The Spiritual Big Picture of God's Kingdom
In the beginning, before time and space existed, there was God, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Everything that exists was created by Him, for Him, and through Him (Colossians 1:16). The universe, with its trillions of galaxies and stars, is just a small part of God's infinite existence. His rule and reign transcend infinitely beyond the created realm.
God decided to create a planet in the center of a solar system in the middle of this universe and fill it with all kinds of living creatures. But He had a special plan for this planet. He created a species of being that was like Him and gave them rule and reign over the planet and realm. As Jesus said, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are "gods"'?" (John 10:34).
“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
In the beginning, before time and space existed, there was God, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Everything that exists was created by Him, for Him, and through Him (Colossians 1:16). The universe, with its trillions of galaxies and stars, is just a small part of God's infinite existence. His rule and reign transcend infinitely beyond the created realm.
God decided to create a planet in the center of a solar system in the middle of this universe and fill it with all kinds of living creatures. But He had a special plan for this planet. He created a species of being that was like Him and gave them rule and reign over the planet and realm. As Jesus said, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are "gods"'?" (John 10:34).
This planet and everything on it were created for Jesus (Romans 11:36). God predestined that He would populate the planet with a group of people who were like Him in the beginning, autonomous with free will to choose good from evil. Through one facet of Himself manifesting in the earth, He would bring restoration to what those image-bearers broke. His plan included that they could be transformed into that same facet of the Son and inherit the right to become His children.
Jesus came to carry out that plan. He showed us how those image-bearers should be operating on the planet. The planet is an extension of God's kingdom, but He put His image bearers in charge of it. He wanted to rule this realm through His image bearers, but we introduced sin and death.
But God's plan included the destruction of sin and death by reconnecting His rule and reign to this realm through Christ. God united Himself to us so we can co-rule with Him and yield to His authority and leadership. So we are joint heirs with Jesus. We are now God's co-rulers on this planet. Mankind still has dominion, but God has made where his infinite realm can impact and restore this realm through his image bearers. We are to announce the GOOD NEWS that God's Kingdom is now here. It was planted here in Christ and will continue to grow to the increase of His government/kingdom, there shall be no end.
There are currently wheat and weeds in the earth, but one day that will change. Until then, we are sent into the world as Jesus was sent, to rule and reign as He modeled when He was here. This is what Peter was excited about in Acts 2 when he talked about the restoration of all things.
God's rule and reign have been established and will continue to increase. Let's have a restorative view of the future, not a fatalist view. Until the end, there will be weeds in this realm, but His rule and reign will continue to grow. Announce the GOOD NEWS that God's Kingdom is here, and we display it by bearing fruit, walking in love, and ministering in power. Let's be about His kingdom and not be overwhelmed by the weeds.
Splagchnizomai - Jesus Was Moved with Compassion for People
In Acts 2 and Hebrews 1, we discover that many of David's Psalms have prophetic significance. David's prophetic Messianic Psalms uniquely connect with the heart of Jesus and express what he would experience during his trial, beating, crucifixion, time in Hades, and his resurrection.
For instance, Psalm 18 provides a powerful firsthand account of the resurrection of Christ, while Psalm 22 expresses the experience of Christ on the cross. Similarly, Psalm 110 reveals Christ's heart while in the heart of the earth after his death.
While Matthew records the words of Christ on the cross, we can gain even more insights into his experience by looking at the Psalms that Jesus identifies with. Studying these Psalms can help us personalize and appreciate the suffering Christ endured for our sake.
“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.””
The word compassion is derived from the Greek word 'splagchnizomai,' which means to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion. This word emphasizes the deep emotional response that one experiences towards another person's suffering. It is not just a feeling or obligation, but a deep sense of empathy that demands action.
Jesus demonstrated this type of compassion in his ministry. He was moved with compassion for the sick, the hungry, the poor, and the oppressed. He didn't just sympathize with their plight, but he took action to heal, feed, and liberate them. His compassion was not just a passive feeling; it was an active force that drove him to serve others selflessly. Jesus saw the people's pain and suffering and couldn't help but act. This deep sense of compassion was what fueled his ministry, and it's what we should emulate as his followers.
In the book of Hebrews, we are encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is not just the leader of our faith, but He is also the reason for our faith. He is the One who endured the cross and overcame the power of sin and death, so that we could have new life in Him.
One of the key aspects of Jesus' ministry on earth was His compassion for people. When people asked Him if He was willing to heal them, He always responded with a resounding "I am willing." This willingness was not just a simple desire to help people, but it was born out of a deep love and compassion for those who were suffering.
Jesus' love and compassion for people moved Him to action. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and reached out to those who were marginalized by society. He did not just do these things because it was the right thing to do, but because He genuinely cared about the people He was ministering to.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to love others in the same way that He loved us. Jesus' love was not just a sentimental feeling, but it was a deep and sacrificial love that was willing to lay down His life for others. This kind of love is not just a warm and fuzzy feeling, but it is a powerful force that can change lives and transform communities.
When we love others with the same kind of love that Jesus had for us, we create an atmosphere for the power of God to move in our midst. Love is not just a nice sentiment, but it is a powerful force that can overcome hate, division, and fear. When we love one another, we demonstrate to the world that we are followers of Jesus and that we belong to Him.
Jesus' love for people was not just a personal mission, but it was also a strategy to advance the Kingdom of God. He called His disciples to love one another as He loved them, and He prayed for unity among His followers so that the world would know that God had sent Him. Unity is the strategy, and love is the power that drives us forward in our mission to reach the world with the message of the Gospel.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and let us love one another as He loved us. Let us be moved with compassion for those who are hurting and marginalized, and let us demonstrate the power of God through our love for one another. May we be united in our mission to reach the world with the message of the Gospel, and may we be empowered by the love of Christ to make a difference in our communities and in our world.
We Can Know What Jesus Was Thinking On The Cross
In Acts 2 and Hebrews 1, we discover that many of David's Psalms have prophetic significance. David's prophetic Messianic Psalms uniquely connect with the heart of Jesus and express what he would experience during his trial, beating, crucifixion, time in Hades, and his resurrection.
For instance, Psalm 18 provides a powerful firsthand account of the resurrection of Christ, while Psalm 22 expresses the experience of Christ on the cross. Similarly, Psalm 110 reveals Christ's heart while in the heart of the earth after his death.
While Matthew records the words of Christ on the cross, we can gain even more insights into his experience by looking at the Psalms that Jesus identifies with. Studying these Psalms can help us personalize and appreciate the suffering Christ endured for our sake.
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?”
In Acts 2 and Hebrews 1, we discover that many of David's Psalms have prophetic significance. David's prophetic Messianic Psalms uniquely connect with the heart of Jesus and express what he would experience during his trial, beating, crucifixion, time in Hades, and his resurrection.
For instance, Psalm 18 provides a powerful firsthand account of the resurrection of Christ, while Psalm 22 expresses the experience of Christ on the cross. Similarly, Psalm 110 reveals Christ's heart while in the heart of the earth after his death.
While Matthew records the words of Christ on the cross, we can gain even more insights into his experience by looking at the Psalms that Jesus identifies with. Studying these Psalms can help us personalize and appreciate the suffering Christ endured for our sake.
Matthew 27:45-46 describes how, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness covered the land, and Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
By walking through Psalm 22, we can gain a deeper understanding of what Christ experienced on the cross. We can pause and imagine standing at the foot of Christ's cross and envision him undergoing all of this, as he bears the punishment for our sins.
Psalm 22
1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.
5 They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.
11 Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.
19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.
22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.
25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth Shall eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust Shall bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep himself alive.
30 A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.
The Heart of Jesus: Enduring for the Joy Set Before Him
Jesus knew that God had sent him into the world to die on the cross and save sinners. The last week of his earthly life was heart-wrenching and painful, but he endured it for us. Jesus asked God if there was a different plan, not wanting to be forsaken by his Father, but he still endured. He endured the shame of the cross for the joy set before him, which is us. Thank you for joining us today. We pray that today's journey through Christ's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane encourages you and gives you hope to remain faithful.
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame...”
One of the most meaningful aspects of Christ’s incarnation is that he emptied himself (Philippians 2:7) and laid down a facet of his eternal glory (John 17:5) to become like you and me. Jesus was a human being tempted and wrestled with life situations like you and me. Why? Because God gave humankind dominion over creation, humanity was responsible for the infractions and injustices, so only a human could atone and reconcile.
No one could accomplish this impossible task, so miraculously, God became human to bear the burden of the penalty for the injustice against God’s righteousness and the effects of sin, which is death.
The touching part to me is that Jesus did this willingly. Knowing the horror of being tried, judged, and punished for all humanity, Jesus still said yes and stayed the course.
Jesus intimately knew the prophecies of the suffering Messiah. He knew David was prophesying his experience in the grave in many Psalms. He knew he would be forsaken by God and descend into the center of the earth (Matthew 12:39).
He knew he would be unjustly accused, judged, and punished by man. He knew he would be nailed to a cross. He knew God would change him into sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He knew God was going pour out all of his wrath toward sin, and he would experience all the effects and wages of sin. Finally, he knew he would pass into Hades / Sheol and had to use his faith to believe that God’s promises to him would still come to pass.
Knowing all that, he still endured the death of the cross for the joy it brought him to think of you receiving eternal life through what he was doing. The thought of you in his eternal kingdom, free from sin and death, brought Jesus such great joy that he stayed the course and died in your place.
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
Consider Jesus’ mindset in these passages.
Matthew 26:1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, 2 “You know that after two days are the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
Matthew 26:12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Even though his disciples didn’t fully understand what was coming, Jesus did. We see his humanity the night he is arrested.
Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, [h]if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour [i]is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
It amazes me that Jesus asked God to change his plan. I describe this aspect of Christ’s suffering in the video, and I pray you take the time to watch it. It will bless you. Grown men were crying when I preached this sermon because they were personally identifying with Christ’s work on their behalf. I pray it’s meaningful for you as well.
As a result of Christ’s complete work, we have unhindered access to God when we need help. Jesus knows how to help us because he’s been like us. He’s been through what you’re going through. He knows what it’s like to face the challenges of life that you’re facing. He wants to help you from a place of empathy, not judgment.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Even in the midst of your darkness, especially in the midst of your darkness, you can go to God for mercy, comfort, and strength. He loves you and will never leave you.
The video above is a Palm Sunday sermon, I pray it is a blessing to you.
Jesus Gave Us A Strategy to Win the World Through Love
The world should know us by our love for one another, and our unity in Christ as believers should compel the world to believe. It’s a big circle that brings us back to God’s first action, to love us and send Jesus for us. It’s amazing that our love for one another and our unity in Christ should be a call to the world to believe that God loves them and sent Jesus for them too.
“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
Jesus gave us a strategy to cause the world to believe. This strategy is revealed in his commands and his prayers.
Here’s how the first part works:
God loved us so he gave his only son to save us from sin and death
God commands us to love him, but he loved us first so he’s basically commanding us, to allow him to love us.
Because he loves us and we love him, we should love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in such a way that it’s a sign to the world that we’re Jesus’ followers.
John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Then Jesus prays several things that reflect this process. In this prayer, he adds to the strategy and reveals the ultimate outcome of his command to love.
John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who [j]will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Here’s what Jesus prays:
Jesus tells God he’s ready to take back the glory he laid down before he became human
He declares that he’s giving his believers that same glory
He declares that we are one with God as he is with God
He prays that we would be as one with each other as he is with each of us and as he is with the Father
He repeated himself by rephrasing his prayer a bit, declaring that he is in God, God is in him, he is in us, God is in us, and we are all one.
Finally, Jesus declares a fascinating fruit of this dynamic unity, he declares that the world will know and believe that God sent Jesus for them.
He concludes his prayer by revealing that this is all because God loves the world as much as he loves Jesus and as much as he loves us
It’s a big circle that brings us back to God’s first action, to love us and send Jesus for us. It’s amazing that our love for one another and our unity in Christ is a call to the world to believe that God loves them and sent Jesus for them too.
Ministry is a multi-faceted creative expression to reveal the love of God to people by loving one another and uniting for the purpose of showing the world that God loves them too. This is our strategy. This is our calling. To participate in the plan of God to love people into his family through Christ.
It’s not a big mystery. We don’t have to be super-spiritual to understand the will of God. God is love, and he wants everyone to know and be made whole in this love. And apparently, our love for one another is a key part of that plan.
I say we get busy loving. 1 Corinthians 13 is a good place to start. Allow God to reveal to you ways that living out these principles can be signs to the unbelieving world that God loves them to the point they believe. Dream with God a bit about what that looks like in your life. Give him the opportunity to live out his strategy through you.
I am patient
I am kind
I am not envious
I do not boast
I am not proud
I do not dishonor others
I am not self-seeking
I am not easily angered
I keep no record of wrongs
I do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth
I always protect
I always trust
I always hope
I always persevere
I never fail in God
Where you go from here is between you and the Holy Spirit, enjoy the journey!
God's Words are the Spiritual DNA of Life
Jesus said his words are spirit and life. His words are not just ideas, they are packages of spiritual life. His words created the universe. His words uphold all things. His words are not just ideas for us to ponder, they are packages of spiritual life for us to digest and assimilate into our entire being to experience transformation, enjoy health, and walk in power
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
Jesus said his words are spirit and life. His words are not just ideas, they are bundles of spiritual life. They are genetically encoded seeds to become specific blessings, gifts, and fruits.
His words are more than what's written in the Bible or even the words that he spoke when he walked the earth. We should remember that Jesus was/is the logos which was the agent of creation. This was his glory or his form before he came to earth as a man. So not only is he the agent or creation, but it was also all made for him.
Colossians 1:16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
The logos that spoke all into existence is still upholding all things.
Hebrews 1a The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word.
In his glory before emptying himself and becoming human, the son of God created all things and now upholds all things because all things, in fact, belong to him.
Then Jesus himself, as a human, tells us the words he spoke to his disciples and those who heard are spirit and life. That's not a metaphor. His words have the power to create in our lives in the same way his word made all that exists.
This is now a process we control, but it is a reality we can host within our hearts. We can hold his creative, sustaining word in our hearts and expect it to have an effect. His words are not just ideas for us to ponder, they are packages of spiritual life for us to digest and assimilate into our entire being to experience transformation, enjoy health, and walk in power.
How do we engage his words on that level, where they become something tangible for us?
Christ's words become spirit and life in our minds, hearts, bodies, and lives as we hold his logic in our hearts to the degree that it bears fruit and flows naturally from our hearts. Those spiritual life packages become wisdom, healing, provision, direction, gifts toward others, and more.
Messenger RNA Technology
This may not be the best example because of covid, but mRNA technology is an interesting parallel to how Jesus' words are effective in ours. mRNA technology refers to lives. The use of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules to stimulate an immune response against a specific pathogen, such as a virus or cancer cells. It carries instructions to the body's cells and teaches the cells how to produce immunity which fights off disease.
The word of God is much more powerful but works similarly. As it is held in our hearts, it carries messages to our entire being, supplying what is needed for healing, wisdom, direction, provision, power, and more.
Proverbs 4:20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body. 23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
ZOE - God's Quality of LIFE Is In YOU!!!
Jesus came to give us life. That has two meanings. He brings us from spiritual death to eternal life. And he gives us His life. He doesn’t just make us alive, He actually gives us the quality of life He possesses. Worship with us today and be encouraged by this life-giving word today, thanks for joining us!
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.””
Jesus said “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” in John 10:10.
This has two meanings. One has to do with zao, and the other with zoe. Zao is a verb that means “to live.” Jesus brought us from death to life, we were dead in our sins, but now we are alive in Christ. But zoe is a noun and refers to the kind or quality of life that God gives. So you could say he made us zao so we could enjoy zoe.
He doesn’t just make us alive, he actually gives us the quality of life he possesses. So from then on, it’s something we possess in our spirits.
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life (zoe); he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
G2222 - Zoe - life (noun)
the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic
It’s a state of existence, not just the fact of existence. It’s a quality of life he gives us, not just life itself. Notice also that it says “which belongs to God.” It’s the kind of life God has.
This idea reminds me of several new creation facts; we are joint heirs with Jesus, he shares his authority with us, we’re seated with him on his throne of authority in heavenly places, we are partakers of his divine nature, we’ve been given the right to be the children of God, we’re no longer servants but sons…
His Life Is A River In Us
Once we’re made new through Christ and God places his spirit/life in us, we have a river of life flowing from our spirit that’s joined to God into every aspect of our being; including our physical bodies, our emotions, thoughts, and on out into our lives. This life is not limited to benefiting its host, it also flows out of us in power to minister to others.
John 7:37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
What is His Life Doing In There?
Romans 8:10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Even though our bodies are dying because of sin, we can still experience zoe, because God’s spirit gives zoe to our physical bodies. What do you think God’s zoe/life does inside a human body? We know what happened for Jesus, it brought him back to life. The same spiritual life is in us.
This is an astounding truth worth hours of ponder and meditation, it’s simply amazing. As we reflect on this truth, it makes passages like this more real for us.
Proverbs 4:20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
His spirit in us is not just supplying God’s quality of resurrection life, it has limitless effects and fruits. Through Christ’s spiritual life, we experience transformation in the rest of our being and bear the fruits of his spirit, as well as walk in the power of his spirit in ministry toward others.
But wait, there’s more…
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption 1 Corinthians 1:30
When you stop to think about it, there’s only one conclusion: Christ seeks to live in and through us. May we comprehend the power of what is in us and not limit Christ from being fully formed in us.
1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
Nurturing the Seed of God’s Kingdom in Your Heart
As you acknowledge God, you will find the path God is laying out before you. He is not waiting on you to acknowledge him before he leads you. He is waiting for you to change the way you think so you can perceive where and how he is leading you. The definition of the word “acknowledge” gives us more insight into how God leads us.
The Hebrew word for “acknowledge” is yada. This word means:
know
perceive
consider
be acquainted with
declare
to make oneself known
to reveal oneself
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#7 in FAITH & HOPE: Living in the Balance of Wisdom and Revelation
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths.”
As you acknowledge God, you will find the straight path God is laying out before you. He is not waiting on you to acknowledge him before he leads you. We must change the way we think so we can perceive where and how he is leading us. I promise you he is trying to lead you, now you must be willing to acknowledge him.
The Hebrew word for “acknowledge” is yada. This word means:
know
perceive
consider
be acquainted with
declare
to make oneself known
to reveal oneself
The last two are interesting. The first few make sense, but the last two go a bit deeper. To acknowledge God is to make yourself known to him or to reveal yourself to him. In other words, be honest with God and reveal your innermost thoughts to him.
These aspects of “acknowledge” indicate confession and repentance. Both of which are mind-renewal exercises and changes of the heart.
When seeking to perceive God’s leading in your life, you must be honest with him AND yourself. You must be willing to open your heart and admit to yourself where you currently are. You must be willing to recognize where you’re self-reliant, where you are trusting in your own strength, where you are doubting God, where you are trapped in sin, as well as any number of things that may be keeping the eyes of your heart from hearing him and seeing the steps he’s laying before you.
There’s a shift that happens in your capacity to see, hear, and follow God when you are willing to set aside your logic and trust that God has a better way. This is true repentance, this is having a true change of heart.
“Leaning not to your own understanding” is not an invitation to live ignorantly in blind faith, it is clear instruction to find out how God thinks about a matter and apply his logic to your life no matter how much you want to do it your own way. We are not ignorant of his ways, we have his Word which tells us what he expects and how he thinks about everything.
If you want to see fruit and success in specific areas of life, like relationships, finances, health, and purpose, find out what God says about those areas and choose to live and make choices that are consistent with his logic rather than yours. Make a commitment to his Word and his ways above your desires.
Find out what he says and believe it, no matter what you have to admit to yourself along the way. Commit to his Word above any other source of information and instruction, no matter how appealing it may sound.
To lean not on your understanding and acknowledge him is to seek his wisdom and align your thinking and choices with his perspective. You may find that you disagree with God as you are seeking to be led by him, what will you do then? When that happens, don’t worry, it is safe to acknowledge your self-reliance and ask him for help.
As you plant and nurture his logic and wisdom in your heart, above your own emotions and logic, his kingdom will manifest in your life. His kingdom will bear fruit beyond anything you could make happen on your own. His kingdom is in you. It is spiritual. His kingdom in you is an unlimited field of potential fruit and power just waiting to be cultivated. You can nurture it by aligning your heart, emotions, thoughts, and choices with his logic above your own understanding, and your paths will become straight. You will see the blessing of the Lord!
This is just one aspect of the video above, as you with it, identify areas of life that aren’t working and be willing to acknowledge his ways so you will see kingdom fruit and God will be glorified in your life.
The Law of the Seed: Understanding Faith and the Kingdom of God
The Law of the Seed: Understanding Faith and the Kingdom of God
When Jesus taught about faith, He emphasized the importance of experiencing God's kingdom. He often used the illustration of the mustard seed to illustrate the connection between faith and God's kingdom, ultimately conveying the message that faith leads to the manifestation of God's kingdom in our lives. In other words, faith enables us to see and experience the presence of God's kingdom in the present moment. Therefore, by embracing and practicing faith, we can live a life filled with the hope and peace that comes from experiencing the reality of God's kingdom every day.
#6 in FAITH & HOPE: Living in the Balance of Wisdom and Revelation
“when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.””
When Jesus taught about faith, He emphasized the importance of experiencing God's Kingdom. He often used the illustration of the mustard seed to illustrate the connection between faith and God's Kingdom, ultimately conveying the message that faith leads to the manifestation of God's Kingdom in our lives. In other words, faith enables us to see and experience the presence of God's Kingdom in the present moment.
When we walk by faith, we can live a life filled with the hope and peace that comes from experiencing the reality of God's Kingdom every day.
How do we walk by faith? Know God's Word in an area of life, understand what Jesus did for you in that area, and believe fully until it comes to pass, leaving no room for doubt.
When It Is Sown
We must sow the Word in our hearts so the seed of the Kingdom of God within us will become fruitful. The Kingdom is in there, and it's trying to grow. Faith clears out the thorns, rocks, and other impediments keeping the Kingdom from increasing.
The more Jesus teaches about faith, the more we see he's talking about experiencing his Kingdom. It will manifest when we rest in Christ's finished work and actively believe to experience God's Kingdom here and now.
In this passage, Jesus gives us the secret of how to walk by faith and experience Kingdom fruit by sowing the Word in our hearts.
Mark 4:26 And He said, "The Kingdom of God is as if a man should [f]scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." 30 Then He said, "To what shall we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade." 33 And with many such parables He spoke the Word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.
To walk by faith and not by sight is to live with an expectation of experiencing His Kingdom in everyday life. As we nurture His Kingdom within us, by faith, it will become fruitful and bear fruit.
What Kingdom expectations do you have? What would you say is limiting the Kingdom from growing in your life? Fear, worry, your past, lack, loss, concern for money? Deal with those things, get your thinking in alignment with God's promises in Christ, and expect to live in His Kingdom now.
Water Walking Faith vs Sinking Doubt
Doubt is a faith killer. Jesus said that all things are possible for those who believe, but he also instructed us to “doubt not.” Doubt is like the opposing force to faith. Doubt chokes the seed of God’s kingdom. Doubt is carnal by nature. Join us today as we discuss how to stay in faith and not let doubt steal our hope.
#5 in FAITH & HOPE: Living in the Balance of Wisdom and Revelation
“And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. ”
Doubt is a faith killer. Notice the effects of doubt in Peter's heart.
But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:30-31
Peter was walking on water because he saw Jesus walking on water. Just like he healed people because he saw Jesus heal people. But when the wind and waves increased, Peter became afraid and began to sink, which is interesting. Have you ever stepped into a pool from the edge? Did you BEGIN to sink, or did you immediately sink? You don't BEGIN to sink. You sink. But Peter began to sink.
There was an intermediate period where his faith, or trust in Jesus, began to waiver, and he was caught between faith and doubt, beginning to sink.
Ponder the parallels in your life for a moment. Where are you wavering, caught between fear and faith? Where are you distracted by wind and waves, caught between distracted doubt and focused confidence?
Lord, Increase Our Faith!
In the Gospel of Luke, the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith, believing that they could do the impossible with more faith. But Jesus responded by saying that faith as small as a mustard seed could move a tree into the sea. Jesus was teaching his disciples that the strength of their faith did not depend on its size but on its quality.
Jesus said that all things are possible for those who believe, but he also instructed us to "doubt not." Doubt is like the opposing force to faith. Doubt chokes the seed of God's kingdom that is trying to grow in your heart and affect your life on every level.
In the story of Peter walking on water for a little while before sinking, we see a paradox in Jesus' response. He saves Peter, but he also asks him why he doubted. Jesus held Peter and his faith accountable for being able to do the impossible.
Jesus gives us the secret - doubt not in your heart. James echoes this in his letter. Notice the language James uses, it's a call back to Peter walking on water, but he applies it in a broader sense. I believe what James learned from Jesus" response that night in the boat changed how he operated in faith forever.
James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Doubt makes you unstable. Doubt makes you begin to sink. But faith keeps its eyes on Jesus and expects to experience life as it is in Christ's kingdom, right here on earth.
We can cultivate water-walking faith by eliminating doubt. As we do so, we will discover that the impossible becomes possible, and we can accomplish great things for the glory of God. Let us, therefore, trust in the power of the Holy Spirit and have faith in the promises of Jesus, who challenges us to step out of the boat and walk on water.
I hope you watch the full video, it will bless you and increase your faith!