Category Archives: Kingdom of God

Where You’re From Determines Where You’re Going

11 Thursday Aug 2011

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“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ ”  Luke 13:24-25

      The last words you ever want to hear God the Father say to you is, “I don’t know where you are from.”  The scenario Jesus paints is chilling.   Actually, the Father knows where each person is “from“.  Right?  He knows everything.  Then how come God doesn’t know where certain people are from in this story? 

      Jesus told this parable to make an impact upon those listening.  He seeks to draw people’s attention to the issues confronting them.  Lets state some of the obvious points. 

  1. Knowing about God is not really knowing Him personally, in an intimate way. 
  2. Knowing the location of the door is not the same as “striving” to enter it. 
  3. Even though we are all born of this world, Jesus affirms in another passage we must be “born again.” 
  4. In the end, many will regret not entering the door the Father provided. 

      God the Father is not going to deny Himself.  This is why all those who are “born again” are welcomed.  So the question remains, “Have you entered the narrow door and been born again?”  Where we are from (born) does determine where we ultimately go in the afterlife.  Do you know where you are from and where you are going?

Peace or Division?

10 Wednesday Aug 2011

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“Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;”  Luke 12:51

      Why did Jesus say things like this about Himself?  We all grew up hearing the Christmas story.  The Christmas message reminds us of a sweet baby who was meek and mild.  There is a big difference in that story and Jesus’ statements here.  Jesus affirms here that He will split families in half.  How can both “peace” and “division” be true about Jesus? 

      Jesus didn’t stay wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.  He grew in favor with God and man.  At the right moment He presented Himself as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.  He did not come to condemn us but to save us all. 

      So it is not the sweet baby that brings division, but the crucified King who continues to rule and reign that causes consternation in people.  Whether it was Jesus walking the earth 2000 years ago or currently living in believers today, He always brings division.  Every person born on earth must choose – “Will Jesus be my Savior, Lord and King?”  Jesus said it best, “He who is not for Me is against Me.”  There is no place to hide.  Jesus’ presence does not condemn but His presence causes all men to choose wrongly or rightly. 

       Division continues to be evidenced in our society today.  If Jesus is not the real Savior of mankind, then why are some so interested in removing Christmas from every county and courthouse in America.  If Christ is not real, then who cares if people speak His name in public.  If Jesus is not the real deal, no one would care if Christians prayed in school or at high school graduations.   But the truth is… people care immensely. 

     One of the reasons you can know for sure Jesus is Lord, is because of the division He causes.  Bottomline, if Jesus is not for real, people wouldn’t care.  But since there is a vehement outcry against Christ, it reveals the truth of His convicting power manifesting in every person’s life.  The next time you see an atheist file some frivolous law suit against Christianity, he is giving testimony of the reality of Jesus Christ. 

      Go ahead, take the name and presence of Christ with you today.  Start a fire and bring division upon your corner of the earth!  Jesus did.

What’s In Your Wallet?

29 Friday Jul 2011

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“…make yourselves money belts (purses/wallets) which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   Luke 12:33-34

      In modern society men have wallets and women carry purses.  Strangely enough it is more about the style and outward appearance of your purse or wallet people notice, not what is inside. 

      Did you know that spiritually speaking we all possess a “heavenly purse?”  As you store up treasure in heaven, a heavenly purse is given to you.  It is eternal.  Jesus confirms it here. 

      My wife has had numerous dreams about purses.  God gives us dreams about purses/wallets to illustrate greater, spiritual truths.  In these dreams people have lost their purse, not valued it, and in some cases were given larger purses to hold greater treasure.  Maybe you have had a dream about a purse or wallet. 

      The question is not – Do you have a heavenly purse or wallet?  But like the commercial says, “What’s in your wallet?”  God wants you to understand the eternal truth of your purse and plan to store more in them every day.  God is more concerned about the content than the appearance. 

      The great tragedy of life is that we forget what is truly important.  Seeking first the Kingdom of God adds value to our present life and in the afterlife.  It is the daily anxieties and cares of life that trouble us and cause us to neglect kingdom truths. 

      Someone said, “Only one life, it will soon be passed.  Only what’s done for Christ will last.”  Your heavenly purse awaits your eternal deposit today. 

If you need a place to attend church this Sunday, please visit us at 10 am (CST) – http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-church-of-providence#

Why Jesus Isn’t Cool

27 Wednesday Jul 2011

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      People who follow Buddha, they are cool.  People who follow the Dali Lama, they are way cool.  Pantheism is cool these days.  There are plenty of trees to hug.  As dangerous as Islam can be, it is still cool to follow Mohammed.  But openly confess you are a follower of Jesus and you will go from being cool to being a fool.  This is not just a western phenomenon.  More Christians have been martyred in the past century than all the previous centuries combined. 

      My point is this – It has never been cool to be a Jesus freak and it never will.  According to Jesus there are two main reasons for this. 

“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”  John 12:31

      His time being short, Satan is out to persecute the professing believer.  The demonic world will never allow following Christ to become in vogue or cool. 

“For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”  John 12:35-36

      The other reason following Jesus will never be cool is “light.”  The light of Christ is revelation, truth, and knowledge.  Men love darkness and would rather walk in total darkness than the true light because they love to do evil.  This is why Jesus doesn’t make sense to many people.  Since they love darkness, real spiritual truth seems absurd. 

      I like looking at things under a black light.  I think it is cool.  But I do not want to live with my only light source being a black light.  I want a real light to see life accurately.  Satan would have us believe his black lights are all we need.  

      This is why Jesus said time and time again, “Walk in My light.  Walk in My truth.  Because night is coming when no man can see.”  Which light are you trying to use?  If the world is cool with you and you are cool with it, you have a light problem and are living in darkness.  Take this revelation today and begin to walk in the light.

God’s Honor System

25 Monday Jul 2011

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      Modern culture craves the honors and accolades of men. We are bombarded with award shows and ceremonies touting the latest achievements of those seeking fame.  Jesus had a far different expectation in mind when it came to receiving honor, especially from His Father.  He explained the Father’s honor system this way in John 12:24.

“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” 

       For our Lord, being honored meant laying down His life for the good of all mankind.  Jesus wasn’t ascending to the world stage in order to receive a medal or trophy for His good works.  He was climbing on a cross to be crucified at the hands of wicked men. 

      The world honors its heroes and idols in one way.  The Father honors His heroes by asking them to surrender their lives.  Whose accolades are you pursuing?  Will you continue seeking to be noticed by men or follow Jesus’ example and lay down your life as a living sacrifice to the Lord?  The choice, of course, is always yours. 

 

The Compulsion to Act Religious

19 Tuesday Jul 2011

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“It is good for us to be here, let us build three tabernacles”  Luke 9:33

      Do you ever feel compelled to seek  the Lord?  The Father is constantly drawing all men to Himself, through Jesus.  This process never ends, even after we have come to know Him.  We are forever being drawn to our Lord.  It is a good thing!  What we do when we arrive in His presence though, reveals much about our inward spiritual status.  Peter, James, and John started acting religious when they awoke and realized the glory of the Lord was near. 

       Because we are made in the image of God, men by nature are religious beings.  We are created for worship.  But, performing religious rituals and offering religious activities is not what the Lord seeks from us. 

      Notice, the first utterance from Peter’s mouth when the glory appears, “Let’s build sacred tents (tabernacles).”  The flesh is constantly calling us to ‘get busy’ for God.  These feeble attempts to somehow please God only serves to make us feel better about our spiritual shortcomings.  The Father doesn’t require or desire our religious activities.  From His mouth He told us exactly what He expected on that mountaintop.  “This is My Son, My chosen One; listen to Him.” 

      I believe the Lord affords us many opportunities to come into His presence.  How we approach Him and what we offer Him is of extreme importance.  We can be like some and have our offerings rejected.  Or, we can be like others and be accepted into His presence.  Listening to the Lord outweighs any religious activity or ritual you might perform.  Busy yourself today with listening and obeying the words of Jesus. 

The Kingdom of God Is Within You

12 Tuesday Jul 2011

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      How can God be so big and vast as spoken of in the Bible, and yet go undetected?

      How can one person claim to have a very personal and intimate relationship with God, while another denies His very existence?

      The people of Jesus’ day struggled with these same issues.  They insisted Jesus show them a “sign” from heaven.  They wanted undeniable proof.  Jesus in returned called them an “evil, unbelieving generation.” 

      So where do we go to prove God exists?  If the God of Creation has gone undetected for thousands of years on a plant with billions of people, where should we look to discover Him?  There is a place to look for Him, according to His Son.  “The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”  (Luke 17:20-21)

      For those looking for a “Rock Star” God, understand God will not allow you to observe Him in this fashion.  No, God enters quietly into your heart or inner man.  This is why Jesus compared the coming of the Kingdom into our lives like “mustard seed.”  But with a little care, it grows rapidly.  Once the Kingdom of God is activated, it expands and changes our entire being.  Remember, God maybe discreet in public but that doesn’t mean He goes undetected within you.  Go seek after Him today.