ARE YOU STANDING YOUR GROUND FOR GOD'S KINGDOM ?

3/20/2021

As I look around our world today, I often wrestle with all that is going on. I find myself frustrated and frankly angry at how many of my basic beliefs and values are under attack, and simple truth and decency seem to be more and more dismissed as irrelevant or somehow insensitive, racist, unjust, and mean spirited. I don’t like the progressive mantra of canceling everything they disagree with. I don’t like the “woke” message and culture that seeks to make people feel guilt and shame for who they are and what they believe. I “wrestle” with what I should be doing ! Therein lies the beauty of being a Follower of Jesus :) Jesus lived as a man on earth just like us. His life was spent under the rule of a powerful Governmental system that was both brutal and unjust for many. It was also a time period when the Jewish Religious class had moved their focus away from many of God’s instructions to begin adding ways to think and live….they were “man’s wisdom”, not God’s Wisdom. Most importantly, Jesus put all His focus on THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Jesus spent His time teaching his disciples and others about God’s instruction, God’s ways, and God’s desires. Foremost was the need for mankind to embrace a relationship with God, and live in the TRUTH AND GRACE of God’s love for each person. Jesus wasn’t focused on social justice, political theatre and edict. Jesus wasn’t focused on fighting against the injustice of “ Rome and Caesar”. Jesus was focused on showing the world God’s Kingdom. His Kingdom. Jesus wasn’t worried about the world, because He Had Overcome It ! It is through the Power and Authority of Christ that we establish in our lives the Foundation and Truth that we stand for and the Ground that we hold for His Kingdom. We have died to ourselves and the world, but we are Reborn and Alive in Christ. He is our Savior, Our Lord, and OUR KING ! We stand on upon the Truth of His Righteousness; what is good and true in the Eyes and Heart of God. Place your heart and mind in God’s Kingdom. Become Purified and Consecrated in and through Jesus, that you might become a disciple and priest, showing others the Gospel and Eternal Life in the presence of God Himself !

BUT SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL ELSE SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU. Matthew 6:33

FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT A MATTER OF EATING AND DRINKING BUT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. Romans 14:17

The world we live in can be difficult to navigate as a Christian. It is full of temptation and every possible distraction to pull our focus away from God. It takes up our time, our thoughts, and also who we are and what we do, “If We Let It”. Therein lies the biggest CHOICE we have. Follow Christ ? Pick up our cross every day, and seek His Kingdom ? OR, stay the same in our sinful nature. Make minimal effort to CHANGE WHO WE ARE and Pay The Consequences of being “Lukewarm”. Pay the consequences of “Eternal Separation From God”. I implore you to NOT TAKE THIS CHOICE AND TRUTH LIGHTLY ! My life has been far from perfect, and yet I KNOW in Jesus, I am Saved and Forgiven….but those “Gifts” came at a Huge Price. If I stay the same and focus on the world, how could I possibly think that I would not be a “Tare among the Wheat” ?

FROM THAT TIME JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH, SAYING, “REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. Matthew 4:17

AND SAYING, “THE TIME IS FULFILLED, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND; REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.” Mark 1:15

JESUS ANSWERED HIM, “TRULY, TRULY I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” John 3:3

The truth for us as Christians who truly “Follow” Jesus is that we have to be Reborn. We have to Change our focus and our Desires. We have to plant our feet in God’s Kingdom and live our lives for it. We must prioritize being disciples and discipling others. We must share the Gospel every chance we get ! We must be “IN” God’s Word to mature and gain Wisdom and Discernment. It is not enough to attend church. It is not enough to pray once in a while and call it “good”. It requires us to “Abide in Christ” in all we are and all we do. Every day I look around and realize that the way I can truly change the world, and culture, and people is to “Be a Light” to the world, showing just Who God Is, and How Much He Loves and Wants His Creation To Embrace Him. I look forward to Jesus’s return. I look forward to eternity worshipping Him, and living in His Kingdom ! A Righteous Kingdom where His Grace and Love abound. Where Sin and Death have no place. IT IS TIME ! STAND YOUR GROUND AND EMBRACE THE KINGDOM OF GOD….FOR IT IS YOU :) STAND FIRM/JAA

THEN THE KING WILL SAY TO THOSE ON HIS RIGHT, ‘COME YOU WHO ARE BLESSED BY MY FATHER, INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. Matthew 25:34