Kingdom Consciousness: Recent Episodes
Gertrude Keasley
All men live in a natural kingdom of this world: a city or village which is part of a nation that is part of a kingdom. In addition to the natural kingdoms of this world, there are two spiritual kingdoms which exist. Every person alive is a resident of one of these kingdoms: the Kingdom of Satan or the Kingdom of God. We are focusing on the Kingdom of God. This podcast provides spiritual keys for gaining access to the Kingdom of God. The past, present and future of this Kingdom are examined, parables explained, and patterns and principles of living stressed.
Paul tells believers that the time for sleeping is over. Now is the moment of opportunity and decision. It is high time to “awake out of sleep,” which literally means “to get up out of bed” in the original language. In a similar admonition to the Thessalonians, Paul says, “For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others..."
One of the biggest battlefields satan is prowling around on is the battlefield of our mind. All of our thoughts, past traumas, and experiences are fair game for the enemy. And He doesn’t fight fair. He will use family members, friends, and coworkers against you if he has to. This is why it’s important to God that we think like him. Because when we do, we can start to win our daily battles. And as we win our spiritual battles, we ultimately bring glory to God and His kingdom.
Having a Kingdom mindset means it’s not about how big our church is or how many people we influence. It’s not about getting people to follow us, it’s about us following God. It’s about helping them see that they need to obey Him!
Sometimes it seems like evil is winning. God let’s things play out much longer than most of us are comfortable allowing. But I believe God wants us to see who do we really serve? It’s time for the church to rise up and do what the church is to do, make disciples. Discipleship, the way Jesus meant for us to do it, is often different from the way we have tried to do it. Discipleship is not primarily about information, but obedience.
“But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,and all these things will be added to you." We have read that scripture over and over, however, the Kingdom distinction makes all the difference. Of course, when we seek the Kingdom, we are seeking God, but it is more specific than that– we are seeking His will on the earth. It is not about us as individuals—it is about the whole world. A Kingdom mindset is a way of seeing the world through the eyes of God and living your life in accordance with His will. It is about putting God first and seeking His glory in all that you say and do.
Imagine the power to transform atmospheres and environments from a state of chaos to a divine oasis of peace and harmony wherever you go. Well, this isthe power of God or kingdom consciousness that has been given to all those who believe in him, whether they are aware of this divine gift or not.
God’s kingdom cannot be forced upon anyone, because it is empowered and energized by love. It is futile to try to force or legislate Christian morality if hearts and minds are not open to this morality. You cannot force love - it comes in its own time, after it has been invited. The best thing we can do is grow these spiritual qualities (faith, hope, and love)like seeds through the light and warmth of spiritual practice and personal worship. As we do so, we will see the harvest.
Your focus is often determined by your need. Focus in ourlives makes just as much difference as well. If we are busy focusing on external frivolities or personal ambitions rather than on the kingdom of God itself, we will wind up missing not only God’s kingdom but all of the other things we had hoped to attain in life too. Therefore, our focus must always be on His kingdom.
Man was created to have fellowship with God - to stay in communication with Him – to worship Him – to obey Him, etc. So, how can we do those things if we lose our focus? Our attention span has almost dwindled down to nothing. Our minds are constantly jumping from one thing to another. There is a lack of mental acuity.
It's a challenge in the world that we live in today because there's so much coming at us: phones ringing and dings for email and dings for text messages, and just so much stuff coming at us, that it's getting more and more challenging to keep our minds on anything for any length of time.
We need to really begin to pray and ask God to give us the ability to focus. We're missing things that God's doing, we're missing things that God wants us to do because we just don't focus on what we should be focusing on.
I believe one of the things that brings us into a closer, more intimate relationship with God, is if we pay attention to what he's doing in our lives and make a bigger deal out of it than what we are doing now.
The Bible calls for spiritual awakening especially forbelievers that are slumbering or already asleep in spiritual matters. Why should and how can such believers wake up? One clear reason for spiritual awakening is thenearness of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Believers should also note that we are children of light and of ‘theday’ and not of ‘the night’ nor of darkness. To enjoy thetrue light in Christ, those that are sleeping spiritually must wake up.
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and ofChrist Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”
Whether you're a teacher, a mechanic, a parent, or a student, your life is a platform for God's Kingdom work. When you show kindness, offer help, share the gospel, or simply live with integrity and love, you are manifesting the power of God in your actions.
Think about your daily interactions and responsibilities. Every moment is an opportunity to demonstrate the values of the Kingdom. It could be as simple as offering a word of encouragement, standing up for what is right, or taking the time to listen to someone's struggles. These acts might seem small in the moment, but they hold eternal significance in God's eyes.
Much of our understanding of the word church is correct, but does it relate to the Greek word Jesus used in Matthew 16:18? Christ used the word “Ekklesia” in the Greek. It means a gathering of citizens from their homes to a public place, an assembly of people for the purpose of deliberating, called-out ones, the sense of governance or assembly of Israelites. So, attending church does not mean that we are Kingdom-minded.
There has been a hollow awareness of something missing in the body of Christ. This missing link is at the very core of our walk with God. We have dealt extensively on the good news of salvation, healing, deliverance, prosperity, and all those beautiful dimensions of the Spirit, but have neglected to take a closer look at what Jesus said is “at hand.” It is the gospel of the Kingdom of God. We should have a Kingdom Mandate to be a visible demonstration of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, where Kingdom truths, values, principles, priorities, and ethics are not only taught, but embraced, believed, and initiated in life every day.
We often discover that we can be asleep with our eyes wideopen. There is a sleep that comes to the soul without many of us ever even realizing it took place. You can go to sleep on life. In fact, there are thousand and one different ways to medicate yourself so that you go to sleep on the potential of life – you become numb to the issues of life. Here were some people in the Bible that went to sleep at the most inopportune time and because they went to sleep, they missed out. • Jacob—Gen. 28:12; • Samson—We all know the story of Sampson who losthis strength while he was sleeping;•Jonah—Who God told to go to Ninevah but instead he went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship going “down” to Tarshish. And there are others. Don’t waste those opportunities when the Lord is trying to hike you forward to something greater than you can even believe could be true! .
Now, the mention of the words revival or awakening will make some Christians light with excitement while others will roll their eyes with suspicion. I have a desire for an awakening to come because there is an increase in God-consciousness. I seek a revival not for the glitz that often makes such efforts feel phony, but for the individual and church-wide renewal we all need.
We are definitely in need for a spiritual awakening. When that happens, lives are changed, the word spreads, no one is exempt, we hear its loud and clear trumpet blast, we recognize its urgency, we recognize its inclusivity, we see its transformative power and we see its enduring nature. So lets pray for a spiritual awakening in 2024.
For us as believers, God’s grace has brought eternity into time. Our citizenship is in heaven. God has decisively reclaimed us and saved us for Himself. Yet there is a final phase of this reclamation that is still to come. Scripture says that we are eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body (Rom 8:23b).
The presence of the Kingdom now in history (in the ‘Lamb-Lord’ program) is a mystery. This mystery is a divine purpose whichhas been hidden for long ages but finally has been revealed. The mystery of the Kingdom is this: before its dramatic consummation, before the destruction of Satan, before theage to come, the Kingdom of God has entered this age in spiritual power, invading the realm of darkness in order to bring men in advance the blessings of forgiveness (life); and righteousness which belong to the age to come. That is the great mystery, therighteousness of the Kingdom in its present form is an inner, absolute, imputed righteousness.
The Kingdom of God was the heart of Jesus’ teaching. Christ’s announcement of the Kingdom of God marked the end of the oldera of the Law and the Prophets. Jesus stated that the ‘Good News’ of the Kingdom of God was being preached starting with John the Baptist. The term, “Kingdom of God,” in its generalsense in both O.T. and N.T. means God’s reign—His divine kingly authority, especially over those who belong to Him. The glorious message of the Kingdom is that God will establish His kingdom on earth through His Son, Jesus Christ.
God’s divine reign is given by the Father to the Son. Christ is appointed by God to take back the title deed to the earth and to reclaim God’s authority in every sphere by overthrowing and judging all hostile authority. God is “the great King over all the earth”
What is particularly revolutionary about the message of the Kingdom of God is that the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, invisible God of the universe will manifest Himself as King on earth.
Would you rather have, when the enemy might attack, someone on guard-duty who is simply waiting for the enemy to show up or someone on guard-duty who is watching to see if the enemy has shown up? The difference between “WAITING” and “WATCHING” here might mean the difference between life and death! The Bible teaches us that we are to be wide awake watching for the return of Jesus, not just waiting for it. Those whowatch for it will keep themselves alert and self-controlled; those simply waiting may slip into sloppy business with other things and let their priorities slip!
In order to stay focused, one must learn to concentrate on the information they are to learn. That takes discipline and perseverance. That is what the Lord Jesus had in every way. Hewas constant in His purpose and His assignment, given to Him by His Father. We must learn to be that focused.
The adversary is deceitful. He is constantly on the prowl.He is always hunting, and you are the prey he is stalking. In order to deceive you he uses attractive lies; things that look good but aren’t good. He uses undisciplined passions; things that feel good but aren’t good. When the enemy attacks—and he will—you must be strong. This is where the battle is fought. This is the moment of truth, and you must stand firm and resist. Prayer is at the heart of standing firm against the enemy. Prayer that is relentlessly persistent, clear-minded, Kingdom focused, and Spirit-filled.
When God says we should be “redeeming the time,” He wants us to live in constant awareness of that ticking clock and make the most of the time we have. In fact, the NIV’s translation of Ephesians 5:16 uses the phrase making the most of every opportunity instead of redeeming the time. Rather than waste our days on frivolous pursuits that leave no lasting imprint, Scripture instructs us to be diligent about doing good
When God says we should be “redeeming the time,” He wants us to live in constant awareness of that ticking clock and make the most of the time we have. What does it mean to redeem? It's not a wordthat we necessarily know or understand fully. It’s what Christ did for us. He redeemed us from Satan's chains, from Satan's dark kingdom, by His blood. We've been redeemed. And we are being instructed to redeem the time.
When we consider the call to awakening, we are drawn to theimage of a person rousing from sleep. Sleep, in this context, is not a physical state but a spiritual one. It is a state of spiritual lethargy, of indifference and apathy towards the things of God. The call to awakening, then, is a call to shake off this spiritual slumber and rise to a state of alertness and readiness for God's kingdom.
A kingdom mind is ultimately responsible for how you live out your life as a kingdom citizen. As you think, so you are. One of the most important things that you can do as a follower of Jesus Christ is to think on the things that are true. Far too often, Satan tries to place subtle lies within our thoughts. They aren’t enough to attract our attention, but they are enough to get our line of thinking off of the truth. In order to remain focused on the truth, it is essential to commit the Word of God to memory.
This is a very exciting time for our church. However, when God is working, he’s not the only one working. When God is on the move there is an enemy stalking in the distance. For every move of God in the world, there is a counter move. Therefore, anyone who wants to see a work of God in their life, in their family, in their church, in their nation must be ready for battle. I am sounding the alarm. I’m calling Believers to a condition of heightened alertness or preparedness, especially to guard against imminent danger. So, let’s look at these truths: you are being watched, you need to be ready and you can resist.
This is a very exciting time for our church. God is doing extraordinary things in the lives of His people. However, when God is working, he’s not the only one working. When God is on the move there is an enemy stalking in the distance. For every move of God in the world, there is a counter move. Therefore, anyone who wants to see a work of God in their life, in their family, in their church, in their nation must be ready for battle. I am sounding an alarm to all Believers. I’m calling Believers to a condition of heightened alertness or preparedness, especially to guard against imminent danger. So, we will look at these truths: you are being watched, you need to be ready and you can resist.
There are many Christians WAITING for the return of Jesus Christ -- but not that many who are WATCHING for the return of Christ! The Bible doesn’t teach us to wait for His return only; we are to WATCH for His return! What then is the difference betweenWAITING and WATCHING? We will explore those differences and encourage you, as Kingdom Citizens, to watch and not just wait for the return of Christ. Be alert!
Spiritual growth is essential to the life of a Christian, just as physical growth is essential to the life of a child. Because God commands us to mature spiritually, we need to understand how that happens.
Spiritual growth is essential to the life of a Christian, just as physical growth is essential to the life of a child. Because God commands us to mature spiritually, we need to understand how that happens.
Living in God’s Kingdom means we’re walking in the direction Jesus is walking in and our lives are animated by the Holy Spirit. This was how we were created to live. And our best life is found within God’s Kingdom. By contrast, “a kingdom of my own making” is when I decide to do things my own way. God doesn’t force us to do anything, but instead invites us to voluntarily give up our inclination to decide good and evil for ourselves. The Bible, and life, is full of examples of people who do their own thing. They look at the direction Jesus is walking in, and choose a different path.
Are you aware that tests benefit the ones taking them? When God tested Abraham, it was for Abraham's benefit, not God's. The test was a difficult one; however, Abraham knew that God's commands are to be executed, not questioned. Although God has not commanded us to sacrifice our first born, He has commanded us to give Him our firstfruits. Abraham was so committed to following God's command that he not only bound and placed Isaac on the altar, he had in hand the knife to slay his son before the angel stopped him. Abraham called that place The LORD will provide because God provided a substitute for his son Isaac just like He provided a substitute for the world.
There are lots of hidden divine power of protection found in Psalm 91. These powers must be revealed to you. Remember, the enemy doesn't want you to pray. He does not want you to progress in the service of God. Psalm 91 teaches us a prayer of protection or covering and also reminds us to stay in His presence, for it's a permanent place of testimony.
Psalm 91 is a powerful book. Reading it makes you understand that you are untouchable by the enemy; it goes to Heaven to order angels to protect you; and it gives you peace and guarantees your victory. It is a prayer of deliverance and protection.
God is present everywhere: He sees and knows everything about everyone. Sinners are not conscious of His presence because they are dead in sin and trespasse. But when a sinner is born again, he receives eternal life that activates his spirit to be conscious of the presence of God every time. We must at all times, in all activities, before all men, possess the awesome perception of the Omniscient God.
God's Kingdom existed first in Heaven. When God created the earth, it was His desire that His Heavenly Kingdom be extended to the world He had created. To fulfill this desire, God created a perfect environment as an extension of His Kingdom. In this Garden of Eden, He created the first man and woman who were to multiply and populate the earth. By this method of reproduction they were to extend the Kingdom throughout the world. The first man and woman, Adam and Eve, were given dominion over the earthly extension of God's Kingdom.
What do you understand about the Kingdom of God? About the significance of the role of the Kingdom in your life? To deepen your awareness of its relevance, ask the Holy Spirit to give you clarity as to its priority and meaning. The priority of Kingdom advancement in Jesus’ prayer was a manifestation of its priority in His life. The same should be true of us. The prayer and priority of our lives should be Kingdom advancement. We are to engage in it every day, the way that Jesus did.
The spiritual realm is real. Spiritual awareness can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the spirit in question and the motive of the person seeking the awareness. Broadly speaking, spiritual awareness is being conscious of spiritual matters. All believers should possess a certain amount of spiritual awareness. We understand that we are in a spiritual battle and that satan has a plan, and we are not unaware of his schemes.
Jesus’ focus was not on the power of the government, but on the power of God. He stood before Pilate in complete confidence. The same Kingdom that ruled and reigned in Jesus’ heart and life should be ruling and reigning in ours as well. Unfortunately, we miss Kingdom’s movements all the time. Most of our favorite Bible characters did too. It started in the garden with Adam and Eve. God broke into the world of both Abraham and his son. He made special promises to both generations. Abraham’s grandson, Jacob was on the run when God spoke to him in a dramatic way. At first Moses tried to force the Kingdom of God into action and killed a man in the process. God is always trying to break through our world, if we will only be aware of Him.
We must understand that all of our circumstances bring us a gift. Since we belong to Jesus, all our circumstances are in Him and He is in them for the purpose of giving us things. Because we are in the Kingdom now, we are subject to a different level of sovereignty. This means that nothing can bring us down, but everything can take us up. We are Kingdom people, and it’s time we start thinking and living in a Kingdom way.
One of the most difficult—and yet most important—aspects of Kingdom living has to do with the simplification of life, as we become more Kingdom conscious. We must learn to let go of some of the attachments to life. God wants us to live a rich and satisfied life. In fact, it is the reason that Jesus Christ came to give His Life and reestablish a right relationship between God and His People. We must seek that which is given to us. We must become more aware of what the Kingdom has to offer. We must make it our passionate pursuit to receive the fullness of what God has given to us in His Kingdom.
King-dom = King’s domain = implies authority & lordship. Basically, Jesus came into this earthly domain, ruled by the powers of darkness, and offered to all who were willing to receive - the benefits of His world. The Kingdom refers to the realm of God’s domain - a realm of all sufficiency! Jesus illustrated the benefits of that Kingdom through His works of forgiveness, deliverance and healing. Jesus came but so did many surprises. His purpose was not according to their plan. His ways were not what they desired. His message of repentance caught them completely off-guard. In fact, He brought His world with Him!
Keep on watching at all times, praying...." The act of staying alert is connected to the act of continuing in prayer.
The Apostle Paul connects alertness to prayer in Ephesians 6:18: “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Prayer is not
something peripheral to the Christian life. It is not something that should get the leftovers of our time and attention. Rather, it deserves the best we can offer. We ought to pray when our minds are sharp.
As a Christian, there are several reasons why alertness must characterize our lives - that we cannot simply muddle our way day in and day out but insteadmust live with a greater sense of awareness as a result of our faith. Some of these reasons why the Christian must live alertly are: Jesus is coming back, opportunities are all around us, and we have the tendency to drift. So, stay alert! The enemy doesn’t want you to keep moving. He wants you to stop so that evil can overtake you, bind you or destroy you. His intentions for you are never good even though it comes veiled as relief. Keep pushing. Keep pressing. Standing firm against the enemy is only possible on a platform of faith.
When the book of Haggai was written, it had been eighteen years since the Israelites had returned from their exile to Babylon. During this time, they prioritizedrebuilding their lives and what was left of Jerusalem. However, God’s temple remained in ruins. Through Haggai, one of the prophets, God called His peopleto make the rebuilding of His temple a priority over their own homes.
Watch means to stay wide awake - When the New Testament commands us to "watch," it is usually the translation of one of two Greek words which have similarmeanings—to "stay awake" and to "be sleepless." They are usually meant in the metaphorical and spiritual sense—to be vigilant and on guard, fully awake, aware, alert and intently focused—with several applications and implications. How important is it that we "watch"? Consider this: The biblical command to watch is several times coupled with the command to pray. Is prayer important? Extremely so! And so is the command to watch!
Watch means to stay wide awake - When the New Testament commands us to "watch," it is usually the translation of one of two Greek words which have similarmeanings—to "stay awake" and to "be sleepless." They are usually meant in the metaphorical and spiritual sense—to be vigilant and on guard, fully awake, aware, alert and intently focused—with several applications and implications. How important is it that we "watch"? Consider this: The biblical command to watch is several times coupled with the command to pray. Is prayer important? Extremely so! And so is the command to watch!
What do we mean when we talk about God consciousness? Sometimes it’s called “life in the Spirit.” As Christians we have Jesus as our savior, God as our Father, and the Holy Spirit within us. So you could say that living in God-consciousness is to live with our mind and heart actively connected to the Holy Spirit within. And then we know that the Holy Spirit is connected to Jesus, and Jesus is connected to the father. You could say that the Holy Spirit is our plug in, we’re plugged into the Holy Spirit who is plugged into Jesus who is plugged into the Father. So, God-consciousness is having an active mindset connected to the Holy Spirit.
There is a battle between faith and doubt and between faith and fear. Jesus was disappointed when Peter allowed doubt to win. The same goes for us when we take our attention off Jesus. The world may seem dark, but God’s children are still the light of the world! There are more people to reach and more life to touch.
Life before the redemption of Christ for most included striving, sweating, working and just trying to survive by their own resourcefulness and drive. Sin hadseparated humanity from the abundant provision of God and cursed them with painful toil and working by the sweat of their brow. It also required them tolive under the law of Moses, something no one was able to do perfectly. This was the reality people had to endure until Jesus came with a new reality, theKingdom of God. In this reality, Jesus reconciled humanity to the Father through His shed blood on the cross and restored us to the fullness of what it means to be sons and daughters of the King. Therefore, we now have to learn how to live in this new reality while on the earth.
Keys are principles. Principles are fundamental truths or propositions that serve as the foundation for a system of beliefs or behavioror for a chain of reasoning. Rules, standards, personal moral standards. They are laws, systems, they activate function, and initiateaction. Keys represent authority, access, ownership, control, power and freedom, a right and privilege. They enable us to enter through a doorwayinto a secure area that others can’t go through. The Kingdom operates on principles.
We are sometimes so caught up with the fruit and branches of a tree that we fail to give credit to the Importance of the roots that nourish the tree in order that it may bear fruit. The same applies to bearing the fruit of the Gospel. Sometimes we only take notice of ourselves as the visible branches and forget to give glory and to God, the invisible source. This should not be. We must always remember to give all glory, thanks and honor to God and think about Him in everything.
We are sometimes so caught up with the fruit and branches of a tree that we fail to give credit to the Importance of the roots that nourish the tree in order that it may bear fruit. The same applies to bearing the fruit of the Gospel. Sometimes we only take notice of ourselves as the visible branches and forget to give glory and to God, the invisible source. This should not be. We must always remember to give all glory, thanks and honor to God and think about Him in everything.
Someone once said we know we're living in the Kingdom of God if we are constantly changing. Caring for others requires constant change as we transition from seeing our entire life through the lens of self-interest to seeing others around us. When we're able to do that, we're experiencing kingdom living.
Luke 4:25-33 offers a great understanding of what it takes to become His disciple. He lets the people know that they should be aware of what the Kingdom of God is all about before they decide to become His follower. He doesn't want someone to start out on this journey and not be able to complete it. Therefore, He lays out some pretty harsh things that they should think about. The same applies to us today.
Christians must have a proper understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven. When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven, He meant a particular level of human consciousness. He was not speaking of or referring to a place which Christians are destined to after death. Many Christians make the mistake by failing to understand the phrases "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God." This mistake, once made, can throw your spirituality off track for the rest of your lives if the proper understanding is not grasped.
Kingdom consciousness is the awareness of three kingdoms, or the Kingdom in three times and places: the within, the without and the whither. The whither means the one to come. We must live in this world with our eyes fixed upon the whither. When we forget the whither, we become complacent in this world. The three Kingdoms - the within, the without and the whither - are inseparable.
Having a moment-by-moment awareness of the God who lives in you will change your life. There is a battle between faith and doubt and between faith and fear. Jesus was disappointed when Peter allowed doubt to win. The same goes for us when we take our attention off Jesus. The world may seem dark, but God’s children are still the light of the world! There are more people to reach and more lives to touch. Understanding who you are in Christ and recognizing that the God who created the heavens and earth lives in you will produce confidence, or God-consciousness.
Luke 12:32 begins our featured scripture by relaying words of Messiah, “Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Wow! Did you get that? What exactly does that mean to you? When you read this, what expectations do you get from it? The Kingdom of God is an amazing but an often misunderstood concept. However, we must continue to delve into it to learn what we can expect, do, receive and apply to our lives.
Luke 12:32 begins our featured scripture by relaying words of Messiah, “Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Wow! Did you get that? What exactly does that mean to you? When you read this, what expectations do you get from it? The Kingdom of God is an amazing but an often misunderstood concept. However, we must continue to delve into it to learn what we can expect, do, receive and apply to our lives.
Today too many people are financially stressed, emotionally overwhelmed, physically exhausted, etc. We need to connect with God. That should be our primary concern. Connections are essential for life because God created man for connections. In addition to being connected with God, we can't ignore the importance of connecting with others.
We are Christians, born again and happily on our way to heaven. We believe the right things and have embraced correct doctrine. However, something’s not working in our lives. There doesn’t seem to be a real connection. Things are not working. The engine is running but we are not going anywhere. Amazing how many people will go for years and years living in this situation when all they really need is to switch the plug and put it in the right socket. Spiritually speaking, of course. Have we lost our connection with God?
We are Christians, born again and happily on our way to heaven. We believe the right things and have embraced correct doctrine. However, something’s not working in our lives. There doesn’t seem to be a real connection. Things are not working. The engine is running but we are not going anywhere. Amazing how many people will go for years and years living in this situation when all they really need is to switch the plug and put it in the right socket. Spiritually speaking, of course. Have we lost our connection with God?
From the coming of Jesus Christ to begin the kingdom, through the whole story of redemptive history and the Church, we see a clear picture of the Gospel. According to one Bible dictionary, This "kingdom of God" is mentioned in the Scriptures in several different ways throughout the Old and New Testaments: Some refer to the "kingdom of Christ." Others refer to the Kingdom of Heaven. Even though the exact wording differs between Christ, God, and heaven, all Scriptures embody the same concept with different aspects. For example: the rule of Jesus Christ on earth and in heaven; the blessing and advantages that flow from living under Christ's rule; and the subjects of this kingdom, or the Church.
Jesus began His ministry with the teaching of the Kingdom. Kingdom consciousness is a decision to use your faith to believe that you are standing in the presence of God, in His Kingdom, far above what you are going through. You are stepping up out of the worldly problems and needs around you and entering the presence of God where there is more than enough to bless you and to bless others.
Do you really want to live? Then you must seek God's presence. God promises in Amos 5:4 that if we seek His presence we will live. Living means being spiritually alive and living in accordance with the purpose God has for you. There are so many benefits to seeking His presence, and He's looking for His children, those that seek Him day and night, so that He can strengthen them. Seeking the presence of God is for our own good.
One of the things that distinguishes the Kingdom of God from other kingdoms is holiness. We who are Kingdom subjects are required to live holy lives. But we don't automatically belong to the Kingdom or become holy. We must stop living in sin and start living lives that please God. We need to understand precisely how His Kingdom works. We need to seek His Kingdom and His presence.
The foundation of a building is most important and performs many functions. Did you know that it takes 30-40% of the time to build a house just to make sure the foundation is right and strong? Yet, we never see the foundation once the building is complete. Today, we are seeing what looks like more and more foundation cracks in our culture as it relates to our families, churches, cities, and nation. What can the righteous do?
Without Christ on the inside, everyone is of the world. But when we are born again, we become new creations because we are now in Christ. The world system (Cosmos) is opposed to everything that is God and is under the dominion of satan. We are physically present in the world but not of it, meaning not part of its values.
The experience of Kingdom consciousness is essential to rightly living it. It can't be counterfeited. We may be sanctimonious in our outward life and in our looks, in our words and tones, etc., but after all there will be something unnatural. If Christianity is truly in the heart, it will be lived, looked, acted, spoken, made manifest in the very tones of the voice, in honoring God and in doing good to men. Where this consciousness exists, it will produce conviction.
The peaceful state of mind is like a calm, deep flow of a river. We are conscious, our minds are not lying dormant, but everything seems to be flowing in one direction. There is no conflicting of different currents where some flow in one direction and some in another. There are no counter currents or obstructions forcing their way upwards and conflicting with the general stream of things. Joy: We are speaking of joy in the Holy Ghost - not rejoicing in ourselves. God is the direct object of this joy. In the midst of trials, temptations, persecutions, and even death, there is still oy.
Romans 14:17 says, "The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Each of these elements is so important and necessary for the Kingdom Citizen. We will explore each one and learn what it means to and for the individual Christian.
God's economy is built on knowledge - not money. He is trying to take away the stress caused by earth's economic system, so He tells us it's better to give than to receive. The natural man can't understand how giving will make him prosperous; but the spiritual man understands that when you open your hand to release something, that hand is also open so it can receive.
I believe the term "Eternity Conscious" is an excellent descriptive term for some of Paul's writings in 2nd Corinthians. Eternity consciousness is the most powerful power of the work of the cross. It simply means that you are conscious of your place in eternity - where will your soul be. Every day you're getting older on earth, you are getting younger towards eternity.
In Philippians 4:1-7, Paul lays out clear instructions on how to live in the Kingdom of God. He begins with commanding us to stand firm in the Lord. He encourages us to work through our difficulties and to rejoice in the Lord in the midst of our difficulties. He even speaks to us about being gentle and he tells us to pray instead of worrying. All of these will help us maneuver in the Kingdom of God as we grow stronger and become more Kingdom conscious.
God made it explicit that His intention for us from the beginning was for us to become His image-bearers - people who reflect His image to the rest of the world. He defined our destiny and placed it inside of us. His intention for us was that we discover our destiny before we built our lives. We need destiny to help keep us focused and help prevent us from being sidetracked.
There are times in this journey when we must make the decision to leave behind our old mindsets and ways of thinking and move forward with something new. We cannot continue to live parts of our lives in foreign kingdoms - ruled by addiction, depression and negative self-image. Sometimes we need a revolution which is about dying to the old and resurrecting something new. We must step out from under the authority and influence of sinful kingdoms and get established in God's Kingdom.
God had a great design for each of us personally and corporately. However, many Christians have never taken the time to seek God to learn of His plan or design for them, either personally or corporately. The moment we were born again, we not only walked into a relationship with Christ as our Savior, but we became called to identify with Him as our Lord. We are to build our lives on the Rock, the solid foundation. Christ is going to do something in you so that He can be seen in you.
God designed man to live from a place of dominion. Therefore, we must discover the purpose for each part of our construction so that we can fulfill God's strategy for our lives and live in Kingdom Consciousness. God always intended for man to elect to live in relationship with Him, and from this comes blessings. Because man was given this position, he was given the prerogative of choice. But with gifting comes responsibility.
What did Paul mean when he said let this mind be in you that was also in Jesus Christ? How do we put on the mind of Christ? How do we see through His eyes? He talked repeatedly about the Kingdom of Heaven. He talked about Oneness: I am in God, God is in you, you are in God, we are in each other ... I am the vine; you are the branches. Abide in me as I in you. We are told to be imitators of of God. The Greek word for imitate is "shadow." We are called to be the shadow of Jesus. A shadow never does anything that the one casting it doesn't do.
People often miss the presence of God. It happened all through the Bible. The Kingdom of God comes in simple, quiet ways. The people of Bible days were expecting some great cataclysmic event where God would break through in the world. But Jesus told them the Kingdom was within them. It was also around them, but they couldn't see it, We think of God parting skies and coming in blazing glory. That day will come, but in the meantime, don't miss all the ways God is already showing up and His Kingdom is breaking into the world.
As Believers, we must learn to become more Spirit conscious. We must be lead by the Spirit in order for God to enlighten us. The Word says that man is made in the likeness of God, who is a Spirit. Therefore, man must of necessity be a Spirit. So it's important to know this part of man because even when the body dies, the Spirit lives on.
The Kingdom of God is the realm where God reigns supreme, and Jesus Christ is King. God's authority is recognized and His will is obeyed. Sometimes the Bible refers to the Kingdom of God as a present reality and other times a future realm or territory. The Kingdom of God is something that Jesus said is at hand. It's something you can belong to; it's within you; the unrighteous will not inherit it; it's something no one can see unless he is born again. David refers to it as ... for all that's in heaven or the earth is yours. In that sense all of us, whether we like it or not, live in the Kingdom of God.
We have been sharing with you Kingdom Consciousness for over a year now. But what do you really understand about the Kingdom? If someone asked you the question: Exactly what is the Kingdom of God, how would you respond? In this episode, we hope to provide you with information that will enable you to give an answer in the event you are approached about the Kingdom.
According to Jesus, it's impossible for Christians to properly understand the practical nature of the Christian life without properly understanding the nature of their citizenship in God's Kingdom. To belong to the Kingdom of God is to belong to the people among which the reign of God has already begun. The Kingdom of God is defined as where God's appointed King (Jesus) is presently reigning in and through the lives of His people, accomplishing His will on earth as it is in Heaven.
In the natural world, "culture" is the behavior patterns that govern life in a given society. But it's important to know the principles that govern life in the Kingdom of God because you must live by Kingdom principles to maintain residency in the Kingdom of God. While repentance is the only requirement for entrance into the Kingdom, there are definite requirements to maintain residency.
The Kingdom of Heaven is not a secret society but its keys must be learned. A secret is anything you don't know, especially if someone else does. What we call miracles are simply Kingdom keys being applied properly.
The Kingdom of Heaven is not a secret society but its keys must be learned. A secret is anything you don't know, especially if someone else does. What we call miracles are simply Kingdom keys being applied properly.
Because the earth is lifeless, it is easy to sow a seed into it. However, it is not easy for the Lord Jesus to sow Himself into us because we are not simple. The book of Matthew portrays the Lord Jesus as the wonderful One who has come to sow Himself as the seed of life into us. After the sowing of the seed, there is growth, transformation, and building. The building is the building of the church, which is the Kingdom.
The Kingdom has come! Now the Kingdom is growing and is coming through this growth process. We all have the seed (Jesus), and we all are in the growing process. One day we will be in the harvest. We have the Lord Jesus, the wonderful seed. Because the earth is lifeless, it is easy to sow a seed into it. However, it is not easy for the Lord Jesus to sow Himself into us because we are not simple.
Obedience is connected to provision in the Kingdom. There is no shortages in God's Kingdom, but boundless amounts of everything. The King owns everything and, therefore, He can give to anyone at anytime in any amount. He makes sure we have everything we need to carry out our assignment.
Many people in our society are tired, worn-out, looking older than they really are, distracted, depressed, etc., because they are obsessed with things. They are constantly trying to keep up with the "Joneses." The pursuit of things could be detrimental to your health. That is not what Jesus meant when He said "...all these things will be added ..." The Kingdom is not a tool for us to use to get things. If we're not careful, we'll end up making things the object of our faith rather than it's natural by-product.
Many people in our society are tired, worn-out, looking older than they really are, distracted, depressed, etc., because they are obsessed with things. They are constantly trying to keep up with the "Joneses." The pursuit of things could be detrimental to your health. That is not what Jesus meant when He said "...all these things will be added ..." The Kingdom is not a tool for us to use to get things. If we're not careful, we'll end up making things the object of our faith rather than it's natural by-product.
You create your lifestyle by the choices you make. Many times we seek fulfillment elsewhere and then are surprised when we don't experience all the joy and fulfillment of God's Kingdom lifestyle. You must be in line with God's purpose for your life. You must be willing to submit to His Word. When we talk about embracing a Kingdom lifestyle, read the story of Daniel. Daniel and his friends showed us how to live a Kingdom lifestyle in a lost world. Kingdom living moves forward with confidence, in wisdom, power and boldness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as children of the King.
Kingdom mentality is a framework that allows us to see things from God’s point of view. God is concerned about our mind-set. What is your mindset? Do you assume God has to do everything you want for you to be happy? Or would you be content not getting what you want – or getting what you really don’t want – if God receives glory from your difficult experiences? Do you have this kingdom mindset? Have we become Kingdom conscious to the point that the Kingdom is in the forefront of our minds? Examine your heart and strive to build a kingdom mindset.
Kingdom mentality is a framework that allows us to see things from God’s point of view. Jesus stated that his mission was to seek and save the lost. He demonstrated that by dining with Zacchaeus. He instructed us as to how we should live until His return. Our assignment is to continue the work (mission) He started while on earth. But in order for us to do this effectively, we must have a changed mindset. We must strive to set our minds on whatever is true, lovely, honorable, etc. A Kingdom mind is ultimately responsible for how you live out your life as a Kingdom citizen. As you think, so you are. .
You are only conscious of what you focus on. Repenting is the beginning of becoming conscious of the King, Jesus Christ; and the Kingdom of God. The spiritual DNA of God is implanted into the believer. The believer now has a new spiritual nature which desires to walk with God in love and righteousness. It has always been God’s desire that He would live inside of us and us inside of Him in the most intimate relationship possible. In the new covenant we are God’s tabernacle. Your spirit, which is connected to God, is conscious of God’s thoughts and feelings. Listen, God speaks to you from inside your spirit.
You are only conscious of what you focus on. Repenting is the beginning of becoming conscious of the King, Jesus Christ; and the Kingdom of God. The spiritual DNA of God is implanted into the believer. The believer now has a new spiritual nature which desires to walk with God in love and righteousness. It has always been God’s desire that He would live inside of us and us inside of Him in the most intimate relationship possible. In the new covenant we are God’s tabernacle. Your spirit, which is connected to God, is conscious of God’s thoughts and feelings. Listen, God speaks to you from inside your spirit.
It's time for the saints of God to put into practice, to live out in their day to day lives, the reality of Kingdom living. This can only be done by stepping up into Kingdom consciousness. Paul wrote to the Colossians Church, encouraging them to awake, to step up, to remember who they were. He reminded them of what had been true in the past: the evidence of the Spirit in them; their faith in God; the love for all who were also set apart to Christ; etc. He asked them, in essence, several questions to help them become more conscious of the Kingdom and the fact that they were losing their way. Ask yourself "Where are you right now in Christ?"
You have been born of the Spirit, and Jesus said in His Word that the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. Therefore, it should be a priority with you to seek the realities of the Kingdom in your day to day life on earth. No more should you faint nor become weary or frustrated because things are happening to you or around you. No more should your needs overwhelm you. Stepping up simply means using your faith to enter the presence of God. It's simply a decision to become Kingdom conscious.
Are we seeing ourselves beyond this earthly kingdom? As believers, we should be. Do we realize that believers will be part of the jury judging the 12 tribes of Israel, as well as other tribes of the world? Matt. 19:28 says: "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." By the grace of God, official roles have been assigned to believers in the heavenly Kingdom. Therefore, it's expedient that we make adequate preparation that will guarantee our taking up our duties.
Many Christians go from year to year believing the right things and embracing the correct doctrine. However, something is not working in their lives. There doesn't seem to be a real connection. This is usually because they are unwilling to accept criticism, which is the basis of forgiveness. Daily forgiveness frees us from the spiritual debris cluttering our lives and prohibiting us from clearly seeing Christ in our present situations and living in His power.
One of the most joyful prospects of the futuristic Kingdom of God on Earth will be the harmony that exists between ancient enemies. The prophet's vision of the wolf and the lamb feeding together is not only a beautiful description of restored harmony between man and the animal creation, but it also has a special reference to future peace between previously warring nations. That will be a wonderful reversal of the present state of affairs in the Middle East.
To many people the Kingdom of God (futuristic) is just a vague hope that one day man will bring about a state of happiness on earth. To others, the Kingdom is a dream of heavenly bliss in the skies. But the Kingdom has to do with a real, tangible world empire which will be set-up when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth from heaven.
The Gospel of the Kingdom (present time) is the good news of repentance, redemption and restoration offered by God to all who receive Christ. Those who accept this offer become part of the eternal Kingdom. Those who choose to remain in their sin can't be. The Gospel of the Kingdom is the news that there is freedom from our slavery to sin if we will repent and turn to God. The Kingdom of God on earth (futuristic) will soon be here. This Millennium will be the most exciting thing this world has ever seen. This Kingdom will provide a superb environment for all who will acknowledge God as supreme Creator and Jesus Christ as King. We will focus on both the present view of the Kingdom as well as the future view of the Kingdom in this and the next few episodes.
We hear the word Kingdom much more now than we did 20 years ago. And, scripture tells us that we are kings and priests. But what do we reign over? We know that the earth was given to mankind to have rulership and dominion over. However, we also rule and reign over such things as habits, ways and wiles of the old nature. So as we become more conscious of the Kingdom and embrace the spiritual nature, we learn how to choose spiritually-based responses to life's events that reflect our relationship with God.
We hear the word Kingdom much more now than we did 20 years ago. And, scripture tells us that we are kings and priests. But what do we reign over? We know that the earth was given to mankind to have rulership and dominion over. However, we also rule and reign over such things as habits, ways and wiles of the old nature. So as we become more conscious of the Kingdom and embrace the spiritual nature, we learn how to choose spiritually-based responses to life's events that reflect our relationship with God.
Too many Christians today are living defeated lives because they have not discovered this wonderful principle called Kingdom authority. God created man and gave him dominion over the earth. But when Adam and Eve sinned, they lost their dominion and became servants to satan. All who are in Adam likewise became servants of sin and satan. However, Jesus came and won victory for us. Our authority is related to our relationship with Jesus. When we come into the proper relationship with Jesus, He gives us keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Keys represent authority. A Christian that never uses God's authority becomes defeated, despair or despondent Christians. But when we learn to use that authority, we can become destructive, determined and/or deployed Christians.
Too many Christians today are living defeated lives because they have not discovered this wonderful principle called Kingdom authority. God created man and gave him dominion over the earth. But when Adam and Eve sinned, they lost their dominion and became servants to satan. All who are in Adam likewise became servants of sin and satan. However, Jesus came and won victory for us. Our authority is related to our relationship with Jesus. When we come into the proper relationship with Jesus, He gives us keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Keys represent authority.
2 Cor. 7:14 - If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from Heaven, forgive their sin and heal the land. (NJKV)
There is a Glory Storm coming! And the only thing that can hold the weight of this Glory is by having a Kingdom-consciousness. We must become Kingdom conscious in order to participate with the Lord of the Harvest. There is a door that separates the realm of the carnal mind from the realm of the Kingdom, and transformational power awaits those who have picked up on this key of knowledge.
There is a Glory Storm coming! And, the only thing that can hold the weight of this coming glory is by having a righteous-consciousness. We must become Kingdom conscious in order to participate with the Lord of the Harvest. There is a place on earth opened and available to all, where the nature of the physical realm and the realm of the Kingdom join in our conscious experience. Jesus gave us the key of entrance when he instructed us to seek first the Kingdom. Transformational power awaits those who have picked up the key of this knowledge.
What do you think of when you hear the word "Kingdom?" I think of the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray. He also said that He was not going to drink any more of the wine until he could drink it in the Kingdom. In another place He said, the Father has given me (Jesus) a Kingdom and I'm (Jesus) giving a Kingdom to you. Paul encouraged the churches to live and love as worthy of the Kingdom - to reflect the Kingdom to those in society around. This is also a challenge for us today. So, what thoughts arise in your mind when you hear "Kingdom?"
As we move toward a heightened Kingdom consciousness, we must understand that we will encounter wilderness experiences. Wilderness experiences are not always negative; they may prove very beneficial. These experiences will happen, sometimes because of our own making, sometimes unexpected things occur over which we have no control, and sometimes God leads us into the wilderness. Please note, whatever the source of the experience, God has a purpose and a plan in mind.
Is it possible that after all this time we are just now beginning to realize that the Gospel that we have been preaching is different from what Jesus preached? Jesus preached deep, profound, and hidden mysteries of the Kingdom of God - things that could not be heard and understood by human intellect. He spoke in parables that seemed to some to be only simple stories; but when spiritual ears were opened, understanding became clear. He made it clear that some were given an ear to hear the mysteries and others were not. He wanted people to understand that it takes the Holy Spirit working in their lives to unlock the mysteries of the Kingdom.
Whatever sin you may be in to, repent; Christ is knocking at the door of your heart seeking permission to enter. If you allow Him in, you will immediately become a child of God. That's when you become conscious of Heaven and understand that when the trumpet sound, you will be among the saints that will make the rapture. It's imperative that every born again Christian, while living in this present world, must be faithfully seeking daily to heighten his Kingdom consciousness in order for him to see, enjoy or experience the Kingdom of God.
What we worship can consume us entirely, and we may not be aware of being consumed by the object of our worship. That is why it's so important to be mindful of the choices we make in regard to our worship. We have the choice to worship God or we can choose to worship money, beauty, power, intellect, etc. Which will it be?
Where Kingdom consciousness really exists, it will produce conviction. It can't conceal itself; it will be noticeable in any relation in life: husband/wife, wife/husband, parents/children, children/parents ... it will produce conviction. True converts, when their consciousness has been heightened, will soon learn to watch unto prayer, that they may pray in the Holy Ghost, and keep themselves in the love of God. But where Kingdom consciousness does not exist, much prayer is a great burden.
What is your intention? Are you making a deliberate effort to learn about and live in the Kingdom of God? Are you aware that the Kingdom is within you? Jesus' reign is happening without many people ever noticing. Christ set up His throne within us and here is where we experience the Kingdom of God and it's power. He is changing the world by changing people. And He has chosen you and me to make an eternal difference. So what is your intention?
We are called to live fully in the Kingdom of God and as fully as possible here and now - not just in the hereafter. That's what our intentions should be. As we rely upon Jesus, the vision of life in the Kingdom makes it possible for us to intend to live in the Kingdom as He did. We can actually decide to do it. We intend to live in the Kingdom of God by intending to obey the precise example and teachings of Jesus. He draws us but we make the decision to follow.
In order to accept your assignment, you must settle it once and for all that your flesh is not for you. You are a spirit being having an earthly experience. Decide to obey God and accept your assignment. No one else's assignment. God will never anoint you to be somebody else. The anointing is attached to the assignment. It's attached to your coming into agreement with that assignment. So if you don't know your assignment, keep listening.
Regardless of your call, gifts and assignments, the true measure of success will be in the fruit that follows. People around you will recognize that you are walking in the fullness of your identity and grow from it and encounter Christ through it. You are alive on earth even when you have not realized your assignment because God is waiting for you to realize what you were created to do and start doing it. Don't wait until it's too late.
God creates every person for a specific assignment on earth - to good works ordained before you are created. Eph. 2:20 says: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them." You are not on this earth by mistake. Life on this earth has no meaning to you and to the Kingdom of Heaven when you are living without knowing and doing what you were created by God to do. The Kingdom of Heaven is waiting for the day when you wake up, realize why you are in this earth and do what you were created to do.
Kingdom living aligns with the rule and standard of King Jesus as opposed to the desires of oneself. When we submit to "walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh," God's Kingdom agenda advances in our lives. You should look more like Christ today than yesterday or last month, or last year. Believers are not immune from the effects of sin; however, we will not remain in habitual sin without conviction or consequences.
The Christian life is so much more than just a one-time decision to secure a place in Heaven. What if you could experience Heaven on earth today? Much of the way the Gospel has been packaged in modern times revolves around joining up with God’s Kingdom after we die. If you think about it, even our prayers, our services, our creeds, our liturgies and our motivation are geared toward tomorrow. Sadly, most rarely think about the Kingdom, much less speak about it. For Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven was the predominant topic of his ministry. We undervalue the thrust of Jesus’s ministry message when we focus on the future at the expense of the present.
The Bible tells us that even in times of famine you can still enjoy the provisions of God. But this requires interactions between earth and Heaven. So we need to access Heaven from earth to live a life of immunity and dominion on earth. Dominion in your life is your portion and you will receive fresh insight on how to walk in the grace that commands resources because the Kingdom of God is in you.
As believers, we must live in light of God's future Kingdom while, at the same time, combating the world's endless temporary pleasures. To live faithfully, we must have eternity in mind every day. There are several ways we can do this, such as: evangelizing the lost, reading our Bibles, committing to a local church, and fighting our sins. We must remember to move the focus of our hearts from our own Kingdom to God's Kingdom.
The mind of Christ is an active mind. A passive mind is a consciousness not directed by its owner but open to allow any thought to pass through. It does not accept completely the Word of God as truth. Therefore, it's always questioning and wondering, which weakens the will, causing the person to be slow to obey God. Being passive means you are allowing the enemy to come at you at any time and you are not actively guarding yourself. If the enemy can trick you into being passive, you are not a threat to him; he is not worried about you. You, on the other mind, have stepped into danger.
What if you woke up with an unquenchable fire that could never be extinguished? What if you woke up like royalty? What would it look like for you to live on mission in such a way that every morning you left your bed with purpose, intention, and inspiration for whatever the day ahead might entail - in Kingdom consciousness? If you are a follower of Jesus, there is no other way to live. The concept of living for and in the Kingdom of God is powerful. But by having this reality invade our hearts and minds each morning when we awake, we will be empowered to live the lives God has called us to.
The Kingdom of God is not primarily about thinking and saying right things - "the correct doctrine" - as so many insist. It's about doing Jesus-like things. It's about Christ-like quality ACTION. It's about sacrificing to meet a need when you see it. It's about mimicking Christ with every breath, brainwave and heartbeat. Because we are called to love like Christ loved, we are to love without any regard for whether we think they deserve it or not. Common sense must never be allowed to trump the love we're called to give.
Jesus had an intentional consciousness of those around Him, especially those who suffered. This awareness flowed out of His understanding of who He was in relationship to God. He offered His followers a model of what it meant to live under the rule of God. His life expressed the essence of God's character and love through sacrificial action and vulnerability toward humanity. His consciousness about those around Him, particularly those regarded as expendable by society, was based on His understanding of God's limitless and sacrificial love. He had a keen consciousness of those who needed God's justice.
Psalm 27:14 is spoken in the context of suffering and sorrow and difficulty. That is what the word "wait" implies. It means that at the present time you are in a very difficult way, in which you do no want to wait. It is the time when God's purposes are being hid from your eyes and it seems that God is leading us in a way that's contrary to His promises. We desire relief - but that relief seems delayed and there seems to be no end to this moment of trial. Fear begins to surround us and we are tempted to become bitter, impatient or to take matters into our own hands in desperation. But the word of the Lord is: Wait.
Life's waiting room is a place where time seemingly stands still. It's a place where life is put on hold. When we are in the waiting room of life, it seems like all progress has come to a halt. This is how it feels sometimes while we wait on the Lord. Because we are part of the fallen community, we are prone to take matters into our own hands and to follow our own schemes. We don't like to wait. Yet, over and over we are told to wait on the Lord. According to Isaiah, if we do this thing right, waiting can be a good thing.
Since the Kingdom has historical continuity, we can speak of it in the past, present and future tenses (already-but not yet). In each phase, God’s people rejoice in what they have and look forward to more to come. One phase builds upon the other. As we now experience some limited aspects of the Kingdom, we gain confidence that the future Kingdom will also be a reality. The expression “already, but not yet” helps us understand Jesus’ statement in Matthew 4:14 and Mark 11:4-15 that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. Yet, the Kingdom was also distant since Jesus repeatedly told the disciples that the Kingdom was yet future. In Eph. 2:6, Paul says that Christians are already seated in Heaven. “…and raised us up with Him; and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” But we are still here on earth! Only when Christians die do they go to Heaven.
IJohn 3:2 - "Dear Friends, now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." We have - in this scripture - a "now" (we are the children of God), and we have a "not yet" (our future state). We are actively taking part in the Kingdom of God, although the Kingdom will not reach its full expression until some time in the future.
When Jesus came back from the dead, it marked the beginning of a new Kingdom. Death and sin no longer ruled. He overcame them both. He spent many days with close friends and followers, preparing them to spread this good news to the world. At that time, many thought the Messiah would free Israel from Roman rule, but Jesus' Kingdom was, first of all, a spiritual kingdom established in the hearts and lives of believers. This is a big deal because it means Jesus' kingdom is not a future reality. It is here now, and that fact affects how we see the world. For example, if death has been overcome, this life is no longer all there is. A Kingdom mentality changes where we put our focus, how we make decisions, and the way we treat others.
As we stated on last week, one reason the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven is so hard for many people to grasp at first is because understanding it calls for a complete change of thinking. Moving from a worldly view to a Kingdom view requires a total paradigm shift. Priorities in the Kingdom are different from those in the world. Worth and value are assigned differently. Standards for evaluating greatness are very different between the world and the Kingdom. The world judges greatness in terms of money, power, and influence, while the Kingdom sees it in humility and self-giving service. The Kingdom and the world take entirely different views from each other regarding things.
One reason the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven is so hard for many people to grasp at first is because understanding it calls for a complete change of thinking. Moving from a worldly view to a Kingdom view requires a total paradigm shift. Priorities in the Kingdom are different from those in the world. Worth and value are assigned differently. Standards for evaluating greatness are very different between the world and the Kingdom. The world judges greatness in terms of money, power, and influence, while the Kingdom sees it in humility and self-giving service. The Kingdom and the world take entirely different views from each other regarding things.
Why does the flock of God struggle with fear? Luke 12 implies clearly that we do, and that we don’t need to. What fear is Jesus trying to eliminate? He’s trying to eliminate the fear that God is not the kind of God who really wants to be good to his children. This is a fear that rises up in the hearts of those of us who are prone to feel that God does not want to be gracious to us, that He does not want to be generous and helpful to us. In this verse, we see that every little piece of it is intended to help take away the fear that Jesus knows some struggle with, namely, that God begrudges His benefits. He is not that kind of God!
The Kingdom of God in our lives is just as real as this physical life. Therefore, dwelling in it affects our earthly lives now in very powerful and real ways. We are called to a different existence now. We discern the Kingdom differently than the physical world, but its affect on us is more potent than what we see. The impact in our lives from dwelling in God’s Kingdom affects our health, family, marriage, work, everything. We are transitioning from hearing the truth of the Kingdom to it becoming our home. It has to become real to us - a part of us – otherwise all of the teaching is in vain. It’s a way of life. It is our life.
Kingdom living has to do with activating you spiritual authority. God has an expectation of us. He expects us to use our authority to invade, occupy, and influence the world for Christ. The message of the Kingdom is a message of dominion, authority and purpose. The Kingdom lifestyle enables you to activate your kingship and live the life of purpose, authority and dominion that belongs to you in Christ.
The heart of Kingdom culture is service. The Kingdom of Heaven has a distinctive culture. One of the clearest distinctions of Kingdom culture is that it is characterized by service. The cultures of the world manifest an every man for himself approach to life and success. However, Kingdom culture measures success by service and self-giving. Kingdom culture is a culture of servanthood.
Jesus taught many parables to help us understand what the Kingdom is like. In Matthew 13:47-50, He compared it to a net that's cast into the sea and gathered of every kind ... This refers to the Gospel that is preached for the purpose of gathering souls. However, in reaching souls, it also reaches people of every kind: every nation, race, nationality, good and bad, and the like. He also taught a parable on the farmer who planted good seeds but when the plants began to grow, tares grew with the wheat. The enemy had sowed tares among the wheat, and until harvest time, you cannot tell one from the other. He wanted us to understand that even in the church, there are those who are there for reasons other than becoming a child of the Kingdom. It's not our job to separate the tares from the wheat, for in doing so we will damage the good crop. Let Jesus do the "weeding."
What is God trying to say to us through all this devastation? We need to turn to God's Word to interpret His voice in nature - whether it's in the voice of the wind in the hurricanes; in car crashes; in the voice of the earthquake; in wild fires; in COVID-19; or in floods. The Bible speaks and we must listen. God has shaken this planet. Who else could shut the church doors, close schools and businesses, close restaurants, etc., for over a year. Yet, people are not recognizing that this is the Lord's doing. The Bible speaks of a time when there will be such a violent shaking in creation that the world, as we know it, will be removed. However, it also tells us of a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells, and that cannot be shaken. That's the Kingdom of God.
How am I representing the Kingdom? What do people see in me (when they really get to know me)? Do I present my body a living sacrifice ...? Does my family see me as a Believer in my actions, my conversations and how I treat others? Does the proclamation of the Kingdom mean anything to me? Does the way in which I live testify to my belief? What is it that I believe about the Kingdom? If I were brought before a jury, would it conclude upon the evidence of my life, that I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God? These and others are questions we should ponder as we strive to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord.
"The heaven, even the heavens, belong to the Lord; but the earth He has given to the children of men." Heaven and earth stand over against each other. And their contrast is this: that while the heavens are out of the reach of man, the expression and result of forces which he cannot control, the earth is what man makes it. He is the changing power here and now.
In many ways, the Kingdom of God is completely turned around from what we would expect it should be. That's why Jesus had to use so many parables to help us get our minds around how things really work in God's Kingdom. "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing; but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God." In the beginning there was a perfect universe with perfect relationships between God, humanity and all of creation. However, ever since we humans rebelled against God - ever since sin shattered the relationships between God, humanity and all of creation, God has been on a mission to put everything back together again. And, He makes creation great again in a totally unexpected way! The Kingdom of God is upside down.
Righteousness, peace and joy are the gracious fruit of the Spirit that is formed in someone who is submitted to God's leading and guidance. The Kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace and joy which proceeds from the one that is walking in spirit and in truth. It is a matter of dying to the self-life and living for Christ.
How will you, saint of God, embrace the Kingdom? Many of us want to be passionate about God, but what do we do to get it? God waits for someone to demonstrate true yearning for Him. We cannot passionately embrace the Kingdom of God as long as we insist on giving God half effort. If we want more from God ,we’ve got to give more to God. We must rise to a higher level. The treasure is hidden. When we passionately embrace the Kingdom, we glorify God, and in the process God produces even greater Kingdom passion within us.
Too many believers seem to live out their lives devoid of enthusiasm. Too many seem agonizingly bored, tired of the spirit realm. Instead of passion, too many believers go about as if trapped in a long-term trance. They seem to have lost their zeal. Has the Church lost its passion for the Kingdom? Is it possible to recover that passion for a truth affirmed by God? The Kingdom passion we should contend for encourages and promotes spontaneous praise of God. Without overt priming or orchestrated pumping, saints begin to think of the Lord in His unique sovereignty. When this happens, praise - unrelenting and passionate - becomes the inevitable result.
Many people are out of alignment with the government of God's Kingdom. And that goes for those of us who say we are Kingdom citizens. Why? Could it be that instead of pursuing God's priorities we pursue Things? The things we want most in life, e.g., peace, joy, etc., always seem to elude our grasp no matter how hard we try. We seem to focus more on possessions than on position. There seems to be a great disconnect between priorities of the Kingdom and the personal realities of daily experience. We must be delivered from our slavery to things and that can only be found in one place: the pursuit of the Kingdom and righteousness of God.
All Kingdom of God citizens have dual citizenship: Heaven and earth. Once you accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior, your name is written in the Lamb's Book Of Life. You do not have to live in Heaven to enjoy the benefits of Heaven. You can have Kingdom living on earth here and now. Just like a citizen of the United States can become a citizen of a foreign country without giving up his/her U.S. citizenship, it works the same with the Kingdom of God. As long as you're in right standing with God, you have access to all the benefits and privileges of Heaven while on earth. Your dual citizenship allow you that opportunity.
In order for man to exercise dominion over the earth, he needed the Spirit of God. Originally, everything was in perfect harmony between God and man - earth and Heaven. However, with the fall of man, all that changed. Therefore, Jesus came to reintroduce the Kingdom. In the same way Eve was created to be a helper to Adam, the Holy Spirit was given to help man administer his earthly domain in accordance with God's will.
The good new of the Kingdom is that once we become believers and enter the Kingdom of God, we change countries. We surrender our citizenship in the world to become naturalized citizens of the Kingdom of God. We are commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the message of the Kingdom of God, and that message is described as good news for everyone who hears its message.
Discovering your purpose is the most important thing in life. Jesus knew His purpose, his mission and his assignment. He fulfilled his assignment in doing exactly what his Father sent him to do. He made it plain that he came to do His Father's will and he only spoke and did what he saw his Father doing. He said: "I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it."
When Adam and Eve sinned, they broke fellowship with God and lost the Kingdom. God had a plan of reconciliation which involved His Spirit. In order to accomplish this plan, God needed a human body to house His Spirit and correct the problem. Since sin came into the world through a man, Adam, it needed to be removed by a man. Therefore, God used a human (his Son) to break the power of the adversary over mankind and regain the authority and dominion Adam once held.
There were many Old Testament prophecies about the coming of the King and the Kingdom. Based on biblical chronology, although the earth existed many years before, man was created about 6000 years ago. Using these calculations to measure the length of God's redemptive plan for mankind, it would appear that the promise of the coming Messiah would have occurred over 4000 years prior to the birth of John the Baptist. This would mean that God waited 4000 years before He sent His son to earth.
God's intent has always been to administrate earth government from Heaven through His image - nature - in man and, therefore, manifest His nature and character on earth. His government is a unique structure that is still misunderstood. The "Kingdom" concept is God's idea. The original concept of "Kingdom" is the perfect prototype of a government built on righteous judgment.
God's reign is over both the spiritual and physical realms. He delegated responsibility for earth to mankind. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they abdicated their throne of dominion and gave it to satan, the instigator of man's fall. Therefore, the rulers became the ruled.
God created mankind and gave him dominion over every thing that was created. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating fruit from the forbidden tree, they fell from that dominion. They did not fall from Heaven or a religion - they lost the dominion that had been delegated to them. As a result, everyone who is born is born into sin.
Have you allowed Christ to lift you up in consciousness to his higher consciousness? Jesus said, "In that day you will know that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you." "That day" is the day you are lifted in consciousness with Christ to be one, whole and free.
A Kingdom is basically the territory over which king has rulership. Kingdoms consist of citizens chosen by the King to live in his domain.
God's purpose in creating mankind was to extend His heavenly country into another territory. He did this by establishing a colony of heaven, called earth.
God delegated authority to mankind who has the responsibility for making earth like Heaven. He promises to back up whatever mankind establishes on earth.