Kingdom 103: Student or Disciple of the Kingdom?
Is the Kingdom of the living God to be studied or lived? The answer is quite simple...both! If you are to be that light the Lord Jesus spoke of in the Constitution, then your behavior should demonstrate it in your daily life. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." What about influencing others with the way we live our life at work, home, in our communities and our schools? Jesus made it very plain in His statement: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." Now, I want you to keep this in mind, salt effects everything that it comes in contact with. Back in the day when there weren't any refrigerators, it was a great preserver. It is known to enhance the flavor of the food it comes in contact with. It brings out the best.
The Lord Jesus announced the Kingdom as good news, not good views. The Kingdom was a total life plan to practice now--both individual lifestyle and collective lifestyle. The Kingdom of God was used interchangeably with one's lifestyle--enter into it's lifestyle now, enter the Kingdom now. Remember what John, His cousin stated: In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” And Jesus was right on point with the same message: From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” There was no dissension between John and Jesus' message. They were both on the same page with the Lord God's message.
We also see that the Kingdom was used synonymously with the way Jesus lived. That being the case, then the Kingdom is something to be followed, not just a road map to be studied with no journeys taken. Do you recall what the Lord Jesus stated in John? Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. If this was the Lord God's message and the Lord Jesus (His Son) followed it to the letter; why do so many call themselves representatives of the Kingdom but preach and teach a message that differs from the Gospel of the Kingdom? Keep in mind that we know only as much as we are willing to practice, and no more. Knowledge that only says in our mind will not change our world.
I read in a book on the Kingdom by E. Stanley Jones, that he was travelling with a pastor in South Africa and at some point the pastor said to him, "You preach a troublesome gospel. We preach a kingdom in heaven hereafter, that upsets nothing now. But you preach a Kingdom now on earth and that upsets everything." I must laugh and state that the Kingdom will upset everything that does not conform to the Kingdom of God; it should upset it to set up another level of living. This Gospel should be an earthquake to a religious lifestyle so it can become a Kingdom lifestyle that we should be living! Transform from the unworkable to the workable lifestyle.
Matthew 5:14-16; 5:13; 3:1-2; 4:17 John 7:16-17
~~W.R. Luchie
Part 2
The Lord Jesus announced the Kingdom as good news, not good views. The Kingdom was a total life plan to practice now--both individual lifestyle and collective lifestyle. The Kingdom of God was used interchangeably with one's lifestyle--enter into it's lifestyle now, enter the Kingdom now. Remember what John, His cousin stated: In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” And Jesus was right on point with the same message: From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” There was no dissension between John and Jesus' message. They were both on the same page with the Lord God's message.
We also see that the Kingdom was used synonymously with the way Jesus lived. That being the case, then the Kingdom is something to be followed, not just a road map to be studied with no journeys taken. Do you recall what the Lord Jesus stated in John? Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. If this was the Lord God's message and the Lord Jesus (His Son) followed it to the letter; why do so many call themselves representatives of the Kingdom but preach and teach a message that differs from the Gospel of the Kingdom? Keep in mind that we know only as much as we are willing to practice, and no more. Knowledge that only says in our mind will not change our world.
I read in a book on the Kingdom by E. Stanley Jones, that he was travelling with a pastor in South Africa and at some point the pastor said to him, "You preach a troublesome gospel. We preach a kingdom in heaven hereafter, that upsets nothing now. But you preach a Kingdom now on earth and that upsets everything." I must laugh and state that the Kingdom will upset everything that does not conform to the Kingdom of God; it should upset it to set up another level of living. This Gospel should be an earthquake to a religious lifestyle so it can become a Kingdom lifestyle that we should be living! Transform from the unworkable to the workable lifestyle.
Matthew 5:14-16; 5:13; 3:1-2; 4:17 John 7:16-17
~~W.R. Luchie
Part 2
