The Kingdom of heaven is like a garden to cultivate and hidden treasures to seek

 

 

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We also know from the “Parable of the Sower” (a) that only those who hear the gospel logos message of God (b) about the kingdom, understand it, and not only lambano “grabbing for oneself” (c), or dechomai “warmly receptive, welcoming” it (d), or choreo “make available space or an open heart for it” (e), but it has to take “solid root within him” even through the many troubles or persecution that will come because of the gospel (f), who won’t fall away as a result, whose fruitfulness is not choked out by the anxieties, concerns, and cares of this world or the deceitfulness of riches, but that will grow and produce fruit within the kingdom. <Notes> a) Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23; Mark 4:1-12; Luke 8:4-10, b) logos in the NT is most often used of the preached gospel message:  Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5; Acts 8:25, 15:7, c) Matthew 13:20, 19:11-12; Mark 4:16; Luke 8:13, 18:17, 19:12, 15; John 1:11-12, 5:43, 12:48, 13:20, 14:17, d) Matthew 10:14, 40, 18:5; Mark 9:37, 6:11, 10:15; Luke 9:48, 53, 18:17; Acts 11:1, 17:11; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 11:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 2:13; James 1:21, e) Matthew 19:11-12; John 8:37; 2 Peter 3:9, f) Acts 14:22.

 

In fact, it’s extremely difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven because of their love and trust in money and what it can buy (a). But from the “Parable of the Mustard Seed” (b), the size of the “seed” that is the logos gospel message need not be great. Even the smallest of such seeds can grow up into a massive tree to benefit so many people – see The Least Among You. Thus is Christ’s kingdom when planted in us! <Notes> a) Matthew 19:23-24; Mark 10:23- 25; Luke 18:24-35, b) Matthew 13:31-31; Mark 4:30-34, Luke 13:18-19.

 

We also know from “The Parable of the Hidden Treasure” (a) that the kingdom is like selling everything you have to buy a field when you joyfully discover a treasure in it. From “The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value” (b), the kingdom is like a pearl merchant, who upon finding one pearl of great value sold everything he had to buy it. This really shows the unequaled worth of being a part of the kingdom – worth sacrificing everything for it. The Lord has told me on more than one occasion that the “treasure” and “pearl of great value” is actually Christ living in us by the means of the Holy Spirit, the kingdom of God within us – see Kingdom – BT1. This is worth giving up everything else in life to acquire! <Notes> a) Matthew 13:44, b) Matthew 13:45-46.

 

Finally, in the “Parable of the Unforgiving Servant” (a), Jesus makes it clear that we really can’t insist that God forgive us of all our many sins if we hold onto unforgiveness for others’ relatively few sins (b), and so this should be a key part of our proseuche conversational-prayer for God’s “kingdom to come and His will to be done” (c). <Notes> a) Matthew 18:21-35, b) see also Matthew 6:14-15; James 2:13, c) Matthew 6:12; Mark 11:25.

 

Reflection:

 

 

As Christian musicians, let us “aggressively take hold of, warmly receive, and open our hearts up” for the kingdom of God to come inside us and for God’s will to be done by the enabling-power of the Holy Spirit.  Let us plant the gospel message deep within us so the cares of this world and its riches don’t distract us, but that “seed” of Christ grows up into a might tree to produce much fruit for God.  Let us value Christ living in us more than anything else in this world.  Because such a great debt has been taken away from us, let us also forgive others of their wrongs against us.

 

Prayer:

 

 

Lord, make me hungrier for You to live in me with all your fullness by Your Spirit of holiness more than any other temptation or care in this world.  Then Your kingdom can come and Your will be done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kingdom is only possible by the promised grace-gift of the Holy Spirit

 

 

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Ongoingly taking a hold of the “good grace-gift” of the promised Holy Spirit is the only way to ongoingly have God’s “Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as in heaven.” In Luke’s account of the Lord’s Prayer model (a), Jesus doesn’t just encourage us to proseuchomai conversationally-pray for God’s heavenly “Kingdom to come and will to be done,” but to persevere in such proseuche conversational-prayer until we receive what we have “routinely aiteo confidently-asked for, routinely knocked on the door for, and routinely zeteo cravingly-sought to find.” We know Jesus isn’t talking about persevering in proseuche conversational-prayer until you get your new Mercedes Benz or even “your daily bread” (b), as if that had anything to do with physical bread (c), but for the Holy Spirit (d). <Notes> a) Luke 11:1-13, cf. Matthew 6:5-14, 7:7- 11, b) Luke 11:3, c) see Prophetic-Rhema – BT5, d) Luke 11:13.

 

A good teacher always ends his discourse on the subject he started with – with the main point: The Holy Spirit is the means/instrument, the enabling-power, for “God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done” in our individual lives “on earth as it is already in heaven.” The entire Prayer model is about individual fellowship with trusting-relying-faith in God. There’s absolutely no focus on grand societal, political, or evangelical transformation! All change must start from within, just as Jesus said:  “The kingdom of God is in your midst.” That’s why Paul strongly urges individual Christians to “no longer get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery, but to routinely be filled-to-completion by the means of the Spirit (a) with all the fullness of God, which is the result of experientially, relationally ginosko knowing The Unconditional-Love of Christ that surpasses gnosis info-knowledge (b). <Notes> a) Ephesians 5:18, b) Ephesians 3:19.

 

We see from the “Parable of the 10 Virgins” (a), half the people waiting for Christ to return are trying to do it without the oil in their lamps, and we know that oil is a common symbol for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, our fire will just flicker out!  This is really talking about those tenants of God (Israel) who didn’t produce fruit from His vineyard (b), who ultimately killed God’s servants (the Prophets), even His Son (c). These passages are talking about the unbelieving Jewish leaders who don’t have the oil of anointing as the indwelling Holy Spirit, who don’t have an experientially, relationally ginosko knowing fellowship with Christ (d), who even deny Christ (e), and in fact are always resisting the Holy Spirit just as their ancestors did (f). <Notes> a) Matthew 25:1- 13, b) see also Luke 13:6-9, c) Matthew 21:33-35; see also Matthew 5:12, 22:6, 23:37; Luke 19:11- 27, d) Matthew 7:21, 11:27, 25:12; Luke 10:22; John 17:3; 2 Timothy 2:19, e) Matthew 10:33, f) Acts 7:51.

 

This has absolutely nothing to do with the part of the saved Church not being ready or not, as I’ve heard too many preach. Who was invited into the marriage feast? Of course, ALL the brides, and they were the half who had the oil anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the NT is clear that the “Bride of Christ” are ALL saved, the New Jerusalem from heaven, the holy city of God, the wife of the Lamb, and a Kingdom of priests, who because they have the anointing ALL have eido mental ‘seeing’ to perceive/knowledge and thus have absolutely in fact no need for any man teach them because the anointing teaches them everything (a). <Notes> a) John 3:29; Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 18:23, 19:7, 21:2, 9, 22:17; 1 John 2:20-27.

 

Reflection:

 

 

As Christian musicians, if we want “Thy kingdom come and Thy will to be done” in our lives like it is in heaven, we are going to need to do more than just pray for it.  We will have to get the dunamis supernatural, dynamite-like power source that makes it possible – the Holy Spirit filling us up with all the abundant-fullness of God, and to do this we must routinely confidently-ask, persevere in our knocking, and crave it as we routinely seek for it.  We do this in proseuche conversational-prayer!  Without the anointing, we are powerless.

 

Prayer:

 

 

Lord, strengthen our resolve to press into Your presence until we receiving Your anointing of the Holy Spirit with the power to live a holy life and witness for You.  Never let us be complacent, thinking we can live Your kingdom and Will by our own “might and power.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kingdom is possessed by the beggarly poor in Spirit and the little children

 

 

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Jesus tells us who will possess the kingdom of God: “Blessed/enviably-happy are the ptochos beggarly poor [people] IN the Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (a).  Here “Spirit” with the definite article “the” in the [singular] dative case (tw pneumati) almost always refers to the Holy Spirit and not to all plural human spirits, and certainly not to all people who were emotionally down and humbled by life’s circumstances!  It’s crazy what people come up with!  Also, “Spirit” above is singular and “poor” and “their” are plural, so they can’t be referring to the same person. Therefore, you absolutely cannot translate it: “All those who are poor in their human spirits are blessed, because they possess the kingdom of heaven.”  The crazy things people come up with!  <Notes> a) Matthew 5:3; see Luke 6:20 for an abbreviated version.

 

Remember that James 2:5 says: “God has chosen those who are ‘poor’ (context: physically) in the world to be ‘rich’ in trusting-relying-faith and/coupled heirs of the kingdom, which He has promised to those who unconditionally-love Him.” And Jesus certainly isn’t saying in the next verse of Matthew 5:4 that “All those who [physically] mourn are comforted.”  Our experience will tell us this – many people commit suicide after great sorrow that found no comfort!  This would be a forced reading, but that’s the way I’ve heard it preached so many times, that the “remorseful, tearful, sorrowful, humbled, even oppressed” poor are the ones especially blessed by God! Crazy! That’s not what I see at the homeless shelters in my town – they are miserable!  And many of them have no intention at all of repenting from their road straight to hell!

 

Jesus told the religious leaders, “I have not come to call ‘the righteous’ (a) but sinners to repentance” (b) and to “bear fruit(s) in keeping with repentance” (c). “Beggarly poor in Spirit” is not simply a state of “remorse, sorrowful tears, regret, or humility” of a human spirit either that brings the blessing of heaven’s kingdom!  Remember what Paul said: “I rejoiced, not because you were grieved (e), but because you were grieved eis towards-and-reaching repentance. For you felt a Godly grief, . . . , for Godly grief actually, ongoingly produces (f) a repentance eis towards-and-reaching salvation (g) without emotional regret, whereas grief (e) of/from/belonging to the world ongoingly produces death” (d). Only turning away from the world to Christ rescues a person from this dying world, no matter how much you cry over what we experience in it! Paul was confident the Lord would rescue him from every evil deed and bring him safely into His heavenly kingdom – that’s salvation (h)! <Notes> a) at least they think they are, b) Luke 5:32, c) Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8, d) 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, e) sorrowful or in pain, f) works out, accomplishes, g) deliverance from danger to safety, health, and wholeness, h) 2 Timothy 4:18.

 

Furthermore, the dative case of “the Spirit” (tw pneumati) from Matthew 5:3 above is most often treated as the “Dative of Means or Instrument” to translate as: “The beggarly poor are blessed by the means of the Holy Spirit…,” for certainly many blessings come by the means of the Holy Spirit, such as when we are justified (a) in the name/authority of the Lord Jesus Christ by the means of the Spirit of our God (b); when we are sanctified (c) by the means of the Spirit through our trusting-relying-faith in The Truth (d); when we were sanctified (c) for God so that we would no longer practice sin lest we not receive our inheritance (e) but to walk in a manner worthy of God who calls us into His own kingdom and glory (f); or as we continue to put to death the misdeeds of the body by the means of the Spirit (g). <Notes> a) made/declared righteous, b) 1 Corinthians 6:11, c) set apart, consecrated, made holy, d) 2 Thessalonians 2:13, e) 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:20- 21; Ephesians 5:5, f) 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:5, g) Romans 8:13.

 

When we increasingly practice the qualities of virtue, knowledge, self control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and unconditional-love, we are kept from being ineffective and unfruitful, and confirms our election and calling so we won’t fall, and this richly provides an entrance into the kingdom (a). We are to walk by the means of the Spirit (b), live by the means of the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit (c), be led by the means of the Spirit as mature sons of God (d), be built together into a dwelling place for God by the means of the Spirit (e), and teach what we are taught not by human wisdom but by the means of the Spirit (f). There are so many more verses about the means or instrument of the Spirit, for He is the dunamis supernatural enabling-power of God! <Notes> a) 2 Peter 1:5-11, b) Galatians 5:16, c) Galatians 5:25, d) Galatians 5:18; Romans 8:14, e) Ephesians 2:22, f) 1 Corinthians 2:13.

 

However, not 1 other NT verse would support the idea that “the beggarly poor [made that way] by the means of the Spirit, are blessed/enviably-happy.”  The Holy Spirit’s role is the exact opposite!  Since “the Spirit” (tw pneumati) in Matthew 5:3 above comes immediately after the words “beggarly poor” in the Greek – and word order in Greek is vital to proper emphasis – it is more likely that the “Dative of Sphere, Realm, Place, or Location” is being used here, indicating where “the beggarly poor [people]” that are “blessed/enviably-happy” are those “IN or in company WITH the realm or sphere of the Holy Spirit” – these are the ones being blessed,” or “The beggarly poor who are blessed are the ones IN or in company WITH the realm or sphere of the Holy Spirit.” Again, from the arguments found above, this has nothing to do with the common human spirits of all men, for again “the Spirit” is in the [singular] with the definite article, and again, in the dative case this almost always refers to the one and only Holy Spirit.

 

If a person abides/lives/remains “IN or WITH the company of Christ” or stays connected to the “Vine of Christ,” which is surely “the realm or sphere” of His Holy Spirit (a), then the Holy Spirit (of Christ) can then bless that person with zoe genuine-life to produce much fruit, for apart from Me (Christ) you can to nothing (b). The flesh (c) is of no help at all – it is the Spirit who gives zoe genuine-life (d). The law (e) of the Spirit of zoe genuine-life has set us free IN [the realm or sphere of] Christ Jesus from the [Mosaic] Law of sin and death (f). The gramma letter/writing [of the Law] kills, but the Spirit gives zoe genuine-life (g). <Notes> a) see Romans 8:9 and 1 Peter 1:11 for “the Spirit of Christ,” and Luke 4:18, Acts 5:9, and 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 for “the Spirit of the Lord”, b) John 15:1-17, c) See Identity and Might and Power pages, d) John 6:63, e) nomos used generically as principle, rule, f) Romans 8:2, g) 2 Corinthians 3:6.

 

Although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is zoe genuine-life because of [Christ’s imparted] righteousness. If the Spirit of Him (Father) who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He . . . will also give zoe genuine-life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (a). The last Adam (Jesus) became a zoe genuine-life-giving Spirit (b). For to set the mind (c) on the flesh is death, but to set the mind (c) on the Spirit is zoe genuine-life and peace (d). For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption (e), but the one who sows to the Spirit from the Spirit reap eternal, zoe genuine-life (f). There are many such verses of the blessings derived from being “IN the realm or sphere” of the Holy Spirit – IN Christ!  It’s an amazing thing that we can be “IN Christ” and “Christ can be IN us by His Spirit!” <Notes> a) Romans 8:10-11, b) 1 Corinthians 15:45, c) direction, world-view, d) Romans 8:6, e) pollution and destruction, f) Galatians 6:8.

 

Finally, Matthew 5:3 is absolutely not saying “every poor beggar or everyone who mourns is satisfied and comforted,” but instead ONLY those who hold out their hearts openly or are teachable (a) for the Holy Spirit to ‘feed’ and comfort them. The Holy Spirit is called the Parakletos (b). Unless we are “meek (c) can we thus receive our inheritance.” Unless we desperately “hunger and thirst for righteousness will we ever be satisfied” – everything else but Christ will leave us empty wanting more, for Christ is “the Holy and Righteous One” and “our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (d). <Notes> a) the meaning of humble, b) Close-beside’ caller, summoner, or inviter; helper, succorer, or assistant; encouraging teacher, counselor, comforter, or consoler; defense-attorney, judicial-advocate, or court-intercessor: John 14:26-27, 16:6-7; Acts 9:31; 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, 7:6; Philippians 2:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:16, c) yielding, teachable, and humble, d) Acts 3:14, 7:52, 22:14; 1 Corinthians 1:30.

 

We also have to remember that early in His ministry Jesus speaks very broadly in the Beatitudes to Jews concerning the insufficiency of the Law and their efforts in order to lay the groundwork for His later more specific teaching about the gospel logos message. For example, it’s not the righteousness of the Law or the Pharisees or our own personal idea of self-righteousness or that of any other religion that Jesus speaks of in “Bless are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (a), for in the same breath He says, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account” (b) and a little later:  “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (c). Even later Jesus says: “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (d).  Before Christ comes, during the church age, Jesus said “they (the world) will lay their hands on you and persecute you, . . . for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness” (e). <Notes> a) Matthew 5:10, b) v. 5:11, c) v. 5:20, d) John 15:20, e) Luke 21:12-13.

 

When Christ’s disciples were arguing to decide who would be the leaders or “great ones” in Christ’s kingdom (a), Jesus picked up a little child and put it in their midst and said they had to be like this little child to even enter or receive (b) the kingdom, for to such children belongs the kingdom (c)!  That certainly involves totally trusting the Father concerning His Son! “No one who denies the Son has the Father” (d) – it doesn’t matter how religiously faithful you are as a Jew or Muslim that believes in “one God.” Jesus made it clear: “Absolutely in fact no one actually, ongoingly comes to the Father except through Me” (e). There is only one Messiah!  All roads do NOT lead to God! <Notes> a) Matthew 18:10, 20:20-28; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48, b) grab a hold of, c) Mark 10:14-15; Luke 18:17, d) 1 John 2:23, e) John 14:6.

 

To be great then in the kingdom, we have to lower ourselves to be like a little child, to continue having trusting-relying-faith in the Lord, but also to be as humble or teachable. To be a so-called leader or ‘first’ you have to be like a servant who doesn’t give orders but takes them, even a slave or ‘last’ one – the bottom of the world’s totem pole!  Jesus makes it clear that in His kingdom there is only one Head, one Master and one Teacher, and we are all brothers of equal importance (a). If Jesus, the Lord and Teacher could wash their feet like a slave would, shouldn’t they serve one another in like manner (b)? This really shoots the world’s (c) idea of leadership full of holes!  In fact, Christ’s only entole official decree or commandment to the Church was to unconditionally-love one another as I have unconditionally-loved you” (d). This has generally not been my experience from the many church leaders I’ve known, though I’ve been privileged to have a few good examples! <Notes> a) Matthew 23:8-10, Ephesians 1:22 – see Teach One Another – BT10, b) John 13:14, c) and unfortunately too much of the Church’s, d) John 15:12.

 

Reflection:

 

 

As Christian musicians, if we want to be blessed and enviably happy, we are have to simply by “IN or WITH the company of Christ” and thus “IN or WITH the company of Christ’s Holy Spirit, and so it doesn’t really matter if we are physically poor or persecuted for our trusting-relying-faith in Christ.  The Lord will reward us!  We didn’t just weep over our losses in this world, but surrendered our lives to Him, regardless of the cost to us.  We didn’t have a world sorrow, but a Godly sorrow that led us to repentance and salvation.  If we stay connected to Christ, we will produce much fruit to glorify God.  Regardless of our suffering in this world, the Holy Spirit within us will bless us.  He is our Parakletos comforter and consoler and the one who gives us peace and joy as part of His unconditional-love within us.  Even if we are humbled in poverty, we must remain humble like little children for God’s grace to abound, for surely God opposes the proud.  Even if we are physically poor, even from persecution, we can be rich IN/WITH the Spirit.

 

Prayer:

 

 

Lord, despite our suffering, even poverty, in this world we will find our strength, peace, joy, and riches IN/WITH the company of Your Holy Spirit.  Fill us with more of Yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kingdom is aggressively seized but NOT by violence

 

 

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Jesus said that as great as John the Baptist was in his role within the old covenant to usher in the Messiah of the completely-different-in-kind New Covenant, “The one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has actually, ongoingly biazo been (passive voice) positively-aggressively-seized/crowded-into (a), and/coupled the biastes positively-assertive-people actually, actively, ongoingly harpazo claim-seize it” (b). <Notes> a) Strong’s: “a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought for with the most ardent zeal and the intensest exertion,” b) Matthew 11:12, Luke 16:16.

 

It just irks me to see Christians taking bad translations of these verses such as the KJV: “the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force” to espouse any kind of personal violence or aggressive political activism to advance Christianity or “righteous rule in the land.” Jesus was simply saying that the kingdom of God was exploding in front of their eyes because of the massive crowds that were being (passive voice) crowded into it aggressively by God (a) as a result of His ministry of healing and preaching (b), and that those entering the kingdom of God were those who were actively repenting (c) instead of being passive spectators or scoffers like the religious leaders who ridiculed John’s asceticism or Jesus’ indulgence and association with sinners (d).  You have to be aware of the change of Greek voice from the passive to active.  God is the one doing the aggressive crowding, not people pushing each other over to get to the front of the line.  Their part is to actively what is being offered!  The idea of personal violence just isn’t there and so translations like this (e) are so misleading!  I only found a few that even came close (f), with the TLB, NMB, TPT, and VOICE much closer to the actual meaning.  <Notes> a) Matthew 11:7, b) Matthew 11:4, c) changing their attitudes about Jesus: Matthew 11:20-24, d) Matthew 11:16-19, e) KJV, KJ21, ASV, AMP, AMPC, BRG, CSB, CJB, DARBY, DRA, ESV, ESVUK, EXB, GNV, HCSB, AKJV, MOUNCE, NABRE, NASB1995, NCB, NET, NIV, NIVUK, NKJV, NRSV, NRSVA, NRSVACE, NRSVCE, RGT, RSV, RSVCE, TLV, WEB, WYC, YLT, f) ERV, EHV, GW, ICB, PHILLIPS, JUB, MSG, MEV, NOG, NCV, NTE, WE.

 

Those who were BEING “positively-aggressively-seized/crowded-into the kingdom” by God were absolutely not violent men as the Jewish Zealots were and the reason Pontius Pilate had 3000 crucified, but like “the least” even “little children,” for Jesus goes on to say, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have kept hidden these things from the wise and understanding (a) but un-hidden them to little children (b); yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one actually experientially, relationally ginosko knows the Son except the Father, and no one actually experientially, relationally ginosko knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to un-hide Him” (c) – see The Least Among You page. <Notes> a) as the Jewish lawyers and leaders were, b) cf. Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10, c) Matthew 11:25-27.

 

Jesus told Peter to put the sword away and said “My kingdom is absolutely in fact not of this world. If it were, My servants would have been fighting” (a). Neither the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, or Zealots – nor any lackadaisical spectator – would ever experientially, relationally ginosko know God the Father unless they were not only were “biastes positively-assertive-people” but also “actually, actively, ongoingly harpazo claim-seize” the offer of the kingdom.  This is not a passive “receiving” but an active lambano “grabbing for oneself” (b), or dechomai “warmly receptive, welcoming” that Jesus calls for (c), or choreo “make available space or an open heart for” (d). <Notes> a) John 18:36, b) Matthew 13:20, 19:11-12; Mark 4:16; Luke 8:13, 18:17, 19:12, 15; John 1:11-12, 5:43, 12:48, 13:20, 14:17, c) Matthew 10:14, 40, 18:5; Mark 9:37, 6:11, 10:15; Luke 9:48, 53, 18:17; Acts 11:1, 17:11; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 11:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 2:13; James 1:21, d) Matthew 19:11-12; John 8:37; 2 Peter 3:9.

 

Repentance is really an all or nothing surrender of self and embrace of Jesus Christ as the Lord or Master of your life. Remember that Jesus had repetitively commanded: “You all ongoingly metanoeo repent for the kingdom of heaven is already [with ongoing results] here/at hand” (a). Now metanoeo means to change your mind concerning the course of your entire life, not necessarily regarding particulars or with great emotion as the synonym metamellamai does. In fact, Jesus says it’s better to enter the kingdom with one eye (b) than to go to hell with both eyes (c). This is deadly serious!  Jesus warns would-be workers of God’s kingdom that they aren’t fit if they put their hand to the plow and then look back – possibly an allusion to Lot’s wife who left decedent Sodom but then [regretfully] looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt (d). <Notes> a) Matthew 3:2, 4:17, b) to make that sacrifice to turn away from one’s sinful life, c) Matthew 5:29, 18:9; Mark 9:47-48, d) Luke 9:62.

 

There is a big cost to following Jesus!  Some will have to leave wives, brothers, parents or children to follow Jesus (a). He says to sit down and count the cost to see if you have enough to complete the task (b). He says those who follow Him must take up their own cross and thus deny themselves of the world’s pursuits (c). Jesus told a religious leader that he had to be “born again of the Spirit (d) and of water (e), born from heaven above in order to see the kingdom of God” (f). Paul said “flesh and blood can’t inherit the kingdom of God, just as the perishable can’t inherit the imperishable” (g). <Notes> a) Luke 18:29, b) Luke 14:28, c) Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23, d) see Spirit-baptism, e) see Salvation – BT8 and water-baptism: 1 Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-5, f) John 3:3-6, g) 1 Corinthians 15:50.

 

Paul made it clear that “the unrighteous will absolutely in fact not inherit the kingdom of God.  Do not in possibility be deceived, absolutely in fact neither pornos sexually immoral [persons], nor absolutely in fact idolaters, nor absolutely in fact adulterers, nor absolutely in fact homosexuals, nor absolutely in fact thieves, nor absolutely in fact greedy, absolutely in fact not drunkards, absolutely in fact not verbal-abusers, nor absolutely in fact swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (a). A lot of so-called “Christians” are in big trouble and a lot of churches actually teaching some of this is okay! Actually, you can guarantee that “reviling” persecution will come against those who are actually “born of the Spirit” – you won’t blend in well with the world (b)!  Jesus preaches in Mark 1:15 that “You all ongoingly repent and have trusting-relying-faith in the euaggelion ‘Great News’ gospel (c).” From some many verses (d) we know that it was “the euaggelion ‘Great News’ gospel of the kingdom” that Jesus was proclaiming and what the Church should be also (e)!  But you’ll hear just about everything else preached in many churches today! That’s probably the reason so many are powerless!  They don’t have Mark 16:20 working:  “The Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs!” <Notes> a) 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, b) Galatians 4:29, c) see Logos Word of God, d) e.g., Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:14, Luke 4:43, 8:1, 16:16, and Acts 8:12 , e) Acts 19:8, 20:25, 28:23, 31.

 

Reflection:

 

 

As Christian musicians, we need to become like little children and the other “least among you” in order to actively, ongoingly warmly welcome, claim, seize, grab hold of, and make room in your heart for the kingdom of God when it is presented to us, and then we can join the crowds that God is positively, aggressively, crowding into His kingdom.  God presents the gift but we have to take it!  This takes great humility because “God opposes the proud but gives unconditional-favor-of-grace to the humble.”  But to such as these He “un-hides the secrets of the kingdom, but keeps them hidden from the so-called wise and understanding ones.”  Total surrender through repentance, trusting-relaying-faith and confession of “Jesus as Lord” and water-baptism to receive Spirit-baptism to “obey the gospel” is the only way to enter the kingdom – nothing the flesh can offer through works of commandments will do.  If we stay the way we are, we will die in our sins!  Jesus has to make us righteous by His blood to take us away from living unrighteously.

 

Prayer:

 

 

Lord, praise Your name that you are “the Holy and Righteous One” and that we can totally surrender our lives to You and You will then transfer our unrighteousness to You and Your righteousness to us in the divine atonement or propitiation, by Your precious blood on the cross and then resurrection from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Like little children, we “warmly welcome, claim, seize, grab hold of, and make room in your heart” the kingdom that You offer.  Every day, we take up our own cross and die to our own selfish desires and say “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done here on earth as it already is in heaven.”  Fill us with Your powerful Holy Spirit so that we may indeed be holy, sanctified, and godly for You.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kingdom is righteousness, joy, and peace by the power of the Spirit of holiness

 

 

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Paul emphatically stated that the “Kingdom of God is absolutely in fact not a matter eating or drinking but of righteousness and/coupled peace and/coupled joy by the means of the Holy Spirit” (a). His argument in context is that the “righteousness” of God is no longer through obedience to OT commandments or Traditions of the Elders than expanded on them, but in trusting-relying-faith on Christ, “who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and/also sanctification and/coupled redemption” (b) “so that IN Him we might become the righteousness of God” (c). Righteousness, peace, and joy come ONLY from trusting-relying-faith in The Unconditional-Love of God shown through Christ and His Holy Spirit (d). “Righteousness, peace, and joy” are ONLY by the unconditional-favor-of-grace of God through Jesus, not because of our works (e), “filled with all joy and peace through our having trusting-relying-faith, so that by the dunamis enabling-power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope” (f). <Notes> a) Romans 14:17, b) 1 Corinthians 1:30, c) 2 Corinthians 5:21, d) Romans 1:17, 3:5, 21-22, 5:5, 10:3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 5:22-23, e) Romans 11:6, f) Romans 15:13.

 

In fact, having only the logos gospel message of Jesus without the dunamis enabling-power of the Holy Spirit is simply powerless!  “For the kingdom of God does not consist in [religious] talk but dunamis enabling-power” (a). Paul was sent to “preach the logos gospel message, but absolutely in fact not with logos messages of eloquent wisdom (b), lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its dunamis enabling-power” (c). “My speech and my logos message were absolutely in fact not with plausibly-convincing logos messages of wisdom, but demonstrating-proof of the Spirit and/coupled of dunamis enabling-power, in order that your trusting-relying-faith might not in possibility rest in the wisdom of men but in the dunamis enabling-power of God” (d). Maybe the reason much of today’s Church brings so few people to Christ is that it is not Full-gospel or Charismatic but relying only on the logos gospel message of The Truth! It is a powerless message!  <Notes> a) 1 Corinthians 4:20, b) like the Pharisees and Greek debaters, c) 1 Corinthians 1:17, d) 1 Corinthians 2:4-5.

 

Reflection:

 

 

As Christian musicians, are we presenting a powerless gospel message, even if we are eloquently speaking it?  Are we afraid of a full or charismatic gospel and leaving the demonstrating-proof of the Holy Spirit out?  Are we trying to have the blessings of the kingdom without embracing the enabling-power of the kingdom?

 

Prayer:

 

 

Lord, we totally surrender to You.  We offer none of our works for Your kingdom, but rely completely on Your Holy Spirit to empower us for “Thy kingdom to come and Thy will to be done on earth as it already is in heaven.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kingdom of God is hidden within you

 

 

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The Kingdom of God is within!  After healing a man, Jesus responded to a religious leader about when the Kingdom of God was coming, saying “The Kingdom of God is actually, ongoingly coming, arriving, appearing, being established, and progressing, but absolutely not from carefully watching or scrupulously inspecting it from a distance.  Absolutely neither will these observers be able to say ‘Look, here or there it is’ – the reason for this (a) is the Kingdom of God is actually, ongoingly within yours (b)” (c) – and the Greek’s emphasis is on “within yours” – “within you all’s.”  Jesus then warns such “observers” that they will be tricked by those who will come and say “Look here or there!”  No, “The Promise” of the completely different-in-kind New Covenant (d) is that there would absolutely no longer be the need for men teachers because God would create completely different-in-kind ‘new hearts’ with His Holy Spirit within them to be the One Teacher so that they would follow His ways, written on their hearts by the Spirit, no longer stone or paper (e) – see Logos Word of God – BT20.  Jesus spends a lot of time talking about men’s hearts:  where their “treasure” is; if it is “pure/unmixed/holy” in our “love” to “see God”; whether it’s “dull so their ears can barely hear” or has become “hardened”; whether it is “defiled” by lust and other evils; where “the mouth speaks” from “the heart” to reveal its nature even though people can speak hypocritically or insincerely to hide its nature; or “the heart” is where the logos gospel message of The Truth can be sown (f).  Certainly “the heart” is the place where the Kingdom can live – see Identity. <Notes> a) gar, b) entos is plural, possessive genitive – they all are possessing it for themselves; in Matthew 23:26 “clean the inside of the cup and the plates so that the outside also may be clean” entos is used as an adverb, c) Luke 17:20-21, d) Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:19-20; Ezekiel 36:25-29, e) 2 Corinthians 3:3; 1 John 2:20, 27, f) Matthew 5:8, 28, 6:21, 9:44, 13:15, 19, 15:8, 18-19, 19:8.

 

This “Kingdom of God” not a far-off future event to wait or look for, to scheme, plan, or develop.  Jesus said it was “presently and would ongoingly come” right in front of them, and not necessarily through signs, healings, wonders, or miracles that certainly accompanied the preaching of the Kingdom to prove its validity by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit (a), and especially for the common good or building up of the Church (b).  Remember that Jesus will say to “many on the Day [of Judgment] who themselves say, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name/authority, and cast out demons in Your name/authority, and do mighty works (c) in Your name/authority?’  But then I will declare to them, ‘I never experientially, relationally ginosko knew you – depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness’ (d).”  It’s quite evident that personal fellowship with Christ is required to possess the Kingdom of God for yourself (e), and that evidently a person can do a lot of natural and supernatural things to try to build the Kingdom of God on earth, even acknowledging that “Jesus is ‘Lord (Master Owner),’ and still not have the Kingdom within themselves!  That’s the “ever-present danger” of Christian activism. <Notes> a) Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 12:28; Luke 9:2, 11, 10:9, Mark 9:1, 16:17, 20; John 2:11, 14:12; Acts 8:13, 19:11; 1 Corinthians 2:4, 4:20, 12:10, 28, 29; Galatians 3:5; Hebrews 2:4, b) 1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:12, c) efforts, tasks, including miracles, d) Matthew 7:22-23, e) Matthew 11:27, 25:12; Luke 10:22; John 17:3; 2 Timothy 2:19.

 

The Kingdom of God was hidden from critical spectators like the religious leaders who persecuted Jesus, “an evil and adulterous generation seeking for a sign” (a), signs that “false christs and false prophets shall perform to lead many astray” (b).  No!  The Kingdom of God would happen inside their own souls when they came to have trusting-relying-faith in Jesus!  The Kingdom of God had nothing to do with “the kingdoms of the world and their glory” that the devil showed Jesus from a very high mountain and offered Him (c). <Notes> a) Matthew 12:38, 39, 16:1, 6:4; Mark 8:11, 12; Luke 11:16, 29, 30, b) Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22, c) Matthew 4:8.