Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The PATH Is Narrow


 COME: The PATH Is Narrow
I challenge you to believe more so than you ever have before.  I challenge you to depend upon Me more so than you ever have before.  Test Me and see if I will not be the God who provides that which you need.  Come now, My children, and believe.  Come now and walk with Me.  For, the way before you has been prepared. Find your way into My habitation and abide in it, for surely I will meet with you there.  It is a place of security, safety, great joy and revelation--a place of knowing Me intimately. I love you and care for you.  So, come.  Come with faith.  Cast aside your unbelief and your doubt and bring yourself fully into this habitation of joy. Enjoy your inheritance and the blessings of the kingdom that will NOW come, says the Lord.

The WAY:
In a vision I saw people walking up a narrow and rocky path in single file, and I heard the Lord say:  The road is long, and the way is narrow.  You must pay attention to every step and be careful to not impede your own spiritual progression or the progress of others through careless disobedience or walking in the flesh.  You must walk and live in the Spirit.  Your safety depends on it. 
Matthew 7:13-14  "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Jesus Is THE WAY!~
Come: Follow Me--TODAY!~

Sunday, January 13, 2013

The Kingdom Of God Will Prevail


The Kingdom of God's System: A Higher Way of Living



Did you know you can live a stress-free life in the midst of economic hardship, financial crises, and shortage? As amazing as it may sound, you can thrive and prosper in the midst of hard times. It just depends on the system in which you are operating. Those who belong to God have a higher way of life available to them because of their covenant with God. When you know your rights and the promises of God outlined in His Word, you will have absolutely no fear in the midst of chaos.

Make no mistake about it, the world’s system is failing. What is the world’s system? It is Satan’s way of doing things. Based on selfishness and fear, the world’s system is the opposite of God’s Kingdom. For example, when you need money, the world system tells you to go borrow or use credit to meet your needs. Its goal is to get you in financial bondage, not freedom. On the other hand, the Kingdom of God system is based on seed-time and harvest. When you have a financial need, you sow a seed and reap a harvest. God’s way of providing for His people has no strings attached.

Another example of the difference between these two systems is in the area of healing. The world’s way says when something is wrong physically to flood your body with medicine. While there is nothing wrong with getting the necessary treatment from a doctor when you need it, God’s way of doing things brings lasting healing. His wisdom, healing scriptures, and specific instructions to you regarding your health are better medicine than any doctor can provide.

God’s Kingdom is your safety net in the midst of turbulence. He has a promise for every situation you may face in this world. Job 5:22 says, “At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the Earth.” What a promise! That means when lack and shortage seem to loom all around you, you will be the one having the last laugh! Psalm 91 is also full of promises that guarantee protection from danger and destruction on every level.

The key to operating in God’s system is seed-time and harvest. You do not have to worry where your next meal is coming from or how your bills are going to be paid when you know your God. Your job, in God’s system, is to seek His way of doing things, which means sowing seed. When you focus your efforts on being a seed-sower, everything else will be added to you. There is nothing too hard for God, and as long as you have seed in the ground and are living your life in obedience to His Word, you have a harvest of abundance coming your way! When the world is freaking out, wondering what will happen next, you will be safely positioned in the secret place of the Most High God!

Developing a Kingdom mindset is going to take getting in the Word and renewing your mind. All our lives we have been trained to operate according to the world’s system; we must unlearn those old ways and habits and receive a new “download.” God’s thoughts are higher than the world’s and so are His plans for your life. You have a right to total life prosperity, in good times and bad. All you have to do is receive it by faith and learn to operate in God’s Kingdom.

Scripture References:  Job 5:22  Psalm 91  Genesis 8:22  Matthew 6:33

Sanctified For THE KING's Ways


Diverse Responses to The Gospel of His Kingdom
"...hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received [1] seed by the wayside. But he who received [2] the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately the stumbles. [3] Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
     "But he who received [4] seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."  Matthew 13:18-23

His Spirit-Led Citizens do His Will

"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever."
Matthew 6:9-13
"Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:16
"... you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8
Peter and John answered, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Acts 4:19-20
Peter and the other apostles said, "We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:29-32
Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.'
      "Pilate therefore said to Him, 'Are You a king then?'
      "Jesus answered, 'You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, 'that I should bear 'witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
John 18:36-37
Called to Unity Within His Kingdom

Jesus prayed: "Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are." John 17:11

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-20

Called to Separation from the World's System
"Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God." Romans 1:1-2
"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.'
      Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty."  2 Corinthians 6:14-18
"...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2
The World Hates the Citizens of the Kingdom
"I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." John 17:12-18
Jesus said, "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you... because they do not know Him who sent Me." John 15:18-21
"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.  And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:9-14

How To Enter The Kingdom NOW


Who Will -- or Will not -- Enter Into His kingdom

"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’" Matthew 7:21-23

"For many are called, but few chosen." Matthew 20:16
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
"...no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them." Ephesians 5:5-7
"...the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21
"I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:19-20
Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And those who heard it said, 'Who then can be saved?' But He said, 'The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.'" Luke 18:24-26
"‘Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding,
Who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not:
Do you not fear Me?’ says the Lord. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence?" 
Jeremiah 5:21-22
"No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62
Repentant Sinners Welcomed by the King
"I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him." Matthew 21:31
"I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him." Matthew 21:31
"He turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.'
      Then He said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'
      And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, 'Who is this who even forgives sins?'
      Then He said to the woman, 'Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.'"
Luke 7:44-50
"Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me." Matthew 18:1-5

How THE KING Rules & WE Reign


The Heavenly King Reigns In and Through His People on the Earth
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
"For indeed, the kingdom of God is 'within you." Luke 17:20

"...you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." John 14:20-21

"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words."
John 14:23-24

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered...." John 15:4-6

"...I say to you, 'unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.... Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:3-6
 
Calling His people to HIS Kingdom
"John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!'" Matthew 3:1-2

"Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God  is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:14-15
"...seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. " Luke 12:31-32
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14
Yet most people reject His Kingdom
"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14
"...woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." Matthew 23:13
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." John 5:39
"The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, 'See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.' But they made light of it and went their ways..." Matthew 22:2-5
"Jesus said to His disciples, 'Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:23-24

The KING & His Rule


Question: "What is the Kingdom of God?"

Answer:
The kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal sovereign God over all creatures and things (Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:3). The kingdom of God is also the designation for the sphere of salvation entered into at the new birth (John 3:5-7), and is synonymous with the “kingdom of heaven.”

The kingdom of God embraces all created intelligence, both in heaven and earth that are willingly subject to the Lord and are in fellowship with Him. The kingdom of God is, therefore, universal in that it includes created angels and men. It is eternal, as God is eternal, and it is spiritual—found within all born-again believers. We enter the kingdom of God when we are born again, and we are then part of that kingdom for eternity. It is a relationship "born of the spirit" (John 3:5), and we have confident assurance that it is so because the Spirit bears witness with our spirits (Romans 8:16).

God is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient and the ruler over all of His creation. However, the designation "the kingdom of God" compasses that realm which is subject to God and will be for eternity. The rest of creation will be destroyed. Only that which is part of the "kingdom of God" will remain.

Question: "What is the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven?"

Answer:
While some believe that the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are referring to different things, it is clear that both phrases are referring to the same thing. The phrase “kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books, while “kingdom of heaven” occurs only 32 times, and only in the Gospel of Matthew. In response to this, some interpreters have come to the conclusion, with the understanding of the Jewish nature of the Gospel of Matthew, that Matthew was writing concerning the millennial kingdom while the other New Testament authors were referring to the universal kingdom. However, a study of the use of the phrase reveals that this interpretation is in error.

For example, in the story of the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-24, Christ uses “kingdom of heaven” to speak of the spiritual kingdom. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’” (v. 23). In the very next verse, Christ proclaims, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” So, in answer to the rich young ruler’s question concerning eternal life (v. 16), Christ uses the phrases “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven” interchangeably.

Mark and Luke used “kingdom of God” where Matthew used “kingdom of heaven” quite frequently. In the same parable, the authors used different words, indicating that the two are referring to the same thing. Compare Matthew 11:11-12 with Luke 7:28; Matthew 13:11 with Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10; Matthew 13:24 with Mark 4:26; Matthew 13:31 with Mark 4:30 and Luke 13:18; Matthew 13:33 with Luke 13:20; Matthew 18:3 with Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16; and Matthew 22:2 with Luke 13:29. In each of these instances, Matthew used the phrase “kingdom of heaven” while Mark and/or Luke used “kingdom of God.” Clearly, the two phrases are interchangeable because they refer to the same thing.