Victory in the Word!--October
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.
October--Week Forty-Three
Article: The Fundamentals of Kingdom Principles
- In the Kingdom of God, its foundation, its very essence, is the Lord God’s constitution, His Word. Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears My teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. Matthew 7:24-27 NLT
- A fundamental principle in the Kingdom is to be obedient; His Way, not ours. Keep in mind what the Lord God stated to Saul through His representative Samuel: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.” 1 Samuel 15:22-23
- Now that we know our foundation is God's Word and being obedient is key, we also must understand that on our own we cannot always be obedient. It is only by submitting to the leading of the Holy Spirit that we may live a fruitful life in the Kingdom of God. So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
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 5:16-23 NLT “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:25-27
All scriptures 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.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:8-9
This week, read and meditate on James 1 and Psalm 84. James 1: The necessity to persevere through trials with faith and being doers of the Word. Psalm 84: The blessings of dwelling in the house of the Lord.
Have a victorious, fruitful week! We pray your hearts are filled with gratitude for His grace and mercy! Keep seeking the Kingdom! Stay strong in the Lord and the power of His Might! He is our strength.
October--Week Forty-Two
Article: Maturing Faith
- Never become complacent or stagnant in the Word. Never think that you "have arrived" and have all the knowledge in the Kingdom of God. This journey in the Kingdom leads to new and ever maturing wisdom and understanding. Then we are to disciple others and help them to mature in God's Word. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s Word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Hebrews 5:12-14 NLT
- Even though the Roman Centurion was not a follower of the Lord Jesus, he saw the authority His words carried. He understood authority and he had no doubt that if Jesus said it, his servant would be healed. The kind of faith this centurion displayed could be considered radical. The centurion went all out, believing in King Jesus. That is the kind of unshakable, unwavering faith our Savior and King desires His citizens to have in Him, no matter how circumstances look. The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! Matthew 8:8-10
- We as His children and citizens of His Kingdom must learn how to walk in the belief that He will protect and keep us every day. The Governor—Holy Spirit—will guide you and lead you down the correct pathway for His name’s sake. It is all for His glory and for His name’s sake. He gets all the praise! I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:16-20 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.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:8-9
This week, read and meditate on Hebrews 6 and Psalm 83. Hebrews 6: The perils of falling away and not progressing. Perfect addition to this teaching! Psalm 83: A prayer to defeat the enemy.
Have a victorious, fruitful week! We pray your hearts are filled with gratitude for His grace and mercy! Keep seeking the Kingdom! Stay strong in the Lord and the power of His Might! He is our strength.
October--Week Forty-One
Article: Discovering Your Purpose
- To know the Lord God’s purpose for your life, you first must study and seek to be obedient to His Word above anything else. Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 AMP And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2
- Remember that discovering your purpose does not mean you will go right out and fulfill it. There is a maturing, learning process that takes time. David was anointed by Samuel to be king when he was a young boy. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”
And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:7, 11-13 David did not become king until he was 30. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 2 Samuel 5:4 Much of his learning process was serving King Saul.
- Discovering the Lord God’s purpose for your life hinges on your priorities. Your priority is not to seek your purpose, but to seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. To do that, you must seek His Word and His rightness by desiring to be obedient to His constitution. When you desire His righteousness for your life above everything else, you will know the assignment He placed on your life. As Jesus told us, our Father will take care of everything else. Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33
- Always remember, never pursue purpose at the expense of your spouse and children. They are your first God given assignment. Consider it your first testing! Talent and ability are never more important than character and humble submission to the Holy Spirit. This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 1 Timothy 3:1-5 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.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:8-9
This week, read and meditate on Hebrews 5 and Psalm 82. Hebrews 5: Spiritual maturity. Psalm 82: A prayer for justice.
Have a victorious, fruitful week! We pray your hearts are filled with gratitude for His grace and mercy! Keep seeking the Kingdom! Stay strong in the Lord and the power of His Might! He is our strength.
October--Week Forty
Article: Choices and Free Will in the Kingdom
- The Lord God created mankind in His image and gave them the ability to reason, make choices and the freedom to do so. Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 2:26-18 NKJV The ability and responsibility to choose according to God's Word is an essential concept of the Kingdom of God that we must understand. Adam and Eve had only one restriction in the garden; only one opportunity to "make the right choice". The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” Genesis 2:15-17
- We often hear “God is in control”, but the truth is that God gave mankind control when He gave us the freedom to choose. He wants us to seek His righteousness in every decision in our life. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV 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 30:19
- Kingdom citizens are well able, with the power and strength of the Holy Spirit working in them and through them, to make choices that line up with God’s Word. The more you do this, the stronger you will become. In our present world, we need that strength!
The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love Him, but He destroys the wicked. Psalm 145:18-20
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you [setting you on a firm foundation] and will protect and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 AMP
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.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:8-9
This week, read and meditate on Hebrews 4 and Psalm 80. Hebrews 4: Rest for God's people. Psalm 80: A prayer to rescue and restore Israel.
Have a victorious, fruitful week! We pray your hearts are filled with gratitude for His grace and mercy! Keep seeking the Kingdom! Stay strong in the Lord and the power of His Might! He is our strength.
