September 16, 2012

    The Kingdom Of God Is Here....Now     

Luke 9: 23 - 27

Luke

Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.  And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process?  If a person is ashamed of me and my message, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.  And I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the Kingdom of God."   

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Thoughts.....

Have you ever had times when you are reading along and something jumps out at you from the content of the message?  Not to diminish all the rest of the content, but the last line is a clincher for me today.  But let's start at the beginning and see where God leads. 

In the first sentence, Jesus throws in a whole lot.  If you any of you wants to be his follower, you must

put aside your selfish ambition

shoulder your cross daily

follow him.   

Wow.  So, does that mean you shouldn't be who you wanted to be....a Doctor, a Lawyer, an Indian Chief?  And lest you think the latter doesn't really exist today, it most certainly does.  It is as revered a position as the other two.  If any of those positions or others is what God is calling you to, then by all means, it is what you should do.  But do it with HIM.

Is spending money and time on that antique hot rod the way to go, rather than spending time with God, learning his word and sharing it?  How about that shopping spree for the 200th dress you want to own?  Becoming a computer game playing geek vs using the computer to learn more about God and sharing his message with the world?   Hmmmmm.  By the way, I've never been a computer game player for the record....in case you might wonder.  I do really good to know how to turn it on, read/send emails, google/bing for research and share God's message on Sundays.  

It boils down to 'I want to do this' vs 'I should do that'.  Doing without God vs doing with God.  We are ALL guilty of the 'want to do' vs the 'should do'.  Is there ever a time to do the 'want to do'?  Of course.  It should just not be all encompassing for our life.  There needs to be balance.  Seek first the Kingdom of God.  Amazing what will happen, if you do.

Shoulder your cross daily.  Just as Jesus literally shouldered the cross, he also shouldered his cross as he dealt with people who chastised him, ostracized him, attacked him, didn't believe in him.....killed him.  Is there someone in your life who doesn't believe in you, or that you can achieve?  Have you been chastised for doing something you believe in that is right?  Maybe mocked because you cared?  Have you been put aside by others because you don't belong to their little group?  Yup, well, welcome aboard.....Jesus went through the same thing as the rest of us.

Are you sick or ailing and can't do what you've always done, but you can do something different, even though it may not be something that you always wanted to do or is easy?  Have you been burdened with problems of others, when you can barely keep your head above water?  Shoulder your cross.....and follow him.

You see, if you are looking at him, focused on Jesus, learning his ways, the load will be lighter.  Life will no longer appear as a burden, but a gift.  A by-product of that gift, is forgiveness of sins and eternal life....if you accept him as Lord and Savior.  Having accepted him as Lord and Savior, well, then, the Kingdom of God will have arrived....in you. 

Jesus said, "If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it."  It will end in death.  You will not receive forgiveness of sins.  You will not have the opportunity to receive eternal life. 

He said, "But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life."  Because true life is defined as having the Kingdom of God and joy within, forgiveness of sins, being unselfish, being loving, being given the opportunity to receive eternal life, who wouldn't want true life?  Why would anyone want to throw their life away?

And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process?  You see, forfeiting your soul means you lose the opportunity to get to heaven....and be forgiven of your sins along the way.  So what if you have millions in the bank, a mansion, many clothes, great cars, etc.?  What have you got?  Fame, fortune, wealth?  What if you are poor, have little to nothing?   What if you steal, take advantage of, live off others....kill?  Do you have forgiveness of sins?  Will you have eternal life?  Can you take anything with you to heaven?  No.  Will it even matter at the point of death what you have/have not, done/not done?  Ahhhhh ya...it will.  Who you are.....at the core of your being.....who you love.....and have given your life for.....matters.  Jesus matters, and, making the choice to accept him as Lord and Savior, be forgiven of your sins, living a life worthy of receiving eternal life matters. 

If a person is ashamed of me and my message, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.  "There is salvation in no one else!  There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them."  Acts 4:12  Quoting Jesus, " I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep, he said.  All others who came before me were thieves and robbers.  But the true sheep did not listen to them.  Yes, I am the gate.  Those who come in through me will be saved.  Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.  The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  Luke 10: 7b-10  Surely you can do for him as he has for you.....lay down your life....receive him.

For those wondering about whether angels exist....apparently they do.  Jesus clearly indicates holy angels will receive glory.

And then he says, "And I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the Kingdom of God."  Whammy.  This is the sentence that stands out for me.   

When Jesus healed someone he would say "The Kingdom of God is near you now."  Luke 10:9.  Why is that?  Because they had the opportunity to accept him as Lord and Savior, at which time, the Kingdom of Heaven is ushered in. 

Ok, I hear some of you sputtering....bear with me.              

Jesus did not require that anyone being healed accept him as Messiah, Lord.  The Kingdom was NEAR them because they had the opportunity to then accept him as such, having experienced what he did for them.  Also, in Matthew 12:28, Jesus said, "But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you."  Meaning he was, or was from, or the opportunity to be a part of the Kingdom of God was available.  Or all of the above.

In Matthew 24:14, he said, "And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached through the whole world, so that all the nations will hear it, and then, finally the end will come."  The NIV refers to it as the Gospel of the Kingdom.  That's right after he says the those who endure to the end will be saved.  Hmmmmm.

In Matthew 26:29 Jesus said, "Mark my words - I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom."    

Follow my thoughts....

You may argue the Kingdom of God can't come until Jesus comes...or comes back.  How many times does he have to come...or come back?

Count this:

1.  He came....when he was born.   

2.  He came back and forth across the shores and through towns.  Note Luke 10:9.  Throwing this in for good measure.

3.  He came back from hell 3 days after he died.  Mary Magdalene was instructed not to touch him because he had not yet ascended to the Father.  John 20:17  He was in spirit form.

4.  He came back in spirit to those on the road to Emmaus, went with them, broke bread and 'aphantos'....vanished..  Luke 24:13-34

5.  He came back when the disciples were telling the story from the travels to Emmaus.  Although he 'appeared', suddenly standing there among them,  he had apparently ascended to the Father, because he ate with them, and told them to touch him to prove his wounds were real.  Luke 24:35-43

6.  He came back when he appeared to Thomas and told him to touch his wounds.  John 20:26-29

7.  He came back when he appeared to the 7 disciples on the Sea of Galilee.  John 21:1-14.  Although this reference states this is the 3rd time Jesus appeared since he had been raised from the dead, it was perhaps what only John experienced.

8.  He will come again to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom shall have no end.  Creed from Nicea.

Jesus' first coming was when he was born.  His second coming then, 3 days after he died and rose from hell.  You may choose to include this visit to those on the road to Emmaus as part of his second coming because he was still in spirit.  But he ATE food on his third coming, indicating he HAD ascended into heaven, proven by him allowing his wounds to be touched.  You may incorporate Thomas' experience with this third coming as well as his visit to the shore of the Sea of Galilee. 

Regardless of how many times he has come, he does comes, comes back, or comes again....(most believe in Jesus' second coming as the end of the world, or to usher it in...as in # 8 above) the Kingdom of God HAS arrived, IS here.  Jesus said, "I assure you that some of you standing here right now will not die before you see the Kingdom of God."  Some of them would indeed accept Jesus as Messiah, Lord....allowing them to see (believe in, feel, live in, have within, and surrounding them) the Kingdom of God.   

Thus saith the Lord.  This is not new.  He has clearly given us the information....it's been in our hands for years.  We've only had to grasp it.  Search the scriptures more fully for yourself with Holy Spirit allowing him to reveal even more. So, when he comes to heal you, will you accept his healing?  The next time he comes....will you allow him to enter your heart....as you say, "Come"?  Have you already accepted him into your heart?  Praise God!  The Kingdom of God is here! for you!   

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Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I just praise you and thank you that I can see the Kingdom of God!  Alleluia!  May all others accept you and see the Kingdom of God as well.  Help us all share the gospel of the Kingdom of God, so that the heavens will barely contain us on that day when you call us home.  When we will feel your love and healing touch in a new way.  An eternal, life - giving way.  May my life be a testament to the Kingdom of God, so you may receive all the glory.  Please forgive me of my sins.  I do not want anything in the way of you receiving glory.  And teach me all your truths.  Remove the scales from my eyes to hear only what you have to tell me.  Holy Spirit, you are the teacher of all truth....I thank you this day.... and every day to come....for all you are going to reveal to me....and to the world of those who believe.  May we go forth in the brilliance of the 'bright morningstar'.....Jesus.  Thy Kingdom come, on earth, as it is in heaven......Amen.     

Lord,LordJesJeJeJJjEJJJ     JJThe LORD is king!  Let the nations tremble!  T***

More love.... 

  Benediction....Blessing

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!   

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regularly to us, or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Current Cause

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you! 

BesidesBesid   

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided. 

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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