The King Also Brought His Kingdom

I would think the main reason any Christian would list for the purpose of Christ's first visit would be to seek and save the lost. This is clearly supported by Jesus according to John 3:16.

However, there were two other goals during His life-mission - (1) to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8) and (2) proclaim the good news of His kingdom (Matt. 4:23). 

I hear many sermons and teachings on Salvation and the victory we have through Christ over the devil. But in addition to the securing of our eternal destination and triumph over the enemy of our souls -  Kingdom living is what we do in the meantime and He brought a better lifestyle from Heaven to live. Christ came as The King to bring His Kingdom.

Some things that I think comprise a kingdom are - the king, servants, citizens, royalty, rules, relationships, lifestyles, economy and a military as a good start.

Allow me to take you through a paraphrased history of God's kingdom. Before any kingdom or created thing there was just God (John 1:1). Then after the creation of angels and passing of eons with them as Heaven's population, the fall of Lucifer (Isa. 14:3-20) took a third of the angelic host from God's kingdom (Rev. 12:4). 

Sometime later, in God's grand design and timing, God created humankind in His image. Now the kingdom consisted of a perfect earth, a perfect, harmonious relationship between mankind (man and woman) and God, an unfallen angelic host and fallen angelic beings.

The rebellious angel, Lucifer, known by many now as Satan, tempted Eve in the form of a created creature - the serpent. Not only did humanity's relationship with God suffer and fall but all of creation was injected with the curse of rebellion with decay and death as its trophy or end result.

Enter the first major kingdom re-set, the Abrahamic Covenant. This was an agreement totally dependent upon God as Abraham walked out his faith in Yahweh to be the father of many nations. This was the first step by God in securing a people unto Himself.

The next major kingdom re-set was not necessarily a re-set so much as it was a further development and enhancement upon the Abrahamic Covenant. The Law of Moses that God delivered to Moses on Mt. Sinai was the written governing infrastructure for the then kingdom of God. These hundreds of laws in essence were meant to stress that the totality of The Law could not be kept by anybody except the promised God-man, The Messiah.

When Jesus of Nazareth came on the scene hundreds of years after The Law was established, Jesus brought The New Testament or New Covenant founded through Him. 

To prove His point in the most profound way, Jesus not only practiced what He preached but He also fulfilled every letter of The Law, the previous Mosaic Covenant, so that freedom to accept and live His kingdom way was possible.

Through the teachings of Jesus, His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection and later the teachings of His apostles, believers and disciples become royal family members who are guided by relationships and lifestyle mandates that identify them as kingdom members.

Some of those Scriptural passages that teach the Christian kingdom living while we wait for our King are as follows.

In Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 you can read in red letters the words of Christ about a variety of topics concerning kingdom living. The Be-Attitudes were a strong beginning to His sermon, but they were not all He had to teach. Read it.

James 3:1-12 speaks to the need for a rein over our speech. There is not a day that goes by that I do not observe the dire need to guard our words. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to be our filter.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, living life through the Holy Spirit is spelled out by Paul in Romans 8. Read it.

A life of faith in action is seen by the many witnesses of it in Hebrews 11. We receive the definition of faith in this chapter and then later in James 2:14-25 believers are admonished to not just be a talker but be a doer - let your actions support your faith.

Finally, daily consume the fruits of the spirit. Among some of the fruits documented in Galatians 5:13-16 are love, joy and peace. Some say we are what we eat. But many have proven the influences that input us, output us whether positive or negative. Why not make those daily influences Godly? Make a point to be loveable, joyful, peaceful and so forth whether anybody else is or not.

These are not all the handles, these are not all the Scriptural passages that instruct on kingdom behavior, but it is a good start. Remember King Jesus came and He saved, King Jesus came and destroyed the works of Satan, but The King Also Brought His Kingdom.

Not Only About His Ability, All About His Timing

Since Christians believe in the ever-present, all-knowing, all-powerful God - submitting a request to God is knowing this and surrendering to His Lordship, especially concerning the timing of one's request.

I recognize giving up all that you are and have to someone else's plan, even if the other plan is God's, is against our selfishness. This is a huge part of our fallen nature that God is continually trying to change in the believer. Christian's desire what we want, when we want it, how we want it - treating God like a genie sometimes.

However, Christ Jesus has visited this world and not only redeemed those who would accept His gift of salvation, but secured healing and the answer for all areas of our lives through His life, sacrifice and resurrection.

Now, even though believers have the assurance of that same resurrection power and spirit living within them, the Christian must still trust God in the timing of His promises.

There have been times in my life when I have believed I knew the timing, according to Scripture, only to be proven wrong shortly thereafter. I do not think seeing a definitive time for an answer to prayer is necessarily incorrect. Humanity lives within the confines of space, time and the conditions of our situation. But believers in Christ must mature/develop to the point where they release what they Scripturally don't know and what they think they Biblically know and confess - "Father Knows Best".

God's promises that are documented in Scripture are His, He made them and has paid for them dearly. God has the right to say when these promises are fulfilled even in the midst of our misunderstandings of Him and His timing.

Christians say that they trust God. I believe this trust has a lot to do with execution of our requests or knowing He has the ability. However, after becoming a believer in God through Christ, trusting God is Not Only About His Ability, but All About His Timing.

Living With God From Glory To Glory

One mountaintop in life, one success is not enough for full development or satisfaction. Therefore, we must live and look toward the next mountaintop, the next goal, the following glory. However, our expectation should be the Valley or No-Man's Land in between to be our vehicle, not our hindrance, to the next Glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (King James Version)

The New International Version reads, "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Notice that the next glory compared to the  Mountaintop you are presently celebrating is promised to be higher or increased - "with ever-increasing glory". Therefore some call the time that justifies that higher mountain-top, that higher glory of life The Valley or The Refiner's Fire. From Glory to Glory is boot camp. From Glory to Glory is training and development of things personal and spiritual. From Glory to Glory, He is changing me. 

Michael English sang it well - "There's not a crown without a cross." If you allow the change to take place and reach that Glorious mountaintop then there is a successful transformation; a glorious change.

The 2 Corinthians 3:18 passage says a transformation occurs between the Glories ("being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,"). The word "transformed" implies change and with change comes possible friction and uncomfortableness. But fret not, Paul instructs and encourages - this transformation comes from the Lord.

Even though we were made in God's likeness, the image of God - mind, body and soul - this 2 Corinthians 3:18 verse informs believers that during the journey of faith "being transformed" into His image is an ongoing thing, a continual development into His nature. 

When Christians neglect this process at any point during their walk with King Jesus, the Lord instructs through John to the church of Ephesus and all believers through the ages to remember - "You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first." (Revelation 2:4-5)

Living from glory to glory cannot be done alone. We will have other believers to lean on and seek out during our faith-walk with the Lord, but none can compare to the One that Jesus promised believers always as He returned to Father God's right-hand side. 

Jesus asked and Father God sent the Parakletos. That is the Greek word for one who is called alongside another to comfort and counsel. This particular ministry is manifested through The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, living within the believer in Christ. Scriptures that speaks to this beautiful, guiding and leadership role the Holy Spirit takes in the Christian's life are found in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7.

The success of attaining the next glory or elevated goal is determined by the Christian allowing the Holy Spirit's leadership and guidance daily. God is the ultimate gentleman. He does have a plan for your life, however He earnestly desires each believer to be whole-heartedly invested in His perspectives, promises and plan. 

Therefore, the Christian's responsibility during their lifetime with the Lord is to submit his/her own will and ways to the Lord and invite the Holy Spirit to lead every day, asking Him to make clear - His plan as the two of you strive for the next glory in life.

As a help, living truthfully will go a long way, in aiding yourself and the Holy Spirit to reach the next glory. Colossians 3:9-10 says, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."

There is that pursuit of the image of God mentioned again. And in that chase for His image - not lying, the opposite of the enemy's nature, is a great place to begin. Live a life of integrity. Do not embellish or exaggerate the truth. Shoot straight from the hip, as they say. Speak plainly. Start and maintain this in your private life and it will bleed-over into your public life where people will notice your truthful nature and you will be on your way to the next mountaintop.

A warning here. The minute you desire to start living this way - from glory to glory, with the Holy Spirit and life filled with truth and integrity - don't be surprised when you notice resistance.

There are two lions in Scripture and living with the right one is vital while you are transforming or in the developing stage of glories. 

The first lion is the lion you do not want to listen too. This lion makes so much noise that it is trying to deafen you to God's voice. And don't be shocked if he repeats a lot of the same thing like a natural lion might circle it's prey time and time again. 1 Peter 5:8 describes the first lion this way - "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." The encouragement is to "be alert and of sober mind". 

The second lion is another name for Christ Jesus found in Revelation 5:5 - the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. "In Genesis, as Jacob blesses his children, he promises Judah that his brothers will praise him and that they will bow down to him. Jacob also tells Judah, “You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?” (Genesis 49:9). Jacob says that in the future the scepter and ruler’s staff will not depart from Judah “until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be His” (Genesis 49:10). This messianic prophecy points forward to the second coming of the Lord Jesus, the descendant of Judah who will rule the earth (Revelation 19:11–16)."

https://www.gotquestions.org/lion-tribe-Judah.html

This Lion, Christ Jesus, is to be heard and grasped. His words, power and promises are to be trusted. 

In between the glories is rough terrain. The Lone Ranger was one of the greatest misnomers of all titles and storylines because he had his companion Tonto alongside. How much more are Christians not alone.

Christians are blessed with the Counselor, Comforter and Lion of Judah alongside them in their corner should they allow a daily place for them. Walking the journey of faith with the responsibility of truthfulness and integrity falls to believers with this partnership as Christians work out Living With God From Glory To Glory.

Seeking God's Wisdom

I have always wanted to be someone with the right words at the right time for someone going through a tough season of life. Proverbs 15:23 says it like this - "A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!" Many times I ask God - What should I say here God? What should I do at this point Lord? How should I be thinking about this King Jesus?

These are all awesome questions that I do not ask enough concerning my own life. The inquiries require me to pause long enough for me to receive inspiration from the Holy Spirit on God's leading. And in this world of instant this and that, pausing is difficult.

When I examine the instance when Solomon sought God out for wisdom in governing God's people instead of fame, riches and defeat over his enemies - I always want to pat Solomon on the back. God not only granted his request for wisdom, but gave Solomon wisdom greater than that of anyone known. But wait! There's more! God granted Solomon the things he did not ask for - popularity, wealth and military victories.

This is just one Biblical example of what trusting in and seeking God's wisdom first will acquire for you and me. Perhaps not fame, riches and defeat of enemies - but James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." So ask.

Knowledge is wonderful to obtain but becomes powerful when you wisely apply it. Staying in God's Word and soaking up what The Lord and His Holy Spirit has to impart to you is step one. The next part is to allow God's water, His knowledge to overflow from our lives into the lives of others in the form of wisdom. 

As Christians, the charge is to be aware of our surroundings. Read the room - so to speak. Know the situations around you, pray for God's wisdom and love on people as you look for opportunities to share the right word at the right time. This is the kind of healthy results that come from Seeking God's Wisdom. 

Jesus Laughed.

Jesus laughed. This sentence is found nowhere in Scripture. "Jesus wept." is found in John 11:35 and is the shortest verse in the Bible. Besides this being the shortest verse in Scripture, we can be well assured that Jesus experienced all emotions, including laughter or light-heartedness and joy. 

The depiction many receive of Jesus is from Isaiah 53:2-3.....

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem."

This portrait of Jesus is justified because His mission was a serious and critical one, plus He was all about His Father's business. "Traditionally, paintings of Jesus have tended toward melancholy portrayals of a somber, glum Savior. It is true that Jesus became our Sin-bearer (1 Peter 2:24) and that He “was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus was rejected in His hometown (Mark 6:1–6), He wept at a friend’s graveside (John 11:35), and of course He experienced the cross. However, this does not mean Jesus never had a lighthearted moment or that He never had occasion to laugh." [https://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-ever-laugh.html]

However, His Father's business, the Heavenly Father's business took Jesus to the likes of parties and celebrations where there was joy and laughter. "The picture of Jesus that we find in the Gospels is one of a well-rounded, magnetic personality. He carried children in His arms—and what child wants to be around someone who never laughs (Mark 10:16)? He was accused of being too joyful on occasion (Luke 7:34)." 

[https://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-ever-laugh.html]

Jesus Christ is The Creator in human form. Since man and woman are made in His image (Genesis 1:26), He wired emotions within us. Therefore, the God-Man also had and has the full range of emotions and Jesus Laughed.

You Will Be Blessed/Happy

The day of The Sermon on the Mount was a huge day in the life and ministry of Jesus. The Be-Attitudes as they have been deemed, that lead off Christ's teaching, are just that - the lead off. There are two additional chapters, Matthew 6 and 7, where Jesus instructs on topics such as being salt and light to the world, Him being the fulfillment of the Law, God's view on murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, taking an eye for an eye, loving your enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, treasures in heaven, not worrying, judging others, the art of seeking God, the narrow and wide gates, true and false prophets, true and false disciples, plus the wise and foolish builders.

Jesus did not stop at His speech either. Immediately following His teaching, He came down the mount and began His healing ministry to those in need. What a day for Him and them!

However, when focusing in on the Be-Attitudes we find that those instructions are a good and strong start to what Jesus had to communicate. A change of lifestyle is what Jesus was trying to implement. Kingdom lifestyle that He represented and now taught meant in order to live the "blessed" life or as the original Greek word is translated - "happy" life - then the second half of the equation or sentence had to be carried out.

Matthew records Jesus saying,

• Blessed [or happy] are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
• Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
• Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
• Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
• Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
• Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:3-12)

Notice that "Blessed" comes first. Notice that Jesus mentions a person's state of happiness within the condition first before the action, then the reward. He could have structured the sentence with the condition first followed by the state of happiness, then the reward, like - Those who are poor in spirit are blessed for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Either way communicates the point that the blessed state or happy life will be acquired if one pursues the call to action within each Be-Attitude. However, I believe there is purpose in Jesus saying the Be-Attitudes this way. There is a stressing on our thoughts and actions as we enter a situation that we are blessed/happy or should be as we humble ourselves, comfort those who mourn, be merciful and so forth. 

This is a radical mindset on the approach to living that Jesus is teaching. The change may be difficult to make a permanent behavior at first. However, the plan of action is essential in every lifestyle statement of Jesus and the concentration or focus Jesus places in the Be-Attitudes is the knowledge You Will Be Blessed/Happy.