|
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1
I love this verse because it always reminds me to take a higher perspective when facing any situation. In our calling to be ambassadors for His Kingdom , we are not confuse our calling is above Gods plans. You don’t have to be in the driver’s seat trying to control the direction of everything. This doesn’t mean we should sit back and do nothing. It just means trusting our God to guide us from moment to moment. Don’t create a life where you need a lot of detailed plans, check lists, and to-do lists. We try to imagine everything that we’ll do. How everything will play out. How to solve all our problems at once. But it’s impossible. We have to take it one moment at a time trust our creator, and things often turn out differently than we imagined. Focus on What You Can Control, Leave What You Can't "Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't." —Steve Maraboli Knowing the difference between the things we can control and the things we can’t is a topic that comes up frequently, both in my own self-reflection and in conversations with clients too. It manifests in many contexts and situations but always comes back to a single principle: We can control our input, God controls the outcome I can control how I show up in my relationships but I can’t control what other people think of me. I can control how much time and effort I put into preparing to lead others, but I can’t control whether It comes through how I plan it. I can control how diligently I work to pursue the call of God, but I cannot control the rewards others and myself will gain from it. "Trust In the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding"
0 Comments
Most preachers have a favorite sermon, in the same way most artists have a favorite painting, and most singers a favorite song. Have you ever stopped to consider if Jesus did? Perhaps a better way to phrase this is to ask did he have a favorite subject he chose to speak about? And if he did, what was it? Perhaps it was the subject of salvation or forgiveness? Or maybe it was faith and miracles? It may surprise you to discover that the subject Jesus spoke more about than any other was, ‘The kingdom of God’. In fact, he framed all his other teachings around this one central theme.
At the very core of the ‘Lord’s prayer’ is found the statement, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. From the commencement of Jesus’ ministry he began to preach, “The good news of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23). His very first message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). At the very core of the ‘Lord’s prayer’ is found the statement, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. Yes, it appears Jesus had a favorite sermon. he gathered his disciples together and for forty days he taught them about one thing - the kingdom of God! What convinced me most of this wasn’t simply his emphasis on the kingdom throughout his earthly ministry, but the realization that Jesus made it the most important subject he spoke about after he was raised from the dead! Luke begins the Book of Acts by telling us that after the resurrection Jesus appeared to his apostles over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:1-3). Having accomplished the work of salvation one could be excused to think Jesus had no need to remain here any longer, but he did. And how did he chose to spend his time, he gathered his disciples together and for forty days he taught them about one thing - the kingdom of God! Every struggle we have with the enemy must be seen in kingdom perspective. There is not only conflict within us ...the flesh versus the Holy Spirit... but also a larger battle being fought around us to hinder the advance of the kingdom of God. And each battlefield is only one skirmish, of one campaign in that global war which spans human history.
Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Rev 19:11-16
The Kingdom of God is real
It is not just an opinion to consider It is an ideology to live by It is a reality to be manifest A culture we ought to imbibe A perspective we see through A lifestyle we ought to adopt The Kingdom of God is near It is not in some ancient records It is not a myth to be locked away It is not a story to entertain It is not some tale to give hope It is the end of all things — time It is the hope of all things — Christ manifested The Kingdom of God is here It is not far away in the future We cannot put it off for later Jesus already laid the foundation God’s awaiting us — the living stones Our acts of obedience raise the walls Acts of worship release the fragrance. You are a royal priesthood! |
AuthorKingdom Newsletter- The written word that brings hope, encouragement and direction to transform culture in your community. Archives
September 2020
Categories |
RSS Feed