By Richard Lineberry
“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves." Colossians 1:13
The call to be a disciple of Christ involves a trade-in. My stuff for His. A kingdom has “ways.” It has a culture, policies and rules that reflect the will of its king. As a subject of King Jesus, we learn to see life as He sees it and live it as He did.
The kingdom of darkness, from which we all defected as Christians, ignores the King. It is preoccupied with things of this world and promotes selfishness. It is full of shakings that are the consequences of rebellion against the true king and His effort to get our attention. When we are born again, we are then introduced to the clash of the two kingdoms.
Under the government of King Jesus, He gradually moves towards the throne of our hearts. Getting saved is the getting started part, but the experiencing of it in all facets of our lives is a lifetime operation. God trades us our old views about God for the right views. Our hearts begin to go after His desires for us rather than our own (His are better, by the way). During these changes, we often ask, “Why things can’t stay the way they were?” The answer, of course, is that we are now under new management. The only thing here to stay is CHANGE.
An old story tells of two preachers visiting about the fall of man. One asked, “When man fell into sin in the garden, just how far did they really fall from God?” His friend responded, “Well, just ask God to make you the way He intended you to be and you’ll find out.”
True repentance brings about a revolution starting deep within with our decision to follow Jesus and travels to our outside world that will change everything about us. If we let His Kingdom grow, it will affect everything we touch. That’s how God sets things in divine order. Painful for us along the way, but that’s how the Prince of Peace brings peace. If something new is going to happen, something old has to go. But when it does, we discover we’ve traded in our rags for His riches.
My prayer for us today is that we keep our eyes on the throne. Jesus is making a better future for us because the future is His. Look to Him who makes all good things possible. He heals what no one else can, breaks down the evil powers of this world and will not stop until He, alone, is pleased. That’s the Good News!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Can We Live From the Unseen Into Seen?
Seeing and Living From Kingdom of Heaven in the Here and Now
Preview of the next series of messages beginning July 25 and continuing August 8
How do we walk in not only miraculous life but practical application of God’s love and grace in daily life?
It’s far easier to believe you can speak to a mountain to move out of the way (as Jesus said to disciples) when you are 30,000 feet up seated in an airplane than when underneath it and overwhelmed by it. Do we see reality by looking at the outward first or by seeing from within the kingdom? (From a resurrection and ascension seat with Christ - Eph 1:18-2:6 6 God raised us up with Christ. He has seated us with him in his heavenly kingdom because we belong to Christ Jesus.)
We're present in this world but the source of our life is by His presence, His purpose, His power, and the principles of His eternal Kingdom revealed both in His Word and in the natural laws at work all around us. We have jobs, responsibilities and roles here and now, but our life and destiny come from the there and then of Christ’s spiritual kingdom. Both natural and spiritual wisdom helped our founders establish a government with checks and balances. So we need balance and wisdom today, especially to discern and resist the evil of this present world and enemy.
What are we do? Rise above by practicing the celebration that is already going on in heaven. Practice praise and loving service. Hear and sing heaven’s music in your hearts now. See and hear the spirit-love-language of heaven’s covenant now. Then you can speak as if practicing how to think & live there.
If you don't plan on going to hell don't practice what comes from there: fear, worry, unforgiveness, unbelief, negativity, living under our circumstances...
Instead bring heaven here by beginning the day and conversations and work and relationships from the Kingdom within instead of reacting to things and people from without.
Matt 22:33 Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
Eph 1:18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
Acts 26:17 "'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God.
Ps 36 You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light.
Ps 119:17 Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands.
~Pastor Dwight
Preview of the next series of messages beginning July 25 and continuing August 8
How do we walk in not only miraculous life but practical application of God’s love and grace in daily life?
It’s far easier to believe you can speak to a mountain to move out of the way (as Jesus said to disciples) when you are 30,000 feet up seated in an airplane than when underneath it and overwhelmed by it. Do we see reality by looking at the outward first or by seeing from within the kingdom? (From a resurrection and ascension seat with Christ - Eph 1:18-2:6 6 God raised us up with Christ. He has seated us with him in his heavenly kingdom because we belong to Christ Jesus.)
Can we live from the unseen into seen?
We're present in this world but the source of our life is by His presence, His purpose, His power, and the principles of His eternal Kingdom revealed both in His Word and in the natural laws at work all around us. We have jobs, responsibilities and roles here and now, but our life and destiny come from the there and then of Christ’s spiritual kingdom. Both natural and spiritual wisdom helped our founders establish a government with checks and balances. So we need balance and wisdom today, especially to discern and resist the evil of this present world and enemy.
What are we do? Rise above by practicing the celebration that is already going on in heaven. Practice praise and loving service. Hear and sing heaven’s music in your hearts now. See and hear the spirit-love-language of heaven’s covenant now. Then you can speak as if practicing how to think & live there.
If you don't plan on going to hell don't practice what comes from there: fear, worry, unforgiveness, unbelief, negativity, living under our circumstances...
Instead bring heaven here by beginning the day and conversations and work and relationships from the Kingdom within instead of reacting to things and people from without.
Matt 22:33 Lord, that our eyes may be opened.
Eph 1:18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
Acts 26:17 "'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God.
Ps 36 You're a fountain of cascading light, and you open our eyes to light.
Ps 119:17 Open my eyes so I can see what you show me of your miracle-wonders. I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for your nourishing commands.
~Pastor Dwight
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