLUTELY trust Him in ALL things, no matter how trivial or grand. All I have is His, and all I am is His. It is all under His control. My income, my family, my ministry, everything.
But simple words here cannot build that trust. He must do it. And only He can show you where to put your foot.
I can tell you one thing. Since that first step, my life, my Christian walk, has NOT been boring. It has been an exciting adventure. I never know what He's going to do next. And He SO delights in surprising and blessing us.
So here is how to proceed.
Ask
Listen
Obey

[crsnmtthw]

"I can tell you one thing. Since that first step, my life, my Christian walk, has NOT been boring. It has been an exciting adventure. I never know what He's going to do next. And He SO delights in surprising and blessing us.
So here is how to proceed.
Ask
Listen
Obey"

I love this!! Makes me kind of wonder, "What is that like?"

Well said.

[Brother Mark]

It is because Christ IS the kingdom. And it is He into which we have entered, to whatever degree we have entered into Him.
It has everything to do with our relationship to Christ.

Excellent Kahtar. Thank you for the commentary. How can the Kingdom ever be separated from the King? We cannot have the Kingdom without the King although many try to make it so.


In the gospels, we saw many standing on the fringes, there simply to harrass, and if possible trap.
We saw others who were there because of the things being said and done. Jesus was often surrounded by a sea of people. Once he miraculously fed 5000 men, and that did not include the women and children that were present.
Then we see the seventy, those who were not content with just hearing and seeing. They wanted more, and got more. Jesus sent them out to heal, cast out demons, and declare that, 'the kingdom of God is at hand'.
But still, they were not all that close to him. They turned away at a hard saying.
Then there was the 12. His inner circle. They had a much closer relationship with Him, and many secrets of the kingdom were opened to them. They were chosen. Yet, one of them betrayed him in the end.
Then there were the 3. Those who ascended the mountain with Him, and saw Him as He truly was/is, transfigured before them into a Being of Light.
They shared a knowledge of Christ that the others did not have.
And then, there was the one. One of the three.
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. John 13:23
Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. John 20:2
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt [his] fisher's coat [unto him], (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. John 21:7
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? John 21:20
He it was who leaned upon Jesus' breast. His was the closest relationship. It was to him that Christ revealed His revelation.

That closeness is available to all who desire it. Many are content standing afar off, hearing His voice, but too afraid to draw nigh, to fully enter in. A few are willing draw close. Fewer still see Him as He is, and rarely do you find one leaning upon His breast.

I love this example of how there were many, to a lot, to a few, to a handful, to one. How do we get to be the one?

Let's look at Esau. He was given something by grace, and not of his own choosing that was very valuable. He was given a birthright because he was born first. But, when he got physically hungry, he sold his birthright. Years later, when he would be blessed, he lost the blessing of the birthright because he had earlier sold it for one meal. Upon realizing he lost the blessing, he wept bitterly. He was bitter at his own circumstances and it led to immorality. Just like the children of Israel in the desert, and Esau who was very hungry, God will lead us to time of famine. Why? So that he may feed us. For that is what walking in the kingdom is like.

Deut 8:1-5
2 And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 And He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 5 Thus you are to know in your heart that the LORD your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.
NASB

God will let us be hungry that he may feed us. And Heb. 12 is about discipline. So the desert experiences we go through are often about how our Father is disciplining us. Both Israel and Esau rebelled against these times of famine and missed out on the blessing of the kingdom.

Heb 12:14-17

14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
NASB

We need to be very careful that we do not fall short of the grace that has been given us. If we are a child of God, we too have a birthright. Our birthright is the live in the kingdom and be the one like John, that leaned on Jesus breast. To be the one that Jesus feeds when we are hungry. To allow him to test our hearts so that what is in them can be seen. Then the bad in them can be dealt with and the good recognized.

Esau wanted only the blessing but not the cross. In his repentance, we never find where he wept over selling the birthright. The scriptures in Genesis only record that he wept over losing the blessing. This is where I failed for many years to recognize the ways of God. I wanted the blessing! I wanted them desperately. But, like Israel in the wilderness, and Esau, when I got hungry in my desert, I got bitter against the Lord. Oh, I wanted the blessing very bad. But I did not want to "take up my cross" and follow Jesus.

The 23rd Psalms says that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil. I once asked God that if I was walking in the path of righteousness, what was I doing in the valley of the shadow of death. He lovingly replied "that is the only way to get to the green pastures and still waters". Without the inwrought cross of God in my heart, I can be tossed to and fro by the storms of life. But if I am dead to this life, then it no longer matters if I am rich or poor, full or hungry, slave or free. Because I am content where I am. For I am living in His kingdom! And in his kingdom is power, righteousness, and peace.

But what is this process of the desert? What is this all about? We see the answer in Hebrews 12 where God speaks of discipline, Esau, the new covenant and finally the kingdom. Living in the new covenant is better because God will not remember our sins as he remembered Moses' sin and kept him out of the promised land (Kingdom living). If we sell our birthright and say to ourselves "what good is my birthright if I die of hunger", we can repent! But we must be willing to bear our cross. The Hebrew writer sums up this section of his letter by speaking of the kingdom.

Heb 12:27-29
27 And this expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
NASB

It is all about the Kingdom. God will allow these times of famine and testing to come so that all that we treasure can be shaken. The eternal treasures cannot be shaken. But the temporal ones can. Eventually, the shaking comes, and like Christ, we will be asleep in the boat and marvel at those around us that fear the storms. The peace within us will be so great, that when we speak "Peace be still" from our hearts, that it overwhelms the storm and our very environment becomes peaceful.

The full entry into the kingdom can be summed up this way "He who seeks to save his life will lose it. But he who loses his life for my sake, will save it."

Stay tuned... much more to come.

[Brother Mark]

Many of us recoil at the thought of death to self. I know I did. When God first started talking to me about it, I choked. Oh, death to sin was something I gladly embraced. Stop lying to protect myself. Stop lusting for sexual gratification. I could go on and on. On some level that is death to self. But the inwrought cross of the kingdom is much, much deeper. This cross is when we learn to say in all circumstances "it is not about me". What blessed peace come when we fully embrace this concept.

There is something we must be careful of. The Pharisees wanted the position of power. They wanted the kingdom, without the king. Esau wanted the blessing without suffering. The multitudes wanted to be fed without working. And John the Baptist wanted to be delivered from prison without dying. Each of these can fall under wanting the blessings of the Kingdom but trying to get the King to serve them instead of them serving the king.

Before going further, I feel it necessary to make a statement I once heard. Jack Taylor said this in our church about a year ago. About a month prior to him coming, God began whetting my appetite for kingdom living. What Jack said was "If you make it all about God, He will make it all about you". God can be trusted.

Jesus said something strange in the scriptures. Very few messages have I heard on these statements.

Matt 11:12
12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence , and violent men take it by force.
NASB

Luke 16:16-17
16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every one is forcing his way into it.
NASB

Jesus said that the Kingdom was suffering violence and that violent men were taking it by force. In the second passage, he said that EVERYONE was forcing their way into the kingdom. What strange passages.

Now, I have heard that we must war for the kingdom. We must fight for the Land as Joshua did. This is partially true. But is not what Jesus was speaking about.

Luke 12:30-32
31 "But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. 32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom .
NASB

God will gladly give us the kingdom!

But back to taking it by force. What does this mean?

In Luke 16, Jesus speaks about this in detail.

Luke 16:14-17

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at Him. 15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every one is forcing his way into it.
NASB

They were lovers of money and they justified themselves in the sight of men. Jesus had just finished talking about money in two previous parables. In one, the prodigal son had spent his inheritance. Yet, the father welcomed him home. In the second, an unjust steward had misspent his masters money and it cost him his employment. In an effort to make a place for himself, he began to forgive part of the debt owed to his master. His master later praised him for his action and called it wisdom.

Now the Pharisees loved money. But Jesus was teaching that love of money and love of God do not co-exist.

Luke 16:14
13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
NASB

After saying this, the Pharisees scoffed at him! It was then that he spoke of people forcing their way into the kingdom.

Luke 16:12-17
13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at Him. 15 And He said to them, "You are those who justifuy yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.16 "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every one is forcing his way into it.
NASB

Do you now see it? They wanted the blessing of the kingdom but did not want the King or his cross!!! Like Esau, they wanted the blessing but they were not willing to endure their season of hunger. Oh, the kingdom will bring with it wealth in many areas. Perhaps you will be like Barnabas and King Solomon and be wealthy beyond imagination and will use your finances to further the kingdom. But even David went through the wilderness for years before becoming King. And while in that wilderness, he would not lift a hand against Saul and take what God had given to him. He waited on the Lord to have God fulfill the promise.

Taking the kingdom by force is what Abraham did when, having a promise from God, he still went into Hagar to have a child. Jesus said "every one is forcing his way into the kingdom". We all do this to some degree. But the desert experiences get this out of us so that we can freely serve our king. But there will always be pharisees and saducees that seek to control us. There will be our own flesh that seeks to please itself. So those outside will try to control us and take the kingdom by force. Our own heart will seek to take the blessing because we get tired of waiting for God to bring us in. We try to force our way into it. This is not the way to enter. We go through our time of famine and we remember what God spoke to Israel "I brought you out that I might bring you in". He did not bring us to this desert place without water in order that we may die. Well, he did. :rofl: But we will not die physically. He just brought us to this place that his cross may be worked in us. Then, we are fit for the Kingdom and can enjoy the blessings of fellowship with the King and enjoy the blessings of the Kingdom.

Remember, no man can see God's face and live. Yet, God met with Moses face to face. As we embrace the cross, we, like John, the only apostle at the foot of the cross, can lean on the breast of Christ. John had the cross in him and enjoyed great revelation of the heavens above. He wrote the book of Revelations. Paul had great things revealed to him and he said he would "glory in the cross".

I will end with this....

Phil 3:10
10 that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings , being conformed to His death;
NASB


As we know the suffering of the inwrought cross, we will also know the power of his resurrection!

Oh, this is a meaty post. Yet, it is the entry way into the Kingdom. And the Kingdom is glorious! It is consuming. Jesus was all about his Kingdom and the blessings within it. Do not fear the process of the desert. For God desires to bless you greatly. The blessings far out weigh the sufferings.

Grace and peace.

[Brother Mark]

"I can tell you one thing. Since that first step, my life, my Christian walk, has NOT been boring. It has been an exciting adventure. I never know what He's going to do next. And He SO delights in surprising and blessing us.
So here is how to proceed.
Ask
Listen
Obey"

I love this!! Makes me kind of wonder, "What is that like?"

Well said.

Me too! "Taste and see that the Lord is good". Life in the kingdom can be a big adventure. I am just now getting started. I can't wait to experience the kingdom fully and find out what it is like.

[Kahtar]

The whole 'desert experience' thing is not real encouraging. But it's outcome is.
It is important to understand that, first, you WILL experience the desert, if you have not already.
And second, that, like the Israelites, God did NOT lead them into the desert to abandon them, but to show them the way to the Promised Land.
As Mark said, the path that leads to the Kingdom goes through the valley of death.
So,if you find yourself there, take courage, do not fear, do not think that God has abandoned or rejected you.
Rather, seek the lesson He is trying to teach you, and TRUST Him.
I went through that desert. It wasn't fun. But I learned so much there!
At the end of it, I found myself sitting alone on a mountain, my wife gone, my children gone, my whole purpose in being on the planet gone.
I was left with nothing, not even a direction to travel, nor a goal to seek.
And I had had enough. I was through. I had come to the end. Praying, I said, 'Lord, just take me home. I am done here. There is no purpose in my being here any longer. Unless there is something that YOU want to do with me, just take me home!'
And I meant it. I was ready. And I expected that He would take me out soon.
But He surprised me. He allowed me to continue a few days, in my expectation of death, then spoke to me. He said 'There is something I want you to do. But it is your choice.'
And He told me what He desired, leaving the other option open. I could do this thing He spoke of, or He could take me home.
After thinking about it a while, I decided to give it a try, even though it was something I did not want to do.
And that was the end of my desert, and the beginning of my walk in the kingdom.

[Stefen]

:cry: Amen my borthers. (Crying and laughing out loud with Joy) I just left the Desert a few weeks ago! Shoohweeh, man the desert was... well you guys know, lol. Man I am blessed, we are blessed. I just went through a season o dying and being born again. I left the "church" 2 years ago, and it was erally lonely and hard, until about 3 months ago Father brought me to people like you all and I traveled across the country to meet them. I fell in love with them just as I love you guys with all my heart. It's a wonderful thing to crawl up on that alter and die. To live is Christ and to die is Gain.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

[ravi4u2]

Absolutely Mark. There is no Kingdom without the King. When you accept the King's lordship, you become a part of His Kingdom. So, then what's the next step? Riding the distance with the King as He strides through the expanse of His Kingdom.

[Kahtar]

Absolutely Mark. There is no Kingdom without the King. When you accept the King's lordship, you become a part of His Kingdom. So, then what's the next step? Riding the distance with the King as He strides through the expanse of His Kingdom.Hey, you said it, brother!!!
Your words remind me of a vision my wife recently had.
She had been in prayer, just soaking in His presence. Suddenly she found herself dancing with the Lord. As she danced, she suddenly realized that she was no longer a woman, but a little girl, and her feet were ON TOP of His, and she was just riding along, her feet going whereever His feet went.
It was no longer her dancing, in her own power, but completely relying on Him, and just going along with Him whereever He went.
That is exactly what He wants each of us to do. Just so totally trust Him, that we just ride along with Him, while HE dances through the kingdom.
We are to be like little children, absolute trust, absolute obedience, pure heart, and pure desire to just be WITH Him.
That is the essence of the Kingdom of God!

[Kahtar]

I think I need to post this little testimony here as well. This was an event that occured today.
I teach on the Navajo Nation. My wife and I drive out there once a week for a Bible study. On the way there, we generally stop at the parking lot of the grocery store in Shiprock, and hand out bags of food to those who tend to congregate there.
Many of them are very poor. Job prospects are very few, and for many, they have no ability to get to a job, other than walking many miles each day. So they go about picking up discarded aluminum cans, check out the dumpsters behind the stores, etc. Though most of them do have homes, they are really no different than the homeless in most cities.
Anyway, today we stopped there. We had a dozen food bags made up. As it turned out, we gave them all away, and there were still two elderly gentlemen who did not get any. They both had sacks full of empty cans with them. They were very disappointed that they missed out getting some food.
They were both quite dirty, didn't smell very good, their cothing ragged.
We told them to wait right there, and we'd go get some food for them. Then we drove away, to the Taco Bell not too far away, and bought a couple meals, and drove back.
The two men apparently did not understand, or did not believe us. At any rate, they had continued on their way, picking up cans, and were not where we had left them. A couple others showed us what direction they had gone, so we started looking for them, and soon found them.
My wife handed them the meals, and asked if they needed prayer. They both nodded, obviously amazed that we would do this for them.
As we were praying, holding hands in a small circle, the elder of the two raised up his hands, with tears running down his face, clearly thanking God for the food and His love. They could only understand a few words we were speaking. But they could understand the food, and the love. It was more than this guy could handle, and he just broke down in tears. He kissed my wife's hand, and in his tongue told her 'thank you', (I can't pronounce it, much less spell it..:lol:) wiping the tears from his face.
My friends, this is also the essence of the kingdom!

[BlessedMan]

To some extent I think yur search for the Kingdom of God is similar to trying to find out where yu are in relation to somewhere else.
Issac Asimov was perhaps the greatest agnostic, he said that there is no incontrovertible proof that there is a God, and he is right. All proofs are esoteric and by definition individual. I suspect that yu hav yur proofs as I hav mine that there is a God or greater reality. That is why faith is a very special belief. I am human and while I am in this reality I am free to contemplate where we come from and where we are going, how my actions will effect the Universe and the future as a whole and what sort of Universe and future I want it to be.
I believe that Jesus is existant and that I can be with him some how in a different reality where tears of sorrow turn to tears of joy, that love is all around, and God is truly good. That's my vision of the Kingdom of God.

[Kahtar]

Contemplation of God is one thing. An actual, living, vibrant RELATIONSHIP WITH God is quite another, one in which He actually communcates and SHARES His love with me, and I Him.
God bless you in your search, my friend.:)

[Brother Mark]

Absolutely Mark. There is no Kingdom without the King. When you accept the King's lordship, you become a part of His Kingdom. So, then what's the next step? Riding the distance with the King as He strides through the expanse of His Kingdom.

Hey, you said it, brother!!!
Your words remind me of a vision my wife recently had.
She had been in prayer, just soaking in His presence. Suddenly she found herself dancing with the Lord. As she danced, she suddenly realized that she was no longer a woman, but a little girl, and her feet were ON TOP of His, and she was just riding along, her feet going whereever His feet went.
It was no longer her dancing, in her own power, but completely relying on Him, and just going along with Him whereever He went.
That is exactly what He wants each of us to do. Just so totally trust Him, that we just ride along with Him, while HE dances through the kingdom.
We are to be like little children, absolute trust, absolute obedience, pure heart, and pure desire to just be WITH Him.
That is the essence of the Kingdom of God!


And these two comments lead us to the next part of our little study. Thank you gentlemen for posting that which is in your hearts!

We read posts and see wonderful testimonies of living in the Kingdom. Kahtar is speaking of living in the kingdom and experiencing wonderful things. Sometimes the kingdom is handing out food and money. Sometimes it is saying "silver and gold have I none but that which I have I give. Stand up and walk!" Hopefully, we will hear more and more testimonies in this thread of what it is like to walk in God's kingdom.

In review. we have seen that Jesus was consumed with the kingdom. He lived in it, breathed it, and preached it. Since he is the exact image of God, we know that the kingdom is very important to God. We have not really been able to define it because it is too large and glorious to describe fully. It must be experienced to be understood! Hopefully, your appetite has been whetted as has mine and we can begin to want to live in this glorious state. We have also seen that living in the kingdom means living unto the King. And guess what? That king ain't us. :lol: We have to die to ourself. This will be a recurring theme. But on the other hand, such glory, passion, joy, love, compassion and overwhelming purpose in life will be ours.

So how do we "enter" into this kingdom? Let's see what Jesus says.

Matt 5:3

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
NASB

It all starts with a poor spirit. If in your heart you read this thread and are excited, then that is a great place to start. But as you continue, perhaps you read the death to self and began to be sorrowful and think, "This I cannot do". Then GREAT! You are almost there. For you must readily acknowledge that to enter the kingdom is a work beyond your ability. It is an act of grace from God. This is what it means to be poor in spirit. It means to recognize that you cannot get there on your own power. But do not worry. Do not be concerned. Because God wants to give us the kingdom.

Luke 12:32
32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom .
NASB

God has gladly chosen to give us the kingdom. He wants us to have it! He wants us to live there. Put your eyes on God himself and trust in Him to do this work in you.

Phil 1:6
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
NASB

How did you get saved? How did you come to know the Lord? Was it through your own power? How then are we sanctified? Look at what Paul wrote.

Gal 3:2-4
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh ?
NASB

So we see that we grow in the Lord the same way we are saved, by grace. We trust him for salvation, and we also trust him to lead us into the kingdom. Read again Kahtar's testimony about the vision from his wife. See in it, the act of the Lord. What did this woman do? She became like a little child. Through her own work? No, through the work of the Lord. For in her vision "she realized" she was a little girl. Why is this? Because God helped her become a little girl. It was his work not hers! Being a little girl is part of entering into the kingdom.

Mark 10:13-15
14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all."
NASB

We must become like little children. But do not worry, this is not you work either. This too is the work of the Lord.

While we speak of great and glorious things in the Kingdom, it is really a simple life that is wrapped up in the King.

2 Cor 11:3-4
3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ .
NASB

This verse, to me, best describes Kingdom living. It is the simple and pure devotion to Christ our King. This is why we say "the next step". "My King, where to next?" "My King what do you want me to say today?" "My King, you are worthy of all praise, and honor and glory". And the King says "Go to Taco Bell and buy a meal for these two men. For they are a continuing part of 5000 I fed long ago. I have given you bread today, as I did to the apostles. Now, give it to them." Then we get to watch as the Love of the Father is poured out in the heart of these men.

The kingdom is a land of grace. It flows with milk and honey. To enter is not my work, but the work of him who calls us. Trust Him to take you there. He will. It will require everything you own. It will require your very life. But in the words of Christ, he who seeks to save his life will lose it. But he who loses is life for my sake, will find it. The rewards are far greater than any could ever imagine.

Be encouraged! God is willing to give us all the kingdom. All we have to do is ask for it. God will GLADLY give us the kingdom. How many of you, when a little child comes and ask for a gift, that you desire to give him anyway, say no? And if we know how to give good gifts, then how much more does our father in heaven know how to give good gifts? When we ask for the Kingdom, we are asking for that which he longs to give us. We are asking for that which is in his will. We know that if we ask for such a thing, then it is ours.

Trust him as a child. If you do not have this kind of trust, then ask the Lord to grant you the trust of a child. Ask him to make you trust him more. The very desire you have to enter the kingdom is from God. Ask him to fan the flames. Depend on him to help you enter into the kingdom living as much as you depended on him for your salvation and He will gladly give you the kingdom.

Grace and peace.

[Brother Mark]

We will visit the sermon on the mount again in the future. We started with it in the previous post. And this post to will be an introduction of sorts. Jesus said something very interesting in his sermon.

Matt 5:13-16

13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
NASB

He said that we are the salt and the light of the world. Now, this sermon is about the kingdom of God and he starts it off that way. The Lord's prayer starts and ends with the Kingdom. Jesus is utterly consumed with the kingdom. But we've already established that.

Since the previous post was on grace, I thought I would take time to mention something about salt. I will probably "flesh it out" a little later. But first we must be salt. Then we can be light. Both are kingdom principles.

What is salt? It is a picture of grace.

Col 4:5-6
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned , as it were, with salt , so that you may know how you should respond to each person.
NASB

When Jesus speaks of salt, he almost always speaks of it's flavor or seasoning. We are to be seasoned with salt. When others see us, hear us, or otherwise interact with us, grace must be at the forefront. They should see not us, but Christ and is grace. Like Paul, we will then be able to say "what do we have that we have not received". Grace will ever be in our hearts and actions.

Hopefully, I can flesh this out more later.

Grace and peace

[ravi4u2]

Be encouraged! God is willing to give us all the kingdom. All we have to do is ask for it. God will GLADLY give us the kingdom. How many of you, when a little child comes and ask for a gift, that you desire to give him anyway, say no? And if we know how to give good gifts, then how much more does our father in heaven know how to give good gifts? When we ask for the Kingdom, we are asking for that which he longs to give us. We are asking for that which is in his will. We know that if we ask for such a thing, then it is ours.hey Bro...I witness so much to this. When I was in Singapore, the Lord spoke exactly this to me. I left everything, my home, my family, my security, to follow Him where He had called me. And although I had lost everything, I did not loose a thing, but have gained a hundredfold. As the recent movie 'Kingdom's' tag line says, "You have to leave your world to enter the kingdom". The last shall surely be the first in the Kingdom of God.

[Kahtar]

For you must readily acknowledge that to enter the kingdom is a work beyond your ability. It is an act of grace from God.So true, Mark!
We cannot just barge right into the kingdom on our own. And none of us here can give a step by step instruction manual. It is all in God's hands, and it is His direction we follow.
Our part is first to simply be willing, not satisfied with where we are, seeking, and stepping where He directs. He will lead you through the valley, just like the pillar of cloud and fire in the wilderness. They moved when the cloud moved, and followed it all the way to the Promised Land (twice--:lol:).
And just as importantly, when the cloud remained still, so did they! You will find many, many times that God's direction for you is to 'stay put', and continue doing the last thing you were instructed.

I was working with cement in our backyard a bit ago. Cement is interesting, in a way. As long as no water is applied, it remains a dry, powdery substance, and can stay that way indefinately.
But once water is added, you MUST do something!
When cement is mixed with water, it becomes fluid, 'alive', flowing, and as long as you continue to add water occasionally, and keep it in motion, it will remain in that state.
Once it becomes dormant, it begins to set up, and unless more water and motion is added, it will continue to harden, eventually becoming like a rock.
In the kingdom, if we never add the water of the Word to our lives, we will remain dry, powdery, useless.
Soon as the water of the Word is applied to our lives, we HAVE to do something. We either have to continue mixing, staying in motion, continue adding more of the Word to our lives, or harden.
If we are satisfied with where we are in the kingdom, guess what? Yep! Hardness sets in, and soon, we'll become 'stiffnecked' and hard as a rock.:D
We must stay in motion, until we have reached our goal. We must add to our knowledge and understanding, and grow in His Word, and grow in our spirit. Otherwise, well, I already said it.
So basically, what I am saying is, we should never become satisfied with where we are. There is always, always more growing to be done, and more to learn, and more to do.
It is okay to be where we are. It is not okay to stay there.
So continue to desire more,continue to ask, and listen, and obey His voice.
Some will say all we have to do is obey the Word. And they are right. But, I believe it goes much deeper than that, although the Word is our guide.
The Word itself does not tell us how to respond to a person, or what words to speak to them. It does not tell you to go buy a meal at Taco Bell to feed one more person. But the Spirit DOES!
Be instant in season, out of season, as Paul says, always ready to give an account.
Mark, I love your post on salt. That was good food!

[ravi4u2]

So true, Mark!
We cannot just barge right into the kingdom on our own. And none of us here can give a step by step instruction manual. Are you sure??? Isn't there like a '7-Step Guide to Enter the Kingdom' kind of thing??? :bounce:

[Brother Mark]

hey Bro...I witness so much to this. When I was in Singapore, the Lord spoke exactly this to me. I left everything, my home, my family, my security, to follow Him where He had called me. And although I had lost everything, I did not loose a thing, but have gained a hundredfold. As the recent movie 'Kingdom's' tag line says, "You have to leave your world to enter the kingdom". The last shall surely be the first in the Kingdom of God.

And we also have the promise of 100 fold return. Excellent testimony! Thanks for sharing it. It is often the testimonies of others that encourages us to enter his kingdom. I think that is one reason God teaches us through so many stories in the OT and the new.

[Brother Mark]

Are you sure??? Isn't there like a '7-Step Guide to Enter the Kingdom' kind of thing??? :bounce:

LOL! This is soooo true. Thanks Khatar for bringing up that point. God began teaching me about kingdom in a different way than he teaches others. We all have our eyes opened in different ways. To one, he speaks it. To another, he spits in the ground and puts the mud on his eyes. To another, he touches him. All we can do is do as you told us earlier.... Ask, hear, obey. When he speaks, we take the "next step".

[Brother Mark]

OK back to salt for a little while. All through this thread, we will speak of grace, truth and the cross. For these are the laws of the kingdom. Grace and truth come from the King. And the cross is His way. But it is His work and not ours. We simply agree with him and then do as he tell us.

OK, there will be two points to this post. We will look at what it means to be salt. Then we will look at obedience. They go hand in hand and are often confusing to people. Maybe, some can be encouraged and edified this morning.

Salt is only mentioned a few times in the new testament. I have already defined salt as grace above. But I wish to make a case for that now and to look at these kingdom verses in a little more detail.

Matt 5:13

13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
NASB

Again, here we see Jesus referring to salt as a seasoning agent for taste. Salt here is not being used for preservation or for purity. No, it is used for seasoning!

Mark 9:49-50
49 "For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 "Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
NASB

Another place where salt is used and spoken about concerning taste. Here it says we are to have salt in ourselves and to be at peace with one another. Can we agree this too requires grace? Jesus is saying that we should have grace in us so we can live in peace? (Now for those that wish to do a more thorough study, salt in this passage can also represent fire. Now, I find it interesting that Jesus came to baptize with fire and the holy Spirit. Both are acts of grace. Also, Peter speaks of a firey trial that comes to test our faith. How many of us got saved because of a firey trial? So God salts everyone with fire that they might turn to him. Some don't, but even the trial is a gift from God and therefor an act of grace.)

Luke 14:34-35
34 "Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 "It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
NASB

This is the next verse in scripture that references salt. Again, we see that it is seasoning.

So if salt is seasoning, what are these three gospel writers getting at? Well, Paul clarifies it for us.

Col 4:4-6
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt , so that you may know how you should respond to each person.
NASB

Salt is grace. We are to always be seasoned with grace. Did you notice how that Jesus said that if the salt loses it's flavor, what good is it for seasoning? If we become bitter, and lose our graciousness, how can we then season our speech with grace? How can we say to others "Taste the Lord and see that he is good". For without salt, we lose our flavoring. Want an example? Just read enough post on this board. :lol: You will see where someone loses their cool, or their temper. How much influence do they have at that time? None! So if we lose our grace, our salt, our flavor, we are not as useful in the kingdom as we could be at that time.

There is only one other reference to salt, that I am aware of, in the NT and it does not fit within this study. So, that about sums up the NT part.

But, salt is more than just grace. For those that wish to study further, I will give you some thoughts. But unless the Lord leads differently, I won't pursue it in this thread. In the OT, salt was also judgment. A king might salt his enemies pastures. Sodom smelled of salt after judgment. Jesus being sent to the world was an act of grace. But the other side of grace is judgment. All are salted by fire. Will that lead to grace in Christ or will that lead to judgment in hell? God's judgment was poured out on Jesus so that his grace could be poured out on us. Grace has two sides; mercy and judgment. Without grace, their could be no mercy. Without judgment on Christ, there could be no mercy. So Jesus was salted in judgment, that we might be salted in grace. All are salted. Let us be salted in grace. I hope this last part didn't confuse anyone. If it did, just ask and I will clarify.

Ok, my next post will speak of grace in action... obedience.

[Brother Mark]

Kahtar and Ravi4u have been kind enough to share their testimonies. If you look close, they were both obedient and experienced grace. Now we hear all the time on this board conflict about works or grace. I submit that they go hand in hand.

Was it grace that healed the 10 lepers? What about when he turned the water into wine? Was that an act of grace so as to bless the wedding host? Or what about the man with the withered hand? Was that grace? Oh yes indeed all of them were. Well, let's look at some of those examples.

Luke 17:11-15

11 And it came about while He was on the way to Jerusalem, that He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as He entered a certain village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 And when He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And it came about that as they were going, they were cleansed.
NASB

Now, Kahtar told us earlier that we need to ask, listen and obey. Look at the passage above. The 10 lepers asked God for healing. He gave them a command. And as they were keeping the command, they were healed! Do you see it? It is the pattern of the kingdom! They were given grace to obey the command. God gave them something they could do. When they obeyed in faith, he gave them grace and healed them. He did what they could not do.

In OT times, once a leper was healed, he had to go and show himself to the priest. So for them to go and show themselves to the priest BEFORE they were healed was an act of obedient faith. When they obeyed, God healed them.

John 2:1-10
2:1 And on the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2 and Jesus also was invited, and His disciples, to the wedding. 3 And when the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." 4 And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what do I have to do with you? My hour has not yet come." 5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." 6 Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water ." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the headwaiter." And they took it to him. 9 And when the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, 10 and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first, and when men have drunk freely, then that which is poorer; you have kept the good wine until now."
NASB

We see the same pattern again here. Mary informed Jesus of the problem. She was asking. Jesus didn't really give her reason to hope. But Mary knew her boy. She raised him and had watched him his whole life. When had Mary ever seen her son without compassion? She knew her boy and gave wise counsel. Do what he says!!! She asked. Then she said to be obedient. The Jesus gave a command that the people could do. They acted in obedient faith. Jesus then turned the water into wine. Ask, listen, obey. We will see this pattern everywhere in scripture.

Mark 3:1-6
3:1 And He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, in order that they might accuse Him. 3 And He said to the man with the withered hand, "Rise and come forward!" 4 And He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent. 5 And after looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand ." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 And the Pharisees went out and immediately began taking counsel with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
NASB

Jesus had such a reputation for healing, that people started watching him. A man with a withered hand went to church. And again, we see the pattern. Jesus heard the cry of this man's heart. And again gave a command the man could keep "rise and come forward". This man, trusting Jesus, got up and went forward. Then Jesus gave him another command "Stretch out your hand". Now, this required more faith! For the hand was withered. How could he stretch that which was withered? But he did. As he heard Jesus and did as he was told, grace was given to him to walk in the miraculous.

This pattern can be seen throughout scripture. Think on these things and be encouraged and challenged.

Grace and peace

[Brother Mark]

Good morning fellow sons of the Most High God! Just in case, I want you to know that I use the word sons as it is used in scripture, to include both men and women. ;)

There is so much to cover concerning the kingdom. Please bear with me if we seem to be going slow. This will be a marathon and not a sprint.

Anyway, I am torn about the direction to go this morning. On the one hand, I wish to continue discussing salt and light. On the other, I wish to speak about the word of the kingdom. For now, let us go to the word of the kingdom. For if you are still reading this, and have not lost interest, then perhaps this will you understand some things that are going to happen in your life.

Let's go to Mark 4. We will examine this scripture. Towards the very end, I will bring it back to kingdom. I will post the scripture here for reading, both the parable and the interpretation.

First the parable itself.

Mark 4:1-9
4:1 And He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very great multitude gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, 3 "Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and it came about that as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 "And other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 "And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 "And other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 "And other seeds fell into the good soil and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." 9 And He was saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
NASB

Now let us begin to examine the interpretation.

Mark 4:10-12

10 And as soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 in order that while seeing, they may see and not perceive; and while hearing, they may hear and not understand lest they return and be forgiven. "
NASB

Now, don't get upset at this verse. Let's just take it at face value. God puts things in parables to hide the truth from those outside. We also have promises that for those that seek, they will find God. But let's not ignore the power of this verse! Jesus speaks in parables to hide things. He does not speak in parables to make them easier to understand. Unless we come to God as blind men, we will remain in our blindness. If we think we see, our sin will remain. In humility, we approach the word with our minds and spirit. But it must be interpreted by Him. If we come to him as one that is smart, then we will never learn. For all men are brutish/dumb. We are nothing. He speaks in parables to hide things. But the heart of kings will search them out. As we search, he reveals.

Mark 4:13
13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? And how will you understand all the parables?
NASB

Of all the parables, this is perhaps the most important. If we do not get this parable, we won't understand any of them. So we need to pay close attention!

Mark 4:14
14 "The sower sows the word.
NASB

The sower sows the word. We all know that Jesus and his children are sowers of the word. And of course, the word is the word of God.

Mark 4:15
15 "And these are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
NASB

Ah, the birds of the air are satan and his demons. They come and snatch the word away. We will discuss later how this happens. But for now, let's understand that Satan can steal the word. He comes only to "steal, kill and destroy". What is he stealing? The word! Why?

Look at what scripture says about wisdom and understanding.

Prov 4:5-13
5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8 "Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 "She will place on your head a garland of grace ;
She will present you with a crown of beauty."

10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.
NASB

Prov 4:20-22

20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their whole body.
NASB


Wisdom will guard you and protect you and prevent you from stumbling. So, if the word (wisdom and understanding) is your protection and your life, then Satan must first steal that which is protecting you and guarding you and preventing you from stumbling. If Satan can steal the word from our hearts, then he can destroy us and keep us from bearing fruit.

Has he stolen the word? You have heard it said, that the gospel much be preached to the whole world before Jesus comes again. Well, this is partly true. But we have left off a word. Here is the verse.

Matt 24:14
14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.
NASB

It is the gospel of the kingdom that must be preached to the whole world!

Now, let us look at the parable in a different gospel.

Matt 13:18-19

18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
NASB

Already we see that Satan has stolen the word of the kingdom from us! As a result, few of us are living in the kingdom today. His first line of defense against kingdom living is to steal the word. Rest assured though, we will hear more and more preaching on the kingdom of God. For it must be preached in the whole world before the coming of our Lord Jesus.

How does Satan steal the word?

Matt 13:18-19

18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
NASB

He steals it by blocking our understanding! If someone doesn't understand the word, then Satan can simply snatch it away. So how is our understanding blocked? Through pride and arrogance and other such things.

John 9:39-41
39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see; and that those who see may become blind." 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and said to Him, "We are not blind too, are we?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.
NASB

This verse indicates that Jesus will blind those that see and and allow those that are blind to see. It is those that think they are righteous and are convinced they are right. We should always approach the word in humility ready to leave our doctrine behind and embrace that which the Lord teaches us. Do some verses cause you consternation because they don't line up with your doctrine? Then change your doctrine! Else, God will see to it that you remain in your blind state. Sin will cause blindness. For that is why scripture calls it the "deceitfulness of sin". Our understanding gets blocked. And when it is blocked, the word of the kingdom is easy to steal.

If Satan cannot steal the word of the kingdom from your heart, then he will try another way.

Mark 4:16-17
16 "And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
NASB

He will try affliction or persecution. He will send outside forces to persecute you. These can be anything from others making fun of you to trying to kill you and everything in between. But persecution is not what get most people. It is affliction. Affliction is that internal thing. It is what happens when you read the word and go "I don't like what that says" and then "I don't really believe it means that" or "I don't want to do that". See, it says that affliction comes because of the word of the kingdom. For instance, did any of you feel afflicted when we spoke of the inwrought cross of death to self? Did you want to pull back? Satan will use the word of God to get you to pull back from him. We take the scriptures cafeteria style and must be careful. For when we only take that which we like and ignore that which speaks of death to self, we allow the enemy to cause the seed to wither. It cannot take root. Though when we first heard it, we received it with joy. But in walking it out, we did not like the affliction and we let go of the word.

Now, if that doesn't work, then what?

Mark 4:18-20
18 "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
NASB

He will make us so busy just trying to live, pursuing wealth, and desire for other things to simply choke out the word of the kingdom and prevent it from growing. This is very close to affliction but not quite. It is more distraction. If we are willing to go hungry, but then decide to work 80 hours a week to prevent it, it was not the affliction of hunger but the business of avoiding it that chokes the word. Most of us want a big house, 2 cars, and free change to spend. In order to keep our lifestyle up, we have to work long and hard and have 2 people working. The end result? Often the business of our lifestyle chokes out the word of the kingdom. We do not bear fruit.

But what kind of heart bears fruit?

1. The heart hears and understands.

Matt 13:23
23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
NASB

Do your remember Kahtar's steps for the kingdom?

Ask, listen, and obey. Ask God, the hear what he says.

2. Have an honest heart that perseveres.

Luke 8:15
15 "And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
NASB


And what is an honest and good heart? How about the publican that prayed "God have mercy on me a sinner". Did this man bear fruit? Yes. What about David who said "search me oh God and see if there be any wicked way in me"? Yes. We are not speaking of perfection when we say good but rather we are speaking of submission. Be honest with yourself. If you read things that cause affliction to rise up in your heart, be encouraged with the following proverb.

Prov 3:34
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
NASB

God scoffs at scoffers. But to those that cry out "help thou my unbelief" and are afflicted in their heart, they get grace. And so in humility, we approach the scriptures and say "Lord, unless you teach me, I will remain blind. Unless you change my heart, I will remain afflicted. Change my heart oh Lord to follow after you". We cannot change ourselves but he can. As we are afflicted and our heart rebels, ask God to change the rebellious heart. But be willing to do what he says. Set your jaw like flint.

The word of the kingdom will bear fruit.

I hope this encourages you. Much of the truth in this post was taught to me by my pastor Terry Bryant. It was he who first taught me the meaning of the parable. Since that time, the Lord has used it to teach me more about his kingdom.

[Friend of I AM]

Good morning fellow sons of the Most High God! Just in case, I want you to know that I use the word sons as it is used in scripture, to include both men and women. ;)

There is so much to cover concerning the kingdom. Please bear with me if we seem to be going slow. This will be a marathon and not a sprint.

Anyway, I am torn about the direction to go this morning. On the one hand, I wish to continue discussing salt and light. On the other, I wish to speak about the word of the kingdom. For now, let us go to the word of the kingdom. For if you are still reading this, and have not lost interest, then perhaps this will you understand some things that are going to happen in your life.

Let's go to Mark 4. We will examine this scripture. Towards the very end, I will bring it back to kingdom. I will post the scripture here for reading, both the parable and the interpretation.

First the parable itself.

Mark 4:1-9
4:1 And He began to teach again by the sea. And such a very great multitude gathered to Him that He got into a boat in the sea and sat down; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And He was teaching them many things in parables, and was saying to them in His teaching, 3 "Listen to this! Behold, the sower went out to sow; 4 and it came about that as he was sowing, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 "And other seed fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of soil. 6 "And after the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 "And other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 "And other seeds fell into the good soil and as they grew up and increased, they yielded a crop and produced thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." 9 And He was saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
NASB

Now let us begin to examine the interpretation.

Mark 4:10-12

10 And as soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 in order that while seeing, they may see and not perceive; and while hearing, they may hear and not understand lest they return and be forgiven. "
NASB

Now, don't get upset at this verse. Let's just take it at face value. God puts things in parables to hide the truth from those outside. We also have promises that for those that seek, they will find God. But let's not ignore the power of this verse! Jesus speaks in parables to hide things. He does not speak in parables to make them easier to understand. Unless we come to God as blind men, we will remain in our blindness. If we think we see, our sin will remain. In humility, we approach the word with our minds and spirit. But it must be interpreted by Him. If we come to him as one that is smart, then we will never learn. For all men are brutish/dumb. We are nothing. He speaks in parables to hide things. But the heart of kings will search them out. As we search, he reveals.

Mark 4:13
13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? And how will you understand all the parables?
NASB

Of all the parables, this is perhaps the most important. If we do not get this parable, we won't understand any of them. So we need to pay close attention!

Mark 4:14
14 "The sower sows the word.
NASB

The sower sows the word. We all know that Jesus and his children are sowers of the word. And of course, the word is the word of God.

Mark 4:15
15 "And these are the ones who are beside the road where the word is sown; and when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word which has been sown in them.
NASB

Ah, the birds of the air are satan and his demons. They come and snatch the word away. We will discuss later how this happens. But for now, let's understand that Satan can steal the word. He comes only to "steal, kill and destroy". What is he stealing? The word! Why?

Look at what scripture says about wisdom and understanding.

Prov 4:5-13
5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
6 "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.
7 "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;
And with all your acquiring, get understanding.
8 "Prize her, and she will exalt you;
She will honor you if you embrace her.
9 "She will place on your head a garland of grace ;
She will present you with a crown of beauty."

10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;
And if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.
NASB

Prov 4:20-22

20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their whole body.
NASB


Wisdom will guard you and protect you and prevent you from stumbling. So, if the word (wisdom and understanding) is your protection and your life, then Satan must first steal that which is protecting you and guarding you and preventing you from stumbling. If Satan can steal the word from our hearts, then he can destroy us and keep us from bearing fruit.

Has he stolen the word? You have heard it said, that the gospel much be preached to the whole world before Jesus comes again. Well, this is partly true. But we have left off a word. Here is the verse.

Matt 24:14
14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.
NASB

It is the gospel of the kingdom that must be preached to the whole world!

Now, let us look at the parable in a different gospel.

Matt 13:18-19

18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
NASB

Already we see that Satan has stolen the word of the kingdom from us! As a result, few of us are living in the kingdom today. His first line of defense against kingdom living is to steal the word. Rest assured though, we will hear more and more preaching on the kingdom of God. For it must be preached in the whole world before the coming of our Lord Jesus.

How does Satan steal the word?

Matt 13:18-19

18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
NASB

He steals it by blocking our understanding! If someone doesn't understand the word, then Satan can simply snatch it away. So how is our understanding blocked? Through pride and arrogance and other such things.

John 9:39-41
39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see; and that those who see may become blind." 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things, and said to Him, "We are not blind too, are we?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.
NASB

This verse indicates that Jesus will blind those that see and and allow those that are blind to see. It is those that think they are righteous and are convinced they are right. We should always approach the word in humility ready to leave our doctrine behind and embrace that which the Lord teaches us. Do some verses cause you consternation because they don't line up with your doctrine? Then change your doctrine! Else, God will see to it that you remain in your blind state. Sin will cause blindness. For that is why scripture calls it the "deceitfulness of sin". Our understanding gets blocked. And when it is blocked, the word of the kingdom is easy to steal.

If Satan cannot steal the word of the kingdom from your heart, then he will try another way.

Mark 4:16-17
16 "And in a similar way these are the ones on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no firm root in themselves, but are only temporary; then, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
NASB

He will try affliction or persecution. He will send outside forces to persecute you. These can be anything from others making fun of you to trying to kill you and everything in between. But persecution is not what get most people. It is affliction. Affliction is that internal thing. It is what happens when you read the word and go "I don't like what that says" and then "I don't really believe it means that" or "I don't want to do that". See, it says that affliction comes because of the word of the kingdom. For instance, did any of you feel afflicted when we spoke of the inwrought cross of death to self? Did you want to pull back? Satan will use the word of God to get you to pull back from him. We take the scriptures cafeteria style and must be careful. For when we only take that which we like and ignore that which speaks of death to self, we allow the enemy to cause the seed to wither. It cannot take root. Though when we first heard it, we received it with joy. But in walking it out, we did not like the affliction and we let go of the word.

Now, if that doesn't work, then what?

Mark 4:18-20
18 "And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
NASB

He will make us so busy just trying to live, pursuing wealth, and desire for other things to simply choke out the word of the kingdom and prevent it from growing. This is very close to affliction but not quite. It is more distraction. If we are willing to go hungry, but then decide to work 80 hours a week to prevent it, it was not the affliction of hunger but the business of avoiding it that chokes the word. Most of us want a big house, 2 cars, and free change to spend. In order to keep our lifestyle up, we have to work long and hard and have 2 people working. The end result? Often the business of our lifestyle chokes out the word of the kingdom. We do not bear fruit.

But what kind of heart bears fruit?

1. The heart hears and understands.

Matt 13:23
23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
NASB

Do your remember Kahtar's steps for the kingdom?

Ask, listen, and obey. Ask God, the hear what he says.

2. Have an honest heart that perseveres.

Luke 8:15
15 "And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
NASB


And what is an honest and good heart? How about the publican that prayed "God have mercy on me a sinner". Did this man bear fruit? Yes. What about David who said "search me oh God and see if there be any wicked way in me"? Yes. We are not speaking of perfection when we say good but rather we are speaking of submission. Be honest with yourself. If you read things that cause affliction to rise up in your heart, be encouraged with the following proverb.

Prov 3:34
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
NASB

God scoffs at scoffers. But to those that cry out "help thou my unbelief" and are afflicted in their heart, they get grace. And so in humility, we approach the scriptures and say "Lord, unless you teach me, I will remain blind. Unless you change my heart, I will remain afflicted. Change my heart oh Lord to follow after you". We cannot change ourselves but he can. As we are afflicted and our heart rebels, ask God to change the rebellious heart. But be willing to do what he says. Set your jaw like flint.

The word of the kingdom will bear fruit.

I hope this encourages you. Much of the truth in this post was taught to me by my pastor Terry Bryant. It was he who first taught me the meaning of the parable. Since that time, the Lord has used it to teach me more about his kingdom.

Excellent Testimony Mark. To be fair to God though, I would say that He only allows temptation and/or sin to attack us - when we ourselves have given into temptation. For example, I was a mocker for much of my youth and most of my young adult life. I liked to tease people - and thought it was funny hurting others feelings. So God allowed me to be attacked many times by mocking spirits until I finally learned how sinful it was to take delight in hurting others. To be honest though, God's allowance of Satan to attack me was actually a blessing - because if He had allowed me to continue on this path, such mocking spirits would have completely overcome me in my Christian walk. I still have many demons to battle in my life, but I know it is no longer me alone who goes through this walk, it is Christ who carries, disciplines, and guides me on this path to His kingdom. BTW, I like the sig...:D

[ravi4u2]

I would say that He only allows temptation and/or sin to attack us - when we ourselves have given into temptation. So, did Jesus give in to temptation for Him to be tempted in the wilderness?

[Kahtar]

So, did Jesus give in to temptation for Him to be tempted in the wilderness?Now that's one of those :hmm: kind of statements.:)
It has been my experience that we are often tempted even when we haven't given in. Giving in means the temptation worked.
I think rather that God allows temptation in our lives to strengthen us. When we overcome that temptation a few times, it rarely is an issue any longer. When we stumble and give in, at some point we'll have it to face again, and again, until we do overcome.
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, but He did not give in to it. Instead, He overcame it, and the Tempter. But notice, the Tempter approached Him three times! What does that say about the temptations we face?
Jesus faced it 3 times, and each time overcame it, and sent satan packing. After the third time, he did not come back. That is our example. When we face it, overcome it, and continue to do so until he comes back no more.

[Friend of I AM]

So, did Jesus give in to temptation for Him to be tempted in the wilderness?

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus's struggle was/is representative of our internal struggle of the Holy Spirit wrestling with the flesh and temptation. His fight and victory against temptation was to help us overcome sin and evil, or to free us from bondage to it. He did not have to come down and do this, it was of His own free will and Love for man that He decided to do it.

[Brother Mark]

He did overcome the evil one and that is also part of the kingdom. We overcome too. But often, the enemy will steal the word that was sown in our hearts. And since wisdom will guard us and protect us, once he steals the word, he can kill and destroy us. That is what the parable about the word of the kingdom is about. When our heart is not honest and we approach God with an agenda, our understanding is blocked. So this parable really isn't about temptation, but rather how we can sit in church, hear a word from God, walk outside and the word have no impact.

[ravi4u2]

Now that's one of those :hmm: kind of statements.:)
It has been my experience that we are often tempted even when we haven't given in. Giving in means the temptation worked.
I think rather that God allows temptation in our lives to strengthen us. When we overcome that temptation a few times, it rarely is an issue any longer. When we stumble and give in, at some point we'll have it to face again, and again, until we do overcome.
Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, but He did not give in to it. Instead, He overcame it, and the Tempter. But notice, the Tempter approached Him three times! What does that say about the temptations we face?
Jesus faced it 3 times, and each time overcame it, and sent satan packing. After the third time, he did not come back. That is our example. When we face it, overcome it, and continue to do so until he comes back no more.As long as we are in the world, we will have temptations. That was why we are called to be 'overcomers'...Just like how He was an Overcomer...

[ravi4u2]

John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus's struggle was/is representative of our internal struggle of the Holy Spirit wrestling with the flesh and temptation. His fight and victory against temptation was to help us overcome sin and evil, or to free us from bondage to it. He did not have to come down and do this, it was of His own free will and Love for man that He decided to do it.So, are you saying that the temptation Jesus had was somehow different from the ones we have?

[Gard]

Does anyone have objections to my printing out this thread? There is alot of information here and trying to digest it on a computer screen is getting difficult. I will not print anything unless i get an OK to do so as i do not want to overstep my bounds.

[Brother Mark]

Go ahead and print it out. As far as I know, nothing written here has a copyright on it. Keep an eye out on it because there is much more to come.

BTW, Cori Ten Boom is amazing.

[Gard]

Go ahead and print it out. As far as I know, nothing written here has a copyright on it. Keep an eye out on it because there is much more to come.

BTW, Cori Ten Boom is amazing.


Thank you Brother Mark. And I will be checking this thread every day for new additions. And yes, Corrie Ten Boom is amazing. In fact, it was one of her letters that helped me to see the error of the pre-trib rapture.

[Brother Mark]

OK, now for the next step. :lol:

We have looked at a few things. We have discussed moving into kingdom living. I hope you are beginning to see that there is much more to following Christ than simply salvation. Unfortunately, many Christians don't live in the Kingdom. We have seen from testimonies above that people went from normal life to kingdom life. I hope you appetite continues to grow.

We know that the poor in spirit inherit the kingdom. So if you desire this life, but think you cannot live it, then you are a prime candidate. We have also learned about death to self. Well, no man can crucify himself. He needs help. Oh, you might be able to nail your feet to the cross. Then perhaps you could nail a hand. But what do you do with that last hand? Entering the kingdom still requires grace. We enter into the narrow way just like we get saved. I make that reference for a reason. Entering the narrow way is the kingdom way. Many believers go to heaven. But they don't live in the kingdom of heaven while on earth. For it is a narrow path. It is the walk of death in covenant with God that leads to life. If you don't fully understand the previous sentence, don't worry for now. It will eventually make sense.

Once we understand it is about grace and that is the only way to enter, we must also understand the cost. It will cost us everything but the rewards are great! Jesus taught us a few things we go through while entering into the kingdom. Let's look again at Matthew 5.

But before we do, let me say one other thing... the kingdom is like putting together a puzzle. There is no direct formula so to speak. It is a piece of art that is laid out in front of us. When putting together a puzzle, we put a few edges together, we find a piece here and a piece there. We have some middle parts put in. Over time, the puzzle becomes a masterpiece of art and it's beauty is there for all to see. But to the one putting the puzzle together, he only sees glimpses here and there. This is the way of the kingdom. We see it a little at a time. But once you see the big picture, you know each piece of the puzzle, each doctrine, each truth, each revelation from God is really a piece of his kingdom. The Kingdom is the big picture! The King and the Kingdom go together. No longer do we read the bible just to find a rule, regulation , a truth, a doctrine. But instead, we read it to discover Him and His Kingdom. We fulfill one of the greatest passages in scripture "Seek ye first the kingdom of God...". Let us begin agian...

Jesus said "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". We discussed this earlier. We discussed salt and grace. Without grace, nothing can get done that last. To get into the kingdom requires grace. To live in the kingdom requires grace. To see the kingdom requires grace. Do we participate? Yes, in the same way Isaac laid his life down, so do we. But it is God's power that is behind it all. He enables us to die and to live. We offer what he gives us. Paul said it this way "What do I have that I have not received?" Is there anything in life that you have that God did not give you? Maybe you say "I built my house and I earned it". Did you build the house with the hands God gave you? Did you design it with the mind you received from the Lord? Did you pay for it with the job that God gifted you and enabled you to do? So ask the Lord and he will move you into the kingdom.

Now, I have been long winded enough. Let us get into the word again.

Matt 5:4

4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
NASB

There is a mourning for those that enter into the kingdom. Why? Because we must die. We have focused on the cross often in this thread. It will be a recurrent theme. Death to self is a must. We are in the image of Christ and we will be conformed to his image. We will die. But in dying, we will live! Look again at the testimonies mentioned above. Not one person who has died wants to go back to the way life was before. Not one! What does that tell us?

Let's jump ahead in scripture.

Matt 5:13-16

13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
NASB

We already know that salt is grace. We may be the only grace people see. Our words should be salted with grace. But what of light? What does that mean? How can we be light? Jesus also said we are the light of the world. He did not make us light to hide us. He made us light to display us. He said let your light shine before men in such a way, that they will see our good works and glorify God. How is this done? What does it mean to be light? Is this simply preaching? Jesus was the Light of the world. How did he do it? Where did he get this teaching from? How did he know I was also to be the light of the world?

Let's read from the book Jesus read from, the old testament. Let's look at Isaiah 58. I will post a verse or a few verses, then post comments to make a point.

Isa 58:1

"Cry loudly, do not hold back;
Raise your voice like a trumpet,
And declare to My people their transgression,
And to the house of Jacob their sins.
NASB

God is displeased with Israel. He wants the prophet to let them know what their sins are.

Isa 58:2
2 "Yet they seek Me day by day, and delight to know My ways,
As a nation that has done righteousness,
And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God.
They ask Me for just decisions,
They delight in the nearness of God.
NASB

But these very people seek God every day! They delight to know his ways. As a nation, they have done righteousness. Does this sound weird to you yet? They DELIGHT in the nearness or presence of God. I would say this verse describes many believers. We love Him and want to be in Him and with Him. We even ask God for just decisions. We have not forsaken His ordinances. Where is God going with this?

Isa 58:3
3'Why have we fasted and Thou dost not see?
Why have we humbled ourselves and Thou dost not notice?'
NASB

The people cry out, why have you not heard us? We fast and you don't see us. They don't understand why God doesn't notice them. Why won't he move in their behalf?

Isa 58:3
Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire,
And drive hard all your workers.
NASB

Ever been in a church where the pastor drove the sheep? God does not like that. Do we believers control people? Do we force them to believe the same doctrines we believe? Do we drive those that serve us in ministry? Do the pastors require more from the flock than God? These things are displeasing to the Lord. Why? Because we see those around us as being for us. The pastor thinks the flock is there to make his church grow. The flock thinks the pastor is there to serve them and to help them at all hours of the day. But God says, this attitude is one reason I am not answering your fasting and your praying.

Isa 58:4
4 "Behold, you fast for contention and strife and to strike with a wicked fist.
You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.
NASB

Ever prayed this prayer "God, make my boss treat me right! Make my pastor be more friendly to me. May my sunday school class give me more respect." You get the point. We fast and pray for contention and strife. We want others to bend to our will so we drive them. We even ask God to control them for us. And God says this is wrong. This is the sin that he is speaking about. Tell them loudly the sin, Isaiah. They love my presence, but they do not understand me. They want to know my ways, but they do not understand them.

Isa 58:4-5
You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high.
5 "Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it for bowing one's head like a reed,
And for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed?
Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the LORD?
NASB

Is the fast God chooses the one where he humbles himself? For repentance and the putting on of sackcloth and ashes? Sackcloth and ashes are a way of showing deep repentance. Ever had a sin just haunt you and you fall, then get up and repent. You are truly sorry. You repent deeply. Then, you fall again. You wonder, why does not God help me! I am in bondage, I repent, yet I fall again. Why is this? God is asking, is this the kind of fast which I choose? Oh, for one to get saved, this is what the Lord is looking for. But for one who is already saved, one who is fasting, this is not the kind of fast that will move God! What then will move him?

Isa 58:6
6 "Is this not the fast which I choose,
To loosen the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free,
And break every yoke?
NASB

The fast that moves God is one that loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free. Do you see it? Stop focusing on yourself and help others. Help them spiritually. The fast I want to see and that I will honor is the one that is not self centered but is a fast against self. Focus on those that are in bondage and help them. Fast against your desires. Do not seek to control others, seek to help them.

Isa 58:7
7 "Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry,
And bring the homeless poor into the house;
When you see the naked, to cover him;
And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
NASB

Instead of weeping over your own sin and fasting and doing without food, take your food and give it to the hungry. Help the homeless. When someone's sin is exposed and they are naked, do you clothe them or do you gossip about them? Cover up the naked. Do not hide yourself from those in need. To do this, will require us to stop focusing on our needs and our problems and instead focus on another. It is not about me! Ah, there again is the cross. God wants us to reach out to others.

Vs 6 is a spiritual reaching out and vs 7 is a physical reaching out. Both need to be done. But to do so, requires that we drop our agenda. God is not looking for continual repentance from you over a particular sin. Oh, don't get me wrong, he is. But this will not move God. What will move him, is when he sees you moving towards helping others. We look often at what others can do for us. We drive them or manipulate them. This is the sin God refers to in Isaiah 58. Let us avoid it. When we move into compassion, look at the promises.

Isa 58:8
8 "Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will speedily spring forth;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
NASB

Then your recovery will break out! God will heal you! God will move in your behalf. And our light will break out. We will then be the "light of the world".

Isa 58:9-10
9 "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.'
If you remove the yoke from your midst,
The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 And if you give yourself to the hungry,
And satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
Then your light will rise in darkness,
And your gloom will become like midday.
NASB


God will answer us as we remove the yoke of expectations we place on others. Let us stop pointing fingers. And instead give ourselves to the hungry. Let us satisfy the desire of another. Then our light will rise in darkness! This is how we are to be a light to the world. It will move God in our behalf. Our gloom will become like midday. God will begin to heal our soul.

Isa 58:11
11 "And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
NASB

Remember the woman at the well? She left her water pot and went and ministered to Samaria and many got saved. She came to the well thirsty. What she stopped being self centered and went and told others. She forgot the reason she even went was to get water. She was healed and her spring of waters did not fail. God will heal your soul. He will guide you and tell you what to do. You will be satisfied even in the desert. Your soul will be strengthened.

Isa 58:12
12 "And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell.
NASB

As a result, if your life has been destroyed, it's ruins will be rebuilt. You will see God move in awesome ways as he rebuilds the lives around you. You will be called the repairer of the breach as you see healing and the hand of God moving as a result of your fast against yourself and your desire to be light to another.

All too often we seek to please ourselves. We want others to bend to our will. We try to control them and drive them and this displeases God. Instead, fast against your desires. A food fast is fine, but it must really be a fast against self. Stop living for yourself and start living for him.

Isa 58:13-14

13 "If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot
From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,
And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable,
And shall honor it, desisting from your own ways,
From seeking your own pleasure,
And speaking your own word,
14 Then you will take delight in the LORD,
And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. "
NASB

This is what it means to be the light of the world. Jesus helped people in every place he went. He did not seek to save his own life. Instead, he died and in doing so, helped us all. He was a light to the world. He fed the 5000. He healed the sick. His ministry was not focused on getting his needs met. Instead, he sought to meet the needs of others. And God rained down on him power, justice, health, wisdom, and knowledge. In his soul and emotions, he was the healthiest person to ever live.

Isaiah 59 tells us even more why God does not answer our prayers and continues the thoughts of 58.

Isa 59:1-2

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short
That it cannot save;
Neither is His ear so dull
That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.
NASB

When we are self focused, God rarely will answer our prayers the way we want him to. Oh, because of his relationship with us, he will speak with us and be gracious. But if you want to see God move, then embrace the cross. Live for him to help others. As we help others, we are a light to the world.

Matt 5:16
16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
NASB

Now, go back and read Kahtar's testimony on buying a meal for the two men. Truly, that was a great example of being light to the world.

http://bibleforums.org/forum/showpost.php?p=1374089&postcount=18

The kingdom is about being salt and light. Filled with grace, we endeavor to help those that are in bondage spiritually, that are hungry, that are needy. Let us die to self and stop praying that God will move others for us and instead let him move us for others.

Grace and peace.

[Brother Mark]

Wow! That was a really long post. The next few won't be so long. For now, I will post a couple of short ones that are related. We may come back to light later for there is much more there. But for now, let's move on into learning about power. As we saw earlier from Paul, the kingdom of God does not consist of words, but in power.

Again, we have focused much on death to self. As I have said before, it will be a common theme. If we are going to walk in the kingdom and serve the king, then it is necessary that we serve the King and not ourselves. Let's look at Jesus and when he started his ministry. Look when Jesus received power.

When Jesus was baptized, he was filled with the Spirit. Immediately after that time, he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

Luke 4:1-3
4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, He became hungry.
NASB

He had fasted for 40 days. During those days he was tempted by the devil. He was with the wild beast during that time too according to Mark. He was being tempted by all kinds of demons. When he was hunger, then Satan himself began to tempt Jesus.

Luke 4:3-4
3 And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4 And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone.'"
NASB

What a subtle temptation. While it focuses on Jesus fleshly hunger, the lust of the flesh, there is more. If God put Israel in the desert to test them, and they did without water and food, and he put Jesus in the desert without water and food, do you think he will do the same to us? Yes he will! This is a way of God. If we resist this way, we will get bitter and may not enter into the promised land or the kingdom. This is part of entering into power. Anyway, while the temptation was aimed squarely at Jesus hungry flesh, it also was aimed at his self worth. "If you be the Son of God...". How many times on this board do we feel the urge to prove ourselves right? Is that from the Lord? Do we have an agenda to be right? Jesus never answered the challenge about being the Son of God. He KNEW who he was. As a result, he saw no need to prove it in the eyes of others. Nor did he give into the lust of the flesh and eat. He revealed his heart during famine and said "Man shall not live by bread alone but by ever word that proceeds from the mouth of God". What joy to finally come to the place where the word of God is our sustenance. What joy to not worry about earthly treasures. You know the verse that we have not yet looked at... "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you". When Jesus taught this truth, he had already experienced it in the wilderness. He had been without, but God still fed him.

Luke 4:5-8
5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 "Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours." 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'"
NASB

Then the enemy offers him wealth. But Jesus said "I am only going to worship God". The lust of the eye. The desire for material things. We too need to die to them. For is life not more than these?

Luke 4:8-12
9 And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written,

'He will give His angels charge concerning You to guard You,'

11 and,

'On their hands they will bear You up,
Lest You strike Your foot against a stone.' "

12 And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
NASB

Now here, the enemy uses two things against Jesus. First, he uses the word. It is important that we surround ourself with Godly men and women that can help us understand the word. Eventually, we will grow into full stature and be able to discern many things ourselves. Next, he went right at Jesus pride again. The boastful pride of life is what the enemy was aiming at. "Prove to others who you are. The word says God will protect you. Jump off the pinnacle. If you do, and survive, then everyone will know you are the Son of God." But that is not the way of God. It is the way of the enemy to prove ourselves. The answer to this temptation of course is that we are not to tempt God. Also, if we are totally dead to ourselves, then what does it matter if others recognize who we are? We do not have to do great things to impress them. For that is not what the kingdom is about. It is about God. It is ALL about Him.

Now for a verse I have hinted at through this post.

1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.
NASB

We see that Jesus resisted each of these temptations directly from Satan himself. When he had died in the wilderness to himself, after his heart was tested, after it was revealed that he was dead to himself but alive to God and to His will, then notice what God did.

Luke 4:13-15

13 And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit ; and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
NASB

He left in the POWER of the Spirit. Do you see it? He went into the time of testing full of the Spirit. But he left the time of testing full of the power of the Spirit.

God will not trust his power to those that will use it for their kingdom. The king only gives knighthood to those that are fully surrendered to Him and His ways.

Do you find yourself in a desert today? Are you hungry? Without food? Without water? Without shelter? Are you in a time of testing? Live for the King! Do not give in. Soon, you will leave such a place in power.

As a teaser for where we will eventually go, look at Jesus first message after leaving the wilderness in power.

Luke 4:16-19

16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are downtrodden,
19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."
NASB


Grace and peace.

[Brother Mark]

Just a little teaser to compliment the previous post. Jesus sent out 70 to go and preach. Look at what he told them.

Luke 10:1-16
10:1 Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. 2 And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 "Go your ways; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 "Carry no purse, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. 5 "And whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house.' 6 "And if a man of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you. 7 "And stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. 8 "And whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you; 9 and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them,' The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10 "But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11'Even the dust of your city which clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you; yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near.' 12 "I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. 13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 "But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you. 15 "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades! 16 "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."
NASB

He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God. He sent them as sheep to wolves. Such a person cannot be alive to themselves. They must be willing to be hungry, to be full, to be poor, to be rich. Whatever the Father wills, the prayer is "Not my will but thine".

And look at what happened when they returned.

Luke 10:17

17 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."
NASB

When we pass the test of the desert, then even the demons will be subject to us in His name. When we are willing to die to our goals, our dreams, our agendas, then we can have power.

Luke 10:17-20

17 And the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 "Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you. 20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."
NASB

Do you see that Jesus is not talking about handling snakes? But rather, he is speaking about having power over the enemy? How can one have power over the enemy if the enemy can tempt his flesh and that man is still alive to his flesh? Look at what Jesus says about the ruler of the world.

John 14:30
30 "I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me ;
NASB

There was nothing in Jesus for the enemy to take hold of. So it must be with us. When this is true of us, we will walk in the power of the Spirit. Now we can better understand the desire of Paul when he wrote the following...

Phil 3:8-11
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
NASB

The power of his resurrection comes when we have experienced the fellowship of his sufferings. When this occurs, then even the demons will be subject to us in His name.

Grace and peace.

[Kahtar]

Dealing with the enemy in the flesh. Reminds me of this:
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of [one] Sceva, a Jew, [and] chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. Acts 19:13-16
One cannot have any effect over the demonic realm if they are not given the authority, through salvation, and even if they HAVE that authority, if they try it in the flesh, well, Acts speaks for itself.
Here's a little real-life story from the Navajo Reservation.
Some background information-
On the rez, every summer there are dozens of revivals going on. This is not a happy situation from the perspective of the medicine men, or the 'skinwalkers' (Navajo witches).
Medicine men are the equivelant of pastors. They are in the business of tending to the spiritual needs of the people. They do healing ceremonies, their primary function. But that healing takes on many different forms, and remedies.
They do have a genuine concern, most of them, for their people. The people look up to them, and the MM weild a great deal of influence on the Nation.
Skinwalkers, on the other hand, are nothing but malicious. They go about collecting various articles of personal property or body, such as hair, discarded fingernails, that kind of thing, and they use those things
to cast spells on those they desire to cause harm. They take bones from dead animals, or better yet man, and grind them into powder. It is called corpse powder. They use that in casting spells also, but more often
sprinkle it through the smoke holes of the hogaans, or blow some at you as you walk by, etc.
It is to cause sickness and death.
They will also put 'spells' on objects, such as rattles or other things, and leave them out where people will find them, causing them sickness or death if they pick them up and keep them. This is used against
white men alot, because white man is always wanting to collect things from Indians to display in their homes.
Of course the skinwalkers do not like the revivals and churches, because it is white man's religion, they say (we know the real reason) and thus will do all in their power to prevent it or disrupt it.
The Medicine Men view it as an intrusion into their culture, which it is, and believe that it is harmful to the nation because it takes away the traditions and lifestyle of the Navajo. And they are correct.
Okay, that provides a little base knowledge of the situation. Add to that the drugs, alcohol, abuse, neglect, the hopeless spirit, the 'defeated peoples' syndrome, and the lack of available work. And add to that the
fact that the government is willing to give them handouts, and have been for a century, so that today's Navajo culture is one of lethargy, laziness, expecting all white people to give them things, etc. Frankly, it's a
terrible mess out there, with such overwhelming problems that it seems hopeless to try to fix it, and those who try soon loose interest and will.
And because of that, the Navajo has come to expect the white man to come, help a little while, then leave. They have no trust in white man, and wait to see what he wants, and hope that he leaves soon.
Okay, now the story.
My wife and I took a church youth group out on the rez two summers ago. They were from Colorado Springs, all city kids with no experience.
Their itinerary was to go 'way out' on the rez, camp out, do a work project, and do nightly barbeques inviting the locals, and doing skits and mimes as their ministry.
So we took them to our farthest out church, dead center of the reservation, and spiritually 'behind enemy lines'. Heh.
It all went fairly well for them. They were able to do all that they planned. Except that they slept inside the church building. (Rattlesnakes, scorpions, etc. tend to have that effect).
And they were completely oblivious to anything going on in the spirit realm.
My wife and I were not.
Every night of the 3 nights we were out there (we camped in our van outside) we were awakened in the middle of the night, 2 or 3 times in the night, in heavy spiritual warfare. Did you know your spirit does not sleep?
And your spirit can do war while you sleep?
But this was so intense that it woke us both up.
In the spirit, we could tell the direction the attack was coming from, and probably could have walked right up to the ones causing it. To the south of the church is a small hill. We knew there was someone on that hill,
or just over it, directing this attack.
Each time, we came against the demonic forces, and they would leave. Then come back again later. This would happen two or three times. Then it would stop.
Finally, they finished their project, we packed up, and left. The team was happy, got blessed, and blessed the people.
For them, it was a great time in the Lord. My wife and I were utterly exhausted.
A year later, there was a revival taking place at the church in Teec Nos Pos, where we teach.
During one of the services, when testimony time came, a man got up to give his testimony.
You could hear a pin drop. Everyone in the place new this man to be a medicine man, and were expecting some tirade from him, or who knows what.
But, he told his story. He was now a Christian. He gave up the medicine way. Burnt all his stuff.
In his story, he told the people that he and several other medicine men would join together each summer, to come against all these revivals, and the churches.
They would fine a place nearby their target, just over a hill out of sight, or in a ravine. They would begin their chants, calling up their 'spirit helpers', and when they came, the MM would ask them to go to the targeted
church or revival, and cause as much chaos as possible, or even set fire to the building if they could.
He said that several times they were successful in bringing a church or revival down, causing contentions to divide them, causing equipment problems, you name it.
But, the last time they got together to do this, they had picked out a church, got set up, and called their spirit helpers. They were just over a hill out of sight. They sent the helpers over the hill to the church.
After a little while the helpers returned, saying they could do nothing. Confused by that, the MM sent them back again. Again they returned, not able to do anything.
This kept happening, and finally the helpers refused to go back, saying they were not able to overcome the spirit of that place.
Curious now, the MM, still in their trance state, climbed the hill to look at the church, to see if they could find out what was going on. He said when they saw the church, it was completely surrounded by very tall, shiny
white beings, each with a great sword. He said they could tell even from there that the power of these beings was far greater than anything they had previously witnessed. So great it caused their helpers to turn and
run away.
So this MM decided that he was on the wrong side. He gave up the medicine, burnt his stuff, and went to a revival and got saved.
I do not know if what we experienced out there was him and his group, but if it was not, then there are more out there doing the same things. It was uncanny hearing the story, because it was so familiar!

[kingsdaughter]

Oh how I wish you all could hear my voice, so that we can praise the Lord together. He led me to this thread and I believe that with all of my heart. There is so much here that I too am printing it out. When I read the OP, my eyes were wide open and I wanted to read more. I came to Kahtar's post on the tabernacle and I just broke down. I had to stop and all I could do was cry and look up at the ceiling and lift my hands to the Lord. I think I may have said Hallelujah, but other than that I could not speak. I cried and laughed and smiled. This was last night when I started reading this thread. I haven't made it to the second page because there is so much in the first page, that I have to take in, and the Lord is leading me through it all. Thank you so much my brothers. There is so much more beauty to see in Him, so much more to the being a believer than just salvation, there are deeper levels to knowing Him that I am so amazed! Thank you Lord Jesus. I am so excited to walk this walk with Him and with all of you:hug: Be back later to read the second page in this study.

[kingsdaughter]

Hello brothers and sisters! I just wanted to share a little bit about my "desert experience". Three years ago during my quiet time with the Lord I said," okay Lord, I'm ready to die to myself and whatever it is You want to do with me, I am willing." Well, be careful what you ask of the Lord:lol:LOL. Many times I wanted the Lord to just take me home and I remember nights waking up at 2 or 3am and crying out to Lord asking when is it going to end? and why is this happening. His answer to me was always the same... Trust me and continue to obey Me! As long as I was willing to obey and trust Him, then He did all the work through me(Holy Spirit).Not only that but He filled me with His peace, that even though the storm was RAGING, I was steady. Amen! Now, as I look back I see that everything that I had put my trust in such as people, money and other things...all of it was being taken away or failing me and all I could do was trust Him! He also showed me what was in my heart and I had to deal with all of those(pride,unforgiveness,jealousy,etc.) I felt like I was dying...oh yes, it is much easier to give up and refuse to let the Lord work in You, but I was not going to stay where I was, nor was I going back to the way I used to live. So I surrendered to Him and became totally and completely dependent upon Him for everything. But something was happening during those times, my faith in Him was growing and He was showing me more of who He is.:cry: It is amazing to know Him. To know that we have access to Almighty God and His kingdom. Many of us sometimes take that for granted. Well, I have much more to share about walking with Him in His kingdom, but have to get going.

[Revolvr]

I feel I need to say something here. I have been a true Christian only about 6 months. Before that for many years I was a lukewarm backslidden Christian. Agnostic before that.

Some six months ago I committed myself to let the Lord lead my way. I knew I needed to overcome my sins, and I needed a powerful friend to show me the way. I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in my journey. Early on He tells me I am being prepared for some important work sometime in the future. I don’t know what it is. And I know I'm not yet ready.

For a while I have felt stuck. I have grown much and learned much but I know there is so much more. Your thread has given me some insights into what may lie ahead. I am thinking the long process of sanctification has in it various plateaus.

I was searching for this. Thankfully, Kingsdaughter was also searching. Her(?) discovery bumped the thread for me to find just as I was looking. Subtle how the Lord works sometimes.

I don’t really have a question or comment yet; there is much here to digest.

Kahtar, I love your stories from the Southwest (I read your testimony too). I live in Phoenix, and I’ve always been drawn to the desert. I often sense His presence out there.

[kingsdaughter]

I feel I need to say something here. I have been a true Christian only about 6 months. Before that for many years I was a lukewarm backslidden Christian. Agnostic before that.

Some six months ago I committed myself to let the Lord lead my way. I knew I needed to overcome my sins, and I needed a powerful friend to show me the way. I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in my journey. Early on He tells me I am being prepared for some important work sometime in the future. I don’t know what it is. And I know I'm not yet ready.

For a while I have felt stuck. I have grown much and learned much but I know there is so much more. Your thread has given me some insights into what may lie ahead. I am thinking the long process of sanctification has in it various plateaus.

I was searching for this. Thankfully, Kingsdaughter was also searching. Her(?) discovery bumped the thread for me to find just as I was looking. Subtle how the Lord works sometimes.

I don’t really have a question or comment yet; there is much here to digest.

Kahtar, I love your stories from the Southwest (I read your testimony too). I live in Phoenix, and I’ve always been drawn to the desert. I often sense His presence out there.

Hi Rev, yes I'm a sister:D. I am glad that you came back to the Lord. You are right in saying that the "sanctification process" has in it various plateaus. Now, just within the past 3 months the Lord has blessed me in so many ways and it is so much more than I thought it would be. I was starting to enjoy the blessings so much that I became focused on that, which is why the Lord reminded me to stay focused on what my purpose is for living and that is to SERVE HIM!
Deuteronomy 6:12

then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Deuteronomy 8:11


“Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,

Brother Mark said in one of his posts that it is all about HIM. And that is so true. I got saved many years ago, but it wasn't until I was ready to die to myself, take up my cross and follow Him. Not just one or two weeks, but everyday, no matter what. Kahtar says that we are all in the same boat and that is true. If we do what He commands us to do, then He will give us the blessings that He says He will give. That being said, we cannot force our way into the kingdom. We can't live for ourselves and live for Him at the same time. If we want the blessings that He promises than we have to die to ourselves and surrender totally and completely to Him.

I have not "arrived" and there is so much more that the Lord wants me to do and there is much more that He wants to teach me. But everyday I have to make a choice that I am going to die to myself and surrender to the Holy Spirit and whatever it is the Lord wants to do in me and through me. This is very exciting and hope you will share more of your journey with the Lord.

[Revolvr]

Kahtar,

Your story of the protective angels sounded very familiar. I had read such a story from the missionary work of John G. Paton. He was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. If your are not familiar with him, I think you will find his stories inspirational. His biography is available on Amazon, and you can search the web for lots of info.

The story I read was this:

The Reverend John G. Paton, a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands, tells a thrilling story involving the protective care of angels. Hostile natives surrounded his mission headquarters one night, intent on burning the Patons out and killing them. John Paton and his wife prayed all during that terrorfilled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see the attackers unaccountably leave. They thanked God for delivering them.


A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Jesus Christ, and Mr. Paton, remembering what had happened, asked the chief what had kept him and his men from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men you had with you there?" The missionary answered, "There were no men there; just my wife and I." The chief argued that they had seen many men standing guard-hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands. They seemed to circle the mission station so that the natives were afraid to attack. Only then did Mr. Paton realize that God had sent his angels to protect them. The chief agreed that there was no other explanation. Could it be that God had sent a legion of angels to protect His servants, whose lives were being endangered?"Sound familiar?

[Kahtar]

That does sound familiar, Revolvr.:)
Sorry I haven't responded in here for a while. I inadvertantly unsubscribed from the thread, so I wasn't aware it was still in discussion.
It's always a great pleasure to meet others on a similar journey, and to share experiences.
Those 'plateaus' is a good way to express that, and you are correct.
In my journey at least, He allows me to go through some dark and difficult things, then brings me into the 'light' of understanding and spiritual growth, and then He just lets me 'simmer' there for a while. I'm currently 'simmering' now, in fact.
In the creation story, we learn that each day brought a new act of creation. But we also learn that each day begins in darkness, and then the light of dawn comes, and the new work is visible, we can see what He has done and is doing.

[Brother Mark]

In the creation story, we learn that each day brought a new act of creation. But we also learn that each day begins in darkness, and then the light of dawn comes, and the new work is visible, we can see what He has done and is doing.

I always wondered why it was "evening and morning". Now I know. We all start in darkness. Thanks for pointing that out.

[MMC]

Many of us recoil at the thought of death to self. I know I did. When God first started talking to me about it, I choked. Oh, death to sin was something I gladly embraced. Stop lying to protect myself. Stop lusting for sexual gratification. I could go on and on. On some level that is death to self. But the inwrought cross of the kingdom is much, much deeper. This cross is when we learn to say in all circumstances "it is not about me". What blessed peace come when we fully embrace this concept.

Oh....my.....goodness. Mark, do you ever have those moments where someone else is experiencing something that speaks exactly to "where you are" in that moment? My eyes were opened to the reality that "its not about me" only recently in my life - (I wonder that this may have been when I finally - and honestly - made Christ my Lord, and not just my Savior). Surrender is a hard thing, but a sweet thing as well. What peace in it!

When I saw this thread, my heart leaped out of my chest. I've been literally consumed with "kingdom" thoughts of late - even attended a Christian conference last weekend on "A Kingdom Perspective". My "walk" is becoming less about "how is God making me feel" and more about "how can I further His Kingdom." It has changed even how I think of God - he is not just my Comforter, He is the King and Ruler of the Universe. I am His servant, and am to act for His good purposes and pleasure.

Please, please continue....you have my rapt attention.

[ravi4u2]

Somehow, people have the idea that death is a bad thing...But it really is not...Our Savior is a lamb slain before the foundations of the world... Death actually existed in Christ from time past...Life and Death are like Beginning and the End...Alpha and Omega...Eternity...And Christ Jesus is that eternity!

[ImmenseDisciple]

That does sound familiar, Revolvr.:)
Sorry I haven't responded in here for a while. I inadvertantly unsubscribed from the thread, so I wasn't aware it was still in discussion.Glad you did - your replying led me to see the thread and read through it, there's a few things I really needed to know right now. A huge thanks to yourself and Brother Mark for being such potent vessels of glory, outpouring the truth of the kingdom for all to see, truly inspired posts.

[Brother Mark]

Somehow, people have the idea that death is a bad thing...But it really is not...Our Savior is a lamb slain before the foundations of the world... Death actually existed in Christ from time past...Life and Death are like Beginning and the End...Alpha and Omega...Eternity...And Christ Jesus is that eternity!

Depends on the kind of death. Though even in the garden of Eden death existed! God made seeds and unless the grain of wheat die, it shall remain fruitless. Death was his plan for us all along, though not the bad kind, the good kind! Death to self was to be learned by Adam but instead, he chose to save his life, and therefore lost it.

Had Adam instead ate of the Tree of Life, and passed the initial test and died to self, I believe he would have had another test besides the tree of knowledge to pass. With each test, a deeper work of the cross and death to self would have been worked in him. Sadly, he did not follow this plan. But the second Adam did!

Death to self can be painful, but the fruit is very, very sweet. As you mentioned, Jesus had the concept of death, the cross, in him before the world ever came into existence.

[Brother Mark]

Oh....my.....goodness. Mark, do you ever have those moments where someone else is experiencing something that speaks exactly to "where you are" in that moment? My eyes were opened to the reality that "its not about me" only recently in my life - (I wonder that this may have been when I finally - and honestly - made Christ my Lord, and not just my Savior). Surrender is a hard thing, but a sweet thing as well. What peace in it!

Amen! And yes, I have had that experience and like you, it blew me away! Thank you so much for sharing that.

When I saw this thread, my heart leaped out of my chest. I've been literally consumed with "kingdom" thoughts of late - even attended a Christian conference last weekend on "A Kingdom Perspective". My "walk" is becoming less about "how is God making me feel" and more about "how can I further His Kingdom." It has changed even how I think of God - he is not just my Comforter, He is the King and Ruler of the Universe. I am His servant, and am to act for His good purposes and pleasure.

Please, please continue....you have my rapt attention.

The kingdom is indeed a gripping thing. It gripped our Lord Jesus Christ and utterly consumed Him while he was here. We have only begun to scratch the surface in this thread. Perhaps we will continue it at some point. I am convinced at this time, that the entire word should be seen through his Kingdom. While before I had a string of doctrines that were interconnected. I was unable to see how they were really all about the kingdom itself. It is an exciting time indeed!

[jiggyfly]

There is a very good book on the kingdom of God that I just finished reading if anyone is interested in it just PM me for the title.

[Revolvr]

Had Adam instead ate of the Tree of Life, and passed the initial test and died to self, I believe he would have had another test besides the tree of knowledge to pass. With each test, a deeper work of the cross and death to self would have been worked in him. Sadly, he did not follow this plan. But the second Adam did!

Interesting that there was no rule against eating from the Tree of Life until after the fall. I believe God intentionally left the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil unguarded intending Man to eat from it, learning right from wrong, but still being unable to choose right from wrong.

Immediately after the Fall, the Tree of Life was heavily guarded. We cannot eat from that tree until we learn to overcome our inability to choose rightly. We learn to choose right over wrong when we learn to follow Jesus. We must make our own decision through faith alone to accept Jesus as our savior. To die saved through faith is to eat from the Tree of Life - Jesus Himself.

Being saved by faith is harder than being saved through works, and intentionally so. God wants us to make a decision to be righteous on our own. Having miracles and other proofs of Jesus may cause more to go to Him, but not for the right reasons. He does not want us out of fear. He wants us for love. Perhaps some stories in the Bible are intentionally difficult to believe literally, though all have important truths. God wants people to be able to see beyond those difficulties and still have faith. Having faith indicates we are mature enough to take the next step.

[Befaithful]

:hug:Excellent thread thank you all for conributing and seeking...

“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
Luke 16:16


In the old testament someone has leprosy and you laid hands on them you could catch it.

Now if someone has leprosy and you lay hands... they recover.

The Kingdom of God is at hand. Christ in you the hope of glory.
(Do you ever wonder if the Lord is in heaven saying dont you love it when a plan comes together):)

[Welder4Christ]

Nice thread, Mark!!!

I'm loving all of the posts that I'm reading, but I admit, I'm really not sure what the point of this thread is. Is it to define what the Kingdom of God is, or is it to share what it means to us, or is it to share our experiences in the Kingdom of God?

Either way, the Kingdom of God will be wonderful...and I completely agree with Mark that it is not about US, but completely about HIM. When the Lord finally overthrows Satan, and establishes His Kingdom, it will be so glorious....not only because it will be one of peace and everlasting joy, but because it will glorify HIM. The Lord is glorious, and anything that glorifies Him is bound to be the same. The thing I am most excited about is to see just how the Lord will be glorified in the Kingdom.

The Bible talks about the Kingdom of God being "established in our hearts." What this indicates to me is that, this amazing transformation that Christ has already done in us...all of the wonderful blessings he bestows on us...the joy, peace, and spiritual prosperity He has brought into our lives...this is merely a foretaste of the amazing majesty of the Kingdom He will be establishing on earth.

One thing that really takes my breath away, and that I can scarce comprehend, is the fact that it will be a Kingdom of continual learning from a God who is infinite in wisdom and knowledge. The apostle Paul said:

1 Cor. 13:12 But now we see through a mirror dimly, but then, face-to-face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know, just as I am known.

What we know now...everything that God has taught us thus far, and is in the process of revealing to us...the wellspring of spiritual knowledge that He has already graced us with as His children...that which we know we don't understand, and that which we have absolutely no awareness of...we will be learning these truths straight from God. He will teach us everything that we wanted to know, and that which we didn't even know we wanted to know. An eternity of discovery is what is in store for us!! I find this to be truly amazing.

Something that the Lord showed me might clarify this a bit better. I was pondering heaven a while back, and the Lord showed me something. I imagined this enormous place of indescribable beauty, and saw myself in a remote corner...a tiny little corner of heaven, but even in that tiny little area was an amazing amount of "stuff" going on...so much to see, so many different layers...and this was just one little remote area, and every area of heaven is different...so much variety. THAT is what is in store for us when we go to be with the Lord, and when He establishes His Kingdom.

Not only that, but we get the priviledge of ruling and reigning over all of His magnificence with Him. He came to earth, suffered, and endured the cross, so that we may share in His eternal Kingdom, and everything that He has to offer.

As far as my own personal journey "through the desert"....I find that, at least for me, I haven't quite made it through the desert yet, and I don't see myself in the "Promised Land" anytime soon. Someone above mentioned trusting Him, and daily dying to yourself, and I think that is absolutely imperative; in fact, that's the only thing that keeps me going most of the time...absolute and complete faith in Him. The knowledge that He loves me, and the wonderful promises that he has assured me of, are the only things I have in this life, really...but that is plenty for me!!!

The thing that thrills me the most is knowing just who will be reigning over this Kingdom. I think the closer the Lord draws us to Himself, the better glimpse of His Kingdom we get. I really think that's what Christ meant when He talked about His Kingdom being "established in our hearts." I really think it's all about living for the Kingdom here on earth, so as to prepare us for the future Kingdom, in which we will reign with Him. I have no idea what my journey to the Kingdom will entail.

I know that it won't be easy...at least not for me. Sometimes it just seems like life is one huge desert, and I truly don't know when I'm going to enter the "frutiful land." That's really not up to me, anyhow...that's God's call....but at least I can be sure that in the midst of the desert will flow streams of joy, peace, and contentment. I think it's all about being content on the journey.

[Brother Mark]

Nice thread, Mark!!!

I'm loving all of the posts that I'm reading, but I admit, I'm really not sure what the point of this thread is. Is it to define what the Kingdom of God is, or is it to share what it means to us, or is it to share our experiences in the Kingdom of God?

I would say it's about all of the above. Mostly, it's about how to enter and enjoy walking in the kingdom of God right now, this very moment. Defining God's kingdom is very difficult as Jesus never defined it completely. Neither did Paul. But they both preached on it.

[Welder4Christ]

I would say it's about all of the above. Mostly, it's about how to enter and enjoy walking in the kingdom of God right now, this very moment. Defining God's kingdom is very difficult as Jesus never defined it completely. Neither did Paul. But they both preached on it.

Oh, okay...Thanks!!

So, then, what is your opinion re: the Kingdom of God being established on our hearts, and the supposition that the closer we draw to Him, the more of His Kingdom He reveals?

Do you believe it's possible to live a life completely worthy of the Kingdom when we're here on earth, or does that come later?

[thethirdtuttle]

Thank you so much for being obedient to God by starting this thread! My heart leaped in my chest, as well, when I began reading through the posts in this thread. You are absolutely right that it's all about Him, and not about us. I know that's hard for people to hear, especially here in the States, where the predominant culture is all about self and materialism, but it's a message that the church and the world desperately needs to hear. Thank you again, and I look forward to any other insights/revelations the Lord gives you concerning living in the Kingdom here and now! God bless!

Yours in Him,

Benjamin

[Brother Mark]

Oh, okay...Thanks!!

So, then, what is your opinion re: the Kingdom of God being established on our hearts, and the supposition that the closer we draw to Him, the more of His Kingdom He reveals?

Do you believe it's possible to live a life completely worthy of the Kingdom when we're here on earth, or does that come later?

I think the kingdom is not only in our hearts but around us as well. We enter into the kingdom of God when we get saved. But as we continue to walk with Him, we learn to walk more and more in His kingdom. So his kingdom has already come and is still coming.

[thethirdtuttle]

I think the kingdom is not only in our hearts but around us as well. We enter into the kingdom of God when we get saved. But as we continue to walk with Him, we learn to walk more and more in His kingdom. So his kingdom has already come and is still coming.

Brother Mark:

Amen, brother! I totally agree. Also, we have to remember that there is an "already/not yet" aspect to the Kingdom. In other words, while, in one respect at least, at the very instant of Jesus' conception in the virgin Mary's womb, the Kingdom became present, the fullness of the Kingdom won't be manifested until Jesus returns bodily to the earth and sets up the new heavens and the new earth. I learned that in Christian Theology class at Cornerstone University, which was taught for a long time by Dr. Ronald Mayers, who just recently retired, by the way. Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that while we can experience/walk in/live in the Kingdom now, we won't fully experience it until Jesus returns. Not that that won't stop me from trying to experience it as much as I can this side of glory, believe you me! I'm ready to do whatever it takes to walk in a deeper, more profound relationship with the Lord. Thanks again for this thread!

Yours in Christ,

Benjamin:pp

[Brother Mark]

Amen, brother! I totally agree. Also, we have to remember that there is an "already/not yet" aspect to the Kingdom. In other words, while, in one respect at least, at the very instant of Jesus' conception in the virgin Mary's womb, the Kingdom became present, the fullness of the Kingdom won't be manifested until Jesus returns bodily to the earth and sets up the new heavens and the new earth. I learned that in Christian Theology class at Cornerstone University, which was taught for a long time by Dr. Ronald Mayers, who just recently retired, by the way. Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that while we can experience/walk in/live in the Kingdom now, we won't fully experience it until Jesus returns. Not that that won't stop me from trying to experience it as much as I can this side of glory, believe you me! I'm ready to do whatever it takes to walk in a deeper, more profound relationship with the Lord. Thanks again for this thread!

Right! Jesus prayed "Thy kingdom come" in such a tense that it was like "Thy kingdom come right now". There is a past coming of the kingdom when Jesus came the first time, a present coming of the kingdom in our own lives, and a future coming when he fully establishes his Kingdom on the earth.

I am convinced that I missed it for so many years. For years, I wanted a relationship with Christ and that was awesome! He gave me that. Yet, in my life something was missing. I still had no purpose. Others tried to tell me "let God be your purpose". Then I began to see that Jesus only did what the Father told him to do, but he was CONSUMED with the kingdom. He had both relationship and purpose. Too often we can be tied up in one or the other. It is both we need. All of mankind's needs can be met through the King and his kingdom.