When Jesus came to earth, the Kingdom of God invaded the Kingdoms of men. Mark the way it came about through the power of the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 1, God’s plan focuses on His kingdom. What is the kingdom of God? (Vv.3, 6.) Did you notice that God’s plan prepared the disciples for His mission through the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit? (Acts 1; 5,8)
In Acts 2 the Spirit initiated a working model of the Kingdom. A new society was born in the midst of the old one. The “New” Jerusalem was born in “Old” Jerusalem. Amidst the religious pomp and ceremony of the old covenant the New Testament people came into being.

A new race of humanity was born, the Christian race, a royal priesthood. Jesus Himself was the firstborn of this new race. (Ro. 8:29) He was the firstborn of many brethren. Jesus founded a new humanity: twice-born men and women. Born by the will of God.

They are the redeemed community. They are new creations. Old things are passed away. All things are made new. They are the colony of heaven; they are now strangers to this world.

A. DEMONSTRATING THE KINGDOM

With Pentecost a new era begins, the age of the Holy Spirit. He is not merely a power, capacity, or attribute of God or a conscious ego of a will, but a Divine Super Personality:

? He speaks and calls Acts 13:2
? He commands, permits Acts 16:6,7
? He leads Rom. 8:14
? He instructs John 16:13
? He comforts John 14:26
? He intercedes, Rom. 8:26
? He bears witness Rom. 8:16
? He can be grieved Eph. 4:3

All these expressions can be used only of a living, personal Being.
B. CONFIRMING THE PRESENCE OF THE KINGDOM

Under the old Covenant the Spirit worked only to educate and to make capable for service: in the New Testament He works in manifold ways, mainly for the awakening of faith and obedience to Christ.

1. Seek to lead to salvation as the Spirit of Truth

“But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness to Me” (Jn. 15:26) – for effecting the new birth.

2. Seek to lead the lost from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

“He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (Col 1:13)

3. Dispensing life as the Spirit of Sonship.

“For the Spirit which you have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage of fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption – the Spirit producing sonship in which we cry, ‘Abba Father’ (Ro. 8:15)

4. Educating as the Spirit of Holiness

“Do you not know that your body is the temple – the very sanctuary – of the Holy Spirit who lives within you, whom you have received as a gift from God. You are not your own.” (1 Co. 6:19)

5. Equipping as the Spirit of Power

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear – but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and of calm, and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” (2 Ti. 1:7)

6. Transfiguring as the Spirit of Glory

“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Pe. 1:14)

C. EQUIPPING THE KINGDOM DISCIPLES

Scripture emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 4 verse 20, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power”. All power belongs to God. (Rev 19:1) All members of the Trinity. “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” represent this divine power. (2 Co 13:4, 1 Co 5:4, Gal 4:29) All supernatural power is imparted to man through the Holy Spirit (Eph 3:16, Ro 15:9).

We are engage in Christian service, only through supernatural power which qualifies us to contribute significantly to the extension the Kingdom of God. We need divine unction for both holiness and ministry effectiveness.
It was the Pentecost experience, which transformed Simon Peter, setting him ablaze for God. After he was filled with the Holy Spirit, we observe in his ministry a new release of:

? Power in faith Acts 3:6, 9:34
? Power in prayer Acts 4:23-31
? Power in witnessing Acts 10:34-44
? Power in preaching Acts 2:14-41
? Power in teaching Acts 4:1-4
? Power in leadership Acts 5:1-ll
? Power to empower others Acts 8:14-17
? Power to perform miracles Acts 5:15.16, 9:36-41

How does your life compared with these 8 evidences of power in Peter’s life?
This evident anointing upon him made Simon Peter a leader who manifested God’s powerful presence in extraordinary ways. He became the channel for all generations to experience conviction of sin, salvation, spiritual progress, miraculous signs and wonders, even God’s judgment. Without this powerful equipping, neither Simon nor his friends would have been able to fulfill the commission the Master had given them. With this power, however, they became instrumental in first establishing the Early Church and then launching a worldwide movement of Christian witness, which, eventually, touched our lives (Acts1:8).

The Great Commission to reach this world for God is still valid today, so is the promise of the Holy Spirit’s power. Without doubt, Christians may attract, entertain, instruct, motivate, challenge and mobilize other people, but they cannot transform their hearts. This is divine work and this is what, in essence, Biblical evangelism and leadership development are all about. What is vital to understand, we can do no more in the church than that which Father by the holy Spirit is doing.

God’s work can be done in God’s way only by God’s power.

In answer to the question of how this endowment can be received today, various requirements have been put forth in the other “Kingdom Dynamics” teaching notes. Quite obviously, stopping short of fulfilling God’s conditions entails stopping short of receiving the fullness of God’s power.

Every Christian possesses a measure of the Spirit of Christ yet He earnestly desires to lead us to true consecration, and inspire us with the faith that is essential to our prevalence in prayer. Let us, then, not grieve or resist Him; but accept the commission, fully consecrate ourselves, with all we have, to the saving and discipling of souls as our great and our only life work. Let us get on to the altar with all we have and are, and lay there and persist in prayer till we receive this full endowment.

D. THE EXTEND OF THE KINGDOM THROUGH MULTIPLICATION

In the Parable of the Mustard Seed (see Mk 4:30-32) the Lord Jesus gave us a glimpse of His vision for the development of the Kingdom of God by highlighting the fact that the smallest seed grows up into the largest garden plant.
Through mentoring the nucleus of His followers the Master made a small initial investment, which in the future would expand into a large network of fruitful ministry connections. By securing their careful preparation as well as divine empowerment He laid the foundation for an unstoppable movement which would derive its dynamic not from any outward means but from the inner momentum of His permanent presence (cf. Mt 28:20) mediated through the Holy Spirit.

The Lord Jesus longed to see a movement spreading like fire (cf. Luke 12:49), affecting all people groups (cf. Mt 28:19), carried forward by individuals strategically sown into the world (cf. Mt 13:37.38), some of them by their lives and ministries producing a hundred fold, some sixty, some thirty. His extended prayer before His arrest further revealed His vision of multiplication. (John 17)
With respect to His global concern and vision Christ did not succeed alone. His unequalled success was sown in the effective leadership ever undertaken.

Drawing on their training experience with Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s power, His handful of disciples were enough to change the course of history; not because of their number but their quality was the key to their fruitfulness in establishing the Kingdom of God.

Over the centuries time and again remarkable multipliers have emerged among God’s people. God is able and desirous to use us today also as multipliers for His Kingdom rule. You and I can make unique contributions to Christ’s cause. The Master’s method has lost none of its inherent power.

? To see the Kingdom of God advance mightily in our day we do not need a new strategy, only more Christlike people to implement Christ’s strategy in divine power.

? Those who have died to themselves and follow Jesus all the way still bear much fruit (cf. John 12:24-26)

? While serving God, are we working with eternity in view? Do we feel dissatisfied with mere temporary results, rather seeking to occupy the time God entrusts to us in such a way that we produce eternal fruit?

? More specifically, as disciples of Jesus, we should pay careful attention to the challenge: Are you leaving your mark for eternity on those around you?

? Christ’s words exhort His followers to lay up treasures in heaven (cf. Mt 6:20) and to be rich before God (cf. Luke 12:21). Yet God alone can grant us lasting treasures and wealth, only what is undertaken in divine strength will pass the test of time and have eternal relevance.

Are we looking forward to the day when – with the Great Commission completed – people from the east and west, north and south will come and participate in the Kingdom feast. (Luke 13:29) When representatives of every nation, tribe, people and tongue will be gathered before the throne of God! (Rev 7:9)? Moreover, are we – by fulfilling our personal commission through holy living and Christ-like leadership practice – speeding the coming of the day when, at last, the Lord Jesus Christ will be fully rewarded for His sufferings? (Is. 53:10.11)

In summary, we conclude that Pentecost was the birthday of the Church and the inaugural day of the Kingdom of God in the full New Testament sense.

Heart searching questions:

? These early disciples focused on Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit testifies to their testimony in many ways. How does the Spirit testify in and through your life?
? They knew they were filled with the Holy Spirit. How do you know you are filled with the Spirit of Christ?
? The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to preach the kingdom of God and the Lordship of Christ. Do you expect from the Holy Spirit to lead you to another approach?
? Are you making Kingdom or Denominational disciples?

For a more in depth understanding of this chapter, go to “Kingdom Dynamics 2” under “Disciples of the Kingdom”

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For many years a pen and paper my best friend. I could write down my thoughts and no one would know how I felt.  Paper might be something that has no emotion, but to me, it had feeling.  It had compassion on me and would not condemn me when I felt weak. Paper listened and did not tell someone. I lived in a silent world, but not anymore. The body of Christ needs healing and the only way we can get healing, is when we start sharing our hearts.

After many years in the ministry, it soon became apparent that a misunderstanding and misapplication of the life verse; “whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.”, was now destroying me. Physically and emotionally weary, I might be gaining the whole world in terms of productive ministry but I was also losing my own soul.

I grew increasingly depressed and longed to withdraw from people as much as possible. My misery reached such proportions that I did not recognise myself. I started my search for the truth. I couldn’t understand what I was going through. I believed that a believer should be strong at all times, but that was not what I was experiencing.  I thought I was the only person on earth having this experience. In my search for the truth I came across a book called “I Quit” by Geri  Scazzero. She is a lady that broke the silence and I thank God for her. Her thoughts were my thoughts and I would like to share some of her thoughts with you in the hope that it will help you as it has helped me.

“ People are dying to the wrong things. Dying to the wrong things means depriving yourself of God-given gifts and pleasures that nurture your unique life in Him. You die to the wrong things when you set aside or devalue activities that cause your soul to feel fully alive, when you ignore important relationships, when you care for others to the detriment of yourself and when you fail to honestly state your preferences, always deferring to others.

Dying to the wrong things reflects a lack of self-respect and failure to grasp our personal dignity as made in the image of God himself. This can easily lead to a tragic distortion and misapplication of what it means to lay down our lives for Christ.

In my early Christian life, I learned that a “good and loving Christian” embodied certain qualities. These messages were modelled and encouraged by the Christian subculture in which I was being formed spiritually. I wanted to be a good, loving Christian no matter the cost and I mistakenly believed that good, loving Christians were people characterized by five things; they never say no, they had a active social calendar, they juggled many things without complaining, they got things done and they put others ‘ needs before their own.

I believed that if a need crossed my path, then it was God’s will that I should meet it. This was the right thing to do because if I didn’t do something, then I would feel guilty.  There were no boundaries. My active social life gave me a false sense of goodness. I’m a good Christian if I have a lot of invitations, but these invitations eventually became a terrible burden because I felt compelled to say yes to all of them.  I also told myself that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13) and do them without complaining. Actually I ended up complaining a lot, not directly, but to my husband I would admit that our lives became overwhelming. I picked up the belief that the busier I was the more spiritual and godly I must be. If I was unselfish and sacrificial with my time, then I must be a loving person, but I became tired, resentful and angry.

Philippians 2:3-4 “in humility value others above yourselves, to looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” I always put others’ needs before my own, but the problem was that it wasn’t working. I only grew more miserable of the demands and it slowly drained the authentic joy of Christ from my soul. I experienced a kind of dying, but it wasn’t dying to self, instead, I wrongly died to a host of gifts God was inviting me to receive. I mistakenly started to die to the things I loved doing before.  I died to my love of nature…. for many years. I mistakenly died to my need for silence and solitude.  I mistakenly died to intentional personal growth. I did not develop my leadership gifts, but took a backseat, a supporting role – not out of a calling from God, but because of gender-based expectations of church culture and my family of origin. Then I have also mistakenly died to a great marriage. It takes time to grow and nurture a mature, intimate, satisfying marriage. We simply poured ourselves into loving others at the church and squandered the God given joys of our marriage.  Have you mistakenly died to anything Christ has not asked you to die to? Ask yourself; “When did I feel most alive this past week? And When did I feel the most life draining out of me?” If we die to the wrong things, ultimately, we end up in disobedience.  A Jewish rabbi said; “For us Jews, studying the Bible is more important than obeying it, because if you don’t understand it rightly you will obey it wrongly and you obedience will be disobedience.” Dying to the right things, and not the wrong things, is essential to a life of faith.

God never asks us to die to parts of ourselves that brings life to our souls. David, for example, was never asked to give up his love for music and writing poetry. As a busy king under enormous pressure, he could easily have not spent time composing psalms. We benefit, to this day, from his decision to keep writing. We are to die to the sinful parts of who we are – defensiveness, arrogance, hypocrisy, a judgemental spirit, as well as the more obvious things such as gossip, lying, stealing, coveting and so on.”

I trust this will give you the freedom to break the silence and to speak. You have a voice. Let us start sharing our hearts and be true to ourselves. It is time for the Body of Christ to get healing.

Margaret

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Consider the following scripture versions:
Luke 17:20-21 (KJV) – 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation. 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (KJV)
Luke 17:20-21 (NASB) – 20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say,’ Look, here it is!’ or,’ There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst. ” NASB
The KJV uses the term “within you”. The NASB uses the term “in your midst.” Some bible translations use the interpretation “in your midst” in Luke 17:21 while other version translate it as “within you”.

A number of commentaries and various 21st century thinkers support the Luke 17:20-21 interpretation “in you midst” in lieu of “within you”. The reason given by the commentaries and various 21st century thinkers is that Jesus is making this statement to the Pharisees and they reason that the kingdom could not possibly be found within these individuals (the Pharisees) as the Pharisees were rejecting Jesus and were not believers in Him. I do not disagree with this line of reasoning. Some of the commentaries and various 21st century thinkers simply say that Jesus was telling the Pharisees that He was standing in their midst. I think this misses the mark. The Luke 17:21 verse bears additional scrutiny.
Of note is that the Greek word in Luke 17:21 translated “midst” in the NASB and other versions is “entos” (Strong’s NT: 1787). The word “entos” is used two times in the NT. In addition to Luke 17:21, it is used in Matthew 23:26.
Matthew 23:26 – Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within (entos) the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. KJV
Matt 23:25 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside (entos) they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. NASB
Upon initial inspection, the term “entos” in Matthew 23:26 (KJV) provides a completely different meaning that the one used in Luke 17:20. Specifically, in Matthew 23:26, “entos” is used to designate a location (within or inside the cup and platter). It is contrasted with another location (outside of them) in the same biblical verse. The meaning is rather straight forward. Jesus was saying both the inside and outside of the cup and platter should be clean. Jesus was making a rhetorical statement. His statement here in Matthew 23:26 was not a cleanliness commentary on dishware but rather a cleanliness commentary on hearts of the Pharisees. They looked clean on the outside from all outward appearances. However, Jesus knew the inside was another matter.
As the meaning of “entos” as used in Matthew 23:26 is fairly straight forward, I would argue that it should be used in a similar fashion in Luke 17:21 (i.e. the kingdom of God is within you) as translated in the KJV version, since it is the only other time that “entos” is used in the NT.

The issue of the audience of the Pharisees that Jesus is speaking to is rather easily addressed. As demonstrated in Matthew 23:26, I would argue that Jesus is making a rhetorical statement to the Pharisees. He was harkening back to the intimate relationship that existed between God and man (Adam) prior to the fall. He was not saying to the Pharisees specifically that the kingdom of God was within them personally as demonstrated by their behaviour documented throughout the NT (with the exception of Joseph of Aramithea and Nicodemus). Jesus was commenting on the nature of the kingdom- i.e. it is an inner, spiritual kingdom, not a geo-politico kingdom like they were expecting. He was not saying that the kingdom was, at that moment, in the heart of the Pharisees. They were expecting one kind of kingdom, Jesus was speaking of another kind of kingdom. They looked on the external; Jesus was predicting the internal.
Another, and more compelling, reason for the translation to be “within you” rather than “in your midst” is a simple examination of the word “midst”. There is a Greek word “mesos” (Strong’s NT: 3319) that is routinely translated “midst” which is used 62 times in the NT. Luke himself used “mesos”” fourteen times in writing his gospel (~25% of the total usage in the NT). I would have to assume that if he intended us to translate Luke 17:21 as “in the midst” as opposed to “within you”, he would have used “mesos”” rather than “entos” as he already demonstrated that he was communicating “midst” in his gospel by using “mesos””.

I would propose that his intended meaning was the same as that of Mathew 23:26. You cannot separate Luke 17:20 from Luke 17:21. In Luke 17:20, Jesus said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation.” It was not going to be a physical event but rather a spiritual event. Remember, Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that a time was coming when believers would worship “in spirit and in truth.” I believe this ties very nicely with what Jesus said in Luke 17:21. It is my personal understanding that the Parousia of Jesus re-established the full and open (spiritual) relationship with the Father that had been lost through Adam.
Thus, Luke 17 does not affirm that the kingdom was in the hearts of the recalcitrant Pharisees. It does affirm the nature of the kingdom, and it does prove that the full establishment of that kingdom would be in the first century. There are other reasons why Luke 17:21 should be translated “within you” rather than “in your midst” but these are sufficient for this case.
NT: 1787 (used twice in NT) – entos (en-tos’); from NT:1722; inside (adverb or noun): KJV – within.
Matthew 23:26
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. KJV
Luke 17:21
21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. KJV
NT: 3319 (used 62 times in NT) – mesos (mes’-os); from NT:3326; middle (as an adjective or [neuter] noun): KJV – among, before them, between, forth, mid [-day, -night], midst, way.
“Mesos” used 14 times in Luke.

Luke 2:46
Luke 4:30
Luke 4:35
Luke 5:19
Luke 6:8
Luke 8:7
Luke 10:3
Luke 17:11
Luke 21:21
Luke 22:27
Luke 22:55 (2)
Luke 23:45
Luke 24:36

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Friend, by what spirit are you inspired?  There are but three major spirits in the universe: God (John 4:23-24), or man (1 Corinthians 2:11) or the devil (Ephesians 2:1-3).

You are being energized by one of these three spirits.

Do you understand that the basis of the New Testament is the blood, the water and the spirit? (1 John 5:8)

• Have you been born again “Born from above” and cleansed by Jesus’ blood?
• Have you been baptized into Christ and in water?
• Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

When you receive Jesus as your Saviour, your spirit is resurrected from spiritual death and passes from death to life (as in John 5:24; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Colossians 1:12-13).

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-18) in Pentecostal power, you will really begin to know and understand the meaning of enthusiasm.

When I see a person young or old, who is always bored and is always looking for something to “excite” him, I want to tell him that what he really needs is to be filled with the Holy Ghost!

Life without Jesus stinks.  It is rotten.  Do you know how I can say that?  Because our King showed us in Matthew 5:13-16 that Christians are like salt which purifies and preserves!

What excites you?  If you’re a young person. A few years from now, you will be married.  Learn now that marriage is for more than physical union.  You must be joined to that special person in the realm of the soul (mind) and spirit.  Life does not consist in the abundance of the things which a man possesses (Luke 12:P15).

Your enthusiasm over a new car or a new dress will soon wear off.  The excitement of the “Christmas Spirit” is worldly because it won’t last.  The things that money can buy may bring a good feeling for a season, but they won’t inspire you for life!  You need to be filled with the Word of God!

The enthusiasm of God was breathed into every verse of the Bible.  It’s yours if you want it.  But you’ll never understand the Bible with your intellect or natural understanding (1 Corinthians 2:9-16).  Only the Holy Spirit can guide you into all truth (John 14:24; 15:26 and 16:13).  Now that’s exciting!

Whatever you are excited and enthused about in life is your God.  Be it sex, or sports, or rock music, or the love of money in the kingdom of darkness; OR the Word of God, the Holy Ghost, prayer and worship and a love of the Scriptures in the realm of theKingdom ofGod.

I’m not your judge or jury.  Take your own temperature.  Whatever excites you and turns you on is your God.  It is such a thrill to see so many people, young and old, all around the world getting on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why don’t you wise up and join them?  This thrill-seeking generation is headed for sudden destruction.  Thank God for those who are seeking the Father as He seeks for them (John 43:23-24).

But some of you young folk might say, “ Trevor, I want to have a good time!”  Young man/young lady, I pity you.

You have yet to discover what real joy is.  You were programmed to live and not die.  When your human spirit is energized by God’s Holy Spirit, the enthusiasm and excitement for life lived as God meant it to be lived will be your portion.

Are you really happy?

Don’t wait for somebody else to lead you astray. Be different in your enthusiasm!  Serving Jesus is exciting!

Some questions you may want to meditate on:

• What excites me the most in life?
• Am I always looking for a new thrill?
• Have I been filled with the Holy Ghost?

Jesus said: “For as many that believe in Me, for as many that receive Me, will be empowered, regenerated by the Holy Spirit to be true sons/ children of God”.

So why don’t you invite Him to take His rightful place in your life, as not only your Saviour but as your Lord. Not only invite Him into your life but ask Him for the Holy Spirit and receive the baptism of His Holy Spirit.

He desire is to have you as His child, so that He may come and make His Home in you and teach you how to live His type of life on earth. The Father wants all of us to experience true family as He, our creator intended. His desire is that we know what a real Father is like and hoe He treats His children.

He “Jesus” finished the work and did everything for you, you are already forgiven and loved. All you need to do is receive His amazing love and grace He has already shown toward you.

Sounds almost too good to be true. But that’s how much He already loves you.

“You might even read this and ask, how do I do this? Just talk to Him right now and receive Him by your personal invitation. Let your enthusiasm to receive Him, meet His enthusiasm to Have you as His Child”.

And Please, take the opportunity to email me and let me know if you received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. I would also really be honoured to help you in any way I can in order to assist you in your growth toward Knowing Him and discovering His victorious way of life in your daily walk.

Bless you, Trevor

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Twentieth Century Background

In the past our understanding was that there are pastors and there are evangelists.  Pastors like to stay home; evangelists like to travel.  Teachers began to emerge following the initiation of the Jesus and charismatic movements.  People travelled long distances, equipped with their Bibles, notebooks, pens and tape recorders.  Yet, apostles and prophets were still relegated to the first century by our dispensational upbringing.

The hunger to learn grew into a hunger to hear from God—not directly, but through prophets who would go up the mountain for us, and come back to tell us what God had said. This hunger created a marketplace for prophets and that continues to expand today.  Many prophets began to organize into various camps and structures, fitting in with prevailing church models, and requiring significant finances to meet their growing institutional needs. This is understandable as new revelation and understanding is unfolding the process is always growing to maturity so that Christ is revealed, but maturity demands conformity to His image and ways and for us to lay down our thoughts and opinions as to the way of living. I am always reminded of the words “Don’t be critical toward the body of Christ for they are not wrong but just incomplete, exactly as you  are today”

We as the body of Christ face two significant challenges.  One is setting free the institutionalized prophetic movements, and the other is the deliverance of rank-and-file believers who have been trained by them in practices that—in a large measure—fail to give Jesus Christ His rightful place in their lives.

Emerging Apostolic Ministry

To this day, the church is evidencing fruit of teaching and prophetic ministries.  Core values and order of true apostolicity are still absent from most cities and regions.   Most of what we see is apostolic apologetics by teachers, and another layer of hierarchy placed upon institutional settings.  We are beginning to see the emerging apostolic grace (1Corinthians 3:10; 15:10) of master builders who manifest humility and servitude, and bring true reformation to the church that Jesus is building.

Many disjointed body parts and fractured units are spread across the face of the earth, much like what Ezekiel saw in the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14). Just before seeing this vision, Ezekiel prophesied: “I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land”(Ezekiel 36:24). (Revelation 5:10 greatly expands our understanding of the fuller ramifications of this prophecy, allowing us to see beyond the confines of one nationality of people.)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them”(Ezekiel 36:26-27).

This prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, forty days after Jesus’ resurrection and ten days after His ascension, thus forever changing the manner in which God engages His people. (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2).

The New Order

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.(2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Just prior to penning these words, Paul wrote: Be diligent to present yourself approved of God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

When we get it right in Christ Jesus,

• We will encourage each believer to seek His own relationship with our Father.
• We will discourage co-dependent relationships between leaders and followers.
• We will serve one another in the discovery and implementation of graces and charismas.
• We will not exalt people or gifts beyond their measure.

This is a new creation.  There is a new order.

The Epistle to the Hebrews, along with Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, are two key contributions to rightly dividing, and understanding the new creation order.  Here is the key that opens the panorama of a new creation:

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son. (Hebrews 1:1a)

• God spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets.

• God has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.

God’s new order for His new creation is to speak directly to His sons through His Son.  Not until this order is embraced will we have clear understanding of our various roles.  Not until apostles, prophets, and teachers are rightly aligned with one another will we be positioned to see the fruition of God’s intention.

We can learn from the accounts and testimonies of those who came before us. (1 Corinthians 10:11) Their legitimacy is not on trial. Jesus identified John the Baptist as the greatest among old covenant prophets: ”Among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:11)

But now, God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. (1 Corinthians 12:28)

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. (1 Corinthians 12:27) And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28)

 

New Testament Prophets

God is no longer speaking to the fathers through the prophets.  He speaks directly to His sons by His Son. An example of New Testament prophets:

And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.  Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each one according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.  This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:27-30).

It is notable that:

• New Testament prophets are sometimes used by God to speak words to the church that predict, adjust and/or correct.

• A significant difference within the new testament is: “let the others judge,” (1 Cor14 : 29) which rightly places ultimate responsibility on every Spirit-led son to discern.  Thus, erring prophets are no longer stoned to death as within the old covenant, when people had no internal witness within themselves.

• These prophets were received because of relational trust among leaders ofJerusalemand leaders ofAntioch.

• They travelled in a team—no lone rangers.

• The disciples inAntiochwere moved with the internal “Amen” of  the Spirit, and freely responded according to their ability.

In addition to the prophetic team from Jerusalem, there are at least two more Scriptures that point out, prophets were parts of and accountable to local congregations:

• Certain prophets and teachers who were abiding together in the church atAntiochwere involved in the process of separating Barnabas and Saul, and sending them out in obedience to the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:29)

In his attempt to set order within the assembly that was at Corinth, Paul said: “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (1 Corinthians 14:29).  This context clearly places prophets “among” the local body of believers.

Prophets are set in the body next to the apostles to partner with them in what is foundational for all that the church is and does (Ephesians 2:20). In partnership with the master builders (Matured in fellowship with the Holy Spirit and in relation to and with the body of Christ), (1 Corinthians 3:10) they guide the building together of living stones into a suitable habitation for God (1 Peter 2:5).This is a much greater challenge than, “Thus says the Lord.”  This requires an uncommon grace from an unlimited God.

Prophets also equip the church to be prophetic. Prior to Pentecost, prophets spoke to the people (primarily the fathers), but were not integrally connected.  Now prophets, like each of us, are placed as parts of the relational integrity of the body of Christ.

Gifts of Prophecy

I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you prophesied. You can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all be encouraged (1 Corinthians 14:5a, 31). May we all be encouraged to respond to the prompting of the Spirit of Christ in us  (the hope of glory) to encourage, exhort, and comfort one another.

Yes, God is speaking in this age by His Son. That changes everything!  It’s a new and living way!

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:19-23).

In the following chapter, the writer of Hebrews went to some detail identifying historical examples of faith—those who served God within the framework of various covenants, each with its own purpose in God’s economy.  The writer concludes the listing of faithful men and women with this observation:

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us (Hebrews 11:39-40). When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because we are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:4-6).

Is that your cry?  It is mine.  Let’s not settle for previous administrations.  The Holy Spirit who came upon the prophets of old has taken up permanent residence in us.  He abides in us, and invites us to abide in Him.

Summary

• The faithful under all covenants obtain/obtained a good testimony.

• Their legitimacy is not being questioned.

• No one received the promise prior to Pentecost.

• Receiving the promise changes how God interacts with His people.

• All of the new creation has immediate access into the Holy of Holies.

• All believers may prophesy to either creation.

• Prophets are to release the prophetic to the body of Christ.

• Prophets, along with apostles, are foundational to new creation order.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Originator unknown)

Interestingly, this appeal that we “not be ignorant” appears seven times in the New Testament concerning different topics. Once, it is by Peter and six times by Paul. Each time, the request reveals an especially deep concern of the writer. Its’ appearance here should command the attention of every conscientious believer.

The Apostle then proceeds carefully to detail the operation of nine grace-works of the Spirit. These are the direct result of the Spirit’s baptism.

Having defended the need and purpose of the gifts, Paul then concludes his discourse with the stirring rebuke, ”But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant!” 14:38. In other words, he says, “After this careful explanation of spiritual gifts, if anyone refuses to learn, I have nothing more to say to him. Let him remain illiterate!” Paul seemingly anticipated that some believers would reject his teaching on miraculous works of the Spirit and added this harsh warning:

“If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.” I Corinthians 14:37.

What are the “commandments” of which he speaks? The answer:

The Apostolic teachings on spiritual gifts. I Corinthians 12 and 14 speak with God’s authority as much as any other of Paul’s writings. We are no more at liberty to reject these Biblically mandated instructions than any other commandment of the Lord. Until recent years, there was probably no other subject about which the Church was more ignorant than that of spiritual gifts. Instead of heeding Paul’s instruction, the modern Church has engaged in open warfare against them. This was done in spite of Paul’s exhortation that we:

1. “Earnestly desire spiritual gifts.” I Corinthians 12:31.

2. “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” 14:1.

3. “Since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” 14:12.

These admonitions do not indicate the reluctance that typifies the modern church’s attitude against spiritual gifts. There was no such Luke warmness on the part of Paul or the Corinthians.

Identically, believers today are encouraged to exercise the gifts for the benefit of everyone:

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills … But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.” I Corinthians 12:1; 4-11; 38.

The argument immediately arises, “These gifts passed away. They are no longer valid.” Paul did not believe that. Nor does the New Testament teach it. In the introduction of his Corinthian letters (29 chapters and longest of all New Testament writings) Paul exhorted believers to “… Come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 1:7.

In that brief statement, Paul equated the duration of spiritual gifts to be the same length as the Church’s waiting for Jesus’ return.

Examine it for yourself. This is precisely what the Apostle said.

There is probably no greater ignorance in the Church today than of spiritual gifts and Jesus’ offer of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. You may ask, “Why do I need the baptism in the Spirit and the imparting of spiritual gifts?” Here are a few of the many reasons:

1. Jesus said you needed it.

2. Without it, you are an incomplete disciple.

3. Good as you presently are, you will be better with it.

4. You need to be moved out of “soulish” effort into spiritual effort.

5. The baptism in the Spirit releases power in your life which can be

had no other way.

6. Once you, your family, friends, recover from the shocking, personal change the baptism brings to your life, everyone will recognize you are a better person.

7. The Bible teaches it. Early Christians depended on it. History confirms it.

On the Day of Ascension, Jesus told the disciples at the Mount of Olives, “John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now … You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” Acts 1:5, 6.

In a single statement, Jesus connected baptism in the Spirit to the imparting of His power. That wonderful event occurred on the day of Pentecost when 120 disciples in the Upper Room received the blessing. Scripture carefully explains that others who were not present at Pentecost experienced the same empowering later. That included the Samaritans, Acts 8:14-17, Saul of Tarsus, Acts 9:17, the household of Cornelius, Acts 10:44, and the Ephesians, Acts 19:1-7. Young Timothy followed the example. II Timothy 1:6. Identically, today, multiplied millions around the world have stepped into the Spirit’s wondrous baptism.

We are told seven times in the New Testament to “be not ignorant.” The same Greek word for “ignorance,” agnoeo, is used in all seven references though the King James version is probably the only one that translates it consistently. If you listen carefully you can detect the similarity between agnoeo and ignore. (agno/igno). It simply means “not to know;” that ignorance can come from lack of information, inadequate intelligence, or willful rejection of truth.

These seven topics are fundamental to the Church. Notice they are in pairs.

Two concern Israel,  two concern the gospel, two foretell the end of the earth,The final topic, # 7, the Church’s spiritual gifts. Sincere Christians cannot deny the value of any. In all probability there is no one topic about which Christianity at large is more ignorant than spiritual gifts. Quoting from the King James Version, the seven are:

1. Israel’s rejection and restoration; Gentile fullness: ”For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” Romans 11:25.

2.Israel’s dual baptism in the cloud and sea: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” I Corinthians 10:1.Israel’s baptism unto Moses in the cloud and sea portrays Christian baptism unto Christ in the Spirit and water. The parallel is exact.

3. Opposition to the gospel in Asia: ”For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.” II Corinthians 1:8. Types of opposition which Paul experienced:

A. Physical infirmity. Galatians 4:13-15.

B. Stoning, shipwreck. II Corinthians 11:23-28.

C. “Contemptible speech.” II Corinthians 10:10.

D. “Thorn in the flesh.” II Corinthians 12:7.

E. “Weakness, fear,” etc. I Corinthians 2:3.

F. Persecutions. II Timothy 3:11.

G. Apostolic division. Acts 15:36-40.

4. Opposition to the Gospel in Europe: “Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (but was let hitherto), that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” Romans 1:13.

Reasons for the opposition:

A. To prevent Paul’s impartation of spiritual gifts. 1:11.

B. To handicap the gospel’s bringing salvation. 1:16.

C. To stop believers from living “by faith.” 1:17

5. Jesus’ Second Coming; Resurrection of the saints: ”But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” I Thessalonians 4:13.

6. The “thief in the night” destruction of the earth: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day … But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night …” II Peter 3:8,10.

II Peter 3:3-5. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water.”

7. The Holy Spirit’s miraculous gifts to the Church: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” I Corinthians 12:1.

The New Testament contains six passages in which gifts of the Spirit are identified. Since the New Testament is a Covenant, not merely a book–inalterably ratified by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ–not of bulls and goats, all these gifts are still active; none have been removed. Hebrews 9:19-26.

1. 1 Corinthians 12:8-12: “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

2. 1 Corinthians 12:28. “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing’s, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

3. Romans 12:6-9. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

4. Ephesians 4:11-12. “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…”

5. 1 Corinthians 7:7. “For I wish that all men were even as I myself (unmarried). But each one has his own *gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. 1 Corinthians 7:7. *chárisma ek Theoú

6. 1 Peter 4:9-12. “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

List Of Gifts and Times Mentioned.

 

 

1. Word of wisdom. 1

2. Word of Knowledge. 1

3. Faith. 1

4. Gifts of healings. 2

5. Miracles. 2

6. Prophecy. 4

7. Discerning of Spirits. 1

8. Tongues.   2

9. Interpretation of tongues. 1

10. Apostles. 2

11. Prophets. 2

12. Teachers. 3

13. Helps. 1

14. Administrations. 1

15. Ministry. 2

16. Exhortation. 1

17. Giving. 1

18. Leading. 1

19. Mercy. 1

20. Hospitality 1

21. Speaking. 1

22. Chastity. 1

It is probable that “speaking” and “exhortation” are the same gift; so also with “giving” and “hospitality.” There is a blurring of distinction between others. While prophecy is mentioned four times, teaching three times, and the other gifts a lesser number, we are expected to believe all of them without challenge. If the Bible says something one time only we are to believe it without question.

THE ARGUMENT AGAINST THE GIFT OF TONGUES.

 

“Whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away …” I Corinthians 13:8-10.

Those who oppose gifts of the Spirit frequently quote the passage above to defend their position. Though an invalid claim, it is their only defence.

The assumption is, “That which is perfect”, is a reference to the completed New Testament and that tongues were removed when the canon was complete. I find great conflict in believing that Paul’s Corinthian letter was written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit”( I Peter 1:21) but when ‘the Bible was perfected’–completed–those ‘perfect’ writings about prophecy, tongues, knowledge, became imperfect.

My question is this: How can the Bible qualify to being ‘that which is perfect‘ if it contains passages which are erroneous and unsafe for us to believe? If this claim be so–that perfect Bible writings became imperfect when “that which is perfect had come”–we have a crisis that throws us completely out of authentic theology and into irrationality.

The key is the word “then”–which is used three times in the text–and in all three instances referring to the same future date. Observe the times it appears: “When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away … For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but Then face to face. Now I know in part, but Then I shall know just as I also am known.” I Corinthians 13:10, 12.

All three times the word ‘then’ appears, it points to the same future perfection.

Question: Have we come to the time when we no longer ‘see in a mirror, dimly,’ “but ‘face to face’?. No. Have we come to the time when we no longer know ‘in part’ but ‘as I also am known’? No, Then we have not yet come to the time when ‘that which is perfect has come’. Thankfully, knowledge has not yet vanished away.

The Following Scriptures Speak Of The Holy Spirits “Gifts”.

WHICH ONES ARE YOU WILLING TO DISCARD?

 

Acts 2:38. Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:20. But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!

Acts 10:45. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

Acts 11:17. If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

Romans 1:11. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established —

Romans 5:15. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded too many.

Romans 5:16. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offence resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.

Romans 5:17. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:18. Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:7. So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 7:7. For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

1 Corinthians 13:2. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

2 Corinthians 9:15. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Ephesians 2:8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Ephesians 3:7. Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Ephesians 4:7. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Philippians 4:17. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

1 Timothy 4:14. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the elder-ship.

Hebrews 6:4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 1:6. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Finally: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10. As a conscientious Christian, you want to serve God and His people by allowing the free demonstration of His gifts in you. Being religious is not what He seeks from you. He wants genuine spirituality to be the hallmark of your life. That can only happen when His gifts are free to glorify Jesus through you. Do it!

I have found this study a great stimulant to ignite further exploration and a desire to walk as one enlightened and led by the Holy Spirit employing the gift in me to the benefit of all, bless you

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B.        THE CHALLENGE OF A NEW LIFESTYLE

“Treat one another with the same spirit as you experience in Christ Jesus.”

This morality of the Kingdom is the high-water mark of morality of God’s children. Beyond it we will not progress. It is more comprehensive than love your neighbour as you love yourself, for the standard in this statement is self-love; here the standard is Christ-love. “Do unto others, as you desire they would do unto you”.  (Luke 6; 31.)  This standard is what you desire for yourself. This morality of the Kingdom sets the standard of what Jesus Christ would do for you.

°      The standard set in the Sermon on the Mount of loving your neighbour as you love yourself was the highest until Jesus amended it upward in the light of His own unfolding, then it became, “Treat others as I treat you.” This is the kingdom-ultimate. The Kingdom is the spirit of Jesus by and large. There isn’t a situation, individual or collective, in heaven or on earth, which would not be solved if the spirit and attitudes of Jesus were applied to that situation. You always win if you take the kingdom-attitude. You gain on both ways, whether the person accepts or rejects your “Kingdom” peace.

°      The Kingdom works in each case a silent, automatic penalty. Break its laws and you are broken. Fulfil its laws and you are fulfilled. It works with a mathematical precision, and there are no exceptions. Jesus said: “Let your first words be,’ Peace be to this house.’ If there is a man of peace there, your peace will rest upon him; if not, it will return and rest upon you” (Luke 10:6).

°      This morality of treating one another with the same spirit which you experience in Christ, supersedes and revokes all other lesser or contradictory attitudes. Jesus always replaces a lower passion by offering a higher passion—always a constructive, always creative. Jesus never closes a door to anything concerning us without opening a larger door to better things. “Treat one another with the same spirit which you experience in Christ Jesus.” Parents take note in the treatment of your children. Never say no, unless you can say yes to something higher. From Jesus we receive not only the highest, but also the best, a wisdom that always inspires. All else is meaningless.                                                                                                                                                              C.     THE SURRENDER OF JESUS TO THE KINGDOM OF HIS FATHER

“For this reason He had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.  Because he himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”  (Heb.2; 17, 18.)

 

God himself obeyed the law of self-surrender, through giving Himself for us in Jesus our Lord.  This most amazing fact of the self-surrender of Jesus needs further emphasis.  This is important and undisputable  — we do as God our Father did in His beloved Son and live or we refuse to do it and we decay and perish.  

°      He would live with men as the Son of man, for the sake of our redemption.  His program for the bringing in of the Kingdom was crystal clear.  He went to the little synagogue at Nazareth and announced His program. One would have thought that the Christian Church would have fastened on this synagogue at Nazareth as one of the greatest shrines in Christendom, for here the greatest program for the reconstruction of the world was announced. This is a striking reminder of how the Christian faith has lost the kingdom of God as its central program and emphasis. In Nazareth, Jesus gave the Kingdom manifesto–the content of what it would bring and mean to men.

D.      THE FRUIT OF THE KINGDOM IS CHRIST LIKENESS

The kingdom was taken away from Israel not only because they refused to put it in operation but also because it was trying to put into operation something other and something different from what Jesus was revealing in his own Person. “The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof”  (Matt. 21:43). Note, “bringing forth the fruits thereof.”

°       The test of possessing the kingdom is to bring forth the fruit thereof. This fact raises the kingdom out of identification with any existing nation and any existing church or movement.  It is now and placed it in the hands of those who bring forth the fruit thereof. To make it more specific, Jesus said, “Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out” (Matt. 8:11,12) This includes all to the degree that they bring forth the fruits of the kingdom and excludes none except those who exclude themselves.

°       The secret of this fruit is not quantity but quality.  The fruit is the extension of His life in us.   The character of the kingdom is Christ likeness. He used interchangeably “for my sake” and “the kingdom’s sake.” He was the kingdom, not merely expounded, but exposed. Men saw it and did not merely hear it. He was it. This is of vast and significant importance. It is unique in quality and quantity and goal and scope and objective. It is the most radical proposal ever proposed to the mind and allegiance of man. This is radicalism. Nobody and nothing is beyond its scope and pursuit and redemption.

°       Wherever His kingdom is accepted it fulfils the good, cleanses the evil, and goes beyond anything ever thought or dreamed anywhere. This is the desire of the ages–if men only knew it.

D.   THE FRUIT OF A SELF-SURRENDERED LIFESTYLE

He fulfilled the deepest law of the kingdom of God: “whoever would save his life will lose if and whoever loses his life for My sake [in a higher cause, the Kingdom) will find it" (Matt. 16:25 RSV).

"Therefore, my brothers, I implore you by God's mercy to offer your very selves to him: a living sacrifice, dedicated and fit for his acceptance,  the  worship  offered  by  mind  and heart.  Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world, but let your minds be remade, and your whole nature thus transformed. Then you will be able to discern the will of God, and to know what is good, acceptable and perfect"(Rom.12:1-2 ).

When you surrender to the kingdom,

°       You surrender to creative love and all you say, and do, is finely tuned to make a lasting impact. You think thoughts you couldn't think before, you do things you couldn't do before, and you are a person you could not otherwise be.

°       You are a surprise to yourself and others. And now you can love yourself because you love something (the Kingdom) and someone (Christ) more than your self. Your self on your own hands is a problem and a pain; your self in the hands of Christ is an unlimited possibility and a power.

°      Self-loathing, self-rejection drops away. How can you hate what He loves!  How can you reject what He has accepted?   "Blessed are my eyes for they have seen Him and do see Him, my hands for they have clasped his, my feet for they walk in His way, my heart for it belongs to Him, now and forever-blessed am I, for I am his!

F.     CONCLUSION

We have seen the inner account of Jesus' surrender of himself obeying the deepest law of the Kingdom. We now see it through the anointed eyes of Paul:

 “Treat one another with the same spirit as you experience in Christ Jesus”  (Phil 2:5-10)

Jesus in His human life expresses the nature of God.

"IF YOU SURRENDER TO CHRIST YOU SURRENDER TO CREATIVE LOVE". Self-surrender was not merely something for the creatures to do--it is something the Creator did Himself. This is therefore an all-embracing principle and attitude for God and man.

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 KINGDOM PRINCIPLES AS STATED IN THE BEATITUDES

King Jesus announced the laws of the Kingdom in Matthew 5, 6 & 7.  May I suggest that you read these chapters again to familiarize yourself with them.  Lack of space prohibits a full examination of them, but we shall look at them briefly. Throughout the letters of the Apostles I have discovered that they confirm these teachings of our Lord Jesus. I have added a few of these verses to every statement of Christ.  These laws are nothing more than Kingdom principles, which set the agenda whereby Kingdom living is executed.

    1.       THE PRINCIPLE AGAINST UNJUSTIFIED ANGER (Mt.5:21-26)

Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.  (1 Jn. 3:15)

If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or else you will destroy one another. (Gal. 5:15)

There is anger, which is justifiable. For example the Bible mentions several times that God was angry with various people. This kind of anger is often called righteous indignation. It is the controlled expression of annoyance of displeasure. That anger which the Kingdom law prohibits is that of enragement, fuming, bitterness, recrimination and vexation, the anger which is vented against someone with venom and nastiness. God is particularly displeased with the anger which causes one to lose control of oneself.

2.       THE PRINCIPLE OF INNER PURITY  (Mt.5:27-32)

      “Having eyes full of adultery.”  (2 Pet. 2:14)

      Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. (Heb. 13:4)

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? (1 Co. 6:18, 19)

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desire.  (Gal. 5:24)

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which are idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. (Col. 3:5,6)

The cure for such a problem lies firstly in making a determined vow against all moral impurity and then fulfilling it with resolute action. Jesus is not advocating the literal amputation of the hand, or the physical gouging out of the eye.  Neither the hand nor the eye is the real source of the trouble.  There is a motivation behind both hand and eye, which needs to be dealt with.  Christ is saying, “Whatever is needful to keep your heart pure, do it, with determination, for if you play with sin it will destroy you.”

1. 3.              THE PRINCIPLE OF HONESTY AND INTEGRITY (Mt.5: 33-37)

“Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no, or you will be condemned.” (Jas. 5:12)

The Kingdom citizen must be faithful to his word. His yes must be yes and his no must be no.  He must be a man of his word so that people will learn to put confidence and trust in what he says. He must be reliable and consistent. This applies to such matters as keeping appointments and being on time for them. Keeping promises even when it becomes inconvenient to do so.

    4.       THE PRINCIPLE OF NON RETALIATION  (Mt.5:38-42)

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.  (1 Th. 5:15)

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. God has established the authorities that exist.  Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (Ro.13: 1,2)

Our role is to love our enemies, to do them good, and allow God to deal with them.

The Kingdom citizen never retaliates. He never goes to law against his neighbours, but always seeks how he may bless his enemies.

    5.       THE PRINCIPLE  OF RIGHT MOTIVATION  (Mt.6: 1-18)

“And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:11)

“All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” (2 Th. 1:5)

 “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever.” (2 Ti 4:18)                                     

“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.’” (Rev. 11:15)

“Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about me in the scroll – I have come to do your will, O God.” (Heb. 10:7)

 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (Col. 1:9)

Religion is concerned largely with right acts and deeds, but the King is interested in inner motive.  What is my reason for doing this?  Is my motive pure?  Am I doing this for the right reason?  The Scribes and Pharisees specialised in religious acts.  They did all the right things, but often with an imperfect motive. Our righteousness must exceed theirs (Mt. 5:20). In the Kingdom of God we are to do the right thing, from a pure, right and just motive.

    6.       THE PRINCIPLE  OF RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP (Mt..6:19-34)

 “Keep your lives free from the love of money.” (Heb. 13:5)

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

As citizens of the Kingdom we have relinquished all our “rights” to the King. As His “love slaves”, we no longer own anything.  All we have and are belongs to Christ. Now we are stewards, of what we have, on behalf of the King.  V.21 is a key to responsible stewardship. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  What we invest our finance in reveals where our heart’s affections really lie. If we invest in earthly things, moth, rust and thieves will destroy our investment. Treasures invested in the eternal kingdom will produce eternal dividends.

    7.    THE PRINCIPLE OF RIGHT PRIORITIES (Mt.6:24-34)

“Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey?”  (Rom 6:16)

“If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)

“In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God…and my God shall fulfil every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phi. 4:6,19)

“Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.”   (1 Pet. 5:7)

“We brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out: but having food and covering in these we shall have enough. (1 Ti. 6:7,8) 

Successful Kingdom living depends largely on getting our priorities right – that is, giving our attention to the most important things first. Jesus clearly defines our first priority: “Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God, and all these ‘things’ – food, drink, clothes, etc. Which the Gentiles seek after (strive for) – will be added unto you.”

Give the Kingdom of God and righteousness, the first place in your thoughts, desires, and actions.  Make it the number One priority in your life.  Let everything else take second place to it. Love the King, more than anyone else. Serve His purposes with dedication and purpose. He will supply the needful things of life.

    8.    THE PRINCIPLE OF TOLERANCE TOWARDS YOUR BROTHER (Mt.7:1-6)

“Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts;  and then shall each man have his praise from God.” (1 Co. 4:5)

“Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:1,2)

The worldly man judges and criticizes others regardless of how great his own weakness and failings are.  He often tries to remove a speck from another eye, when there is a log in his own.  This is not so in the Kingdom.  Jesus says, we are not to criticize or condemn our brother. Moffatt’s translation of Rom.14:13 says, “So let us stop criticising one another.” This does not mean we should be blind to the faults of a brother.  We are not to disregard such faults.   It means that instead of criticizing and condemning him, we should minister to him in love, with compassion, seeking to help him overcome those weaknesses.  Our action would be positive, not negative.  How we treat such a person will determine how we ourselves are treated. “For with what measure ye judge, ye shall be judged.”  (Mt.7:2)

    9.   THE PRINCIPLE OF DISCRIMINATE TEACHING (Mt. 7:6)

(The Principle of Pearls and Pigs.)

“The mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be.”   (Rom.8:7)

“Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. The spiritual man makes judgements about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgement.”  (1 Co. 2:14-15)

“He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes or decide by what he hears with his ears.” (Is. 11:3)

The pearls, to which Jesus refers, are the truths of the Kingdom, which are formed in our lives, as a pearl is formed in the oyster.  These truths are sacred and precious.  God has gone to great lengths to build these truths into you.  They are holy things, sacred and personal. Do not go around sharing them indiscriminately, as one who would feed holy things to dogs, or pearls to swine. Treat such precious truths with respect.  Treasure them in your heart. We are to share the message of the Kingdom with whomever. But the mysteries of the Kingdom are for the committed.  Do not try to impose mature truth on immature people. Let the Holy Spirit guide you about whom, when and how to share the deeper truth of the Kingdom.

Remember that the unregenerate man cannot even “see” the Kingdom. He does not even know that it exists.

    9.     THE PRINCIPLE OF PRAYER (Mt.7:7-12)

“Praying at all seasons in the Spirit.” (Eph. 6:18)

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. This is the boldness which we have toward Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of Him.”

(1 Jn. 3:22; 5:14, 15)

“Let him ask in faith, nothing doubting.”  (Jas. 1:5)

“Ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.” (Gal. 5:13)

There is a definite sequence and progression involved in the principle of prayer. Jesus outlined it thus:

        a.  “ASK, and it shall be given to you.” This is the simplest form of prayer.  Making our requests known to God, with thanksgiving.

       b.  “SEEK, and ye shall find.”

Here is a deeper level of prayer; which goes far beyond making our requests known to God. Seeking God is the earnest pursuit of God in prayer.  “Ye shall find me, when you search with all your heart.”  David called it “Seeking the face of God.” (Ps.27:8). It demands more time, dedication, and sacrifice than the simpler kind of prayer. It also results in greater rewards not simply in the attaining of things we may desire but the development of our deeper spiritual life.

        c.  “KNOCK and the door shall be opened.”

This introduces a deeper level of maturity in Spiritual things. This is not the pounding upon the door, insisting that it shall be opened to you.  It is not the frenzy of purpose, which would almost break down the door.

Rather, it is the gentle knocking of request, with great respect, which understands that God will not willingly open the door to any situation with which we are too immature to cope.

There is an aggressive faith that may insist on an answer which is harmful or injurious.  For example, Israel insisted on having a king to rule them.  God unwillingly gave them their requests but it brought leanness into their soul.  How much wiser they would have been to “Knock gently and see if God would respond. This does not exclude a persistent seeking to know Fathers will and to have the boldness as a son to stand before Him with full assurance , without doubting that He will answer your request  (Heb 10:19-22  and Luke 18: 1-5)

     10.     THE PRINCIPLE OF SOLID FOUNDATIONS (Mt.7:24-27)

“If any man build on the foundation gold,  silver,  costly stones,  wood,  hay,  stubble;  each man’s work shall be made manifest:  for the day shall declare it,  because it is revealed in fire;  and the fire itself shall prove each man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work shall abide which he built thereon,  he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.” (1 Co. 3:12-15)

“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of out Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jude 20,21)

Jesus teaches the necessity of  “having the word”, rather than merely “hearing” it.

Christ said, those who heard His sayings, but did not practice them, were like fools who built a house on sand.  Without a firm foundation it would be destroyed by the storms of life. In complete contrast, those who “do” the words of Jesus, practice them and live by them, are wise, building upon a rock.  The storms of life fall on them also but the structure of their life will withstand every storm.

Too many Christians are content to “hear the sayings of Jesus”. They store them in their mind and memory. They give intellectual assent to them, but never practice the principles. It would be better to know one truth, and practice it, than to know hundreds of truths and never put any of them into practice.

Living by these principles of the Kingdom builds a firm foundation, for our Kingdom role.  Through the practice of the principles, God is preparing us for our function in the coming manifestation of the Kingdom of God, which will exercise its government over all the nations.   The wise man differs from the foolish man in attitude. He detected something in the Person of Christ, which the foolish man never did. The moment our Lord referred to the coming storm (judgment), he knew that it was a solemn truth. He detected the words of Christ as that from God and was filled with fear. This is the reason why, according to Luke, he dug deep down till he found a solid rock upon which to build.

A FEW IMPORTANT EVALUATIONS ONE SHOULD CONSIDER IN ONES OWN LIFE TO SEE IF YOU ARE SHOWING THE FRUIT  OF YOUR FAITH – (2Cor 13: 5)

1. Will you take seriously the Kingdom principles God set out?  Write down 3 of these principles Jesus has taught us that you need to apply in your personal life?

2. Can you recall some of these principles that you are applying daily in your life?

3. Are you willing to follow God’s kingdom plan for your life, no matter what direction it takes?

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