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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| 4. CHARACTERISTICS OF KINGDOM PEOPLE (Continued) |
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| 11. SEEKING LIFE CHANGE RATHER THAN SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES |
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 Expressed in religious terminology, the kingdom person seeks habitation rather than visitation. They seek to become like Jesus rather than simply experience the excitement of moves of the Holy Spirit, commonly called 'revival'.
In this day and age when the world has shrunk in size through fantastic communications and transportation technologies, moves of the Holy Spirit, both real and false, are quickly publicised and flocked to by charismatic believers from around the world.
Christians, particularly Charismatic Christians, pray for revival to come to the world and more specifically, to their area. While this is good, the reality is, there has never yet been a permanent revival! Revivals come and revivals go. Some short term change may be noticed but it fades with the passage of time.
There simply has to be something more!
And there is!
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Unfortunately though, habitation isn't as spectacular as visitation, and much harder to live.
Visitation is only referred to twice in the New Testament. In both cases it is more to be an example to unbelievers rather than a specific blessing to Jesus followers. For example:
1 Peter 2:12
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 In earlier revivals we saw many people convicted of their sin and come to the experience the saving, life changing grace of Jesus. In more recent times however, 'revivals' have been enjoyed by Christians from around the world but have had very little effect upon even the local community. You may draw your own conclusions.
The way of the kingdom is 'habitation', where the Holy Spirit 'inhabits' us and is given our permission to make changes in our life.
1 Corinthians 3:16
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 While we accept this in theory, very few live out the life implicit in the 'habitation' of the Holy Spirit within us. This is not new. Even Paul spoke about it:
2 Corinthians 13:5
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 The real revelation and life of the Holy Spirit comes not from seeking spiritual experiences but through obedience to the will of God.
John 14:21
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Kingdom seekers understand this principle and endeavour to apply it to their lives. Of course, we are not always successful, but we have the forgiveness of the cross to lift us back up again when we fail.
May the Lord be with each of us as we seek a deeper relationship with Him.
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| 12. HUMILITY |
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 In today's world, humility is misunderstood, and perceived to be a weakness.
The best definition I can come up with is, 'putting Jesus first'. While this may seem a strange definition to many, it encapsulates what true humility is all about. For when we put Jesus first in our lives, by definition, personal position and pride takes a back seat. Additionally, the more we put Jesus first, the more the needs of others come ahead of our own. This is reflected in the wisdom of Jesus as to the greatest commandment of them all:
Matthew 22:34-40
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 The whole Bible therefore, is based around the concept of humility. True humility is not a weakness, a wishy-washy deference to everyone, letting the world run roughshod over you, as people think.
Rather, true humility is service, service (love) to God and service (love)to others. It is a positive action, not a negative reaction. Humility, service and love are intimately intertwined.
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 The day, when I was working in the fields tending my flowers, that the Lord 'asked' me to go into ministry, He gave me the name, 'Walking With Jesus Ministries'. People now say what a brilliant name it is. Well, it was His idea, not mine! I would probably have followed the norm and called it 'David Tait Ministries'. But I think that you might be able to see, as I now can, that the focus would have been in the wrong place. Upon David Tait, not upon Jesus. God knows so much better than me!
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 Unfortunately, under the 'kingly' church system, we often place more emphasis upon the king bringing the message of Jesus rather than looking to the true kingdom king, Jesus Himself. We look up to the pastor, teacher, evangelist, prophet or apostle and place them on a pedestal. A pedestal from which, I hasten to add, we pull from under them very readily if we perceive they make a mistake, or we don't like the message they bring!
Surprisingly, it actually takes the strength of humility to preach or teach the true words of Jesus without fear or favour. For the truth is not popular. Never has been, never will be. Once we are prepared to be unpopular, along with His message, forgoing the approval of people in preference to that of God and His Word, then we will know we have developed humility in our life.
Kingdom people, as we have mentioned before, are God centred, focused upon Jesus, prepared to promote others, particularly Jesus, ahead of themselves. Jesus always placed the Father first, even unto death!
Matthew 26:39
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Such sacrifice, such humility, still today, is the way of the kingdom.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 4. CHARACTERISTICS OF KINGDOM PEOPLE concludes... |
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 ..... with a look at 'the seemingly impossible' unity of Spirit!
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 Life change! Transformation! Humility! Words we do not like hearing, let alone living!
May the Lord forgive us for our wicked ways!
JESUS: BACKGROUND
Historical Overview
Jerusalem at the Time of Christ
No visitor seeing Jerusalem for the first time could fail to be impressed by its visual splendor. The long, difficult ascent from Jericho to the Holy City ended as the traveler rounded the Mount of Olives, and suddenly caught sight of a vista like few others in the world. Across the Kidron Valley, set among the surrounding hills, was Jerusalem, "the perfection of beauty," in the words of Lamentations, "the joy of all the world."
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
1306. True humility is 'putting Jesus first' in our life.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Reports on past Ministry visits: http://www.wwj.org.nz/diary.php
Eagles Fly High!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/eagle.php
Eagles Fly High! (Pastors, Teachers and Students): http://www.wwj.org.nz/eaglepts.php
God Facts (A mine of information): http://www.wwj.org.nz/gfacts.php
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Jesus Himself told us: