Kingdom of God Mysteries

 “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew wrote Jesus’s words, “He explained, “You’ve been given the intimate experience of insight into the hidden mysteries of the realm of heaven’s kingdom, but they have not.”  The mysteries of the Kingdom of God are spiritual insights into the nature and ways of God.  Jesus Christ can only be understood by the spirit and not by the intellect of man.  Jesus taught His disciples through parables to move them beyond intellectual abilities and engage the spirit.  If the listener had a hunger to learn with an open, teachable heart, then Jesus’s words brought life and understanding.  Let’s be those who push aside our opinions and traditions to glean the deepest meaning of all that Jesus did or taught.  Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit.  God’s great mystery is Christ and only the Holy Spirit gives us access to all the riches of God as we experience the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Sowing to Reap a Harvest

 “Turn again our captivity, O LORD, As the streams in the south. They that sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭126‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬

Traditionally this psalm is attributed to Ezra.  “Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again. Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!”  As God had spoken through earlier prophets, the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity and Jerusalem was rebuilt as was the temple.  Sowing with tears their seed with what little they have is a picture of sacrificial giving for the joy of the harvest to come.  We are living in dark times but God has chosen us to sow the seed of the Word of God, for the harvest of souls that is happening even now around the world.  What can we give to the Giver of all good things, except for bringing souls to salvation.  The Lord has promised that He will return and He is not late!  But rather, His “delay” simply reveals His loving patience toward us, because He does not want any to perish but all to come to repentance.  So our responsibility is to win souls for Christ with a fervour and to arise, shine; for our light has come! The glory of the Lord is risen upon us.  Amen!

Mercy & Compassion through Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ

 “But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “But I say to you, there is One here Who is even greater than the temple. If only you could learn the meaning of the words ‘I want compassion more than a sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t be condemning My innocent disciples. For the Son of Man exercises His Lordship over the Sabbath.”  Jesus stunned His hearers when He said He’s greater than the temple; that God wants mercy not sacrifices; and that He the Messiah is the Lord of the Sabbath.  Many times the Church, which is the Body of Christ, makes their denomination, their property, their events and management of their affairs, etc. greater than the Lord Jesus Christ, quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit.  Let’s repent of this.  The prophet had said that Yahweh desires mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.  Compassion and mercy comes in our heart when we release the love of God, knowing the horrors of the wrath of God in judgment.  In Jesus’s own words, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”  That’s why with mercy we preach the Gospel for it is the power of God to salvation.  Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and as Creator and Son of Man, has the authority to define, interpret, and govern the day of rest, prioritizing mercy and human need over rigid legalistic restrictions. Let’s believe in Who Jesus Christ is. Let’s rejoice that our names are in the Book of Life.  Amen!

The New Covenant Gift of Righteousness

 “For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. Do good, O LORD, Unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭125‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬. 

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.    “The wicked will not always rule over the godly, provoking them to do what is evil. God, let your goodness be given away to your good people, to all your righteous ones!”  In the new covenant, the righteous are those whose sins have been forgiven by the Blood sacrifice of Jesus.  For God made Jesus His Son, Who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Indeed, without the shedding of Christ’s Blood there is no forgiveness of sins and therefore no righteousness.  We need the protection from evil and it comes only through the Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  For if by the one man’s (Adam’s) offence death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Experiencing Personally the Passion of the Cross of Christ

 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded it, “From the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power.”  John the Baptist knew the prophecies of the coming Messiah and he thought that it was particularly for the Jews.  As Micah, who was a contemporary of Isaiah, had prophesied, “I will regather the tribes of Jacob. Yes, I will regather the remnant of Israel. I will bring you together like sheep in a fold, like a flock within their pasture, a noisy, excited multitude. The Barrier-Breaker will lead them out into freedom. They will all break out, passing through the enemy’s gates. Their King will advance before their eyes with Yahweh Himself leading the way!”  But here as Jesus spoke with John the Baptist, He is referring to the Kingdom of God which included the non-Jews or gentiles.  Those who have a living encounter with the resurrected Christ, through the finished work of the Cross, and know first-hand the forgiveness of sins, will, with passionate forcefulness, enter the Kingdom of God.  May we know the power of the Cross as we enjoy the Presence of God in us and with us.  Amen!

God is For Us Who Believe in Christ’s Resurrection

 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick, When their wrath was kindled against us: Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭124‬:‭2‬-‭3‬, ‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of David’s psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple. “What if God had not been there for us? Our enemies, in their violent anger, would have swallowed us up alive! For the same God Who made everything, our Creator and our mighty maker, He Himself is our Helper and Defender!”  The children of Israel cried out to God for His help every time they faced the enemy and God heard their cry and rescued them.  But now, after the victory of the Cross and Christ’s resurrection, the mighty God has promised He will never leave nor forsake us, and has come to dwell in us by His Holy Spirit.  He is our Helper.  If God is for us, who can be against us? He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God Who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Let’s believe God’s promise to us.  Amen!

Trust God for Everything

“nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew recorded what Jesus taught, “Travel light, and don’t even pack an extra change of clothes in your backpack. Trust God for everything, because the one who works for Him deserves to be provided for.”  The reason Jesus told His disciples to leave their things behind is that they already had what was most important.  Our “money” or wealth is in the Kingdom of God.  Our “clothing” is the garment of righteousness we wear in Christ.  Our “backpack” points to our past experiences, which we tend to carry as weights on our backs.  We leave our past behind since it no longer exists in Christ.  Our “shoes” become a picture of the good news we walk in as we experience His continual peace.  Our “staff” is a symbol of authority, and we take no other authority but Christ’s.  We can leave it all behind since we take it all with us in Christ.  Jesus said, “All authority of the universe has been given to Me.  Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I Am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”  Christ’s authority to all His disciples remains the same today.  Amen!

Jesus Christ is Our Sufficiency

 “Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: For we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭123‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.       “For we’ve had more than our fill of this scoffing and scorn— this mistreatment by the wealthy elite. Lord, show us your mercy! Lord, show us your grace!”  How thankful we are that we have come to Jesus, Who arranged the new covenant, and to the sprinkled Blood that promises much better things than does the blood of Abel.  So we are well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when we are weak then we are strong, truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength.  Unfortunately the system of the world deems it essential that the focus is success through the love of money.  The Kingdom of God is the exact opposite, for when we’re weak, then we’re strong in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Because of the new covenant, in our weakness, the strength of our God is perfected.  This is a matter of scoffing and scorn to the worldly elite but those of us who have experienced the grace of God, we look to the resurrected Christ and Him alone for all that we need.  Christ is our sufficiency!  “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”  Amen!

Enjoying the Newness of Life

 “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬

Matthew records Jesus’s teaching, “And who would pour fresh, new wine into an old wineskin? Eventually the wine will ferment and make the wineskin burst, losing everything—the wine is spilled and the wineskin ruined. Instead, new wine is always poured into a new wineskin so that both are preserved.”  Here Jesus taught of the new wine and the new cloth, that we cannot patch the old religious system with the new; nor contain old worn-out traditions in new wine skins.  The new that Jesus taught is exhilarating and powerful and must be poured into a heart made new.  The new and the old are not meant to be together.  Jesus makes all things new to form a twice-born company of people, and not to reform the old ways.  “Jesus said, “..unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”  These were new things Jesus taught, and they can't be reconciled with old habits.  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away and new things have come.  Let’s break away from doing things in the old ways and let’s be led by the Holy Spirit, for He helps us to live in newness of life, enjoying every moment to the fullest!  Amen!

Gladly Praying for Jerusalem’s Peace

 “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭122‬:‭1‬, ‭6‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this song for the people to sing for the feasts.  It was sung when the worshipers entered the gates of the city Jerusalem.  “I was overjoyed when they said, “Let’s go up to the house of the Lord.” Pray and seek for Jerusalem’s peace, for all who love her will prosper! I intercede for the sake of my family and friends who dwell there, that they may all live in peace. For the sake of Your house, Yahweh our God, I will seek the welfare and prosperity of Jerusalem.”  This is the city where God’s Presence was and man worshipped.  When God’s glory departed from Jerusalem, the city was destroyed and rebuilt when Jesus, the Son of God came to earth.  After Jesus, the modern city of Jerusalem came about in the twentieth century, in preparation of the second coming of Jesus to rule over the earth from here for a thousand years.  All believers whose sins have been forgiven through the finished work of the Cross, await Christ’s second coming and we continuously pray for the peace of Jerusalem and seek the good of the city.  Amen!