Power in the Word!--August
We are continuing in our weekly scripture discipline to encourage you to read and study God's Word more and also meditate on the key thoughts of our recent articles. We pray this will encourage and assist you as you grow in the Kingdom.
August--Week Thirty-Five
Article: Kingdom Perspective: The Eternal Message Pt 1
- Only God's Word is forever--eternal. One day, this earth and everything on it, will cease to exist. Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will never disappear. Mark 13:31
- The Lord Jesus is King as well as being the Word manifested into flesh. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NKJV
- If King Jesus is the Word and the Word was made into flesh, when we believe in the Lord God's Son we are believing in His Word. If you want to truly know King Jesus, you must seek to know God's Word. For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 If you love Me, obey My commandments. John 14:15
This is a season to grow in God's Wisdom, and our ability to praise and pray to our Lord. We are moving into Proverbs and Psalm:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom), highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week, read and meditate on Proverbs 14 & Psalm 21. Proverbs 14 Continuing with the contrasts of righteousness and wickedness/ life and death. Psalm 21 David's praise to God for His help and salvation.
Have a victorious, fruitful week and keep seeking the Kingdom!
August--Week Thirty-Four
Article: Don't Confuse King Jesus With Religion
- King Jesus never told people to believe in a religion or a religious leader. For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17
- Always read and study God's Constitution of His Kingdom. In doing so, you will avoid being deceived by wrong teaching. In God's Kingdom government, there is only room for one King and no other. Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. Matthew 7:15-20 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But even as He spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy. Listen to Him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus. Matthew 17:2-8
- Look at the things you do in church that make up your faith in Jesus Christ. What has constituted your life as a Christian? Now search out scriptures that line up with those beliefs and activities. Evaluate what you are doing and what you should be doing, according to God's Word. Traditions become such a part of our lives that we don't see that they are not actually necessary. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 Everything else is optional! “Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’" Matthew 7:21-23
All NLT scriptures unless noted.
This is a season to grow in God's Wisdom, and our ability to praise and pray to our Lord. We are moving into Proverbs and Psalm:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom), highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week, read and meditate on Proverbs 13 & Psalm 20. Proverbs 13 Continuing with the contrasts of righteousness and wickedness. Psalm 20 Prayer for victory over our enemies.
Have a victorious, fruitful week and keep seeking the Kingdom!
August--Week Thirty-Three
Article: Understanding Why We Missed It
- To seek out the Kingdom should be our first priority. In Strong's Concordance seek is also described as: to search for, desire, require, demand. This cannot be emphasized enough! Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33
- If we will put the Kingdom before our worries and cares of this world, He will meet our needs. That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to Him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Matthew 6:25-32 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
- Nations rise against nations, kingdoms fall and governments change. Especially in those times of chaos and upheaval, the gospel of the Kingdom of God needs to be shared with all those who will listen and receive. For it is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God that gives that stability and security, no matter what is going on in earthly kingdoms and governments. Before the end of this age, the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached to all nations. And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 NKJV
All NLT scriptures unless noted.
This is a season to grow in God's Wisdom, and our ability to praise and pray to our Lord. We are moving into Proverbs and Psalm:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom), highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week, read and meditate on Proverbs 12 & Psalm 19. Proverbs 12 The contrasts of righteousness and wickedness. Psalm 19 The Word and Works of God
Have a victorious, fruitful week and keep seeking the Kingdom!
August--Week Thirty-Two
Article: The Kingdom Is Here Part 2
- What fruits of the Spirit are active in your daily life? What fruit most needs to be cultivated in your life? Can you identify the most plentiful fruit in those you are closest to? But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23
- The Kingdom is a government and not a religion of any sort. Religion is a misrepresentation of our Lord and King Jesus and the Kingdom of God. This is a fallen world and Jesus told His disciples that the evil one (Satan) is the god of that world. "I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does take place, you may believe and have faith [in Me]. I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming. And he has no claim on Me [no power over Me nor anything that he can use against Me]; but so that the world may know [without any doubt] that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father has commanded Me [and act in full agreement with Him]. John 14:29-31 AMP
- When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, everywhere you go, the Kingdom is there. Everywhere you go, you have the choice to become like the culture of the world, or to allow the Kingdom within you to change the culture around you. Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21 NKJV “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:13-16
This is a season to grow in God's Wisdom, and our ability to praise and pray to our Lord. We are moving into Proverbs and Psalm:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom), highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week, read and meditate on Proverbs 11 & Psalm 18. Proverbs 11 The foolishness of wickedness. Psalm 18 David praises God for protecting him from all his enemies and Saul.
Have a victorious, fruitful week and keep seeking the Kingdom!
August--Week Thirty-One
Article: The Kingdom Is Here
- The King promised us the Governor--the Holy Spirit--who would make us citizens of His Kingdom. Once when He was eating with them, He commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5
- It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which makes us citizens of the Kingdom. If you love Me, obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it isn’t looking for Him and doesn’t recognize Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:15-17 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21 NKJV
- It is our responsibility to make the Kingdom of God our first priority. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33-34
This is a season to grow in God's Wisdom, and our ability to praise and pray to our Lord. We are moving into Proverbs and Psalm:
As you read your Bible (God's Constitution for the Kingdom), highlight key scriptures and phrases as the Holy Spirit guides you. What scriptures touch you and minister to you? We have also included links to Bible Gateway in case you don't have a Bible with you at the moment.
This week, read and meditate on Proverbs 10 & Psalm 17. Proverbs 10 The wisdom of Solomon, contrasting the righteous and the wicked. Psalm 17 David's prayer for protection from his wicked oppressors.
Have a victorious, fruitful week and keep seeking the Kingdom!