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BACKGROUND
Kingdom of God
KINGDOM OF GOD, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Heaven
HEAVEN.
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
For Serious Students
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD |
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| KINGDOM PRESENT concludes |
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 How is Holy Spirit living to reflect in our outward actions?
The apostle John, Jesus' 'special friend', summed it up succinctly.
1 John 4:16b
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 He goes on to explain this in a very practical fashion!
1 John 4:21
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 Some people, in the natural, are better at loving than are others. My wife Kathy is one of those. A people person. I am not! Am a task orientated one!
But God is the God of the supernatural. He must be to change me!
Have you noticed how much it is easier to fall out with a Christian than a person in the world? Particularly in 'Spirit-filled' circles.
Why is this?
It is simple. Satan knows that love is the key to building the kingdom of God on earth and he works hard to throw us off the path of love. I am not one for blaming satan for my foibles and weaknesses, but in the area of relationship, he does try to stick the boot in.
Jesus understood this principle well.
Luke 11:17
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 In the same discourse, Jesus also proclaimed the need to take the person and instructions of the Holy Spirit very seriously.
Matthew 12:31-2
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 We all know these things in theory, but the difficulty is putting them into practice!
We do require a revelation from the Holy Spirit to live the 'love life'
John 15:13
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 We simply are not capable of 'agape' (of the determination of the will) loving without the Holy Spirit's intervention in our life. It is simply 'too hard' in the natural, in our own strength, all the time. Even for people people like Kathy!
Godly love is supernatural. A revelation, a kingdom building lifestyle of obedience to the Father's will as guided by the Holy Spirit that Jesus sent to help us.
We have not succeeded in the past, but as we receive the Autumn and Spring rains of the Spirit promised in Joel for the final days, so we will be better able to love others in the way required to build God's kingdom on earth, now.
It sounds impossible, but in God's will, all things are possible. For His ways are greater than ours.
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 We need to major in on the foundation of the kingdom, past, future and present, and that is SACRIFICIAL LOVE. Love that costs! Love that often hurts! Love that puts others before ones self!
While women can grasp this concept most easily, for it can be related to the maternal instinct found in the bearing and bringing up of a family. Mums sacrifice much for their kids. When we misbehave our Mum still loves and cares for us. We take it for granted. We may well abuse her love, but she still loves us!
Being a man though, I can't really understand this in a truly personal way. For it is not inbuilt into a man's psyche as it is in a woman. That is simply reality.
So how can I, as a man, understand what God requires of me? I have battled with this over the years. I know all about the theory of 'agape love' but it hasn't necessarily implanted itself within me! How can I truly understand and apply these principles to my life?
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 For me, the answer has come through the concept of servanthood. Men can somewhat understand what it means to be a servant, even if we don't want to become one! Throughout most of my working life I have been a boss, not a worker (although I work harder than most 'workers'!) in the classic definition of the word. However I can understand the job, the role of a servant as it applies in the world. And gradually, the Holy Spirit has been ingrafting some of these behaviours into me. It is a long and ongoing process, I can assure you! But it is one I can understand! Jesus was the ultimate servant, sacrificing His life for yours and mine. As Isaiah prophesied hundreds of years beforehand!
Isaiah 52:13-15
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 May the Lord help us both to receive the full revelation, understanding and application of the practical love of servanthood so that His kingdom may be built upon the earth - now.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> A REVELATION OF..... LIVING THE KINGDOM LIFESTYLE |
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 How are we to live? Jesus tells us in a very practical way.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 Judging from the numbers of downloads and forwarding's of this series of teachings, they seem to have struck a chord with some people.
Not all Christians are called to this level of commitment, for their are 30 and 60 fold, as well as 100 fold, sold out followers of Jesus.
But it is the 100 fold believers Jesus is calling out today, to become the pure, perfect bride for whom He is to return. Of course, we cannot become the bride through our own efforts, but rather, must fully submit ourselves to Jesus, follow His example through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and do the will of the Father in our lives.
It is not easy. We do sometimes fail. But with God's help we be dressed in 'pure white linen' on that day of days, every sold out believer is so looking forward to.
IMAGES AND ART: Jerusalem
Cardo
A 6th century church floor in Medeba, Jordan has a mosaic map of the land of Israel with numerous place names in Greek. The center of the map is an open-faced depiction of Jerusalem with the city walls, gates, churches (with red roofs), and the Cardo. This main street of the city is depicted with two rows of colonnades running the length of the city from north to south.
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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
306. The foolish rest content in hope, the wise find faith, while the godly unreservedly love both God and others.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
Everything you ever wanted to know about....: http://www.wwj.org.nz/exex.php
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The 'love chapter' in Corinthians reinforces the importance of love. 
And we are to follow His example.