The Kingdom of God(pt.3)....The Gospel for who?

The Kingdom(pt.3)The Gospel for who?

If the gospel is necessary, that implies that whatever was it's substitute was not suffice to accomplish the purposes for which it was intended.  The gospel is good news.  The Gospel is good news from God to HIS people.  This begs the question, what was the bad news?  What were God's people believing that wasn't true?  What was wrong?

What was God's intent towards HIS people?

Genesis 1 - 3

When God created mankind HE gave them dominion over the earth and access to a personal relationship with HIM.  Adam and Eve knew what God looked like, what HE sounded like and had access to eternity.  But when they disobeyed God's command HE banished them from access to HIS presence.  God had so many good plans for man's dominion of HIS Kingdom on earth.  HE wanted man to replicate HIS order and power in the earth all along.  But in order for this to be sustained man would have to remain in constant communication with heaven; to get directives and resources for continued success. 

What happened?

After Adam disobeyed God and was banished from God's presence, sin grew to dominate the earth, so much so that God decided to destroy the entire earth. Genesis 7 God told Noah to build an ark for himself, his family and the animals because all the other people displeased HIM.  HE reiterates HIS plan and purpose for mankind on earth to Noah. Something about the human nature why we keep reverting to sin; because even after the flood, Noah's offspring decided to build the tower of Babel.  Men did what they thought without asking God's opinion, nor paying attention to HIS decrees. Constantly men are drawn to pagan worship instead of acknowledging God as the only supreme God worth worshiping.  God is merciful.  Inspite of our shortfall, HE remains faithful to HIS word. HE promised Noah HE would never destroy the earth again completely.  Genesis 8: 20-22 So from time to time HE pulls the obedient people away from the disobedient ones to start over again. 
Constantly HE reiterates HIS plan and purpose for mankind on earth.

Genesis 9: 1-6

9 God said to Noah and his sons:

I am giving you my blessing. Have a lot of children and grandchildren, so people will live everywhere on this earth. 2 All animals, birds, reptiles, and fish will be afraid of you. I have placed them under your control, 3 and I have given them to you for food. From now on, you may eat them, as well as the green plants that you have always eaten. 4 But life is in the blood, and you must not eat any meat that still has blood in it. 5-6 I created humans to be like me, and I will punish any animal or person that takes a human life. If an animal kills someone, that animal must die. And if a person takes the life of another, that person must be put to death.

Not long after Noah, HE pulls Abraham.

Genesis 12: 1-3

12 The Lord said to Abram:Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.

Genesis 17 God's one condition to Abraham was that he should remain obedient to God.  Nevertheless, God promises to be their God no matter what.  Over and over throughout the different generations God keeps pulling away HIS righteous people to start over on a new slate.  So it was with Moses and the Israelites. Finally, God promised to send someone, a part of himself to fix the problem.

Isaiah 9: 6-8

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

Jesus changed the  Jewish paradigm

Jesus brought the government of heaven to earth to  help us to finally get it right.  Now we can do things the right way with all the right resources in abundance.  The great news is that 'of the increase of HIS government there will be no end, meaning: once HE brought it, we have all we need and this government will never be overthrown. God fulfilled HIS promise to the Jews by sending HIS son Jesus Christ as the solution of reconciling mankind back to a right relationship with HIM as well as to a rightful position as rulers in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. 2 Corinthians 5: 11-21

Initially, the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.  They didn't believe HE was from God nor even God himself.  As a result, Jesus invited other 'non-jews', i.e. gentiles, to benefit from HIS actions. St. John 1  Jesus brought truth and grace for all peoples.  Reconciliation to the Father and HIS Kingdom is for anyone who will accept by faith what God promised.  This is the parable of the King who had a great feast with specially invited guests.  But when he sent his servants to get the invitees they were pre-occupied and refused to attend.  So he told the servants to go back out and invite the 'forbidden'.  The Jews and the Gentiles did not mix. Gentiles were considered forbidden and unclean. Luke 14 The gospel is for anyone who will believe Jesus and obey HIS commands of reconciliation to God.  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.  God gave Peter this confirmation in a dream about no longer calling different animals unclean.  Acts 10 This is the good news for the gentiles.  The centurion though gentile was now entitled to partake of God's promises according to his faith. Today, our only pre-condition to God is faith in Jesus.

TESTIMONY: Son of Imam starts preaching the Gospel on the streets of GAZA!! - Pod for Israel - Arabic Ministry

WORSHIP: JJ Hairston & Mercy Chinwo : EXCESS LOVE REMIX (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

No one is excluded!

IN THE VALLEY….trust GOD!

In the valley - TRUST GOD!

Did Noah feel that way in the ark?

...like God, when is this rain going to stop, we’re seasick and the ark smells horrible with all this animal dung. Or Joseph in prison for crimes he didn’t commit. He went joyfully to serve his brothers and look at where he ended up, in prison? How long was it from the pit to the throne room? How did Jesus feel in Gethesemane, his friends deserting him; his long road to the cross? Did it make HIM want to die more though HE knew the outcome. How unbearable it must have been, the agony, the nakedness in the streets, the accusations, the shame of being hung on a cross. For sure God had deserted HIM because HE acknowledged it on the cross.
HE said, “my God why have YOU forsaken me?”
But what did it do to HIM? Does knowing the outcome make it any painless?

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

“For I know the plans I have for you saith the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
Plans to give you a hope and a future….”

"MY HOPE in JESUS is like an hard boiled egg. I may crack on the outside, but I'm still solid on the inside"... Stephen Furtick

In HIS presence....

Valleys are often long and meandering with no favorable end in sight. Often times when I come to a crossroads, when I hit a speed bump I try to pull the brake handle all the way up and begin to sniff. Like a rescue dog I sniff for solace. Most times it’s the place that I feel most comfortable - at HIS feet, most times. I sniff for worship. I close my eyes and let worship music pour over my soul like alcohol in a flesh wound it soothes. It doesn’t always bring an answer, just a peace and a transition from the focus on the thing that’s trying to drive me crazy at that time, to focus on The Almighty God. 

I don’t always feel for it. But because I’ve proven that it works on multiple occasions. Even when I’m not in the mood for it I find The Word on my phone and fall asleep listening to it. Or I find worship music on youtube and do the same. That’s my drug. It’s true. For me, all roads lead to worship. It always makes all things better, even if it’s just in that moment. When it doesn’t make sense I leave it in God’s hand, I mean at HIS feet. It doesn’t matter what I’ve done or failed to do. It doesn’t matter what I’m guilty of. I’ve trained myself to sniff. Something about God’s presence is very calm, safe, uncondemning and empowering.

Isaiah 26:3

God will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on THEE!

 

HE gives us power....

 

The thing about the valley is that there's no place too low that the presence of God doesn't reside.  It doesn't matter how we feel, HE gives us keys to unlock any and every door that keeps us 'boxed in'.  HIS word says, whatsoever we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and whatsoever we loose on earth is loose in heaven.  Matthew 16 Absolutely nothing can/ should keep us in entrapment.  Like David we need to seek God.  Even when he sinned he acknowledged that: "against thee only have I sinned".   The rules of engagement in the Kingdom of God are different from the rules of engagement in the earthly kingdom of darkness i.e. the devil.  We are not familiar with God's ways.  We are not familiar with God's government. 

 

The Almighty God lives in heaven. HIS ways are higher than our ways and HIS thoughts the same. We cannot comprehend how to escape and or manipulate our environs without God's intervention.   Since Jesus overcame every tactic of the devil, we too can do the same, but not in our own strength.  We need help. When we seek God's help HE sends HIS Holy Spirit to guide us so that we can be successful in achieving and sustaining productive results.  1 Corinthians 10 We were created to win.  Because when we win we reflect God's glory. When we win it looks good on HIM.  God never looses. HE'S always in control.  We have to trust God's methods.  HE only has our best interest at heart.  It is HIS great pleasure to give us the Kingdom. Luke 12.

 

 James 4:8

Draw nigh unto God and HE will draw nigh unto thee!

 

TESTIMONY:  Nahum’s Story - Pain Turned to Purpose (Full Testimony) | 2018 Youth Summit

WORSHIP: Hills and Valleys

                                    

HE knows what HE'S doing....TRUST GOD!