Focus & Meditate-July
We have started this segment 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.
July--Week Twenty-Nine
Article: Forgiven From Your Past
While our Lord and King was here on this earth, He instructed us now not to pray to the Father:
When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
Then He followed it up with how we should pray: Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
Having said that, forgiveness of others should always be a priority in your life. In fact, it should be an unchanging part of your lifestyle. In time, it will become an integral part of you and become automatic. But that takes time and consistency.
All of us have a past life, some worse than others; but the Lord God forgave us all of our sins the minute we accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus. 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.
Some of us have been married more than once, and He has forgiven us. Some have children outside of their current marriage, and He has forgiven them. Some have taken someone’s life—that includes abortion, He has forgiven you. All you must do is repent and accept Jesus as your Savior. I could continue listing many more sins, but I think you get the message! If that be the situation, why is it so hard to forgive others of their transgressions against you? While speaking to the religious sect concerning forgiveness, read what the Lord Jesus said: “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”
Focus on verse 8: Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.” It was because of their stubborn hard hearts, not considering the Lord God’s laws and wanting to have their way. In America today, there are as many in churches divorcing as out in the world! Is it that way in your country also? When I came into the knowledge of the Kingdom, I vowed to honor the King’s laws and encourage others to do the same. “Til death do us part” leaves no options. When things get rocky, we will work through it, in obedience to the Father.
Allow me to give some words of wisdom to those who have outside children or children from a previous marriage. Be honest before the wedding about other children. It is far better to settle it before you have committed before God to marriage. Then put the rest of your past behind you. Make certain that the person you chose to spend the rest of your life with accepts your children and accepts you for who you are now in the Kingdom. If you don’t, you may encounter much unnecessary grief.
Remember that marriage was the Lord God’s idea, not mankind’s. For those of you who have been married more than once, consider your next step carefully if you plan to get married again. Always seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance (the Governor). He will save you much grief, if you will listen. There were many of us who were disobedient in our old life and the Lord God has forgiven us from all our sin. Remember, sin is disobedience to God’s Word. It separates us from God. When we say yes to sin, we say no to God! By the way, do you recall what the conditions for getting a positive answer from the Lord God? I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Unforgiveness is one of the main reasons so many are not getting their prayers answered. By the way, if the Lord God has forgiven you of your past sins, move on from there. He saved you, His Word is changing you, so move on with the Holy Spirit (Governor) and seek to do His Will for your life! Once again You will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
Matthew 6:5-7, 8-13 John 3:16 Matthew 19:7-9 Mark 11:24-26 Micah 7:19
Walking through the Gospels:
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 Luke 13-14—Jesus continues in His ministry, parables--mustard seed, yeast, the great banquet and the cost of being a disciple. Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
Then He followed it up with how we should pray: Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
Having said that, forgiveness of others should always be a priority in your life. In fact, it should be an unchanging part of your lifestyle. In time, it will become an integral part of you and become automatic. But that takes time and consistency.
All of us have a past life, some worse than others; but the Lord God forgave us all of our sins the minute we accepted His Son, the Lord Jesus. 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.
Some of us have been married more than once, and He has forgiven us. Some have children outside of their current marriage, and He has forgiven them. Some have taken someone’s life—that includes abortion, He has forgiven you. All you must do is repent and accept Jesus as your Savior. I could continue listing many more sins, but I think you get the message! If that be the situation, why is it so hard to forgive others of their transgressions against you? While speaking to the religious sect concerning forgiveness, read what the Lord Jesus said: “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?” they asked.
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.”
Focus on verse 8: Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended.” It was because of their stubborn hard hearts, not considering the Lord God’s laws and wanting to have their way. In America today, there are as many in churches divorcing as out in the world! Is it that way in your country also? When I came into the knowledge of the Kingdom, I vowed to honor the King’s laws and encourage others to do the same. “Til death do us part” leaves no options. When things get rocky, we will work through it, in obedience to the Father.
Allow me to give some words of wisdom to those who have outside children or children from a previous marriage. Be honest before the wedding about other children. It is far better to settle it before you have committed before God to marriage. Then put the rest of your past behind you. Make certain that the person you chose to spend the rest of your life with accepts your children and accepts you for who you are now in the Kingdom. If you don’t, you may encounter much unnecessary grief.
Remember that marriage was the Lord God’s idea, not mankind’s. For those of you who have been married more than once, consider your next step carefully if you plan to get married again. Always seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance (the Governor). He will save you much grief, if you will listen. There were many of us who were disobedient in our old life and the Lord God has forgiven us from all our sin. Remember, sin is disobedience to God’s Word. It separates us from God. When we say yes to sin, we say no to God! By the way, do you recall what the conditions for getting a positive answer from the Lord God? I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Unforgiveness is one of the main reasons so many are not getting their prayers answered. By the way, if the Lord God has forgiven you of your past sins, move on from there. He saved you, His Word is changing you, so move on with the Holy Spirit (Governor) and seek to do His Will for your life! Once again You will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
Matthew 6:5-7, 8-13 John 3:16 Matthew 19:7-9 Mark 11:24-26 Micah 7:19
Walking through the Gospels:
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 Luke 13-14—Jesus continues in His ministry, parables--mustard seed, yeast, the great banquet and the cost of being a disciple. Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
July--Week Twenty-Eight
Article: Condemning is Not Our Responsibility Part 2
Our responsibility as Kingdom citizens is to represent the King in the best possible light. Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.” John 14:23-24
This was the King’s first time coming to this earth as the savior for all mankind. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV
He never came to condemn this world but to save it from their disobedience to His Father’s Word. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17 NKJV
Our responsibility is to obey His Word, not to come up with new ideas on how to serve Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17 NKJV
Walking through the Gospels:
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 Luke 11-12—Jesus continues in His ministry, deals with religious leaders and gives us the Lord's Prayer Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
This was the King’s first time coming to this earth as the savior for all mankind. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV
He never came to condemn this world but to save it from their disobedience to His Father’s Word. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17 NKJV
Our responsibility is to obey His Word, not to come up with new ideas on how to serve Him. “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17 NKJV
Walking through the Gospels:
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 Luke 11-12—Jesus continues in His ministry, deals with religious leaders and gives us the Lord's Prayer Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
July--Week Twenty-Seven
Article: This is What the Kingdom is Like
Why do you think the Lord Jesus made it a point to say “The Kingdom is like…”?
Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’
“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.
“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30
He also made it a point to describe the good seed and who were the weeds or tares.
Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. Matthew 13:37-38
Remember, we are to keep on preaching and teaching the Kingdom message. Do not get distracted and do not fight those who oppose the Kingdom. The devil is the one who sows doubt, deception and unbelief.
The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.
Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Mathew 13:39-43
Walking through the Gospels:
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 Luke 9-10—Jesus continues in His ministry, sends out His disciples, feeds five thousand and is transfigured. Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’
“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.
“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” Matthew 13:24-30
He also made it a point to describe the good seed and who were the weeds or tares.
Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. Matthew 13:37-38
Remember, we are to keep on preaching and teaching the Kingdom message. Do not get distracted and do not fight those who oppose the Kingdom. The devil is the one who sows doubt, deception and unbelief.
The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.
Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand! Mathew 13:39-43
Walking through the Gospels:
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 Luke 9-10—Jesus continues in His ministry, sends out His disciples, feeds five thousand and is transfigured. Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
July--Week Twenty-Six
Article: The Government of Man Vs the Kingdom of God Pt 3
Back in the age when Isaiah was the Lord God’s representative, He made it very plain that it was a government, not a religion that His Son would have on His shoulders. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6-7
There are many kinds of different governments, but keep in mind that some governments are better than others. All are inferior to the Kingdom of the Lord God’s government. Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So, anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. Romans 13:1-2
When you can stop seeing Jesus in a religious context and see Him as your Lord and King, you will begin to understand your place in the Kingdom of God as a Kingdom citizen, with all its benefits. “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. 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 6:31-34
Walking through the Gospels:
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 Luke 7-8—The ministries of Jesus: teaching, healing, telling parables, advancing the Kingdom. Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
There are many kinds of different governments, but keep in mind that some governments are better than others. All are inferior to the Kingdom of the Lord God’s government. Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So, anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. Romans 13:1-2
When you can stop seeing Jesus in a religious context and see Him as your Lord and King, you will begin to understand your place in the Kingdom of God as a Kingdom citizen, with all its benefits. “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. 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 6:31-34
Walking through the Gospels:
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 Luke 7-8—The ministries of Jesus: teaching, healing, telling parables, advancing the Kingdom. Have a productive and prosperous week. Keep seeking the Kingdom!
