Thanks Be To God - - For HIs Kingdom

 

1 CORINTHIANS 4:20

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Corinthians 2:4, 5

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 932

Kingdom: sovereignty, authority, realm; the realm in which  a king sovereignly rules

From the Greek word 'basileia' (pronounced bas-il-i'-ah). 

The word 'kingdom' refers to any location wherein a king rules with sovereign power. Whether that location is a physical location; for instance, on a map, where you can pinpoint a kingdom. Kingdoms are built and kingdoms are destroyed. Be careful who is ruling in the kingdom of your hearts. If God lives in you by the Power of Christ, the God is your King. If, however, God does not live in you, then Satan is your king. 

If we are God's servants, we wear the armor He has provided for us (Ephesians 6:10-20). Such armor makes it possible for we who are of God's kingdom to take down and overpower the kingdom of darkness, where spiritual wickedness rules (Ephesians 6:12).

If we are living righteous lives according to the righteousness of God and His Word, then the kingdom of God is, indeed, in our midst. 

Luke 17:21

Nor will people say, 'Look, here it is,' or 'There it is.' For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst."

And what do the Scriptures say is the kingdom of God? =

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS CHRIST

1 Corinthian 1:24

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIFE IN THE HOLY GHOST 

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD CANNOT BE DESTROYED BUT WILL ITSELF DESTROY 

Daniel 2:44

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT OF THIS WORLD

John 18:36

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Have you asked God to set up His kingdom in Your hearts? Have you repented of your transgressions against His laws? Are you letting His Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost direct your steps. Are you soaking in God's presence by reading and studying His Word? If we don't make time for God now, why would He make time for us later? We need God now. We need Jesus Christ now. We crave the indwelling of the Trinity within us: to feed us, to lead us, to raise us up. 

Dear God,

Thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to be my Savior; to be the King of my heart and the Lord of my life. Lord, I want Your kingdom built up in me. Take my heart to be Yours and reign in me.

O God, hear our prayer! Hear the cries of our hearts! Come, Lord Jesus, and take up residence in our hearts. We/I want to be Your people, Your children, Your servants, Your friends. I want to hear You say that I am Your friend. I long to hear Your voice say that I have been a good and faithful servant. 

O Father, set up Your kingdom in me: reign forever in me. Be my God and I will be Your holy nation. Move through me, through us. We are a kingdom of workers. Our legs go where you direct our feet to walk. Our mouths open to speak the words of Your heart. Our arms are raise in worship, our hands are stretched out before us in surrender to You.

In Jesus' Holy Name, I pray,

Amen

 

Kingdom Medley playlist

For Want of A Nail

 

Start Again 

--by Hy. Pickering/1,000 Tales Worth Telling

"Therefore, my beloved brethren  (brothers and sisters in Christ), be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of The LORD, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in The LORD. 

1 Corinthians 15:58

A Christian man was giving away Gospel tracts on board a steamer. A gentleman who accepted one in a gracious way, said, "I have not much faith in that kind of work." Said the Christian, "It was through a Gospel tract given to me in Glasgow twenty years ago that I was converted." The gentleman showed considerable interest , and asked for particulars. On hearing the young man's story about the tract, the gentleman said, "I am the one who gave you the tract. For years I ceaselessly distributed tracts but I saw so little result form my efforts that years ago I ceased scattering them. But by the grace of God I shall start again." 

(Treasury of Gospel Gems, 1944)

An Everlasting Kingdom

We know that this world is not our home; that a better world awaits us. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us we are "a holy nation...called out of darkness". 2 Peter 3 reminds us of how we should be living, as this day is quickly upon us. Quickly. So long ago chronologically, yet so quickly it has come upon us.

We recognize that God is God Almighty, Creator of the universes and everything therein. We see Him in part now, but soon face to face. And we must be prepared to remain with Him, or we will lose everything we are without Him.

2 Peter 3:11-13 "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, where in the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

It is for His pleasure that we are created and we should be glad, communicating with, and to, each other His great accomplishments in our lives. To wit, with what great love He has loved us!

We are His creations and we should be treating each other with honor, loving each other in the manner in which Christ loves us: with an unconditional, everlasting love. A love that will last beyond this earth and into the next. A love that overlooks one another's faults. A love that passes from one generation to the next. A love that can only come from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.

It is this love that binds us to God, through the blood of Jesus Christ, by the power of The Holy Spirit. It is this love that motivates us to share the wonderful news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once I was a sinner, but now am I set free.

Through the blood of Jesus Christ, who died upon a tree, my sins are washed away, and my heart is made clean.

We must repent of our sins, our ungodliness, our wicked ways, ask for forgiveness from God, receive it and be made over anew, born again.

We must seek His Holy Spirit in earnest, that we may receive God's promise of power to witness.

If we try to tell others about Jesus and The Holy Spirit without knowing either of them fully, we will fail miserably. We must be saved by the blood and filled with The Spirit to testify of the mighty things God has done for us!

We are the elders now, and it is our responsibility to keep the flame of The Spirit kindled within us that we may share the gospel with this generation and the next, that they too may walk in love and in power. We need to be praying for our loved ones who are still lost in the darkness, that they may answer the call and receive what God has promised them as well.

His kingdom grows, when we tell others about Jesus and they receive Jesus into their hearts and lives. His kingdom grows when we obey His Word and live accordingly. We work for Him because we love Him. We give Him all the glory and praise and honor for Who He Is.

America, Seek God

If My people which are called by My Name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14


It is not enough to ask God to bless America. Just having "God Bless America" printed on our money is not an indication that America is going to receive God's blessing. Preaching on street corners, praying on courthouse steps and carrying signs at protest rallies is no guarantee of receiving God's blessing. Hanging a sign in your window, leaving the family Bible open on the coffee table, and waving the American flag in parades is not going to bring God's blessing to our nation.

God's people are the ones who are called by His Name: Christians. Where is the Christian who is humble? Where is the Christian who prays from the heart? Where is the Christian who seeks God's face? Where is that Christian who has turned from his or her wicked ways? Should you stand up and be counted? Not hardly.

As Isaiah said, "Here am I, Lord; send me." Can you say that today? If you know in your heart that you can't, then you need to get back down on your knees and beg God's forgiveness for your pride. For it is pride that prevents us from being humble. It is pride that keeps us standing up when we should be kneeling. It is pride that turns our face inward to focus on ourselves instead of upward seeking God. It is pride that will be our downfall.

It is pride that prevents God's people from performing our duties and fulfilling our purpose:
1 Timothy 2:1-4
I exhort therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.


So, whether you voted him in or not, our responsibility to God is to pray for our President, our Senators, our  Representatives, our Governors, our Mayors. Even if you don't agree with the current policies. Even if you don't like the person in any way, shape or form. Our duty is to pray for him or her; to beg on their behalf to God; to intercede for them before God; to thank God not only for who is in authority over us but to be thankful for that person or persons.

Your prayers or my prayers or the combination of you and I coming together to pray for our leaders, whether they are Christians or not, will result in first, a quiet and peaceful life. Second, their possible salvation through Christ. Third, that they will come unto the knowledge of the truth.

What is truth? Jesus Christ. He is the Way. He is the Truth. He is the Life. Nobody enters into God's presence unless they go through Jesus first. And that is God's will for everyone. So let's get busy praying for our leaders. Now.

Brought Down and Fallen

Psalm 20:6-8

Now know I that the Lord saveth His anointed; 

He will hear him from His holy heaven

With the saving strength of His right hand.

Some trust in chariots,

and some in horses: 

But we will remember the name

of the Lord our God.

They are brought down 

and fallen: but we

Are risen and stand upright.

"Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit",saith the Lord. (Zechariah 4:6) We are on all sides attacked. On the eastern borders of our kingdom is out and out hatred for the God we serve and represent. Perhaps we have done a poor example of representation. No, no perhaps about it. We have failed in our ambassadorial positions. Wolves in sheep's clothing claiming to be Christians and followers of Christ have been mistaken for actual ambassadors.

We have done nothing to stop this infiltration, but sleep in our pews and slumber in our beds. Where is the Warrior-Bride whom Christ is returning for? She is no sleeping beauty to be awakened by love's kiss! We need to be on our knees seeking God's face! Seeking His forgiveness for our laziness, our carelessness, our disobedience. Our slack has caused our downfall.

O God, forgive us our trespasses as we forgives those who trespass against us. We have not sought our daily Bread, nor thirsted for Living Water. We have settled for dung heaps and putrid water. Make us over, Lord; wash us clean; seize our hearts and our minds and fill us completely with Yourself. Use us to the advancement of Your kingdom. Breathe not only in us, but through us into another. And another. And another................

Psalm 18:3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies. v 6,7 .. my cry came before Him, even into His holy ears. Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because He was wroth. v32 It is God that girds me with strength. v34 He teaches my hands to war. v35 Thy right hand has held me up. v37 I have pursued and overtaken my enemies.

 It is God who strengthens in times of battle, in times of war. It is God who saves from certain destruction. It is God who teaches us to fight, to overcome. In the presence of my enemies, it is God who saves me. It is God who loves me and gives me His heart's desire. It is God. And none other. 

Rise up Church!

Matthew 6:33 "Seek you first the KINGDOM of GOD..................."

We need a plan, a map, before we do anything or go anywhere for anything else in our lives, so we will probably need a plan before we go looking for this Kingdom of God, too. Think of it like geo-caching. Something precious is buried somewhere and you and I have to find it in order to own it and possibly share it. It all depends on what we find. Whenever we begin a search of any type, we need to always begin with the 6 basic questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.

1. What is the Kingdom of God?

2. Where is the Kingdom of God?

3. Who are the inhabitants of the Kingdom of God?

4. Why do I want to go to the Kingdom of God?

5. How do get to the Kingdom of God?

6. When will I know I am in the Kingdom of God?