Purpose of "Discovering the Kingdom"

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
The purpose of seeking His Kingdom is not found in "all these things," that is the result. The purpose is found in the word "righteousness". It is right-standing with God, and it has two parts. Part one, stand before Him with the "sin-issue" taken care of, in other words justified, "just as if we had never sinned". Part two, come into agreement and cooperation with His plan. You seek His Kingdom not just to "know" about it, but cooperate with Him, and declare to each situation, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done! On earth as it is in Heaven!" Paul says in the last part of 2 Corinthians that we are "ambassadors", given the ministry of reconciliation, to reconcile man to God just as Jesus did. How did He do it? 2 Cor 5:19 "that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." Today, seek His Kingdom, come into agreement and cooperate with Him, become an ambassador of His Kingdom, help man become reconciled to the Father!

The Parable of the Drink Machine

This is the Parable of the Drink Machine, for Church leaders.

A certain man, being thirsty, searched for a drink machine he saw advertised. When he found it, he saw many lights, colorful signs pointing to it, and various pamphlets laying on a table next to it. The ads and papers told of its healthy properties, and many testimonies of people in the past that have experienced its wonderful refreshing taste.

But as he stood reading the material, a few people walked up to use the machine. Some seemed like him, looking for the water that would quench his thirst. Others chatted about the drink that this machine used to give in the past. But as each used this machine, nothing came out, and they left disappointed. Some mentioned, "Maybe next time".

The man thought for a minute, but his incredible thirst drove him to try it. He inserted the recommended coins, and he heard a recorded message telling him again of his need for this drink, but nothing came out. He studied the paperwork, thinking that maybe he did something wrong, and tried several times. After a while, being frustrated, he gave up and went home, disappointed, disillusioned, but worst of all, still thirsty.

Many churches are like this. They have past testimony, many messages, lights and colorful advertising, and messages that constantly tell of their need for the Kingdom. But inherent in each human is the need for the Kingdom, and a relationship with their King. People go to these places in the hope that the testimonies are true, that there is a place they can go to experience Him, and that He will tell them who they are, and why they are here.

Many of these places tell of an afterlife, a wonderful future of living with their King, in the "sweet by-and-by", but their spirits long for it here and now.

The good news is that there are places that allow people to experience what their heart longs for, and what they are "thirsty" for! It is also possible that more places can be a "Kingdom Connection Centers", places that connect people to their King, His Kingdom, and their purpose here!

My request, my plea is for human beings all over the earth. Be honest, if your "machine" isn't delivering anything but empty promises, please please please seek the King and His Kingdom first for yourself, then for the people! Offer them something real, not just testimonies, but the real thing! If you don't know how, then visit a real Kingdom Connection Center that does this! People are thirsty and waiting! Do it now!

The Father's Love VS The Orphan Spirit

I am my Papa's Favorite. I call Him Papa because of Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." Of course, Abba is Hebrew used today, it means papa, or daddy!

The story of Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:11-32.
Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. "And the younger of them said to [his] father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls [to me].' So he divided to them [his] livelihood. "And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. "But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. "Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. "And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him [anything]. "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 'I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." ' "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put [it] on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on [his] feet. 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill [it], and let us eat and be merry; 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. "So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.' "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. "So he answered and said to [his] father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 'But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.' "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 'It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.' "

When do you suppose the son was “Saved?”
Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”
Repent = Change the way you think
Be Converted = Change the way you walk, turn aside, used in the Gospels this way.

Custom in Jesus' Day, when a son takes his inheritance, leaves his father's house, and lives in rebellion (prodigal) the community disowns him, and greets him (if he were to return) by breaking pottery in his path and spitting on him, and yelling insults and curing him.

When the father in Jesus' story ran to meet him, he was insulating him from shame, in fact the father took his shame. To show that the son was accepted, the father put a robe on his back so the community would see a physical sign of his acceptance. He put shoes on his feet so he could have access to anyplace on his father's property, and protection from shards if anyone breaks pottery in his path. He put his ring on the son's finger to give him his authority, to carry out the business of the family.

We are the son. We have all lived in rebellion (the definition of sin). The moment we decide to go back to the father, and actually turn to go to Him, we are technically saved. It isn't a magical prayer, it is a decision. Papa has already forgiven us, has provided the way for us to come back to Him. He protect us from shame by greeting us with His Robe of Righteousness, shoes of access, and ring of authority.

The son's rehearsed saying was “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants." Does this sound familiar? So many people are stuck in the servant mode. Even after the party, God provides everything for us, some of us then go to the servant's quarters and live like a servant!

Lets talk a little about the Orphan Spirit. Feeling like an orphan can be debilitating. It has to do with sensing in your heart that you have no inheritance, no real heritage, no sense of security in feeling protected and that no one really cares about your destiny. Most people affected with feeling like an orphan also feel and fear abandonment. An orphan can feel cut off from father and mother and in fact often is cut off from that important nurturing and security. Likewise, the person who may not legally or physically be an orphan can feel like an orphan before God. That person can feel the same pain by feeling cut off and insecure. Many today feel that perhaps no one will rescue them nor come to their aid. They feel that they have no champion, no one to guarantee their inheritance, their heritage, or their hope and destiny. Fear of abandonment is a companion to the orphan spirit.

Matt 6:26-34 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, [will He] not much more [clothe] you, O you of little faith? 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. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day [is] its own trouble.”

One of the things the Holy Spirit has been emphasizing to me is that His Church is suffering from this orphan spirit. They feel abandoned by their Father, and feel they have to make things happen by themselves. They in fear and uncertainty, worry controls them. They rehearse the lines about how the servants in the Father's house have more to eat, drink, wear, live, than they do. They have decided to live as a servant.

Papa's idea is for us to live as sons! It is a matter of trust! Do we trust Him?

Easter is for Orphans

Ok, I know the title is strange, but stick with me, I'll explain.

Several months ago, I heard the words "Orphan Spirit" highlighted in my spirit, so I started to see what it meant. I asked a few friends of mine that work or have worked in "deliverance" ministries what it meant. Boiled down, people with an orphan spirit feel abandoned by their father, so they grow up not trusting others, especially people in authority, they feel like orphans and feel cut off from blessing and intimacy with the Father and others.

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. God "fathered" all that is, and carefully crafted this world we live in. He put us, man, in it with the words "Let Us make man in Our image, and let him have dominion ..." (Gen 1:26) over all that he had created. Satan came, was jealous because of what God had done, so he came up with the idea to separate man from God. Satan's plan was to make mankind "orphans", telling us that we cannot trust Him (...hath God said...?)

To counter satan's plan, God had a plan of His own, to reconcile us back to the Father. 2Cr 5:18, 19 Now all things [are] of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation

His plan, in our terms, was to "Adopt" us! Romans 8: 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

This was the purpose of the Cross, the first easter! The enemy of our soul thought he was separating Jesus from His Father, thinking that he sealed permanently our separation from Him through Jesus' death, and he celebrated. But, our Father had a plan, He made the Resurrection of Jesus an Adoption Ceremony in the Courts of Heaven!

So what is our part? As Paul taught, we are Ambassadors, Ministers of this reconciliation! 2 Cor 5: 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore [you] on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

So this is my job, to let you know, you are not an orphan, you can trust your Father! He loves you enough to send His only Son to reconcile you to Himself! Now go, and do as Jesus did, forgive sins and introduce people to their Papa!

Know What You Know!

This is a word I received about two weeks ago, and I've been meditating on it since. Actually, it started with one word "KNOW!" Then it expanded to "Know what you know!"

Here is the story from Mark 4. Jesus has been teaching and healing, ministering. He and the disciples got into a boat to go to the other side, He was evidently tired, because He went to the stern and fell asleep. A storm came and threatened the boat and its passengers. The disciples found Jesus and woke Him up saying "Don't you care that we are dying?"

Jesus went to the front of the boat and said "Peace, Be still" and the wind and waves became still. Now most people stop here and are amazed that the winds and waves obey His voice. But here is where Jesus says this: "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

Notice that He didn't slap His forehead and say "My bad, I forgot to tell you how to handle this one!" He did say "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" It was like He was saying "Haven't you learned anything? How is it we have been together, you heard everything I have been saying, you have seen the works I have done, and you still don't have faith?"

Know what you know! We are starting off this year wanting to hear a new word, to hear something from God. Some people speak about "waiting for God". The truth is, God is waiting for us! He has spoken and still speaks! He is waiting for us to believe what He has told us!

Too often we are like those disciples, crying out in desperation "Don't You care that we are dying?" Jesus wants to know why we are so fearful, why we have so little faith!

This year, lets re-read His story, read His teachings, listen to His voice. Let everything we already "know" sink from our heads to our hearts!

Know what you know, and believe what you have already heard! That's the word for this year!