Monday, November 24, 2008

The Christ and His Kingdom - Part 1




For about twelve weeks or so now, I’ve been studying The Christ. What I’ve found to be said about Him has so far surpassed what I previously understood, there is no way I could ever get it all down on paper. I have however compiled quite a bit of it and have been asking the LORD what I’m to do with it all. I’ve decided to let some of it land here, in a condensed format. My friend, we have not even learned the elementary things of God. If you believe that all started at Jesus’ entering this earth and all ended when He rose from the dead and ascended, you have been greatly robbed of the vast plan that was set in motion before time as we know it even began. There is much foundation within the study before this part, regarding the Kingdom, but I feel that I’m to post this part now. So, in this installment, I’ll be dividing up one of the key points of the study – The Christ and His Kingdom. As always, I encourage you to crack open your Bible (and leave it open). Dig deep for yourselves! A love for the Word must exist in order for Kingdom fruit to ever come forth. As you read, may your eyes be opened to see the great expanse that is the Christ and His Kingdom – the Kingdom that resides within all who have invited the LORD to indwell them.

Why do we hear so little about The Kingdom? Jesus sure addressed it plenty while He walked upon the earth. I believe that Scripture can pretty much sum up the answers to this question all by itself, but let’s first of all make sure that we all understand what a kingdom even is.

Kingdom: basileia {bas-il-i'-ah} meaning “royal power, kingship, dominion, rule”.

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness...” Matthew 6:33a

Seek the Kingdom first? Yes! In the Greek “seek” is “zeteo” meaning to desire, to seek in order to find; thinking and meditating on; to enquire into. We’ve not first sought after the Kingdom. I firmly believe that there is now a new level of understanding true Kingdom living being released upon the earth. Although I cannot really explain it well enough to do it justice, I can literally feel it. Seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness assures us that we’ll have all that we need – it is His promise. While I visit this Kingdom, I am created to reside there. Popping in and out of it is not enough. It is time that we, The Body, begin to get acquainted with the realm which We were created to reside in.

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” - John 17:16

We’ve made these famous words of Jesus out to be some cool catch phrase, yet this is a reality! Jesus literally meant what He said! This temporal world as we know it, is not my home. We who have been made alive with Him can now reside in His Kingdom. We’ll look at this in more depth a bit later, but it is imperative that you realize that if you are a born from above Believer in Jesus Christ, you are not of this world. Just as Christ, in the fleshly form of man as Jesus was not of this earthly realm, neither are you! It is time that we begin to live accordingly.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:16 & 17

Have you seen the Kingdom? Have you seen The Christ? I’m seriously asking, have you seen? Have you heard? Those in the world cannot and will not see the Kingdom for they cannot even see The Christ. This is a simple way to deduce whether one is truly born from above. If we are, we will see. If we cannot see, we have not be regenerated. I am continually shocked by conversations with those who claim to be Believers yet have absolutely no fruit whatsoever of living in His Kingdom. My life will prove which Kingdom I dwell in. Are you plagued by doubts and fears? I ask you, what kingdom do you dwell in? Are you constantly overcome or are you an overcomer? I ask you, what kingdom do you dwell in? Are you blown to and fro by circumstances and earthly matters? I ask you, in which kingdom are you taking up residence? Time and time again, the attitudes and words of all declare their kingdom residence. So I again, I urge you to take a moment and ask yourself, “Have you seen? Have you heard? Do you really know Him?”

“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.” Luke 8:10

In our own carnal attempts, we’ve been seeing, but not perceiving and hearing but not understanding. Multitudes have errantly decided that the mysteries of God cannot be found out. We’ve not understood the words of our Father because we’ve not intimately known Him. We must first establish intimacy with our Creator. All else will flow from this being established in our lives. It is time for the seekers to arise and seek after the deep things of God! Do you understand the Word? If you do not, I ask you why? It is granted to you to know His mysteries – we just looked at Jesus speaking that to us in Scripture. You are responsible to know, to see, to understand. He has enabled you! Allow the Spirit that He sent to be your helper to do His work. It is time for the Body to see and to hear! She has walked around blind and deaf for far too long!




7 comments:

Ninapoet said...

GOOD BLOG. YOU PROBABLY WON'T GET TOO MANY RESPONSES BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THOSE BLOGS WHERE YOU JUST SIT BACK AND ABSORB IT.TAKE IT ALL IN. SO I'LL JUST SHUT UP AND WAIT FOR PART TWO.LOL

Unknown said...

John 3 tells us we cannot see nor understand the things of God unless we are born again of the water and of the spirit. So we first must obey Acts 2;38, by repenting and being baptized and we'll receive the gift of the spirit. But do all believe this? NO!..Many say we are saved by faith..not so

Joel Spencer said...

Nina: You never know - hopefully the Word will bring about more conversation than political issues.

Anddi: Welcome! There is much to be learned and so much more to salvation than we've addressed.

ElyonAuthors said...

YES and AMEN. Preach it from the rooftops. Tell it so that those that claim Christ yet walk without Him may repent and truly know their God. Where will mercy be found? With those that hear their GOD!

Anonymous said...

The writing was well done and enjoyed, thank you. Two thoughts came to mind. 1. The language of men 'of the world' is pale and inadequate, unlike the True language of God which is music to the soul. 2. To this world, His Truth is seen as "insanity'.
How Great is God!

Suzanne

Joel Spencer said...

Redstar: You're right, we must seek to understand Kingdom living if we're to truly know God.

Suzanne: Kingdom living has sure been perverted and misunderstood. Televangelists and pastors all across the nation say that it is wealth and prosperity when in fact, it is a completely different realm of living. I want to dwell there - they can have their three new cars and a jet.

Barbara Burrell said...

Wonderful Blog Joel! I look forward to the rest. May God Bless Your Studies and Growth and May it ALWAYS be about HIM :)