GREENE STREET LETTERS: The Kingdom Of God

Monday, March 15, 2010

The Kingdom Of God

Mark 1:14-15
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Such an incredible teaching if one can truly read and understand what is meant by the kingdom of God. It must be an important part of God's plan because it is mentioned 126 times in the gospels.

The kingdom of God is not a mental exercise on my part. It is not a cursory nod to a concept of heavenly authority. It is a reality that exists around us as we walk out our relationship with God.

The kingdom of God has precepts, commands and behaviors that are expected of me. There is a dynamic that takes place as God pours out on me his rule and reign. In turn I give away to other's around me from this rule and reign. In Acts chapter 8, Jesus said that after the disciples had been covered and filled with power (Holy Spirit), they would be his disciples in every town, village and country in the known world. As I receive this kingdom, I am a witness for Jesus. What does that mean? It means I tell "MY" story of what God has done to me. How he changed my life and gave me purpose. My participation or lack of participation will affect not only me,, but people around me.

I John 3:8 says that "The Son of God has been manifested (appeared/ made known) to destroy the works of the devil." That is kingdom of God. God has invaded our time and space is at work destroying the plans and works of the the kingdom of the devil. God does so one life at a time. Have you ever prayed the Lord's Prayer?
Many of us have and yet we never realized the power that we have prayed for as we said those words. "Your kingdom come....Your will be done...on earth as it is in heaven." That prayer cries out to God for his kingdom to manifest here in our towns, in our lives, in the lives of our family and friends." His rule and reign come down....and be done, accomplished, established as the kingdom of darkness is pushed back.

Why not pray for the Kingdom to invade your heart and life today?
That the plans and darkness of the devil be pushed back and replaced with the presence of God's Holy Spirit.

God on you..........

SATURDAY NIGHT'S MESSAGE HAS BEEN DOWNLOADED
STEP # 3 -- LESSON #2 - "CONSIDER YOUR WAYS"

1 comment:

Bobby said...: The Lords prayer or the Model prayer should be a part of our daily prayer life. One day His Kingdom will fully come to the earth....until then we are called to advance it.; March 17, 2010 at 9:30 PM

Looking At The World Through Cracked Lens

As ol' Paul wrote in his Corinthian letters.."We see in part and we know in part." Now what piece of this bit of wisdom do we not get? I wish to not run around acting and trying to be some sort of Biblical G00-Ru (I meant to spell it wrong). Or a sage of sages.

I simply want to be able to communicate some of what God has given to me. Why? Do I think what I get is better than what you may have received from Him? Nope. But I do think encouragement comes when we share our daily story of struggle and victory in an effort to encourage each other.

Thanks for letting me share.

Time to soldier on..

mbb

Our Statement of Faith

We believe that God is the eternal king. He is an infinite, unchangeable Spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, goodness, justice, power and love. From all eternity He exists as the One Living and True God in three persons of one substance, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit equal in power and glory. we believe that God created mankind in His image, male and female, for relationship with Himself and to govern the earth. Under the temptation of Satan, our original parents fell from grace, bringing sin, sickness and God's judgment of death to the earth. Through the fall, Satan and his demonic hosts gained access to God's good creation. Creation now experiences the consequences and effects of Adam's original sin. Human beings are born into sin, subject to God's judgment of death and captive to Satan's kingdom of darkness. We believe that Jesus, God's Son, was sent to this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, Mary, fully God and fully man in one person. He is humanity as God intended us to be. Jesus was anointed as God's Messiah and empowered by the Holy Spirit, ushering in God's kingdom reign on earth, overpowering the reign of Satan by resisting temptation, preaching the good news of salvation, healing the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. Jesus' atoning death on the cross took God's judgment for sin which we deserved as law-breakers. Jesus' resurrection and ascent back to heaven opened the door for those who received salvation to begin a relationship with God.

Little Nets Into Deep Waters

Fishing nets were designed for one purpose only. To catch fish. Nets are no good if they stay on the boat. Nets serve no purpose if they are never used. I think maybe God sees us this way. We are all created for a purpose (by the way, the creator gets to define what our purpose is). Any other use besides the one we were created for does us no good. But when the creator places His hands upon us, casting us out into those scary, dark places with deep waters, it is then we can see the reality of our purpose. He knew there would be a catch waiting for us. I think I will be the net God has called me to be.

The Twelve Steps

As a community of people in recovery, we affirm that our higher power is Jesus Christ. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. Just as God told the children of Israel He was going to give them a promised land, He has revealed to us that He desires to give us a "Promised Life." When Israel got to the promised land, God instructed them to go and in a possess it, fight for it and claim it. In recovery, the 12 Steps are the directions given to us on how to fight, possess and claim this promised life.

Monday, March 15, 2010

The Kingdom Of God

1 comment:

THE REALITY OF THE NAME OF GOD