The wonder of it all
|
Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
(John 4:14) |
|
And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev 22:1) |
For His Glory!
|
The Kingdom of God Part II The Savior (Yeshua/Jesus) - The Christ (Messiah - The anointed One) said Luke 12:31-32 (NKJV unless indicated) "But seek the kingdom of God… Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. The Kingdom of God was on His created earth in the paradise garden called Eden. Then man disobeyed and gave his allegiance to the Serpent and thus was expelled from the Kingdom of God. The Creator set in motion a plan of redemption for mankind; promised in Gen 3:15 (to the Serpent) 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.". A review of issue 219 might be encouraging as we see the promised restoration of God’s Kingdom, on earth, and our part in that coming kingdom. God promised the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the Serpent - That Seed was to come from a righteous line that believed in God’s promise to restore His Kingdom. That righteous line is listed in Hebrews 11 - the line through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that became the nation of Israel. Israel was specifically called to be a representatives of God’s coming Kingdom - to all nations: Exod 19:4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. 5 'Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 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." Deuteronomy 26:19 (NKJV)"and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken." That line continued down through Yeshua (the Seed) to us today. But for what purpose? Ps 145:12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.Dan 4:17 … In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men… 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."Israel was to be God’s people; a type of His coming Kingdom …
That type began when through YHVH Israel acquired worldly kingdoms Num 32:33 So Moses gave to the children of Gad, to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land with its cities within the borders, the cities of the surrounding country.Deut 3:21 "And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, 'Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so will the LORD do to all the kingdoms through which you pass.But Israel rejected God’s government and asked for a human king Saul - Israel’s first king failed the Creator’s instructions 1Sam 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."David, a man after God’s own heart, becomes king of God’s nation 2Sam 3:10 "to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba."2Sam 5:12 So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.The promise that David’s throne would be forever (A Messianic prophecy) 2Sam 7:12 " When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.Solomon on the throne of David, failed 1Kgs 11:11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant.Hezekiah one of the good kings of Judah 2Kgs 19:15 Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: "O LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth… 19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone."People specifically called to assist in God’s plan Cyrus of Persia, (a foreign king) chosen by God to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.Esther Esther 4:14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"Acknowledging YHVH’s Kingdom is over all 1Chr 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all.Ps 22:28 For the kingdom is the LORD's, And He rules over the nations.The Promised King (Yeshua the Seed) will sit upon the throne of David Isa 9:7 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.Jer 10:7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You.The Almighty God is in control Dan 5:21 "…till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.Dan 4:34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.King Darius the Mede Dan 6:26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.God’s Kingdom to Come Dan 2:44 "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.Dan 4:3 How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.The coming of the Kingdom of God - on the earth and our part Dan 7:13 " I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.Dan 7:18 'But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'Dan 7:27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'Be sure that the Creator of heaven and earth rules in all the affairs of man - He promised His Kingdom will - in the end - rule on earth forever. Amen * The use of Us, Our or We, will normally refer to those that have chosen to be the children of God |
|
God’s Kingdom is over All Proverbs 8: 12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. 17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. |
|
The LORD Reigns over All Psalm 93:1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; The LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength. Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.Psalm 96:10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously."Psalm 97:1 The LORD reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!Psalm 146:10 The LORD shall reign forever -- Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! |
|
Do you consider empathy to be an essential component of intelligence? These things are not normally thought of together, but considering the viewpoints of others will improve your own understanding. For you are called to be meek and lowly in heart, in honor preferring one another, and kind and tenderhearted toward one another. The more knowledgeable you are on any subject, the greater the temptation to dismiss the viewpoints of those less informed. Yet they too are entitled to their point of view. You will enlarge your understanding even more if you can see the world as they do. Empathy and compassion are kingdom values that will enable you to do this. Are you reluctant to accept things you don't understand, and is this particularly true for matters of faith and doctrine, since they are so important? Do you think that Yeshua (Jesus) is not involved in anything that doesn't make sense to you? Yet what would you expect, knowing what you do about Him? For you know that He is infinite and omniscient, and you know that you are not. Doesn't simple logic make you suspicious of the first premise above? Wouldn't you expect that the Eternal One is involved in things beyond your comprehension, and not involved in things you understand? Yet He will reveal them to you by His Spirit. Ask Messiah and He will show you the mysteries of His Kingdom. (Adapted from a Dale Cresap blog) |
|
"A barrage of words does not make the soul happy, but a good life gladdens the mind and a pure conscience generates a bountiful confidence in God." |
|
The Value of Self-examination If you correct yourself, others won’t have to. The truth hurts but it is the lie that leaves a scar. Without self-discipline, success is impossible, period. We can try to avoid making decisions by doing nothing, but even that is a decision. The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one. Good examples have twice the value of good advice. |
|
The wonder of it all
|