Victory in the Word!--April
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.
April--Week Seventeen
Article: Divide and Conquer
- Divide and conquer is a strategy in politics and sociology to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into pieces that individually have less power than the one implementing the strategy. It also prevents smaller power groups from linking up, causing rivalries and instigating discord among the people. In a similar way, Satan uses lies, offenses, deception, fear, and unbelief to separate the people of God. He knows that unity in the Kingdom of God, when we are of one mindset with a common purpose, is unconquerable! I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one—as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me.
I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be one as We are One. I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me. John 17:20-23 NLT
- Think of the ways that religions have divided God's people. Religion is full of tradition and customs, and in most cases it has nothing whatsoever to do with God’s Kingdom. It often focuses more on cultures and manmade laws than God’s Word. Manmade laws and traditions, bring division. Read what the Lord Jesus answered when religious teachers accused Him of being possessed by Satan because He was able to cast out demons: So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." Mark 3:23-25
- Even your family may try to bring division and separate you from the Kingdom and your purpose. That's a hard one to handle sometimes. Family members may be religious but fail to live by the King’s Word. They have their own “interpretation" of what His Word means. They may even take scripture out of context and blend it with the world’s current collective mindset to make it “politically correct”. If you read the four Gospels, you will see that our Lord Jesus was never “politically correct”! When you know God's Word, you will have a firm foundation. After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting His death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even His brothers didn’t believe in Him. John 7:1-5 NLT While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50
- We are living in a day when it is imperative that we model unity in the Kingdom to the world. One mind, one Word, one purpose--advancing the Kingdom of God everywhere we go! 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
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore. Psalm 133
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 1 Thessalonians 3 and Psalm 57. 1 Thessalonians 3: Paul's sends Timothy to the church in Thessalonica because they are going through difficult times and he is concerned for their faith and strength to endure. He prays for them. Psalm 57: A prayer for protection from the enemy when David ran from Saul and hid in a cave.
Have a victorious, fruitful week! We pray your hearts are filled with gratitude for His grace and mercy! Keep seeking the Kingdom!
April--Week Sixteen
Article: Your Kingdom Inheritance
- Once you are born again and being led by the Holy Spirit, you have been named as a joint heir with the Lord Jesus in His Kingdom. If you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God. Romans 8:13-16 AMP
- Jesus the Christ is the mediator between God and us (meaning mankind). He intercedes for us between the Lord God's Kingdom and us. We cannot receive the full benefits of our inheritance unless we go through Him. Remember, when we take Jesus at His Word--when we trust Him as the one who can cleanse us of our sin disobedience and we give Him control and acknowledge Him as Lord of our lives, we meet all the "qualifications" necessary to receive our Kingdom inheritance. Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 AMP Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:33-34 NKJV In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:11-14 NKJV - As you become more familiar with Kingdom government terms, it will expand your perspective of God's inheritance, His constitution, testaments, governor, laws and principles.
Our Kingdom inheritance goes far beyond financial gain. As you read the Lord God's constitution, look for examples of that inheritance. What have you inherited from your Heavenly Father that is manifesting in your life? For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Romans 14:17-19 NKJV Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NLT
This week, read and meditate on 1 Thessalonians 2 and Psalm 56. 1 Thessalonians 2: Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica. Psalm 56: Many can relate to David's prayer! "O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long. I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me. . ."
Have a victorious, fruitful week! We pray your hearts are filled with gratitude for His grace and mercy! Keep seeking the Kingdom!
April--Week Fifteen
Article: There’s No Giving Just 50 Percent in the Kingdom
- We want the King’s best for our life, but don’t always want to give Him our best. Have you heard the saying, “having your cake and eating it too”? Often, that is what people want! You want His healing for your body, but don’t want to submit your body to the King’s commands. We want all of His blessings in the Kingdom, but still want to enjoy all the pleasures of the world, while ignoring His commands. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15 Too often, Believers enjoy the pleasures of the world, while praying for His continued grace and mercy, and wonder why their lives are filled with chaos, pain, worries and woes. When I see troubles and chaos increasing in my life, I don't start blaming the devil, I start evaluating what I've been doing, my attitudes and my time with the Lord. Something is off-track and I need to focus to get it back on track! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit He has placed within us should be faithful to Him. And He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:4-8 NLT
- As citizens of the Kingdom of God, there is a standard that we must adhere to and that is told in His constitution. It contains the Lord God’s laws, commands, principles, rights, benefits and responsibilities. Then He tells us to choose to follow Him. We live with those choices. Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep His commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in His ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.
But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.
Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! Deuteronomy 30:15-19 NLT
- Keep in mind, we are talking about Kingdom living here and now in our daily life. Through our choices we will live under His blessings or His curses. But first we must accept God's Son, Jesus, and be born again of His Spirit. Accepting Jesus Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". John 14:6 King Jesus is the door, our entrance into His Kingdom. The Lord God set us up with everything we would need for our life with Him in His Kingdom. He sent His Son to give us access to Him and His Kingdom, He gave us His Kingdom constitution to guide us through this life and let us know everything He wants us to do, and He sent the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us and give understanding of God's constitution. All we need to do is to want Him more than the things of this world! He even helps us with that, if we will listen. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
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 1 Thessalonians 1 and Psalm 55. 1 Thessalonians 1: Paul, Silas and Timothy's introductory letter to to the church in Thessalonica. Psalm 55: David prays concerning the treachery of friends.
Have a victorious, fruitful week! We pray your hearts are filled with gratitude for His grace and mercy! Keep seeking the Kingdom!
April--Week Fourteen
Article: God's Unchanging Kingdom Principles
- Worshiping the King is the expression of the citizens' gratitude and appreciation for His favor, privileges and security of being in the Kingdom. To worship also is an indication of the perceived value and priority the King is to the citizens. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Psalm 96:2-5 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies. 2 Samuel 22:2-4 NLT But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24
- The Lord God's supernatural favor rests on His obedient citizens in His Kingdom. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Psalm 5:12 And let the [gracious] favor of the Lord our God be on us; confirm for us the work of our hands—Yes, confirm the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 AMP Remember that Noah had favor in the eyes of God because of his obedience to the Father, even thought his culture thought he was crazy for building the ark! But Noah found favor with the Lord. Genesis 6:8 NLT
- A king's reputation is created and sustained by the conditions of his citizens and his kingdom. That is why the King acts in ways that are favorable to His name's sake. For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. 1 Samuel 12:22 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3
- OUR behavior can misrepresent our King to the world. For many in the world, the only thing they know about Jesus is our behavior. Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. Philippians 3:17-20 NLT
All scriptures are NKJV unless noted.
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 Colossians 4 and Psalm 53-54. Colossians 4: Paul's final words of encouragement and exhortations to be faithful in prayers and thanksgiving, to the church of Colossae. Psalm 53-54: David's contemplations about evil in the world and prayers for deliverance.
Have a victorious, fruitful week! We pray your hearts are filled with gratitude for His grace and mercy! Keep seeking the Kingdom!
