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BACKGROUND
Kingdom of God
KINGDOM OF GOD, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Heaven
HEAVEN.
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
For Serious Students
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD |
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| KINGDOM PRESENT continued |
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 If we accept that there is a 'kingdom present' then we must ask, "Where is this kingdom?'
The Bible contains the answer, straight from 'the horses mouth' so to speak, in the words of Jesus.
Luke 17:20-21
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 The kingdom is within because the Holy Spirit, ie. God, dwells within each believer.
John 14:15-17
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 This has huge implications for us, ones we all too often forget or choose to ignore.
The Spirit of God lived within Jesus:
John 2:19-21
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Today we have obtained our inheritance and have individually become temples of God:
1 Corinthians 3:16
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 Most of us know this, even if we don't always live it.
However, there is a second implication of the kingdom being within, the understanding of which will radically alter our lives and our understanding of how we 'do church'.
Under the present church system, in particular in 'Spirit filled' situations, we are encouraged to come forward for prayer, generally after the message, if we have any needs. Someone will then pray for us. This seems great. But is it right? In certain circumstances it may be helpful to receive this form of support, but in general, this is not the kingdom understanding and way. For the kingdom is within us and therefore our primary communication channel should be directly between ones self and God.
The Holy Spirit inside is our counselor and guide:
John 16:13
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 We are to approach God personally and confidently with our requests. No intermediary is required:
1 John 5:14
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 The primary teacher and guide in our life is to be the Holy Spirit, who inhabits the kingdom within you and within me. Not the minister, pastor, priest, teacher, prophet, evangelist or apostle, but the Holy Spirit who dwells within.
1 John 2:24-27
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 The focus of our understanding is wrong. We are not to follow a leader, whatever the title or function, but are to develop and fine tune our spiritual faculties so that we both hear and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit who dwells inside of us. We must become God focused in all that we do.
This has huge implications for leadership. It is nice to pray for people. Our motivation may be wonderful, to help people in need. But all too often, we end up becoming a crutch upon whom our people rely, rather than seeking God's will for themselves.
Next time you look to have an altar call, how about being really radical, and ask the people to pray to God personally, without intervention by others, and then to personally wait upon and listen for a response from Him.
Such is the way of the kingdom.
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 It is important to understand that the meaning of 'believer' in English is not what was understood in Jewish culture at the time of Jesus. We separate thoughts from actions. Jewish culture did not do this. The word 'disciple', while not precisely the same, provides a better general understanding of the Jewish concept of what it means to be a believer. Our thoughts and words need to be backed up by actions, by how we live our life.
If then, the kingdom is within, surely it is logical that the kingdom must already be on earth as well as in heaven? The kingdom has come.
In the past we have been taught that we need to put up with living on the earth, in satan's domain, until we die or are 'zapped up' into the heavenly kingdom where we will live happily ever after, forevermore!
But how can that be right if the kingdom is within?
If indeed, the kingdom is within us, then surely we are to become the kingdom in the world.
I want you to stop and think about this, for it brings about a profound change in understanding our walk with Jesus.
Now we can start to truly comprehend, the first and primary petition of the Lord's prayer. After glorifying Jesus we petition;
Matthew 6:10
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 Confirming our discussion above, we have previously understood this to be looking forward to the return of Jesus. But if indeed the 'kingdom is within', as Jesus said, this must have a present meaning too.
For you and I, as disciples of Jesus, are part of the kingdom now. In the Lord's Prayer then, we are praying about a present kingdom, about His will being done on earth today.
We are only just starting to touch on the implications of this profound truth. But I wish to stop here to give you time to think, contemplate, and pray, before going on further.
May the Holy Spirit (not David!) reveal His truth for you.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> A REVELATION OF... THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD continues |
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 As we continue our study of the 'kingdom present'.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 We need to learn that the responsibility for our spiritual life is our own, for the kingdom is within us. While others can help teach us, we must seek the Lord for ourselves.
Phoenicia, Tyre, after 126 BC, AR Shekel (or Tetradrachm) (14.4g). Melqarth head rt/Eagle standing left on thunderbolt. These Tyrian Tetradrachms are the "30 pieces of silver" with which the temple authorities paid Judas Iscariot.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
243. A believer loves the Lord, but the disciple's love is unconditional.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Just jokes: http://www.wwj.org.nz/jokes.php
Waxing Lyrical: http://www.wwj.org.nz/waxing.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
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Firstly we must honour God with our body, with our thoughts and actions.