The Kingdom Of Righteousness

The Kingdom Of Righteousness

Hebrews 1:8  But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.  9  You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."  10  And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.  11  They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;  12  Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."

Here in Hebrews God the Father is being quoted as He spoke about His Son!  It always thrills me when I realize the Word of God has pulled back the curtains from the window of heaven and allow us a glimpse of His glory.  God the Father is sharing His own perspective with us!  He that has an ear should hear what the Spirit is speaking to us.  Hebrews chapter 1 is fully loaded with revelation of God.  In truth we are breaking into the end of much of the revelation when we start with the 8^th verse.  However, I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to consider the truths found here.  God the Father is calling Jesus God.  Those who do not believe that Jesus is God make the Father out to be a liar! 

Jesus has been given a kingdom from the Father.  This kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; it is a kingdom with no end.  A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Jesus’ Kingdom!  Jesus loves righteousness and hates lawlessness.  Because of this truth the Father anointed Jesus with the oil of gladness!

On the authority of God the Father we can declare, Jesus was there laying the foundation of the earth with the Father.  But greater than that truth is the truth about the Son!  Jesus will remain forever and His years will not fail.  Being brought into the kingdom of God is an eternal work that sets our feet upon the sure foundation Jesus Christ our Cornerstone.  A sign that you are in the kingdom of God is when your desires have aligned with His desires and you love what He loves and you hate what He hates.  Partakers of the kingdom reflect the kingdom truths.

Matthew 6:19  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;  20  "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  22  "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  23  "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  24  "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

I’m getting more and more excited about quoting Jesus.  His words are Spirit and they are life!  Many claim salvation; however, true salvation is measured by the word of God.  A great principle in the kingdom of God “For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be.”  What is your pursuit?  What is it you love to do?  The lamp of the body is the eye.  Is it full of light or is it full of darkness?  How can you tell what one is full of?   Kingdom truth; your master is God or mammon.  You are loyal to God or your master is another.  Bold words, strong words, and true words.  Your pursuit is a reflection of who is your God!

Psalm 27:4  One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple…8  When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."

Where is your longing?  Relationship with God is the single most important concern to a true believer.  King David was said to be a man after God’s own heart.  David was not perfect; however David spent a lifetime pursuing relationship with God.

Psalm 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon .  13  Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God.  14  They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,

God’s desire is for every believer to flourish, bear fruit and be fresh.  Is this a definition of your relationship with God?  Planted in the house of the Lord is a vineyard a believer can flourish and bear fruit.  God is calling His children to be planted.  Running to and fro from one so called move of God to another is not God’s plan.  Planted like a palm tree!  Where is the planting?  In the house of the Lord!

Psalm 134:1  Behold, bless the LORD, All you servants of the LORD, Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!  2  Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the LORD.  3  The LORD who made heaven and earth Bless you from Zion !

Many go to the house of the Lord; however, there are only few who have committed themselves to the house of the Lord.  To be planted is to be committed and submitted to those who must give an account for your soul.   

Acts 2:42  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  43  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  44  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,  45  and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.  46  So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,  47  praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. 

Continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  The early church pursuit was clear.  Their fellowship centered around the truths of the word of God and in prayers.  Does our fellowship center around the kingdom?  Being in the kingdom says my pursuits will always give Jesus preeminence.

2 Timothy 2:1  You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  2  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  3  You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  4  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.  5  And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Some would leave this passage only for the ministry of the church; however, I would say if you have been given grace you are an ambassador for Christ and you have  a ministry.  May be not the fivefold ministry from the pulpit yet grace has abounded in your life.  Pursuit of the kingdom is for every true child of God.  God calls us to singleness of mind!  You indeed are a soldier in the army of the Lord.  You are a part of an ever increasing kingdom.  Jesus our High Priest remains forever!  This kingdom is the way of grace and truth!

Hebrews 10:19  Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  20  by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,  21  and having a High Priest over the house of God,  22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,  25  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

We have this new and living way that Jesus made for us!  We can draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith!  Jesus is faithful and will keep His promises to us!  Oh that we would stir one another up to walk in the good works of the kingdom of God .  The Day is approaching let us assembly for His glory!

Romans 5:18  Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.  19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Jesus comes ruling with the scepter of righteousness!  One Man’s obedience will make many righteous; it is the kingdom of imputed righteousness to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Walk boldly in this new and living way!

God the Father loved you first

Jesus is faithful

Bruce A Brown

Living In Kingdom Authority While Walking On Earth

Living In Kingdom Authority While Walking On Earth

John 5:26  "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,  27  "and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

The Word was robed in flesh and the Father gave Him great authority!  Walking under the authority of the word of God results in victory for every believer.  Walking in the kingdom of God's authority brings the abundant life Jesus promised to the believers who would hear and heed His voice.  Jesus' authority came directly from the Father, because He is the Son of Man.

Philippians 2:8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.  9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus' exaltation and authority came directly from submitting to the authority of the Father.  Jesus was motivated to do the will of the Father and ultimately that was surrendering to death.  The first Adam had authority here on earth and yielded that authority to the devil.  Sin broke unfettered fellowship with God and limited and tainted the authority God had given him to rule the earth

Romans 1:3  concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,  4  and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus was the son of man according to the flesh; Jesus was the Son of God that became the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead.  Our surrender to the authority of Jesus Christ brings us salvation, resurrection, and much more! 

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "Allauthority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20  "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

After Jesus resurrection He spoke "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Make no mistake about it, Jesus won the authority man had lost.  Then Jesus told the apostles to go and make disciples!  Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth; a disciple is someone who completely submit to that authority.  Many, many Christians are walking without victory; there is one reason for no victory, no submission to the authority of Jesus Christ.  Grace has been given to enable us to walk in the abundant life Jesus promised.  Abundant life is not elusive it comes to those who become disciples.  Disciples are those who are students of the Master!  Disciples have teachable spirits and submit and observe all things that Jesus commanded.  Believers who are not walking in victory are resisting being true disciples.  If you are walking in complete unabridged victory this message is only affirmation of the truth you know.  Those lacking victory need a change of mindset and let me compel you to be baptized in the truth.  The Father sent His Son into a sinful world to save it and set it free from sin!  Jesus is the only Begotten of the Father who came to sacrifice His life so you might have abundant life.  Faith in Jesus Christ gives birth to new beginnings and the Holy Spirit desires to lead and guide you into all truth.  If you are not being lead by the Spirit of God you are not Jesus' disciple.

Hebrews 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.  10  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things,in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Jesus died on the cross and tasted death so you don’t have to live in death.  Jesus submitted to death so He could become the Captain of our salvation.  He faced the suffering of the cross for our benefit, so we could become sons of glory.

Hebrews 2:16  For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.  17  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  18  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.  1  Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

Living in kingdom authority while walking on earth is found in Jesus Christ.  The gospel is for you to surrender to our great High Priest, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is here and available for every true believer.  His desire is to come to your aid!  Disciple do you know Jesus is on your side.  Jesus is a merciful and faithful High Priest.  Jesus is right here, right now to give aid to every disciple.  Jesus not only comes to your aid, He is your advocate and propitiation for every sin.  Not many understand the greatness of the sacrifice; once the greatness of the sacrifice is revealed the surrender is not burdensome but life giving.  It is the way to living in kingdom authority while walking on earth.  Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, CONSIDER THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR CONFESSION, CHRIST JESUS.  Jesus came for your victory; if you don’t have victory believer it is time to submit to discipleship so your mindset can be changed.  Are you not yet ready to live in victory?

Romans 5: 18  Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.  19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Jesus' righteous act of obedience to death on the cross brought you and I a free gift resulting in justification of life.  Victory does not have to be elusive.  Your trust is in Jesus' atoning sacrifice becomes so great you can believe His obedience is enough to make you right with God!  His obedience can be trusted in!  This is living in kingdom authority while walking on earth.

John 12:49  "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.  50  "And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."

I write these very truth by the authority of God the Father.  Jesus heard the command from the Father eternal life!  Will we hear the voice of Jesus and live?

John 16:7  "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  8  "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  9  "of sin, because they do not believe in Me;  10  "of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;  11  "of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.  12  "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14  "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  15  "All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit comes to convict the unbeliever of sin; He comes to convict the believer of righteousness.  Many understand and preach the Holy Spirit convicts of sin and stop!  Your victory is found when the Holy Spirit is allowed to convict you of righteousness and can convince you the enemy of your soul has been judged!  This is living in kingdom authority while living on earth.  It is God’s desire for you!  Father I pray fill every disciple with the Holy Spirit as your Word has promised.  If you ask He will fill you!

John 17:1  Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,  2  "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  3  "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Do you know Him?  Knowing Him is living in kingdom authority while walking on earth!

God the Father loved you first

Jesus is faithful

Bruce A Brown

Jesus, The Reformation For Our Salvation

Jesus is the great reformer who brought a better covenant with better promises! Live your life in the reformation Jesus provided  that's where your victory is at!

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Jesus The Reformation For Our Salvation

Hebrews 9:8  the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.  9  It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience;  10  concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.  11  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

Jesus Christ came bringing the reformation for our salvation.  Jesus, our High Priest came with a greater more perfect way!  Jesus is our reformation!

1 John 5:1  Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.  2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.  3  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.  4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith.  5  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.  When the object of your faith becomes Jesus Christ and Him crucified you have moved from death unto life.  You have been born of God at faith in Jesus Christ!  Jesus brought the reformation needed to allow us to be reconciled to God.  Before Jesus there was not justification; with Christ there is righteousness (right standing) and justification (declared innocent) through faith in His atoning work at Calvary .

1 John 4:14  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.  15  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

God’s Word is so clear on this issue!  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  What a privilege to be under this covenant of grace and truth.  What you think of Jesus Christ determines your destiny for eternity and in this life.

John 3:14  "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  15  "that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  16  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.17  "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  18  "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

At God’s command Moses made a bronze snake; whoever would but look up to the snake would be healed.  Whoever believes in Jesus can have eternal life.  This is not an intellectual exercise even the devil believes on that level.  This is placing the object of your faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.  It is a surrender to Jesus as your Messiah.  That degree of surrender brings you out of darkness into the light of Jesus Christ.

John 3:35  "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.  36  "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

What you think of Jesus Christ determines your destiny both now and eternally.  Jesus the great reformer has turned the wrath of God away from us by taking the wrath of God for us.  Jesus became our sin bearer and that changes everything!

Acts 20:20  "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,  21  "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ is the gospel and there is no other gospel.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus and the reformation He brings; it is your source of victory.

Romans 1:17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Faith in Jesus bring us a right standing with God; it leads us into a life of faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  24  being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  25  whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,  26  to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Here is the reformation that  Jesus Christ provided.  Faith  in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ brings us right standing and a declaration of innocence.  Faith in God and work Jesus did at the cross.  God’s defines faith as the object of your faith in Jesus.  The Word of Faith Movement has redefined faith.  Faith in your faith changing the world with your own strong faith.  The minute we leave the object of your faith from Jesus Christ to our performance by our faith we stray from the reformation Jesus provided.

Romans 4:13  For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  14  For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,  15  because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.  16  Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

The reformation brings us to trust exclusively in the work of Jesus Christ.  Anything out side of reformation brings us into trusting our own works.  The law or the traditions of men that cause us to leave the reformation in Jesus Christ leads to death.

Galatians 3:22  But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  23  But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  24  Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25  But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Believer once you have come to the reformation provided in Jesus Christ you no longer need to be under the tutor of the law.  YOU ARE SONS OF GOD THROUGH  FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS!  Any other message is forsaking the reformation Jesus brought!

Colossians 2:8  Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

The warning goes out from the Spirit of God!  Beware…  Jesus Christ and Him crucified is where your liberty and freedom come from; don’t receive any other message!

Colossians 2:16  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,  17  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Many religious practices were only shadows types and patterns that pointed out truths until our reformer Jesus Christ came.  Jesus Christ is the substance those practices.  Faith in Jesus set us free from the practices of food or in drink, or new moon Sabbaths found in the law.  After coming to the reformation of Jesus Christ live in that liberty.  Don’t be yoked with men’s traditions or practices of the law which lends itself to bondage.

Hebrews 9:14  how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Fleshly ordinances were imposed until the time of reformation!  Jesus is our reformation!

Beloved

Is the object of your faith Jesus Christ? If you answer yes, you are part of the beloved of God!

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Beloved

Ephesians 3:14  For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  15  from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,   16  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,  17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  18  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height;  19  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  20  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

The greater the revelation of His love toward you the greater His power can work in and through you!  God grants revelation of Himself according to the riches of His glory.  The greater the revelation of His love the stronger you grow in the inner man.  It is the desire of God for His children to walk in victory; being rooted in grounded in love is the way to victory.

Matthew 3:15  But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.  16  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  17  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Before Jesus was launched into His earthly ministry the Father spoke from heaven.  “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  The Father brought Jesus a word of affirmation. 

Matthew 4:1  Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  2  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.  3  Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."  4  But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

The last word we know the Father spoke to Jesus was “this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  The devil’s point of attack was to leave out the truth about beloved and to put an “if” in front of Son!  Let the enemy’s scheme be exposed here and now.  The devil does not want you to know you are beloved and wants to bring into question if you are truly a son.

John 1:12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  13  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This truth is for those who believe in His name!  Faith in Jesus Christ is where the condemnation is taken away.  This new birth is not derived from the will of flesh , nor of the will of man, but from God.  The will of the Father is our adoption into His family!

Colossians 1:12  giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

God the Father has a heart for you!  It was His desire, His will, and His purpose to qualify.  Beloved indeed!

2 Corinthians 5:18  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  19  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

When I think about His goodness I am awestruck!  His goodness was a great revelation to me.  The Father was in Christ Jesus reconciling us to Himself.   How great is the love of the Father to create a plan where our trespasses are not imputed to us! 

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  4  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  5  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,  6  to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

These few verses have so much of the revelation of God’s love for us.  When the Father began to teach me these truths I remember being overwhelmed by understanding His love toward me.  In fact, every time I meditate on this passage I am once again overwhelmed by His great love for me.   The Father blessed us with every Spiritual blessing, He chose us from the foundation of the world, He predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ.  This was all provided according to the good pleasure of His will.  The Father’s good pleasure and will is to bestow His love and favor.  Our opinion of God the Father needs to be formed and shaped by the truth of who He is and what He has done!  Do you dare believe you have been made accepted in the Beloved.

Satan’s temptation with Jesus was not at the height of the Word the Father spoke to Jesus, it was in the dessert after forty days of fasting.  The enemy attacked Jesus at His weakest point.  What gave Jesus the strength to overcome?  The Word He had received from His Father.  “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  Jesus overcame temptation by the Word of God!

1 John 2:14  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

John the beloved spoke to the young men revealing a truth of the source of their victory.  “I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.  Without the word of God abiding the overcoming of the wicked one seems elusive.

Jeremiah 31:3  The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

Has God drawn you?  With His loving kindness, great mercy, and faithfulness He has drawn you!

John 10:27  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  28  "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  29  "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.  30  "I and My Father are one."

The love of God is rich and deep.  Jesus' own word’s “I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.  Kept by God!

Romans 8:31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  32  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?  33  Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.  34  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.  35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  36  As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."  37  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The demonstration of God’s love toward the world is awesome; however the demonstration of God’s love toward His own children is even greater!  To the world is the offering of His Son Jesus Christ; to His children He freely gives all things!  His promise is nothing shall separate us from His love.  Beloved you are more than a conqueror through Him who loved us!

How About Your Heart?

How about your heart? The condition of our heart determines how the word of God can work in our life!  We purposefully need to be good soil.

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How About Your Heart?

Acts 15:8  "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,  9  "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

The condition of a man’s heart determines his destiny not only for eternity but also for the quality of life here and now.  There is one way for the heart to be purified and that is by placing the object of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!  The condition of your heart will reflect the condition of your life!

Luke 8:10  And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God , but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.'  11  "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  12  "Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  13  "But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.  14  "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  15  "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Understanding this parable can unlock mysteries of the kingdom of God .   The condition of your heart determines the degree the word of God will affect your life.  The heart is the gateway for what we believe; what we believe determines what we will receive from God!  The seed is the word of God!  Our heart according to this great parable is the ground upon which the seed falls.  The kind of ground seed falls on determines if anything will be produced. There are four types of heart (ground) for the seed to land on.

Wayside soil; no life!

Rocky soil; perceived life!

Thorny soil; immature fruit!

Good soil; fruit bearing!

Many, many great lesson have been taught from this parable; however, I feel the Holy Spirit drawing me to discuss the good ground and what makes it.  See verse 15, the soil type depends upon the hearer of the word of God.  Good soil is soil that hears the word with a noble and good heart!  The condition of your heart determines how the word of God is able to affect your life.

Proverbs 4:20  My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.  21  Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;  22  For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.  23  Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

The good ground is the ground that gives attention to the word of God.  Incline your ear to his word.  The word of God does not get in our heart by osmosis; we purposely have to give ear to the word of God.  Do not let the word depart from our eyes; keeping the word before our eyes is the beginning of meditation.  Purposefully think upon the word of God; it is the way to get the word in the midst of your heart.  This practice is life giving and brings health.  KEEP YOUR HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE!  Your heart is the eye gate.  What you think upon and meditate upon will become the reflection of your life story.  As a man thinks in his heart so is he.  If one has no hunger for the word of God it  shows the condition of ones heart.

Proverbs 27:19  As in water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man.

Much like looking in a mirror so a man’s heart reveals the man.

Luke 6:45  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  You don’t have to hang out with someone to long before you know what they treasure.  If you can’t get a man to talk a lot you have not hit upon the treasure of his heart yet.  By reflection of your own heart, what is it you treasure?  Look and see what is coming out of your mouth.  Whatever is in a man’s heart it will come out!  It is why it is so important to give first place to God and His kingdom.  He will change and purify our hearts.

Luke 12:31  "But seek the kingdom of God , and all these things shall be added to you.  32  "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  33  "Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.  34  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The burden of my heart is to see the body of Christ be partakers in the kingdom of God to the uttermost.  To see the Father glorified in the body of Christ is my desire.  The body of Christ walking with a noble heart is to put the kingdom of God first.  The Father has promised to provide the goods if we seek His kingdom first!  I love verse 32!  Do not fear, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  Meditate on this truth for awhile.  The Father derives pleasure to give us the kingdom!  If we will trust in God, delight ourselves in God, commit our life and purpose to God, and feed on His faithfulness He will give us the desire of our hearts

Mark 16:14  Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.  15  And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16 is a well know passage to many preaching the great commission of Christ.  However, let’s start a verse early from the commission.  Jesus rebuked his own disciples because of the hardness of their own heart.  The condition of our heart will determine how we react to the circumstances around us.  If we have a good and noble heart the spoken word of God will causes us to rise up in faith in spite of adversity.  If our heart is hard we will find our self complaining fearing and doubting.  Jesus spoke past the hardness of the hearts of the eleven and commissioned them to go to be world changers.

1 John 3:20  For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.  21  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

Is your heart condemning you?  God is greater than your heart!  You can trust God and His richness of love and grace toward us.  Bring your heart back in line with the Word of God and you will regain your confidence before God.  Remember God purifies your heart by faith in Him.

Proverbs 15:13  A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

One of satan’s schemes is to bring us to sorrow of heart.  “You will never get what you are believing God for” is one of his favorite lines.  If the lies of the enemy can keep you in sorrow he can break your spirit.  Our heart can be restored by hearing the word of God with a noble and good heart.  It will produce good fruit.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The word of God is living and powerful.  Submitting to the truths of His word is the  way for our heart to be changed and give us a confidence to come into the throne room of God boldly.

1 John 3:1  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  2  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  3  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Here is fodder for meditation, behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God.  Good ground for a believer is ground that is convinced that God the Father loves them.  The Father delights in giving His children the kingdom!  We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is!  To purify yourself you must bring your heart in line with the word of God.  God is greater than our heart!
So, how about your heart???

Participating In The Better Promises

Jesus has brought us into a new living way; He wants us to be aware of the better promises. He wants His children to partake of the abundant life found in Him alone.

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Participating In The Better Promises

Hebrews 8:6  But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Living in the fullness of the grace Jesus came with should be the goal in our Christian life.  Jesus came with a more excellent ministry!  He is the Mediator of a better covenant!  This better covenant is established on better promises.  What are the better promises?  How does one lay hold of and participate in the better promises?  We must understand Jesus obtained a more excellent ministry.  Every better promise flows down from what Jesus has provided!  Our provision is exclusively found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:19  Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,  20  by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,  21  and having a High Priest over the house of God,  22  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

There is the new and living way Jesus consecrated for us by the offering of His body and soul as our sin atonement.  The greatness of Jesus' sacrifice provides access into the household of God.  It is our confession in Jesus as our Messiah that is our overcoming faith.

2 Peter 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,  3  as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  4  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Jesus' divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life.  Jesus' divine power has given us exceedingly great and precious promise to be partakers of the divine nature.  Simply put, Jesus has given you everything you need to walk in great victory by bringing you escape from the corruption of the world.  Jesus, Himself, began to teach the truths of the better promises.

Matthew 6:24  "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.  25  "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  26  "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  27  "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  28  "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;  29  "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  30  "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  31  "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  32  "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  33  "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

Did I have you read all of this passage from Matthew 6 so I could say seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you?  Yes, yes I did.  However, can we examine the content prior to the seek first the kingdom of God ?  Terms of the better promises, you must have an exclusive allegiance to God as your Lord.  The promise is you do not worry because of the depth of the care of God toward you.  Pledging allegiance to God brings you into the promises of God; He will take care of you and will meet your needs.  The allegiance calls you to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the things you need shall be added unto you!  This is not putting God first place this is putting God center!  If you put God center He will take care of you in everyway.  The depth of His care is so great God assures you can walk worry free!  What a great promise of provision.

Luke 12:4  "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  5  "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!  6  "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.  7  "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  8  "Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.  9  "But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

Here in Luke 12 is another provision and promise that is based upon the better ministry of Jesus and His better promises.  The only one to fear is the one who kills the body and has power to throw you into hell.  Too bad many ministers only share this half of the truth being portrayed here.  If you will but go a little further you can learn of the goodness and character of God.  The one who has power to cast into hell is the one who cares about the sparrows who are sold for little money .  The Matthew passage says the Father cares for them when they fall to the ground.  Do not fear you are of more value then the sparrow!  Fear the one who can cast you into hell; however fear not because the One who has power to cast you into hell has a heart for you and He cares for you more than many sparrow.  If God is your judge you have much to fear; if God is your Savior you do not have to fear.  Jesus said it!  Fear not God cares for you!  If you will confess the Son of man before men; the Son of man will confess you in heaven before the angels and yes even before the Father.  What a promise from Jesus! 

Psalm 37:1  Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.  2  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.  3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  4  Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.  5  Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.  6  He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.  7  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.  8  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it only causes harm.  9  For evildoers shall be cut off;But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.  10  For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.  11  But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The psalmist David wrote prophetically of the goodness of God to come in the covenant of grace and truth.  I want to bring your attention to five words in this passage.  Trust, delight, commit, feed on His faithfulness, and rest in the Lord.!   Trust in the Lord, feed on His faithfulness, delight yourself in Him, and commit your way by trusting in Him.  When  the object of your faith is refocused upon Jesus He gives you His rest!  The promise is He will give you the desire of your heart.  All of these terms are used to describe an intimacy of relationship.

Jude 1:24  Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25  To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. 

Jesus is your faithful High Priest!  He will keep you and present you faultless before the presence of His glory.  Imagine Jesus presenting you and He does it with exceeding joy! 

2 Thessalonians 3:3  But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

You can depend on the faithfulness of God!  He will establish you and guard you from the evil one!

Colossians 1:21  And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled  22  in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight;

After God reconciled you to Himself He had a plan.  His plan is for you to be presented holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight.  God’s eye is on you!  What kind of covenant is it that the judge makes you above reproach in His sight!  What a covenant  through the body of Jesus' flesh results in your right standing with God! 

2 Corinthians 17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Here is the better promise based on the better covenant with the better Mediator!