Monthly Archives: April 2014

A Living Kingdom

God’s Kingdom is meant to be a living Kingdom, living through you and me, as we follow Christ Jesus. I share this message with you to encourage you to surrender to God and then allow him to reign as King in your life – now and forever.

Lead Scripture:

Matt. 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

1. Jesus introduces his ministry with one phrase, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

2. What is the significance of this statement?

a. At the time, the pronouncement ushered in Jesus’ public ministry.

b. What about now?

i. Today, the words of Jesus are a clarion call to a new life. Jesus is pronouncing his victory over:

1. The kingdom ruled by Satan
2. The kingdom ruled by Man
3. The kingdom of ruled by Self

ii. He is inviting us to surrender to Him and share in this victory.

3. What is the kingdom of God/heaven?

a. Simple answer: The place where God reigns as King.

b. Consider what allegiance is owed a King . . .

i. In a 21st Century Democracy, we have a hard time with such concepts as “King” “allegiance” and “sovereign authority” because we are king and sovereign over our lives.

  • We decide what we will do, when we will do it and how we will do it. We do not take kindly to being told what to do. We claim “freedom” from any ruler and authority. Our allegiance, in the social contract, is first and foremost to ourselves.

ii. In the bible and other historical texts, a King is the absolute ruler of his kingdom.

  • The King is completely sovereign.
  • The King is the law and the authority.
  • The King owns the life of every subject and disposes of that life as he sees fit.

iii. There was never a situation where there are two sovereigns in one Kingdom. Such circumstance always resulted in war and the subjects would be required to proclaim allegiance to their king, fight for their king, and die defending their king.

iv. When a King prevailed over another King for sovereignty over a land and a people, the subjects of the conquered country would often be given a choice: Either surrender to the conquering King or die.

  • The decision to surrender subjected the people to a new King and his law, his rule, his will.
  • The life of the subject was, in effect, purchased.
  • The life of the subject was a gift of the king

4. When Christ calls us to “repent” what is he asking for?

a. Total and complete surrender to his Kingship over our lives.

i. Historically, surrender during a war occurs when soldiers, nations or other combatants stop fighting and eventually become prisoners of war, either as individuals or when ordered to by their officers.

  • A white flag is a common symbol of surrender, as is the gesture of raising one’s hands empty and open above one’s head.

ii. When the parties agree to terms the surrender may be conditional, i.e. if the surrendering party promises to submit only after the victor makes certain promises. Otherwise it is an unconditional surrender where the victor makes no promises.

  • Normally a belligerent will only agree to surrender unconditionally if completely incapable of continuing the fight.

iii. EXAMPLE: the 1862 Battle of Fort Donelson in the American Civil War. Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union Army received a request for terms from the fort’s commanding officer, Confederate Brigadier General Simon Bolivar Buckner. Grant’s reply was that “no terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.”

  • When news of Grant’s victory—one of the Union’s first in the Civil War—was received in Washington, D.C., newspapers remarked (and President Abraham Lincoln endorsed) that Ulysses S. Grant’s first two initials, “U.S.,” stood for “Unconditional Surrender,” which would later become his nickname.

iv. EXAMPLE: 1 Kings 20:1-4, “And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it. And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad, Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine. And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, 0 king, according to thy saying, I am thine and all that I have”.

  • As the great preacher Andrew Murray once pointed out when he taught from this passage, Ahab gave what was asked of him by Benhadad – absolute surrender.
  • He emphasized these words: “My lord, 0 king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have,” as the words of absolute surrender with which every child of God ought to yield himself to his Father.
  • Murray pointed out that the condition of God’s blessing in our life is absolute surrender of all into His hands. “Praise God! If our hearts are willing for that, there is no end to what God will do for us, and to the blessing God will bestow.”

b. The Kingdom of God has come and has vanquished all of the enemies who have challenged His absolute sovereignty:

i. Satan –defeated

ii. The kingdom of man – defeated

iii. You and I [our sin and rebellion] – defeated

  • We were once enemies of God.
  • By his grace, we are now his subjects. No, through the grace of God, we are more than subjects, we are called his children!

c. In the wake of God’s victory through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God is calling for absolute surrender, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is upon you.”

5. Have we surrendered to God’s reign as King over our lives?

a. Are we at war with God?

b. Have we retained sovereignty over some aspect of our lives?

c. Have we placed conditions on our surrender?

6. What are some practical ways we can surrender to God and allow him to reign as King over our lives?

7. Surrendering to God’s reign over your life as King will open the door to a new Living and Eternal Kingdom

Joy: An Expression of God’s Life in Us

Ps. 13:1-6

1  How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2  How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3  Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4  lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5  But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6  I will sing to the LORD,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Most of us can relate to the prayer raised to God in vs. 1-4. There are times in life when it seems like that God has forgotten us and he has hidden himself from us.

Consider for a moment the times when you have doubted God, when you have not seen evidence of God in your life, when you have been utterly alone. What was happening in your life? What were the circumstances you were facing? What was your disposition? What did you do to fill the void, to address the pain, and to bring yourself relief?

The Psalmist says that he overcame an enemy by trusting in the steadfast love of the Lord. Is that what you did? If yes, how did you apply the conviction of that trust to your situation? Did you survive or overcome?

The Psalmist also says that he rejoiced in God’s salvation. Rejoiced! Really? What is it about salvation that inspired joy he speaks about?

Unfortunately, many of us who have received God’s saving grace do not respond to our trails with trust, joy, rejoicing and/or a song.

Yet, a fruit of the Holy Spirit is “joy.” Galations 5:16-25

What is this “joy” that the scripture speaks about?

The bible speaks of this joy as the inspiration for running a race – a difficult race – with a great reward for those who finish.

“THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.” Heb. 12:1.

Jesus ran the race perfectly. While it cost Him his life, he gave his life willingly and without reservation because he was inspired by something the bible calls “joy.”

“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2.

Notice this important point: The greatest trial anyone has ever faced was overcome for “joy.”

What inspires you as you walk through difficulty and trials? Is it joy?

As a fruit of the Spirit, joy is a visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly, the character of the “fruit” being evidence of the character of the power producing it, Mat 7:16. As the visible expressions of hidden lusts are the works of the flesh, so the invisible power of the Holy Spirit in those who are brought into living union with Christ (Jhn 15:2-8, 16) produces “the fruit of the Spirit,” including the fruit of joy.

This joy is not something that can be produced through human will or effort or discipline or work.  Joy is not a “work of the flesh” but rather a product of the Spirit of God living in us and working through us.

Therefore, one who is led by the Spirit, and walking by the Spirit, will be someone filled with much joy in his or her life! It is a joy that can abide and remain, even when circumstances seem terrible. Paul knew this joy personally; he could sing when manacled in a dark prison dungeon! (Acts 16:25)

Barclay examining “eirene” the Greek word for joy, explained: “It is not the joy that comes from earthly things, still less from triumphing over someone else in competition. It is a joy whose foundation is God.”

Likewise, Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Believers are not dependent upon circumstances. Their joy comes not from what they have, but from what they are; not from where they are, but from whose they are; not from what they enjoy, but from that which was suffered for them by their Lord.”

So, is God expressing his joy through your life?

If he is, consider some examples of God’s joy being expressed in and through you.  Praise Him for the good fruit he is producing in and through you.

If he is not, what is preventing you from walking in the fullness of His joy.  Doubt? Unbelief? Circumstances?

Maybe you have had a day, an hour or a moment when you were filled with his joy, but such joy, for you, was fleeting?

Whatever your experience, God wants to inspire, to grow and to express joy in your life.  I believe that “The joy” spoken about in scripture will become a expression of God’s life in us when we:

1) Have a clear revelation of who Christ is;
2) Have a clear revelation of who we are in Christ; and
3) When we abide in Christ.

 

1) Revelation of Who Christ is . . .

 
a. The effect of receiving revelation of who Christ is always joy:

 
i. Example #1 – Matt: 28:8, “So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”

 

 
ii. Example #2 – Luke 24-53: Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise[h] from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem[i] until you are endued with power from on high.”50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and[j] blessing God. Amen.[k]

 

 

2) Revelation of Who we are in Christ . . .

 
a. God says that we are his joy

 
i. Matt. 13:44, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

 

  • You and I are the treasure of the living God! He gave everything He had, even his own Son, to have an eternal relationship with us.

 
ii. Matt. 13:45-46, “Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and [p]precious pearls, Who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it.

 

  • You and I are the pearl of great price!!

 
iii. Luke 15-7; 10, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. . . . Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

 

  • We are the “one(s)” who bring joy to heaven through our repentance.

 
iv. “He, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2.

 

  • Jesus endured the Cross for you and I. You and I were the “joy” set before him. It brought God pleasure to save us!!!

 

3) Abiding in Christ – John 15:1-11

 

1″I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

 

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Dear Friend, here are my notes from a message I delivered regarding the fear of the Lord.  I pray this message will cause your heart to cleave to the life and love we have in God.

Lead Scripture:

Philippians 2:12-18

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. [1]

Questions to Consider:

1. What is your salvation? What do we have to work out?
2. What does it mean to “fear” and to “tremble” before the Lord?
3. What is the relationship between the fear of the Lord and the Joy of the Lord?

I. What is our “salvation”?

1.  Saved from the consequences of sin [All have sinned Romans 2:23-26]:

  • Death [Romans 6:23]
  • Wrath of God/Judgment [Romans 1:18-32]
  • Broken relationship with God

2.  Saved to . . .

  • To worship God [Ex. 7:16 “Let my people go so that they may worship me . . .”]
  • To reveal to all God’s creation the love and grace of God [Romans 1 “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed; Hebrews – even the angels marvel what is being revealed about God through us]
  • To bring God Glory [Eph. 1:11-14]

3.  Salvation is a gift, not something that has been earned. Eph. 2:1-9

  • No magic words.
  • No club of like minded good people.
  • No merit badges or special honors
  • See Phil 3:1-9 – Paul denounces righteousness by works.

4.  Well then, if salvation is a gift, what is their to “work out?”

  • We must work “to know” the one who gave us the free gift of salvation.
  • We must work at sharing in his life – which includes sharing in his suffering and sharing in his joy
  • Paul is pleading with us to live the life of a person who has been saved!!

II.  What does it mean to “fear” the Lord and to “tremble” before him?

First, we must not candy coat this phrase – Fear means Fear.
a.  Greek = φόβος “phobos” [Pronunciation fo’-bos]; From a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); Outline of Biblical Usage = fear, dread, terror (that which strikes terror)

b.  Vines says:

  • Fear, Fearful, Fearfulness: first had the meaning of “flight,” that which is caused by being scared; then, “that which may cause flight.”
  • “fear, dread, terror,” always with this significance in the four Gospels; also e.g., in Act 2:43; 19:17; 1Cr 2:3; 1Ti 5:20 (lit., “may have fear”); Hbr 2:15; 1Jo 4:18; Rev 11:11; 18:10, 15;
  • that which causes “fear,” Rom 13:3; 1Pe 3:14, RV, “(their) fear,” AV “(their) terror,” an adaptation of the Sept. of Isa 8:12, “fear not their fear;” hence some take it to mean, as there, “what they fear,” but in view of Mat 10:28, e.g., it seems best to understand it as that which is caused by the intimidation of adversaries.
  • Terror: “fear,” is rendered “terror” in Rom 13:3; in 2Cr 5:11; 1Pe 3:14, AV (RV, “fear”).

c. Hebrew = פַּחַד “pachad” [Pronunciation = pakh’·ad]; Outline of Biblical Usage = terror, dread, object of dread

Second, despite this “fear” and “terror” God commands that we draw near to him and that we do not “shrink back.” Hebrews 10:37-38.

a. Remember you are saved from His wrath!

b. Go back to the key scripture and you will see Paul reminds us of this point when he says, “it is God who lives and works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.“ Phil. 2:13

c. Saints – God lives in you! And He is working in you!!

Third, the presence of God in us necessarily inspires a firm and abiding fear.

Q: Why?

A: God is holy and we are not.

Let’s consider some examples of those who have been in the presence of God.[2]

  • The People of Israel at Mt. Sinai. Ex. 19, 20, 32-34.
  • Job. Job 38-42
  • King David – Psalms.
  • The Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 6.
  • The Apostles: a. Apostle Peter. Restored; b. Apostle Paul. Knocked off his horse. c. Apostle John. Revelation [Rev. 1]

In considering the foregoing examples, I want you to recognize that the fear of God:

1. Exposes sin, depravity and rebellion.

2. Creates despair – I can’t do this on my own – I need a savior!

3. Compels Surrender to God

4. Inspires Comfort/Consolation from knowing that, despite our sin, God loves us and has provided a way for us to enter into a relationship with Him, that is to say, he has made a way for his presence to abide with and in us.

5. Causes Transformation – new life, new heart, new mind.

6. Results in Glory to God – worship, ministry, action

7. **** Causes a desperate desire not to let anything break our relationship with God.

BEWARE: DO NOT SHRINK BACK, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED AND DO NOT SETTLE FOR SUBSTITUTIONS. Phil. 2:14-16

Summary: The fear of the Lord is a terror of being separated from God, that is, to be cut off from our relationship with Him. Hence, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling is to live our lives according to God’s good will and pleasure. We must work “to know” the one who gave us the free gift of salvation. We must work at sharing in his life – which includes sharing in his suffering and sharing in his joy. We must live the life of a person who has been given the great gift of salvation.

Shout it from the roof tops – Tell all your friends and family:

“The LORD is my God! He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving all my iniquity and transgression! The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. God is for us! God is for us! No one can stand against us? He did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all! God has justified me! Christ Jesus died for me, but much more, he has been raised from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God and he is interceding for us. His holy spirit lives in me!!! He lives in me!!! I am a new creation!!!! Nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ – no tribulation, no distress, no persecution, no famine, no nakedness, or danger, or sword? No!!!!! In all these things, I am more than a conquerors through the great God who him who loved me. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

III. What is the relationship between the fear of the Lord and the joy of the Lord?

1.  Fear of the Lord results in joy.

2.  Fear of the Lord inspires us to live out our purpose and call to glorify him as we love one another.

3.  We take on the mind of Christ [Phil. 2:1-11] We love one another. [1John 3:16-22; 4:7-11]

4.  Consider how those who love God pray? Always for others? Always with love –taking on the sins of others as if those sins were their own, and seeking forgiveness and reconciliation for all.

IV. WHAT ABOUT YOU AND I

The bible says, “[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
– Hebrews 10:31

NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS NO OTHER IN WHOSE HANDS I WOULD RATHER BE!

Don’t Let Your Love Grow Cold

canstockphoto3039358

Dear Reader, are you:

  • disillusioned about some aspect of your life,
  • struggling with unanswered questions of the heart and head,
  • heart broken,
  • struggling with hypocrisy of one form or another,
  • feeling judgmental,
  • angry with God,
  • suffering from the fruits of false beliefs,
  • going through the motions in life with a veneer exterior, but feeling a void in you soul because your life lacks substance.

If any of the foregoing describes you and what you are feeling, I just want you to know I am praying for you. As I pray, I want to encourage you to stand firm in your faith and do not let your love, the love that God has placed deep within you, to grow cold.

The bible says that, “And [in that day] many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert one another and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of [b]the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, but he who endures, overcomes and stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matt. 24:10-13.

Life is full of many challenges and controversies. Indeed, in a day and age where it seems one evil or another abounds through out the world, it is easy to allow our hearts to be filled with fear. This fear manifests itself in different ways in different people, but it always leads a person to the same lonely place.

Many who allow fear a foothold into their heart and mind become isolated or distracted or busy with activity hoping that the fear will go away. Others seek to fill the void fear creates with some material thing or some unhealthy relationship.

Everyone who embraces fear in one form or another seeks to hide the fact that they are afraid, while simultaneously doing whatever it takes to find a place of safety and security. Hence, fear causes people to become “offended” by those who love them and those they are given to love and they become filled with distrust for one another.

Thereafter, a person who was once filled with faith, hope and love, is transformed into an unstable soul, hating everything that has eternal worth and cleaving to what ever temporal happiness that will numb the unrelenting pain. To be certain, there are many who claim to have insight, authority and special enlightenment and preach a convenient gospel of cheap grace and happy living, but these false prophets are setting the fearful up to become so cold to love – love for God and love for one another – that they become paralyzed and ineffectual.

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18.

Fear is the opposite of love. Just like light and darkness, love and fear cannot occupy the same space. However, be encouraged, just like light always overcomes darkness, love always overcomes fear.

As I pray, I get the sense that someone who is reading this post needs to know that they are not alone. Today, that someone is me. And so from my prayer closet, I submit the following encouragement and exhortation:

  • To the disillusioned: if your vision for life is blurred and you have lost your way, cleave to the love of God and he will speak peace to the tempest and the storm that brews with in you.

 

  • To those tormented by questions: let love be your teacher and fill your heart and mind with wisdom.

 

  • To the heart broken: let love flood into your heart to heal you, to restore you and to fill you with joy.

 

  • To the hypocrites: let love be the plumb line by which you measure your actions. Do what you know to be right and turn away from what you know to be wrong.

 

  • To those who have been injured by the hypocrite: let love remind you of your own failings and weakness so you can bestow grace upon grace to that double-minded person; forgive just as you have been forgiven. Unconditionally.

 

  • To the judgmental: let love convert your critical thoughts into a prayer and intercession. May love give you strength to bear the burden of the sin you are judging as if it where you own. Don’t stop praying until you are both delivered.

 

  • To those who are angry with God: let love remind you that you are precious to Him. Let love help you take every indictment you have against Him to the Cross. Indeed, measure everyone of frustrations about what God has done (or not done) against every wound, scare, and drop of blood shed for you. Rest. Quietly. He knows.

 

  • To those suffering from the fruits of false beliefs: let love purify your soul and set you free from guilt and shame. You are accepted just as you are. There is nothing you have done or can do that can cause God to love you more than he does now. Let love cut through the cloud of doubt and give you clarity.

 

  • To those who feel like they are faking it and who are longing for all that is real: let love become your identity. Find your significance in the perfect love of God and in sharing that love with those he brings into your life.

If you need any additional prayer and encouragement, please don’t hesitate to call or write.

(If you are struggling with what the meaning of “love” is, please read my post “Love = A Poured Out Life”)