February 28, 2018
Our Father welcomes us into His presence, but not without important prerequisites.
"Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord And righteousness from the God of his salvation." (Psalm 24.3-5)
Clean hands. We can't come to God's dinner table with hands dirty from sinful deeds.
A pure heart. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." (Matthew 5.8) We cannot come to Him with divided loyalty and affection.
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. "make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king ... let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil." (Matthew 5.34-35,37) No grand "I-swear-to-God" statements and/or promises. Simple, pure integrity in word and deed.
None of us come to our Father sinless and pure of our own right (Romans 3.10-12). We can only come before Him in the purity of His Son (Hebrews 10.19-22). But, under the covering of Christ's pure sacrifice God expects us to live sincerely and consistently, a lifestyle consistent with gratitude for His grace.
It's great to have a desire to be in fellowship with our Father, but it must be on His terms. In so doing we are promised that we "shall receive a blessing from the Lord And righteousness from the God of his salvation." Amen.Steve Taylor, 2018
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February 27,2018
How productive are you? This isn't a question about your efficiency at home, school, or work; it's about something much more important.
"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty." (Matthew 13.19-23)
The real productivity issue is concerning what "the word of the kingdom" is doing in your heart and life. Has it found fertile soil in your life? Have you gladly received the main message of Jesus, and are you allowing it to direct your life? Is Matthew 6.33 your great life priority? Until we have discovered the main message of Jesus we have missed one of life's greatest discoveries and adventures.
When the word of the kingdom is productive in our lives, tomorrow's hope in part becomes today's reality. Relationships take on special significance. Forgiveness and generosity characterize our lives. A passion for evangelism and biblical education becomes a driving force.
How productive are you? May Jesus' Kingdom message be our lifestyle and passion.Steve Taylor, 2018
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https://kingdomdreamer.blogspot.com/
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February 14, 2018
Estate sales are a big deal where we live. The possessions of those who have died or been moved to a care facility are made available to the public. Often the sale offerings are items of sentimental value to their recent owner, but little material value to prospective buyers. But, shoppers come in hopes of finding at least one item of value.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13.45-46)
This kingdom parable is often misunderstood. It is considered that we are the merchant, and the kingdom is the pearl of great price. But, it may well be that Jesus is the merchant, and the church is the pearl of great price for which He "went and sold all that he had and bought it."
The church is Jesus' "kingdom project," bought and paid for with His very blood. Ephesians 5.25-27 describes the price paid to make His church something of beauty and value. At its best, the church is a living demonstration of the coming kingdom. Through sacrificial love for one another, and passionate focus and declaration of the message of the kingdom of God, His church embodies the pearl of great price. And, the destiny of the church is to "be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.(Revelation 20.6)
We have an exciting role and destiny as His valued treasure!Steve Taylor, 2018
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February 13, 2018
Visiting the church for the first time, a couple heard a guest speaker that day teach about the kingdom of God. Not being especially convinced of the priority of the kingdom of God message myself, I visited them in their home the next week. Much to my surprise, they were fascinated and intrigued by the message, and had a multitude of questions concerning it. They had discovered the valuable treasure of the kingdom of God, and were instrumental in my discovery of it as well.
"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (Matthew 13.44)
Anyone with a passion for biblical truth will recognize truth treasures when they read and hear about them. And, they will absolutely "sell out" for this truth. This will become their passion.
The kingdom of God/kingdom of heaven was and is unquestionably the "magnificent obsession" of Jesus. Every miracle was a demonstration of it. Every teaching and parable was an explanation of it. This message was His life purpose (Luke 4.43)
Life is full of discoveries. We learn something new every day. The greatest discovery of all is the great truth at the heart of everything Jesus was and is about. When His passion becomes our passion, great things happen! May we totally sell out for the treasure of the kingdom.Steve Taylor, 2018
My other blogs
http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
https://kingdomdreamer.blogspot.com/
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February 7, 2018
Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something.
"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened." (Matthew 11.33)
The influence of leaven, or yeast, can be seen in a rising batch of dough. Its effects are absolutely pervasive; the yeast affects all of the dough it is introduced into. The parable of Jesus really emphasizes this because an exaggerated amount is mentioned: 50 pounds of flour. That's a lot of dough for bread!
The point is that the kingdom of heaven is exerting considerable influence in a hidden way today. The world may not appear to be influenced for the better in greatly noticeable ways, but the kingdom is quietly influencing a growing number of lives in increasing ways. You and I are yielding more and more to its influence. We are influencing lives around us with it. The kingdom is gaining an growing foothold in lives, in advance of its coming in fullness at the return of Christ.
Rejoice today as you yield to the influence of the kingdom and its king.Steve Taylor, 2018
My other blogs
http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
https://kingdomdreamer.blogspot.com/
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February 6, 2014
Big things start small. Corporate giants Microsoft and Apple began as garage businesses. But, their phenomenal growth is nothing compared to this:
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." (Matthew 13.31-32)
The point to Jesus' parable is that the kingdom of heaven is destined to be the most successful project of all times. Beginning as a miniscule seed, its growth will be astounding; so great as to fill the entire world (Daniel 2.44). We who are kingdom citizens, then, are a part of the most successful venture ever.
The growth of the kingdom is not as we might imagine. It is not evidenced by a world that becomes more and more God-like and Christ-like; as if all will be just short of perfection the moment before Christ returns. Rather, it is the almost imperceptible growth through changed lives. Lost sinners becoming kingdom citizens through faith in Christ. Those partially enlightened coming to full and liberating truth, in spite of opposition, resistance and persecution. Growth in grace, love, and truth.
As citizens of the kingdom, we are part of a movement that is undermining the evil and flawed systems of the world. We are part of a peaceful revolution that will be ultimately successful, no matter how things might appear. Thus, we have every reason for full confidence and victorious living as we move ever forward to the great climax when "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." (Revelation 11.15)Steve Taylor, 2018
My other blogs
http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
https://kingdomdreamer.blogspot.com/
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