MEM

The Savior (Yeshua/Jesus) - The Christ (Messiah - The anointed One) said

"But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Before Yeshua came preaching about the Kingdom - YHVH (The LORD) said …

Exodus:6 'And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. ' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

God’s Kingdom was on earth at the creation of man. It was a paradise garden called Eden - It had everything needed for life eternal (The Tree of Life). YHVH walked and talked with man and gave them everything - He told Adam and Eve to dress and keep the garden, to be fruitful and multiply and subdue the whole earth (that is to make the whole earth like the Kingdom garden).

The only requirement was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; if they did they would surely die. We read man did eat of that tree in disobedience to their Creator - in other words they sinned; they obeyed the Serpent subjugating themselves to another master. So the righteous Holy God put sin (mankind) out of His kingdom Garden and closed the gate (to His Kingdom). Yet He lovingly had a plan to resolve mankind’s plight. (Genesis chapters 1-3)

The first promise of Redemption and Restoration to The Kingdom of God (the gospel)

To the serpent (the devil) YHVH said…

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

Hebrews 2:14 (The Promised Seed/Savior’s mission)

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself (The Christ) likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

1 John 3:8 (The promised Seed’s purpose - deliverance)

Genesis 17:4-6 (The call of Abraham; God’s plan for the Seed)

Galatians 3:8 (Gospel preached to Abraham)

Galatians 3:16 (the blessing is Christ the Seed)

Heb 11:4-10 (The Kingdom message is all a matter of faith)

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous… 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"… 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark …and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (i.e. the gospel, the re-establishment of God’s kingdom on earth)

Gal 3:23-29 (The nations blessed)

Therefore God’s promise to Adam was coming to pass through the call of Abraham - the promise of the Seed (the second Adam, The Christ) that would heal the breach for mankind - opening the door or gate to God’s Kingdom on earth.

The saints of the Most High (God’s People) will declare His Kingdom

Ps 145:9 The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works. 10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, And Your saints shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, And talk of Your power, 12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Daniel 2:44 (God’s earthly Kingdom to overall earthly kingdoms)

Daniel 7:18 (The saints to reign)

Daniel 7:27 (Doubly promised)

2 Peter 1:11

Messiah (The Christ) will be King - The prophets of old prophesied…

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Matthew 1:23

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Isaiah 7:14)

Isaiah 22:22

Isaiah 63:16

Isaiah 11:1-2

Luke 1:32-33

Jeremiah 23:5

Isa 65:17 " For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

Isa 65:18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. 20 No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them.

Isa 65:24 " It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," Says the LORD.

Isaiah 11:6-9 (Kingdom Peace, even the animals)

Isaiah 55:6 (Therefore)

Isaiah 61:9 (What about the children of the saints?)

* The use of Us, Our or We, will normally refer to those that have chosen to be the children of God

The Kingdom of God is Life

Proverbs 10:16 The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.

Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 21:21 He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness and honor.

Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.

What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?

Ps 16:11 You will show me the path of life… forevermore.

Ps 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

Ps 91:16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

Ps 119:93 I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.

Ps 103:4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Ps 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

You know that it is important to serve God. His word is full of references to serving Him and serving others. He who is greatest in the Kingdom of God is the servant of all, and the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and give His life. Yet His word also says that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. So holiness is another essential aspect of a life that is pleasing to our God. Do you see a unifying basis between these two things? They are both expressions of obedience. The servant obeys his master and carries out his expressed wishes. Those who seek holiness keep the Master’s commandments. Obey Him in all things and you will be a holy servant, a vessel unto honor, equipped for every good work.

Without a doubt God cares about the things of His Kingdom. Do you wonder if He cares about anything else? Do you go to children's soccer games? Yet don't you go to the soccer games of your own children? In God’s word He says that even fathers in this world give good gifts to their children. How much more will your Father in heaven care about every detail of your life? He has placed us in a world filled with mundane details concerning us, yet He tells us not to seek after the things that the gentiles seek, what they may eat and wear and drink. For your Father knows that you have need of these things and will provide them for you, leaving you free to seek the Kingdom of God.

(Adapted from a Dale Cresap blog)

"If men used as much care in uprooting vices and implanting virtues as they do in discussing problems, there would not be so much evil and scandal in the world, or such laxity in religious organizations. On the Day of Judgment, surely, we shall not be asked what we have read but what we have done; not how well we have spoken but how well we have lived. Tell me, where now are all the masters and teachers whom you knew so well in life and who were famous for their learning? Others have already taken their places and I know not whether they ever think of their predecessors. During life they seemed to be something; now they are seldom remembered."
― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

You might be a redneck if… By Jeff Foxworthy

1. Every socket in your house breaks a fire code.
2. You've totaled every car you've ever owned.
3. There are more than five McDonald's bags in your car.
4. You've ever been kicked out of the zoo for heckling the monkeys.
5. Your wife can climb a tree faster than your cat.
6. You've ever bathed with flea and tick soap.
7. You have every episode of Hee-Haw on tape.
8. You've ever been involved in a custody fight over a hunting dog.
9. You are considered an expert on worm-beds.
10. Your kids take a siphon hose to "Show and Tell."
11. The dog catcher calls for a backup unit when visiting your house.
12. You've ever bought a used cap.