#God's kingdom

[holystormfire]

[celebritybabyname]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Return to Antioch in Syria

21 And having made a number of disciples through the preaching of the good news in that town, they went back to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, 22 Making strong the souls of the disciples, saying to them that they were to keep the faith, and that we have to go through troubles of all sorts to come into the kingdom of God. — Acts 14:21-22 | Bible in Basic English (BBE) The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain. Cross References: Matthew 28:19; Mark 10:30; John 15:18; John 15:20; John 16:33; Acts 2:47; Acts 6:7; Acts 9:16; Acts 11:26; Acts 13:14; Acts 13:51; Acts 14:1; Acts 14:6-7

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Notes: In Acts 14:21-22, Paul and Barnabas encourage new believers to continue in their faith and to expect to face many hardships on their journey to the Kingdom of God.

[tracinggodsstory]

Jesus Came to Proclaim the Kingdom

We often think the central message of Jesus was the forgiveness of sins, but I think Jesus himself came proclaiming a larger message.

The gospels leave little doubt as to the focus of Jesus' preaching and teaching - it was the Kingdom of God.

At the beginning of Matthew and Mark, we see Jesus directly proclaim his reason:

Matthew 4:7, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Mark 1:15, "The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

In Luke (and Matthew), we see Jesus' battle with Satan in the wilderness, including Jesus' rejection of Satan's offer of 'all the kingdoms of this world.'

It was the message he took everywhere: "But he said to them, 'I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose" (Luke 4:43).

It was the same message he told his followers to proclaim when he dispatched his followers, "Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God has come near to you' (Luke 10:8-9).

What is the kingdom of God then?

George Eldon Ladd describes this beautifully:

"The Kingdom of God is His kingship, His rule, His authority. When this is once realized, we can go through the New Testament and find passage after passage where this meaning is evident, where the Kingdom is not a realm or a people, but God's reign. Jesus said that we must 'receive the Kingdom of God' as little children (Mark 10:15). What is received? The Church? Heaven? What is received is God's rule. In order to enter the future realm of the Kingdom, one must submit himself in perfect trust to God's rule here and now.

We must also 'seek first his kingdom and his righteousness' (Matt. 6:33). What is the object of our quest? The Church? Heaven? No; we are to seek God's righteousness--His sway, His rule, His reign in our lives.

When we pray, 'Thy kingdom come,' are we praying for heaven to come to earth? In a sense we are praying for this; but heaven is an object of desire only because the reign of God is to be more perfectly realized than it is now. Apart from the reign of God, heaven is meaningless. Therefore, what we pray for is, 'Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven.' This prayer is a petition for God to reign, to manifest His kingly sovereignty and power, to put to flight every enemy of righteousness and of His divine rule, that God alone may be King over all the world."

Jesus was not announcing that God's country had arrived, but rather that his rulership was imminent. It was a message of activity, not of a truth to be acknowledged. He was announcing the present reality of God's action - His rulership, His reign, has come.

God's rule, however, doesn't just enter the world uncontested. His kingdom is not the only kingdom present in the world. When Jesus proclaimed that God's kingdom was at hand, he was waging war on the counterfeit kingdom. He was announcing the beginning of the invasion of the enemy's territory. Jesus was not only announcing the establishment of God's rule, but that he was displacing the rule of the kingdom of darkness.

"This means we must understand our lives in light of the spiritual battle. Much of the Church has been taught to understand the world through a very different perspective, one in which God is pulling every lever and orchestrating all the events in a great cosmic machine; we assume that any of the events that occur in our lives happen because they are God's direct intent. The Kingdom perspective stands at odds with this thinking. Rather than assume all things are falling neatly into God's will, the battle between the two kingdoms means the world is messy at times. As in any war, there are victories and setbacks, heroism and casualties." - Putty Putman

[vreenak]

Alistair Petrie as Alexander in God's Kingdom (2018)

[tatesalive]

‭Your precious and everlasting Kingdom, love and life LORD 👑🌿♡

(45) "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, (46) who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45-46 ☁️🤍✨

[jwpreach]

Friday, April 7

This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved. Listen to him.​—Matt. 17:5.

After being falsely accused and being judged guilty of a crime he did not commit, Jesus is mocked, cruelly tortured, and then nailed to a torture stake. Nails pierce his hands and feet. Every breath he takes, every word he speaks, is painful. But he must speak​—he has important things to say. What powerful lessons we can learn from Jesus’ final words! We are reminded of the need to forgive others and to trust that Jehovah will forgive us. We are privileged to have a wonderful spiritual family of brothers and sisters who are ready to help us. But when we need help, we must take the initiative to ask for it. We know that Jehovah will help us endure any trial that comes upon us. And we see the importance of living each day as if it were our last day to prove our integrity, confident that our life is safe in Jehovah’s hands. w21.04 8 ¶1; 13 ¶17

Memorial Bible reading: (Daytime events: Nisan 16) Matthew 28:1, 5-15

[samantabrzozowska]

"I'm a part of Paradise!"

~ Sam

[craigtowens]

“Leadership is from God, through you, to benefit others and to expand His Kingdom.” —Craig T. Owens

[haverwood]

God's Kingdom Guy Soulsby UK, 2018

[merthwyn]

Many times God is using our story to save/ talk to others. This is 100% true. He has been doing this with my story for years. The pain is still going though. So, the fight in order for me to stop believing that I am His punching bag for the expansion of the Kingdom becomes bigger, more complicated and more intense. Everything that has been happening (even good stuff since it is obviously good that people are saved and touched by my story) prove me that, indeed, He will allow absolutely any kind of pain in my life if this will save others. Will this be more abuse? More loneliness? Rape? Cancer? More betrayals by loved ones? A fire that will burn my house and everything in it down to ashes? My cat getting poisoned? If any of these or all of them together become a story that will touch others then He will let them happen.

And, somehow, in a way I cannot understand at all, I will be disobedient if I try my best not to let Him allow these stuff to happen in my life. Somehow, this is not a proof that our relationship with God has a form of spiritual BDSM were we simply obey any possible sick perverted desire of His for the expansion of the Kingdom. Somehow, only Satan is the bad guy.

I have gone above and beyond to obey His commands and desires. I have done things that make no sense at all and put me in great risk, pain and uncertainty just because He told me to. My life has been full of pain and since I came to faith this hasn't changed. What's the point of faith then? To manage to go to heaven? Isn't this part of the spiritual BDSM? I did not sign up for this anyway. Was never asked to be born. So now why do I have to endure all this earthly hell in order to get to heaven? And why going to Hell will be my fault since I never signed up for the whole life thing? And why going to Hell anyway?

This whole thing is SICK. And I am FED UP with it.

(*** comments reminding me that "other people have it worse" and judging me for having a "weak faith", being "overdramatic" and "not being a good witness" in 3...2...1...)

[s-o-a-p-ing]

LUKE/ACTS S.O.A.P. ~ LUKE 9

Wednesday, 10/2/24

SCRIPTURE:

He sent them out to proclaim God’s kingdom and to heal the sick. ~ Luke 9:2 They departed and went through the villages proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.  ~ Luke 9:6 When the crowds figured it out, they followed Him.  He welcomed them, spoke to them about God’s kingdom, and healed those who were sick. ~ Luke 9:11

OBSERVATION:

Seems to be a theme to this chapter:

Proclaim

God's Kingdom

the good news

Heal the sick

Physically

Emotionally

Spiritually

He sent...

They departed... leaving their "comfort zone" - as had Jesus...

...and went everywhere...

APPLICATION:

Depart - from my routine and comfort zone... 

Proclaim - the good news of God's Kingdom...

through my words

through my actions

Heal - through the words of the Good News...

Everywhere - without thought or reservation about wherever everywhere happens to 

PRAYER:

Healing Heavenly Father God - I ask Your forgiveness for my settling into where I am and accepting what I do when You have commanded me to depart, proclaim, and heal wherever You send me, for wanting to know before I go - I ask that Your Holy Spirit continue to show and prompt me to the opportunities to step out and share Your Good News that leads to all manner of healing, and to recognize Your healing comes in so many forms I cannot begin to imagine... that You know where others - where I - hurt the most and need Your Word and Your touch to surrender my will for Your awesome, grace-filled, healing, and forgiving will and coming kingdom - In the way that Jesus taught and in His Name, solely for Your glory, Father, and Your worshipful praise in all things...

Yours in all things - through His grace and forgiveness...

𝖌

<))><

[albertfinch]

Exhortation - September 25, 2024

Isaiah 43:25,26 - “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance, let us argue our case together; State your cause, that you may be proved right.”

As long as you allow the devil to keep reminding you of past sins and failures, he will take advantage of you. Constantly dwelling on the past will keep your faith inoperative. And as long as you have no confidence in your Christ identity, your prayers will be hindered.

Why does God say that He won’t remember our sins for His own sake? So that there is nothing that can hinder your advancing His Kingdom in the earth! He blots out our sins for His own sake so He can help us to demonstrate His great victory over satan's kingdom in the earth through you.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Why Should I Fear in Days of Evil?

For the choir director. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.

1 Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together. 3 My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be discernment. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp.

5 Why should I fear in days of evil, When the iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me, 6 Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches? 7 Truly, no man can redeem his brother; He cannot give to God a ransom for him— 8 For the redemption price for their soul is costly, And it ceases forever— 9 That he should live on eternally, That he should not see corruption.

10 For he sees that even wise men die; The fool and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places from generation to generation; They have called their lands after their own names. 12 But man in his honor will not endure; He is like the animals that perish.

13 This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who are pleased with their words. Selah. 14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume, Far away from his habitation. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah.

16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the glory of his house increases; 17 For when he dies he will not take any of it; His glory will not descend after him. 18 For while he lives he blesses his soul— And men will praise you when you do well for yourself— 19 But his soul shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will eternally not see light. 20 Man in his honor, but who does not understand, Is like the animals that perish. — Psalm 49 | Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. Cross References: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 4:17; Genesis 5:24; Genesis 15:15; Numbers 12:8; Numbers 32:42; Deuteronomy 29:19; 1 Kings 10:1; Job 31:24; Job 33:24; Job 33:30; Psalm 10:3; Psalm 16:10-11; Psalm 22:29; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 33:8; Psalm 37:7; Psalm 37:30; Psalm 50:7; Psalm 56:13; Psalm 62:9; Psalm 73:22; Psalm 82:7; Psalm 119:130; Ecclesiastes 2:14; Ecclesiastes 3:18-19; Ecclesiastes 5:15; Isaiah 2:9; Jeremiah 17:11; Matthew 16:26; Matthew 25:8-9; Mark 10:24; Luke 12:19-20; 1 Corinthians 6:2; 1 Timothy 6:7; Revelation 2:26

[judahmaccabees]

God is One.

-

[contextforscriptures]