A Moment With God: Year 5

By Samuel Hall

This is the fourth volume of my series of Christian devotionals. It contains excerpts from my actual prayer journal with entries for many of the years throughout the year. It is hopefully inspirational and encouraging to your own prayer life. In the my daily entries I reflect upon scripture and allow my reflections to speak to my life. It is the continuing journal of my growing life in Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Samuel Hall
• Release date: Jan 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370220007

Samuel Hall

Born in Minnesota and migrated to the Kansas City area, I have been walking with the Lord for 30+ years. I am married to the most amazing woman in the world and have 2 awesome children and a beautiful daughter-in-law. I have been writing a prayer journal for almost all of those 30 years, so these first three books represent just a small sample of my history with the Lord.

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A Moment With God – Year 5

Samuel R. Hall

Copyright 2018 By Samuel R. Hall

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Title: A Moment With God - Year 5

Author: Samuel R, Hall

Publisher: Smashwords, Inc.

All Scripture Quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NIV (New International Version)

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Dedication:

To My Lord, to my wife Tina, to my loving family. In memory of my father, Eugene S. Hall and my nephew Joseph W. Hall, my brother-in-law Justin D. Mikkelsen, my mother-in-law Olivene A. Mikkelsen and father-in-law Richard D. Fitts who preceded us to glory – the reunion will be wonderful!

Table of Contents

Author’s Note

Introduction

Son of David, Son of Man.…..01/02

The Good News: The Kingdom of God!......01/05

The Kingdom of God and Heaven......01/06

The Kingdom And Relationship With The King......01/07

The Poor In Spirit Receive The Kingdom......01/08

Clothed For The Wedding Feast......01/10

Kingdom Secrets......01/11

His Kingdom and Weeds......01/12

The Kingdom and Healing......01/14

The Kingdom Isn't About Rules......01/15

The Kingdom of God and Power & Authority......01/16

Being His Cloak......01/18

When Prayers Fail......01/25

That Which is Hidden......01/26

He Will Never Love Us Less!......01/29

Disappointed? Change of Perspective.........01/31

Salt Us With Peace, Love and Unity......02/02

Not One of Us...... 02/03

Musings from the Night Watch / The Invitation of God......02/04

My Flow of Thought During Prayer......02/05

Our New Self, Hidden in Him......02/06

When Jesus Moves...His Will Is Accomplished......02/09

When the Lord Intends to Visit......02/11

Proclaim the Kingdom, Bring Nothing.........02/12

Just Ask, The Father Intends to Provide......02/13

The Kingdom Is A Gift We Have Been Given......02/14

The Fire is Kindled......02/15

Jesus Puts People First...... 02/17

New and Old / Wine, Cloth and Paradigms......02/18

The Impact of Effective Ministry......02/19

Thinking About and Seeking God......02/21

Lord, Visit Your People......02/22

Chosen, Loved and Delighted In!......02/23

The Gift of Faith In Action......02/24

Called, Prepared, Prayed-In, Released......02/25

Our Motivation In Worship...... 02/26

Why Are We Worried About Bread?...... 02/27

Use Your Gifts To Serve Others......02/28

Are We An Amos or Jonah?...... 03/01

Dealing With Our Hearts and Minds - Worship and Belief......03/02

Greatness In The Kingdom & Children's Ministry......03/03

The Proof Of The Pudding Is IN The Eating...... 03/04

Relying On The Lord To Confirm Their Words.........03/05

Power For Change - Our Response To Miracles......03/06

Morning Interaction With The Lord......03/08

Faith To Persevere When The Lord Doesn't Seem To Respond......03/09

Our Name, Identity and Purpose in Him...... 03/10

A Love Letter From God...... 03/11

Threatened By The Miraculous......03/12

Sin, Sickness, Thoughts and Beliefs...... 03/13

Today IS A New Day!......03/14

The Gifts Are For The Common Good.......03/16

Healed, Transformed, and Saved......03/17

Revealing the Father......03/18

Of Sin, Righteousness and Judgment (John 16)......03/19

If You Are Thirsty, Come......... 03/20

Heaven's Reality On Earth......03/21

God Our Healer......03/25

Imparting Spiritual Gifts......03/26

Be With Me Where I Am.....03/27

Dealing With Regrets......03/29

The Father Qualifies Us!......03/30

React or Respond......03/31

It Is Finished......04/03

When Hopes Are Dead And God Is Silent......04/04

The Resurrection - Proof Jesus Was Victorious!......04/05

Trusting In The Goodness Of God......04/06

Service With A Smile......04/08

A Place of Rest, Realization, Revelation and Relationship......04/09

Compassion For The Lost.....04/10

Hearing The Lord......04/11

Releasing The Light......04/13

Hearing The Word And Doing It......04/14

The Right Place At The Right Time......04/15

Can God Use Sinners?......04/16

When God Looks At Us, What Does He See?......04/17

Today Is The Day Of The Lord's Favor!......04/18

Living A Life Of Favor......04/23

Favor And Upgrades!......04/23

Reflections On The Greatness Of God.......04/24

The Way IS Open, The Sacrifice Has Been Made!......04/25

God's Awesome Love......04/26

Loving And Serving The Body Of Christ......04/30

Love Is Foundational......05/01

Glorifying God In Our Normal Lives......05/02

The Lord IS Good!......05/05

New Clothes, Gold, Healing And The Throne!......05/10

Our Value To The Lord!......05/11

An Interesting Thought...I Wonder?......05/13

Love and Compassion - Jesus' Mindset...... 05/15

Prophetic Voices And Their Fruit......05/17

The Power Of The Holy Spirit......05/18

Make Way For The THEN.........05/19

Love That Is Sincere / In Action And Truth......05/20

Sinners and Lost Sheep......05/21

Prayer and Responsibility......05/23

Our Invitation Is Here Now!......05/24

Cover Ourselves With Love......05/26

Pray AND Love......05/27

Believe, Love And Live......05/28

Our Identity And Nationality In Christ......05/29

The Future Of The Kingdom......05/30

The Importance of Eschatology......05/31

Knowing The Father And Glorifying Him......06/02

Stepping Into God's Purposes......06/03

Living An Uncommon Life......06/06

To Know God More.........06/07

What Is Eternal Life?......06/08

ALL Are Justified Freely...Really Good News!......06/09

Obedience Over Popularity......06/10

Stepping Into God's Love And Favor!......06/14

Today Is A New Day...There Is Always More!......06/15

Extended Kindness And Love / And The Gospel......06/17

No Penalty For Staying Behind......06/18

God Is In Love, Not Angry!......06/19

Living A Life Of Significance And Purpose!......06/21

Representing The King......06/22

The Humility Of Christ......06/24

God IS Light!......06/25

The One Body Of Christ......06/26

I AM the Light Of The World (John 9:5)......06/27

Finished And Paid!......06/28

Embracing Trials......06/29

Following The Lord......07/01

Reminded Whose We Are: The Lord's......07/02

Standing Against Fear and Intimidation......07/03

Reflections On Sin......07/06

The Barren Fig Tree......07/08

The Gospel of Grace!......07/09

Preserved Through The Storm......07/10

Mercy, For the Sake of His Name......07/12

When The Church Is Attacked......07/13

More On Sin......07/14

Does Sin Lead To Punishment?......07/15

Thoughts on Prophecies of Judgment......07/16

Seeing Jesus, We See the Father......07/18

Comfort and Suffering......07/19

The Unrelenting Love of God!......07/20

God Isn't Human......07/21

The Kingdom Within......07/23

Prayer, Perseverance and Faith......07/24

Practical Wisdom From Paul......07/25

Working Out Our Salvation? (Phil. 2:12)......07/27

Pressing Forward To Know Jesus......07/30

Reflecting on God's Love and Faithfulness......07/30

Grace and Peace: Awesome Gifts from God!......07/31

The Path to Peace......08/01

Do I Believe God Loves Me?......08/02

How Should I Live If He Loves Me? Part 1......08/03

How Should I Live If He Loves Me? (Part 2)......08/08

How Should I Live If He Loves Me? (Part 3)......08/10

How Should I Live If He Loves Me? (Part 4)......08/11

Filled With Compassion, Pouring Forth Love......08/12

An Introduction That Is Life Changing......08/13

A Good Return on His Investment......08/15

When The King Comes...He Cleans and Restores!......08/16

Being the Lord's Bethany......08/17

To Know God = Eternal Life......08/18

Extending Mercy......08/19

Knowledge vs. Love......08/21

Changing Our Mindset - A Great Challenge......08/23

Accept One Another, As Christ Accepted You......08/26

Relationship Over Rules......08/26

He Is The Way, Demonstrates The Truth, and Invites Us to Share The Life.......08/27

Judgment and Humility......08/29

Of Love and First Things......08/31

Live By the Spirit, Not the Flesh......09/01

Walking Side by Side......09/03

Sowing and Goodness......09/08

He IS What We Need......09/09

Experiencing Mercy, Leads to Worship and Transformation......09/10

The Wave of Revival and the Response of Leaders......09/11

An Apology......09/13

Embracing Repentance......09/13

Suffering - A Different Perspective......09/14

My Life, In Short!......09/15

Our Thoughts - Standing Firm......09/17

Being Content In All Things......09/18

Don't Judge or Condemn, Rather Forgive and Give......09/20

Of Worry and Peace......09/21

The Old Covenant is Obsolete (Heb 8:13)......09/23

Wait For The Lord!......09/24

Of Sin and Selfishness.........09/25

His Harvest of Righteousness......09/26

The Signs Affirm the Truth!......09/30

Our Significance & Purpose......10/01

The Joy of Revelation......10/05

Proclaim the Kingdom!......10/07

Dealing With Frustration......10/08

Pursuing That Which Matters......10/11

Love God = Love One Another......10/13

10 Questions to Think On......10/16

Finishing His Work in Me - Help Needed......10/18

Our Posture Before the Lord......10/19

Believe In Yourself, In Him!......10/21

The Fruit of Repentance......10/23

My Dad - His Motivation and Legacy......10/31

Fruitfulness and The Kingdom......11/01

Of Death, Separation and Eternal Destiny......11/03

Seeking the Lord in the Midst of Pain......11/10

That Which Really Matters......11/11

My Heart's Condition & Finances......11/12

Wealth and Our Heart's Focus......11/16

A Love Note From Your Heavenly Father......11/18

Making Every Effort to Grow.........11/18

Yes, I Know You.........11/20

Dealing With Doubt......11/22

The Kingdom of God - Jesus' Foundational Message......11/23

Walking In The Light......11/30

Blessed Forgiveness......12/02

More on Sin, and God's Response......12/03

The Father's Heart Towards Sinners......12/05

Jesus Our Advocate and Propitiation......12/06

Living As Jesus Did.........12/07

Manifest Presence and Pageantry......12/09

Secure in Your Love......12/15

Revival Fire & God's Glorious Move......12/17

Power & Authority......12/18

Carrying God's Presence......12/21

Does Sin Cause Sickness?......12/23

God Moves in Unexpected Ways......12/24

Christmas Meditation......12/25

Water From the Rock......12/26

End Things

Author’s Note:

I am so blessed that you have taken time to even dip your toe into this book, my fifth volume which was authored over the course of the year 2015. These entries come directly from my time before the Lord, excerpts from my prayer journal. I pray they are encouraging, possibly enlightening, and hopefully they draw you deeper into relationship with Him.

I will take a moment to say that I am not a theologian, nor have I been formally trained in pastoral ministry. I am a husband and father, and I work in the telecommunications industry. I have worked in youth and men’s ministry on and off through the years, but these journals do not come out of those times. I have been journaling and taking personal prayer, for the most part daily, since the early 1980s. I didn’t always write as much nor have nearly as much time as I have now days. These journals reflect the daily interaction and conversations I have with the Lord. I have left the original dates of the entries as a date of reference, and possibly as a sign-post for you on a particular day.

As I normally take my prayer time early in the morning (5:15am is the rule these days) my mind is often not fully functioning, so my writing suffers. Also, as this is a prayer journal, often times my expressions to the Lord do not flow out in perfect English, but rather in the heart-felt language I normally speak, write or think. This being the case, I ask that you forgive my lapses of correct English and occasional fragment or run-on sentence, but I decided to leave them in, for I know the Lord doesn’t mind. He is after my heart not my writing.

Finally, I ask your pardon for another slight of proper English, but throughout my journals I always try to capitalize You or He, or the variants when referring to the Lord. It is a form of respect I started many years ago when journaling by hand, and I find it a habit I choose not to break.

May God Bless you and reveal to you His intimate love for you and your significance to Him!

If you are interested in following the next book in the series as it is being written, my blog can be found at: http://amomentwithgod-srh.blogspot.com/.

Peace,

Sam

Introduction – Establishing a Moment With God in Your Life

It is God's desire that we each have an intimate relationship with Him.  John 17:21  I know it’s amazing to think that God would want a relationship with you, but it is VERY true.

So the question is whether it is possible to have a real relationship with God?  By real relationship, I mean talking, sharing, communicating - the same things that make up a normal human to human relationship.  For a relationship to work there must be two-way communication and time together.  I like to think that if God wants us to do something, He will provide the way.

History is full of people who talk about prayer time, prayer, quiet time, and their conversations with God. It is here that we find examples of how to have a relationship with God!  For all of these people, you will generally find four things in common:

They know how to quiet themselves

They talk to God in their own words

They read the Bible (God's written Word)

They know how to listen and discern God's voice speaking into their lives at that moment

So how does one start all this?  Simply develop these same four things in your life.  Start simple, dedicate a little chunk of time and try these steps.  Establish a moment with God in your daily life.

Learn how to quiet yourself - turn off the TV, Computer, Cell-Phone, etc.  Try to stop the constant flow of thoughts for just a few moments.  It takes a little practice - but is worth it!

Some people feel awkward praying to God in their own words, having been taught to pray in church by reciting rote prayers.  Others feel weird talking to God at all.  I like to think the conversation internally - imagining the words I would say.  God can hear our thoughts, so that is just fine with Him.  Whatever you do, God is not worried about how you might sound, or the words you might say - He wants to know what is on your heart!

Start reading the Bible even a few minutes every day. When I started reading the Bible, I was in 9th grade and would read maybe a paragraph a night, right before going to bed.  I would recommend starting with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).  One other technique I use is to just open the Bible and start reading.  I am amazed at how often what I read is directly related to something I just prayed to God about! 

Finally, learning how to discern God's voice, as He is speaking to you, is probably the most difficult.  The good news is that God REALLY wants you to learn, and will help you.  When I first started, I found God's voice pretty easy to pick out - it was almost like He was shouting.  I would read from the Bible and a sentence would almost jump off the page, or I would silently pray something, and within a short period of time I would hear someone repeat my thoughts with an answer.  

God is very capable of speaking, we just need to be aware that He is speaking.  The more we practice the better we get.  The Bible is full of God speaking to people, sometimes in dreams, sometimes visions, other times with an audible voice (I haven't had that experience yet), sometimes through other people, or often through His written Word.  One thing that is very constant - God is always speaking!

A couple of encouragements:

Start simple and easy - maybe 5 Minutes a day

Don't give up, try to develop this into a habit

Don't think it has to be all spiritual, candles lit, darkened room, etc.  I take my time with God in the morning, with a cup of coffee, sitting on the couch

The more time you take, the more you will want to spend - a relationship with God is live changing and life giving!

If you want a great resource to help you get started pick up Bob Sorge’s book Reset. It is available at https://oasishouse.com/pages/reset-20-ways-to-a-consistent-prayer-life

God does want a real relationship with you!

Blessings! Sam

Son of David, Son of Man

01-02

Yesterday morning I was reading through Luke 18 when a few verses caused me to stop and think. Here are the verses - Luke 18:35-38 NIV:

[35] As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. [36] When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. [37] They told him, Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. [38] He called out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

What caused me to stop was the fact that the Blind man was using a purely Messianic and Kingly title for Jesus. Jesus had time and time again chosen to not specifically say He was the Son of David, but rather the Son of Man. In fact, later in the Gospel, after His triumphal entry in Jerusalem, when the title was used freely by the people, He specifically addresses this title as follows - Luke 20:41-44 NIV: Then Jesus said to them, Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? [42] David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand [43] until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. ’ [44] David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?

The Baker's Evangelical Bible Dictionary has the following entry for Son of David:

Son of David. We can trace two lines of interpretation regarding the Son of David (Gk. hyios Dauid) in the Old Testament, one that draws attention to a direct successor during the united monarchy (2 Sam 7:12-16), and the other that applies the earlier promises to the coming of a future individual (Isa 9:6-7). Both are crucial to understanding the title for Jesus in the New Testament.

Mention of the Son of David begins in the Old Testament with the oracle the prophet Nathan delivers to David (2 Sam 7:12-16). God promises David offspring to succeed him. God will be his father, and David's house and kingdom will be established forever. Numerous psalms highlight the same excitement over the continuation of the Davidic line (89:3-4; 110; 132). Even after the collapse of the united monarchy, the line of David remained significant for describing a future leader for the covenant people. Isaiah, for example, looks to the future for a child to be born who will reign on David's throne (9:6-7; cf. 55:3-4; Jer 23:5; Eze 34:2.

Baker's has this entry about Son of Man:

Son of Man. The term Son of Man occurs sixty-nine times in the Synoptic Gospels, thirteen times in John, and once in Acts. All but three occurrences come from the lips of Jesus. In John 12:34, the crowd, equating the Son of Man with eternal Messiah, was puzzled at Jesus' prediction that he would be lifted up and inquired about the identity of the Son of Man. The dying martyr Stephen said he saw the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56). Jesus frequently refers to the Son of Man in the third person, causing some to assume he was not speaking of himself. Nevertheless, the term seems to be not only a self-designation, but Jesus' favorite one.

And finally Baker's has this to say in summary of the terms and the way Jesus addressed His role:

Jesus was in constant danger of being forced into limited or illegitimate messianic role (John 6:15). In response to Peter's confession (Mark 8:29-31) he accepted the title Messiah, equated it with Son of Man, and linked his work with that of the Suffering Servant. In the Judaism of Jesus' day Messiah was frequently understood as a political-military leader whose primary concern was for the welfare of Israel. Jesus' usage seems to be an extension of the portrayal of the Son of Man in Daniel and the intertestamental literature. With the term Jesus dissociated his nature and mission from purely earthly, nationalistic notions. He is a transcendent, preexistent person whose mission is primarily a spiritual one that originates in heaven and whose concern is with all peoples, nations, and languages.

It appears to me that there was an underlying belief among the people and the countryside that Jesus was the Messiah. This term, specifically, relates to the expected Kingly role that the Messiah would fulfill as prophesied by Nathan, and several psalms. Jesus, on the other hand, chose a term that more closely identified Him as a man who served all men. As I read this I immediately thought of Paul's letter to the Philippians 2:6-8 NIV:

[6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; [7] rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death---even death on a cross!

Personally, I find this a very interesting scenario, as we have Jesus, clearly the Messiah, the anointed one, the very Son of God, essentially refusing to let others title Him. Titles are so defining, and although they were all true, they also carry with them a set of expectations of behavior and role fulfillment. Jesus was so much more than what the Israelites were looking for in a Messiah, and I think that as such He knew that title would be defining and limiting. He was being sent to the chosen people, but also to all men. Being seen as just the Messiah of the Jews, would have made His sacrifice unacceptable to those who were not Jewish. Instead, Jesus embraced a lowly designation, Son of Man choosing instead to be identified with any, and all men. He specifically chose the humble title and the servant mentality it brings.

In our own lives and specifically within the church, we are always wanting to know titles, roles, etc. They are important for the understanding of our roles and responsibilities, and as such helpful. However, we must be careful to embrace only those that the Lord calls us, otherwise we are pursuing pride and vanity. We want to have the same mindset as Christ (Phil 2:5) and embrace humility, service and love for each other. It is possible to operate as a prophet without being titled a prophet, the same is true for any title or role. It is especially important that we do not allow others to assign us titles that are not in line with how the Lord sees us. It is probably good to just use the lowest term, the simplest designation. I have been to several conferences where the introduction of the individual is effusive and lengthy, I have also seen those that refer to themselves in puffed up and inaccurate ways. It is sad to see the church giving in to the worldly ideals of titles and roles and such. It is clearly good to honor those in leadership and authority, but it is also dangerous to allow such accolades to be the source from which we start to form our own opinion of ourselves. Oh, that we would take Jesus example to heart and choose instead to just be a 'son of man'.

The Good News: The Kingdom of God!

01-05

This morning I felt like reading from Luke. I love reading from the Gospels, as I can't ever get enough of the life of Jesus. The verses for this morning are Luke 9:1-6, 10-11 NIV:

[1] When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, [2] and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. [3] He told them: Take nothing for the journey---no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. [4] Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. [5] If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them." [6] So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

[10] When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, [11] but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing."

I was struck by a couple of things when reading these passages. First, the theme of their proclamation was the Kingdom of God. This was their message, first and foremost. The rest of the charge given to the twelve was related to proving that the Kingdom of God was actually present through the healing of diseases and driving out all demons. This is a classic proclamation and demonstration model, and one we would be well counseled to follow. If you can't prove what you are saying by demonstration, the acceptance rate by your audience is very low.

Second, it was because Jesus gave them the power and authority to proclaim and prove what they were saying that the twelve were successful. As I read that, I thought about how Jesus would a have given them the power and authority. Based on John 20:22 where Jesus breathed on them and Luke 4:40 where Jesus laid His hands on the people and healed them, I believe that the transference of authority and power was accomplished in this same way. The twelve went out and ministered effectively, and thus were both convinced by the impartation they had received and by the results of their ministry.

I come back to this often, as one would expect that if we are called to continue to represent Jesus' ministry on the earth, called to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the whole world (Mark 16:15-18), then the accompanying signs and proofs would also need to be available to us, as Jesus said they would. If we look at His early ministry, that is exactly what Jesus did - proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, then demonstrate the reality of His proclamation by casting out demons and healing every disease. Here is a description of His early ministry - Matthew 4:17, 23-24 NIV: From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. [23] Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. [24] News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.

My prayer is that I, and all the church, would be equipped and empowered to continue this ministry of Jesus, proclaiming the Good News of the present reality of the Kingdom of God, and then demonstrating this reality with the authority and power of The Holy Spirit. Lord, help us to be strengthened and empowered to fulfill Your plan for us. We cannot possibly accomplish this on our own under our own power. We pray that You would breath on us and give us authority, power and the maturity to represent You correctly. We want to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God, and back up that proclamation with proofs.

Amen!

The Kingdom of God and Heaven

01-06

Yesterday morning the Lord reminded me of the importance of the Kingdom of God, namely that the coming of the Kingdom to earth was the primary Good News that Jesus proclaimed. In fact, one could say that other than speaking of the Father and revealing Him, that the Kingdom was Jesus' primary message. The authors of the Gospels use two different terms for the Kingdom, Matthew calls it the Kingdom of Heaven, and Mark, Luke and John and the rest of the epistles refer to the Kingdom as the Kingdom of God. The reality is that the coming of the Kingdom that Jesus announced is accurately described by both terms. It is both the Kingdom reign that God established in Heaven and that Kingdom was being established on earth.

Jesus began His ministry proclaiming the message of the Kingdom. In Matthew, Mark and Luke His first message was that the Kingdom of God had come near.

Matthew 4:17 NIV: From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Mark 1:14-15 NIV: After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. [15] The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Luke 4:14-15, 43 NIV: Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. [15] He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. ...[43] But he said, I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

In the Book of Acts it is recorded what Jesus taught about during his last days on earth, after His resurrection. Acts 1:1-3 NIV: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach [2] until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. [3] After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

So we have Jesus beginning and ending His earthly ministry on earth speaking about the Kingdom of God, thus one can conclude this message, and the reality of what He is saying, is of utmost importance. This message and the demonstration of this reality were the key components of the Good News as preached by the Apostles. We see two good examples in Acts.

Acts 8:12-13 NIV

[12] But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. [13] Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

And at the very end of Acts it speaks about Paul's topic of teaching - Acts 28:30-31 NIV: For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. [31] He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ---with all boldness and without hindrance!

Paul spoke regularly about the Kingdom, and demonstrated the reality of it through signs and wonders and miracles. He understood and taught that the proclamation must be accompanied by power - 1 Corinthians 4:19-20 NIV: But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. [20] For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

The Greek word used by Paul in this verse is Dunamis with the following definition:

Definition

1. strength power, ability

a. inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth

b. power for performing miracles

c. moral power and excellence of soul

d. the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth

e. power and resources arising from numbers

f. power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

This is clearly not the power of persuasive words, but rather power that can affect change. This power was coupled with the proclamation, because God is powerful, and His reign and sovereignty is achieved through His power. If we proclaim that His Kingdom is present, but are unable to demonstrate that reality, how do we know it exists, or is indeed present? When the Germans invaded countries in WW2, they used impressive demonstrations of power to prove that they were the new power, the new authority.

In the same way, Jesus came proclaiming the establishment of the Kingdom of God and Heaven here on earth, and proved it by the demonstrations of power and authority. He banished those things that were not allowed in God's Kingdom, namely sickness, disease and demons. Jesus was demonstrating that the Kingdom of God on earth had the same characteristics as the Kingdom of God in Heaven, and the authority of God was sovereign over all. He taught us to pray specifically that God's Kingdom would come and His will would be done on earth, just as it was in Heaven. (Matt 6:10)

While He operated in a geographical region, and generally within a specific people group, the Kingdom was not established over either, but rather was established inside of the people. Jesus spoke of this reality in Luke 17:20-21 NIV: Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, [21] nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst (literally within you)."

So, in summary, the Kingdom of God is established on earth in us. It is demonstrated through the power and authority that is shared from the Father. Since His Kingdom on earth is like His Kingdom in Heaven, the demonstration of this is best accomplished through the demonstrations of the power and authority of God as they exist in Heaven, now come to earth. If we are to be bearers of this Kingdom, and share in the ministry of the proclamation of this good news, we must also be able to demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom. I, for one, will not settle for anything less than the fullness of the Good News as proclaimed and demonstrated by Jesus, and passed down to the apostles and the early church. Come Lord Jesus and help us!

The Kingdom And Relationship With The King

01-07

This morning I was thinking more about the Kingdom of God, and the fact that one of the primary reasons Jesus came to earth was to reveal the Father. In essence, He was revealing the character of the King, for Kingdoms take on the character of the King. Jesus was the perfect representation of the Father, so what we see in Him, in His life, is what the Father is truly like. Bill Johnson says it this way, Jesus is perfect theology.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews said this - [1] In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, [2] but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. [3] The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3 NIV).

Jesus said it this way in John's Gospel - [6] I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. (John 14:6-7).

Thus, as we understand Jesus we understand the Father and we understand the character of the King, and His Kingdom as well. It is in knowing, in relationship, that we best understand and can grasp these truths. Religion would say that we can learn the character of the King and reflect His nature by following rules, but Jesus came to reveal the Father and reestablish our relationship with Him, and anything less than that is dealing in partial truths.

One of the only things that Jesus was really upset about while on the earth, at least as it is recorded in the Gospels, is the way the religious leaders of the day portrayed the character of the Father, through their lives and actions. In fact, I can't think of a single time where He was angry with those that were sinners or lost. Instead His harsh words were directed at the Pharisees who espoused 'religion' above all else. As a note, this religion is not related to worship of God, but rather is rules of men (Is 29:13). Jesus had several discourses against these 'teachers' and warned His followers against following them, for they kept people from entering the Kingdom. In Matthew 23:13, Jesus said: Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

Instead, Jesus showed us the Father, and His character, and invited us into relationship with Him. Everything Jesus did and said originated with the Father. Jesus said the following - [19]... Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. [20] For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. (John 5:19-20).

He desired us to be in relationship with Him and the Father - that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21). Later, John would write of the purpose of sharing the Gospel as such - We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3).

So, let us endeavor to enter into this fellowship with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, that we might know them, their character, and thus understand their Kingdom. Let us dive into relationship rather than rules for living righteously, for those are only a shadow of the truth. It is only out of relationship that we have righteousness at all, that which Jesus extends to us.

The Poor In Spirit Receive The Kingdom

01-08

This morning I thought I would go back and reread the Sermon on the Mount, for that is considered by many as the formative thought regarding the Kingdom, some even call it the Kingdom Declaration, akin to our Declaration on Independence. Jesus starts out speaking about the Kingdom - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3 NIV).

David Guzick has the following to say about this verse in his commentary:

(3) "The foundation: poverty of spirit.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

a. Blessed: Jesus promises blessing to His disciples, promising that the poor in spirit will be blessed. The idea behind the ancient Greek word for blessed is happy, but in the truest, godly sense of the word, not in our modern sense of merely being comfortable or entertained at the moment.

b. The poor in spirit: This is not a man's confession that he is by nature insignificant, or personally without value, for that would be untrue. Instead, it is a confession that he is sinful and rebellious and utterly without moral virtues adequate to commend him to God.

c. The poor in spirit recognize that they have no spiritual assets. They know they are spiritually bankrupt. With the word poor, Jesus uses the more severe term for poverty. It indicates someone who must beg for whatever they have or get.

i. Poverty of spirit cannot be artificially induced by self-hatred; it is brought about by the Holy Spirit and our response to His working in our hearts.

d. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven: Those who are poor in spirit, so poor they must beg, are rewarded. They receive the kingdom of heaven, and poverty of spirit is an absolute prerequisite for receiving the kingdom of heaven, because as long as we harbor illusions about our own spiritual resources we will never receive from God what we absolutely need to be saved.

e. The call to be poor in spirit is placed first for a reason, because it puts the following commands into perspective. They cannot be fulfilled by one's own strength, but only by a beggar's reliance on God's power."

From this point forward Jesus is speaking of the Kingdom. He makes it very clear that this is a spiritual kingdom, and its affects are initially internal. This is a kingdom that we must rely on Him to bring about, hence the call to recognize our own spiritual poverty. God will provide us everything we need to enter into, and fulfill our purpose in His Kingdom.

The message was also very important for the Jews, for they were expecting a national resurgence, and reestablishment of the Kingdom of Judah and Israel, like they experienced under David and Solomon. In fact, even after three years of Jesus teaching and trying to set expectations correctly, the apostles were still thinking worldly kingdom, right up to Jesus’ Ascension, as described here in Acts 1:6 NIV: Then they gathered around him and asked him, Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" This idea of the natural Kingdom was so firmly ingrained that apparently it wasn't until after Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, to teach and guide them, that the Apostles and disciples finally understood the reality of the Kingdom of God, of which Jesus spoke.

Let us pray for understanding and insight as well, for in my opinion the church is not doing a good job, at least in America, of representing and expanding the Kingdom. Let us pray for poverty of spirit to come to us, for we NEED His Spirit, not our own efforts, ideas or natural abilities. His Kingdom is not founded on, nor dependent on any of those things. His Kingdom flows out of His own sovereignty, His own power, His own ability. We must recognize our own lack, and His abundance, and embrace this. When we do, then theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Amen!

Clothed For The Wedding Feast

01-10

This morning I was thinking through some ideas about the Kingdom of God and found myself thinking about the parable of the Wedding Feast. One of the things that always bothered me was the one guy who showed up without the appropriate wedding garb. Here is the story as told by Jesus in Matthew 22:8-14 NIV:

[8]"Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. [9] So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’

[10] So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. [11] But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. [12] He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. [13] Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ [14] For many are invited, but few are chosen.

As I was thinking about this story this morning, I realized that the issue was that this individual had refused the wedding clothes that had been prepared for him. All the others were appropriately garbed, and they had come from the same place that he had, and had been lately invited, yet they had the appropriate clothing. I was reminded of this verse from Isaiah as I was thinking this through:

Isaiah 61:10 NIV: I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

It was the King who provided both the invitation and the clothing, and all the man needed to do was accept both. This is symbolic of grace, and salvation through faith. God sent His son Jesus to pay for our sins, to extend salvation to all, and then invited us into relationship. We are called of His initiative, not because of something we have done, we are saved through His sacrifice, not through something we have accomplished. The wedding garb is symbolic of salvation through grace, of being clothed in the righteousness of Christ Jesus, and this man had refused the offer. Paul speaks about us being clothed in Christ is his letter to the Galatians 3:26-29 NIV: [26] So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, [27] for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Thus, the King was justified in His response, for He clearly symbolizes the Father who has given His greatest gift, the Son, that we might be clothed in salvation and righteousness. This man symbolizes, in his refusal to wear that which is provided and for which was paid the greatest cost, one who rejects the gift of salvation and righteousness available in Christ Jesus. One could say that he has preferred his own cloths (works) to those provided (grace). Oh Lord help us to rightly receive Your greatest gift, and recognize that it is not our works but through Your grace (unmerited favor, free gift) that we can partake.

Kingdom Secrets

01-11

I am continuing my study of things related to the Kingdom of God, and this morning I felt like reading from Matthew 13:10-23 NIV:

[10] The disciples came to him and asked, Why do you speak to the people in parables?"

[11] He replied, "Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

[12] Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. [13] This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. [14] In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. [15] For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

[16] But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. [17] For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

[18] Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: [19] When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. [20] The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. [21] But since they have no root, they last only a fleeting time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. [22] The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. [23] But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

The key verses that caught my attention this morning were verses 11 and 19, this whole story is about the Kingdom of God. Jesus is speaking about the secrets of the Kingdom, and the parable is specifically a message about the Kingdom. When Jesus is explaining the parables, He is providing key insight into Kingdom realities.

In essence, His whole message is concerning the proclamation of the Kingdom, and our reception of it, having eyes to see and ears to hear, and not letting our hearts be callused so that we can respond. The message is about the Kingdom of God being present and being real. It is possible to either totally miss this message or to have this message produce an abundant blessing in our lives, and it depends on how we listen and respond.

How we listen and respond is affected by two things, time and pressure. The longer we hold onto the message about the Kingdom of God, the better the chance of it bearing fruit. Secondly, the more we embrace the reality of the Kingdom, the more we are able to resist the pressures of the world. This is such an important truth, for we want to live in a simple and logical world, and the Kingdom is Spiritual, and as such requires a different mindset to embrace it fully.

The rules of the Kingdom, and the operation of it flow along relational lines and we must learn to see ourselves with the right identities to fully embrace the message and become fruitful. Jesus says the one who hears and understands the message will be fruitful (Mt 13:23), and the Greek word that is translated 'understands' literally means to put together the pieces in one's mind. I like that image of taking the components of the message and putting them together in my mind. The primary components in this case relate to our identity (His sons and daughters), God's present sovereignty, and our ability to walk in His Authority, representing Him.

In the preceding days, Jesus had demonstrated His authority over demonically possessed (Matt 12:22), creative miracles (Matt 12:13), and had the Apostles demonstrate that His authority was transferrable by sending them out to heal, cast out demons, raise the dead, and cleanse lepers (Matt 10:8), and had called anyone who did the will of His Father in Heaven His brother, sister and mother (Matt 12:50). He had shown them His kingdom authority, and shown them that because of their relationship with Him, they too could minister with the same authority. The hearing and understanding is about this simple message, we become representatives of the Kingdom when we join ourselves to Him.

Thus, the secrets of the Kingdom that Jesus was revealing have to do with these same realities. We are called and invited to demonstrate to the world the reality of the Kingdom of God, and it all flows out of relationship with Him. Our fruitfulness will depend on our own understanding and embracing this reality, and mindset. Amen Lord, help us!

His Kingdom and Weeds

01-12

I am continuing my reading from Matthew's Gospel. It seems the whole of the thirteenth chapter is about the Kingdom of God, and Jesus is speaking in parables about its characteristics and value. Again, the good news is about the Kingdom of God being established in their midst and was one of the core messages of Jesus, so it is worthwhile spending considerable time understanding His teachings about it.

This morning I am considering the other parable of the sower, Jesus' next teaching on the Kingdom - Matthew 13:24-30 NIV:

[24] Jesus told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. [25] But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. [26] When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

[27] "The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

[28] " ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

"The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

[29] ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’

This is such an interesting parable, for it is clearly demonstrates how unlike man God is. First, from a purely kingdom perspective, what King would ever knowingly allow His enemies’ lies and false fruit to exist and grow in the same territory of His kingdom? Most earthly kingdoms are about territory and geography. The kingdoms have very specific boundaries and those borders are usually the focus of much discussion and even conflicts of force. Here the King cares more about the new little plants than He does about His borders or appearances of His kingdom. One would think that allowing the weeds to grow would seem to be weakness on the part of the King, but He chooses mercy over judgment. He was clearly not concerned about His ability to have a pure and fruitful harvest.

Secondly, what man would choose to wait until the harvest to separate or deal with the weeds? From a farming perspective, allowing the weeds to grow, means that resources that should be available to the good seed are being used by the weeds, this is one of the reasons that farmers pretreat for weeds then spray again once the plants are mature enough to deal with the weed-killer. The way to maximize the yield of the harvest is to minimize anything else growing in the same field, as early as possible. The King again chooses to trust in His seed's fruitfulness and in His ability to separate weeds from good seed at the harvest.

Finally, Jesus explains the parable as follows - Matthew 13:37-43 NIV:

[37] He answered, The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. [38] The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, [39] and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

[40] As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. [41] The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. [42] They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

A few last thoughts, the Kingdom is clearly defined as being about people, not specific territory. This is one of the reasons the Jews, in general, couldn't grasp the message. They were looking for a national kingdom with territory, government and a King on earth, and the Kingdom of God is found in people. Jesus said the Kingdom is within us. Second, this is somewhat parallel to the story of Noah, except the promise is to not destroy the world or the people, but to bring them to a point of final judgment. Third, we see God's heart for people. He would rather allow confusion and misperception than bring judgement upon us all. He truly desires all to come to a point of fruitfulness (salvation). Fourth, the separation or judgment will be related to the fruit that is produced. It will be that which distinguishes wheat from weed. Finally, one thing that is unique here, and although not mentioned by Jesus, something we know to be true, namely that weeds can become wheat. It is a matter of faith and belief that causes a weed to become wheat, and as such allowing the weeds to grow all the way to the harvest provides the most merciful response to that which the enemy has sown in lies and deceit.

Lord, thank You for Your great mercy and Your absolute faith in Your ability to produce a bountiful harvest in and through our lives. I pray that You will continue to provide deep understanding of Your Kingdom realities in our lives.

The Kingdom and Healing

01-14

So, this morning I am continuing to read from Matthew's Gospel. I came across an interesting set of verses, which demonstrate a significant reality about the Kingdom of God, namely that healing exists and occurs in the Kingdom of God, even without prayer, or the laying on of hands. Here are the verses -

Matthew 14:34-36 NIV:

[34] When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. [35] And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him [36] and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

I find these verses interesting because people were figuring out the reality of what the Kingdom of God brought to them. Proclaiming the Kingdom of God present, was one of Jesus' most significant messages and the demonstration of that included healing, miracles and the like. The idea being that if the Kingdom of God was present, then the authority of God was present,