Kingdom 102: A Kingdom Focus on the Beatitudes
In my studies, I have come to realize that the two most important things the Lord Jesus ever spoke were the Lord's Prayer--In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.--and the Beatitudes:
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Both begin with the Kingdom of God. He always stayed focused on His message and purpose for being here. the most important thing He stated in the Sermon on the Mount was But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. The last thing He spoke to them was concerning the Kingdom of God; revealing Himself to His disciples for forty days, while discussing the affairs of the Kingdom realm. ...to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
So then, in the first, last and in between times, the emphasis and focus was on the Kingdom of God. It wasn't a marginal emphasis, but the foundational emphasis upon which everything revolved around and from which everything gets its meaning. If we follow and obey God we shall be rewarded. This passage in God's Constitution really encourages me while I am in this world of chaos. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
As I frequently remind you: "Your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord Jesus and His Word." Without faith you will have a very difficult time believing in His Word. This is why the ambassador Paul made this statement: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. This goes on through the whole eleventh chapter of Paul's letter to the Hebrews. This is one of the main reasons that I stay in the God's Constitution (His Word). It encourages me all the time, as well as builds my faith in the Lord Jesus.
Our faith in His Word is our greatest defense against the devil and all his demonic forces. His Word is the foundation of our faith. His Word is sovereign. By the way, separate yourself from those people who are not likeminded. The ambassador Paul stated it like this: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Always stay focused on the Kingdom and its message. Know your priorities. Stay focused on His Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. Don't depend on books written by men, stating their opinions. They can be good information, but without the Holy Spirit leading and guiding you, you can be misled.
Stay focused on the Kingdom message.
Matthew 6:9-15 Matthew 5:1-12; 6:33-34 Acts 1:3 Hebrews 11:1-7 II Corinthians 6:14-18
~~W.R. Luchie
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.--and the Beatitudes:
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Both begin with the Kingdom of God. He always stayed focused on His message and purpose for being here. the most important thing He stated in the Sermon on the Mount was But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. The last thing He spoke to them was concerning the Kingdom of God; revealing Himself to His disciples for forty days, while discussing the affairs of the Kingdom realm. ...to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
So then, in the first, last and in between times, the emphasis and focus was on the Kingdom of God. It wasn't a marginal emphasis, but the foundational emphasis upon which everything revolved around and from which everything gets its meaning. If we follow and obey God we shall be rewarded. This passage in God's Constitution really encourages me while I am in this world of chaos. “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
As I frequently remind you: "Your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord Jesus and His Word." Without faith you will have a very difficult time believing in His Word. This is why the ambassador Paul made this statement: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. This goes on through the whole eleventh chapter of Paul's letter to the Hebrews. This is one of the main reasons that I stay in the God's Constitution (His Word). It encourages me all the time, as well as builds my faith in the Lord Jesus.
Our faith in His Word is our greatest defense against the devil and all his demonic forces. His Word is the foundation of our faith. His Word is sovereign. By the way, separate yourself from those people who are not likeminded. The ambassador Paul stated it like this: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Therefore Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Always stay focused on the Kingdom and its message. Know your priorities. Stay focused on His Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. Don't depend on books written by men, stating their opinions. They can be good information, but without the Holy Spirit leading and guiding you, you can be misled.
Stay focused on the Kingdom message.
Matthew 6:9-15 Matthew 5:1-12; 6:33-34 Acts 1:3 Hebrews 11:1-7 II Corinthians 6:14-18
~~W.R. Luchie
