National security depends on closely held information that
is entrusted to a relatively small number of people in the government. Those who work at high levels are granted ‘clearance’
after background checks that determine their trustworthiness. I am sure that in some cases the classified
material is of little value and that some of it is absolutely critical in the
ongoing war with terrorism. There are
some ‘secrets’ that have nothing to do with security but that are closely held
for economic reasons. Coca-cola™ protects
their flavor for carbonated sugar water. KFC™ does not publish the Colonel's recipe
for making chicken taste good.
So is there a secret formula, an insider’s access in the Christian
life, enjoyed only by a privileged few?
No!
Jesus came to make the announcement for all would believe and receive. “The
time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is
near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mark 1:15, NLT)
We, because of His invitation and the life of the Spirit, have access to the secrets of the Kingdom
of God! God has revealed Himself and His ways to us. We don’t have to make
a pilgrimage to some far off place, chase down some spiritual teacher, or
endure some painful initiation. We have
only to accept the invitation! Jesus
said, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you."
(Mark 4:11, NIV)
Those who are alive in Spirit through faith are given the ‘eyes’
that see the realities of God's rule while those without the Spirit see nothing
at all! When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor was puzzled
by the accusation made against him that he was a king inciting rebellion. He
asked, "Where is your kingdom?"
Jesus answered him with these words, cryptic to those without faith, "“My
kingdom doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers
would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that
kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.” (John 18:36, The Message) Some
say Jesus was delusional? What an accusation. In fact, He was a King who came
to reveal a kingdom and those who desire to enter into it can know the Presence
of God in this world, too. We, Christians, are not deluded, though we are often
accused of being 'out of touch' by those who cannot understand the ways of the
Holy Spirit. We see the unseen and live by a wisdom that transcends the
knowledge of this world. God, the Spirit, gives us the secrets of the Kingdom!
Living in the Kingdom lets us understand the riddles that
puzzle unbelievers -"Die to live.
Give to gain. Serve to rule. Turn the
other cheek. Forgive those who mistreat you."
Matthew 5 begins with the Beatitudes- statements that turn life
upside down, words that nonsensical to those who are not in the Kingdom!
"Blessed are the
poor in spirit... blessed are those who mourn... blessed are the meek."
Such words invite ridicule in a world where the rich, the happy, and the
powerful are envied and emulated, yet they make sense to those who know the
secret Kingdom, who organize their lives by the laws of Heaven.
We can live in the natural realm of life – doing our best by
our wits, filling our stomachs, trying to find some relief from the tedium of
life. Or, we can enter into the Kingdom of God and live by the wisdom of
Heaven, enjoying abundant life that leads us to the Home prepared in eternity
for those who love the King. Which
wisdom, dear friend, shapes your decisions? Are you living by the conventional
wisdom that teaches you to go for the gusto as you reach for your potential?
Are you living to die, your only hope being what you can enjoy in these
fleeting days of your earthly existence? There is a “secret” Kingdom that is
not really secret at all. You are
invited in. Believe Him and begin to see through eyes of faith, God’s truth
made plain by the Spirit revelation. Jesus told a man of power and prominence -
“I assure you, unless you are born again,
you can never see the Kingdom of God...The truth is, no one can enter the
Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:3,
5 NLT)
Here is a word from the Word about the Kingdom I love. May
they captivate your mind and heart and cause you to enter His reign, too. "I
do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this
world, and not the kind that appeals to the rulers of this world, who are being
brought to nothing. No, the wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God,
which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the
world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had,
they would never have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures
mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has
imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But we know these
things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit
searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets." (1
Corinthians 2:6-10, NLT)
Receive Christ today!
Let the Spirit cause you to be born anew, a living child of God, in on the
secret of eternal life, heavenly life right here and now!
_________________
Build Your Kingdom Here
(worship and listen at this link)
Come set Your rule and
reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we're made
Come set our hearts
ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our
very souls
Holy Spirit come
invade us now
We are Your church
We need Your pow'r in
us
We seek Your kingdom
first
We hunger and we
thirst
Refuse to waste our
lives
For You're our joy and
prize
To see the captives'
hearts released
The hurt the sick the
poor at peace
We lay down our lives
for heaven's cause
We are Your church
We pray revive this
earth
Build Your kingdom
here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and
land
Set Your church on
fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom
here we pray
Unleash Your kingdom's
pow'r
Reaching the near and
far
No force of hell can
stop
Your beauty changing
hearts
You made us for much
more than this
Awake the kingdom seed
in us
Fill us with the
strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
We are the hope on
earth
Rend Collective
© 2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
No comments:
Post a Comment