|
We live in a country where religion has “run its course” and in the process has run out of power, influence and impact. Proper understanding and articulation of the Kingdom message has never been so critical as it is right now. We are on the brink of a substantial spiritual awakening - a tidal wave of the Spirit of God poised to sweep through our land, and we must get the message right! While many are bemoaning our national spiritual condition as an irreparable and irreversible regression back to the dark ages, we have the privilege and responsibility of declaring the invincible, indefatigable, unshakable, glorious message of grace: “BEHOLD YOUR GOD!” The Kingdom of Heaven has come near.
This is the message Jesus began proclaiming 2000 years ago, and it is as fresh and divinely life-changing today as it was back then. It is the power of God for salvation, healing and deliverance for anyone and everyone who believes. It is this message alone that acknowledges the sovereign and gracious work of God to foreknow, predestine, call, justify and glorify men and women to the high privilege of being brothers and sisters of His “Only begotten Son.” The power behind this message lies in the fact that “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.”
As wonderful as it is to have forgiveness of sins and peace with God, however, the good news doesn’t end there. The message that the Kingdom of Heaven has come near is not only about our standing with God, but also about our Walking with Him. While religion is about man striving to reach heaven, the gospel of the Kingdom is about God coming down to man. It is the sovereign dominion of God being made available here on earth. We who now live by the Spirit, have the privilege of learning to walk by the Spirit. We have the opportunity to enjoy the accessible Presence of God. “For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." (Luke 17:21)
Our message of the Kingdom is one of new Relationships as Sons and Daughters of His Kingdom - “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” Jesus Himself is not ashamed to be called our Brother. We have a perfect “Heavenly Father” that we are privileged to call "Abba! Father!" It is the message of a new Fellowship with others in the Kingdom. "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
The message of the Kingdom is not only about our new relationships, but also our new Citizenship. “You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household.” “For our citizenship is in heaven.” Jesus made it very clear that His Kingdom was not of this world. As He prayed for His disciples He said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” Because of this, we are taught that, although we are in the world, we are not to “love the world nor the things in the world.”
The proximity of the Kingdom at hand affords us the opportunity to live from heaven’s Perspective rather than from our own limited and incomplete point of view. “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” We are blessed with the advantage of having the “mind of Christ” rather than judging things solely based on what our eyes see, or making decisions merely by what our ears hear.
It is about living in the world with the Resources of heaven. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” We are not to worry or be anxious about the basic necessities of life. God, Who has come near to us, knows all of our needs. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
In Jesus our King,
Pastor Scott
|
