God has told us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He said in Mathew 6:25 to "stop being perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried about your life," and in verse 24 He said that we can't serve two masters, that is, you can't serve God AND riches, money, or possessions. (We serve God alone, and money becomes OUR servant).
When Jesus taught us how to pray, He said to pray that His kingdom would come on this earth, just as it is in heaven.
Jesus said He came to "destroy the work of the devil" and to give us abundant life. (1 John 3:7)
So what does the Kingdom of Heaven look like? How can we agree with God and bring about His Kingdom on earth?
Well, guess what? The Kingdom of God is WITHIN US, because His Spirit endwells us. Jesus went throughout the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom. He preached the Kingdom, and he drove out evil spirits and healed every disease and sickness.
In Mathew 10:7 He said, "As you go, preach this message: The Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."
In Mathew 12:28 He said, "If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon You."
God's kingdom is manifested in His works. When John the Baptist was in prison and was wondering if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus said to go back and report to John what you have seen and heard, "The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor."
Luke 17:21 says, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you, in your hearts and among you, surrounding you."
So it seems to seek His Kingdom would mean to seek after being filled with His Spirit, so that the manifestion of His works would be known, as well as to seek after His will being done. Jesus went about doing the will of the Father - He went about doing good. He set people free. Is. 61 states that He was sent to "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release prisoners from darkness, to proclaim God's favor and His vengeance, to comfort those who mourn, and provide for those who grieve" (paraphrased). Instead of ashes, He wants to give us a crown of beauty; instead of mourning, He wants to give us the oil of gladness; and instead of despair, He wants to give us a garment of praise (verse 3). This is His Kingdom being manifested. This is His heart, and His desire.
The enemy has destroyed, stolen from us, and killed us. But Jesus came that we might have life and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (John 10:10). That is what His kingdom is about. Life in Him. Life with Him. Abundant Life. Free from sin. Full of His Spirit. In Him we live, and move and have our being.
We bring about His Kingdom on earth as we seek to be filled with His Spirit, agreeing with God in prayer for His will and His purposes to be accomplished.
Lord, we desire to see Your Kingdom manifested in the earth. We seek Your will. Make us vessels of honor so that we are fit to carry Your Glory and Your Purposes in this earth. Come, Lord Jesus.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Spirit of David
Oh that we would have the spirit of David who said of Goliath, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
He did not cower at his enemy, but instead allowed God's Spirit to rise up within him and boldly proclaim, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him!"
I would say to God's people this morning to allow the Spirit of God to arise within you that we might come against the spirit of lawlessness and the god of this age that has so brassly come against God, His people, and His truth. It is time to slay this giant and proclaim truth in this land.
David came against this giant, not in his own strength and abilities, but he came against him "in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give all of you into our hands."
It is the Spirit of the Living God within us that will enable us to overcome sin, our flesh and the devil. He has given us His Spirit, His Word, and His blood. There is no power that can defeat us - He has caused us to be more than conquerors - overcomers!
I know that circumstances are bleak. Evil forces are at work all around us. Our country has turned our backs on God and declared that we have no need of Him. But we, the church, always have hope because of Jesus. We have all that we need to turn this nation upside down and inside out - the Holy Spirit! I believe it is time to fall on our faces before God, seek Him and His Kingdom for this nation. God's promise to us is sure, "If we humble ourselves and pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then God will hear from heaven and forgive our sin and heal our land."
Lord, give us that same spirit of David, your Spirit. Stir us up to seek Your face and Your will for this nation. Nothing is impossible to those who believe. We believe.
Bring in a harvest of souls. Grant us a gift of repentence, true repentence, that will touch the heart of God, and usher in the return of Christ. Come soon, Lord Jesus.
Amen.
He did not cower at his enemy, but instead allowed God's Spirit to rise up within him and boldly proclaim, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him!"
I would say to God's people this morning to allow the Spirit of God to arise within you that we might come against the spirit of lawlessness and the god of this age that has so brassly come against God, His people, and His truth. It is time to slay this giant and proclaim truth in this land.
David came against this giant, not in his own strength and abilities, but he came against him "in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give all of you into our hands."
It is the Spirit of the Living God within us that will enable us to overcome sin, our flesh and the devil. He has given us His Spirit, His Word, and His blood. There is no power that can defeat us - He has caused us to be more than conquerors - overcomers!
I know that circumstances are bleak. Evil forces are at work all around us. Our country has turned our backs on God and declared that we have no need of Him. But we, the church, always have hope because of Jesus. We have all that we need to turn this nation upside down and inside out - the Holy Spirit! I believe it is time to fall on our faces before God, seek Him and His Kingdom for this nation. God's promise to us is sure, "If we humble ourselves and pray and seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, then God will hear from heaven and forgive our sin and heal our land."
Lord, give us that same spirit of David, your Spirit. Stir us up to seek Your face and Your will for this nation. Nothing is impossible to those who believe. We believe.
Bring in a harvest of souls. Grant us a gift of repentence, true repentence, that will touch the heart of God, and usher in the return of Christ. Come soon, Lord Jesus.
Amen.
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