Kingdom Growth Guides PART 5 (#041) thru (#052)
KINGDOM GROWTH GUIDESMaturing in the gospel of the kingdom
KINGDOM POWER (#041)
The seat of power in a kingdom rests in the king.
Only the king possesses all the resources and knowledge to empower individuals or groups to exercise his ways in order to order the kingdom. In the kingdom of heaven, King Jesus is not only the source of authority and power to order all life according to the ways of the Father; but He also is the life. Jesus is the very source of all existence spiritual or physical, supernatural or natural. The kingdom of heaven on earth is the kingdom of Christ Jesus.
Man has proven, from the time of his fall until now, that he is unable to successfully order life on the earth in his own strength or with his own wisdom. The lust of the flesh and the pride of life in natural fallen man produce need and greed that create self-centered beings that cannot order life according to the ways of the true King. It produces “little kings” that attempt to rule themselves and others. Every “little king” goes about seeking power to rule as much of the world as he possibly can for himself his way. Psychological or religious manipulation and political or militant force are some tools used by “little kings” to bring others under their rule and to establish their power to rule more of the earth. Manipulation skills and demonic intrigue are employed to seduce individuals, and then to use them to strengthen the “little king’s” power to rule.
We are not speaking only of big-time political or religious leaders. Ordinary people may employ these and other techniques to get their way in life. To get what they need and want in life, they may use whatever systems and whatever talents they can to rule things their way. Even small children will often demonstrate practices of seeking to rule their world their way.
Dealing with the "Little King” Syndrome
Unfortunately, acknowledging Jesus as Saviour, walking the church aisle, getting baptized, joining the church, and attending Bible college or seminary does not necessarily remove all of the “little king” syndrome. It is very possible to make it through all of the above processes and yet be affected by the desire to rule one’s own life and the lives of others, which is the desire to rule the world. Spiritual maturity is, in part, a development of doing away with one’s own needs, desires, and agendas. It involves becoming a clear, clean conduit for the Spirit of Christ Jesus to flow into and through one’s life. Spiritual maturity involves ordering one’s life and, eventually, the world according to the will of the Father and not the will of fallen man. The Spirit of Christ Jesus the King must replace the “little king” of self-rule, which is truly a flesh king and is often reinforced by an antichrist spirit.
It is important to the enemy to keep this understanding from men, including those seeking to minister for God. The enemy will use anything he can, including religion, to perform a process called “blinding the mind”. His desire is to blind the mind to the existence of the “little king” syndrome in the lives of individuals. He will also attempt to blind the minds of people to the marvelous potential of being filled with or baptized in (saturated with and immersed in) the Spirit of Christ by the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King (the KING’S SPIRIT). As mind blindness is overcome and spiritual eyes are opened to the awesome potential of the King’s Spirit within, the love and power of Christ Jesus can overcome the “little king" syndrome and allow the true King from heaven to rule.
2 Cor. 4: 4: Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Eph. 2:2: in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
2 Cor. 3:5, 4:2: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech; unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.
But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Who is the Spirit? The Lord is the Spirit!
How are we changed? By the Spirit of the Lord!
Who is the Lord? Christ Jesus is the Lord!
Who is the King? Christ Jesus the Lord is the King!
Who is the Spirit? The King is the Spirit!
The King is Christ Jesus the Lord, who abides in His people by the Holy Spirit.
Where is our power from? Who is our sufficiency to live righteously, to overcome evil, to be saved, to teach and preach and do all the works of God, to be ministers of the new covenant, to rule and reign on earth now? Is it the letter or is it the Spirit of the King, the One with all power that enables one to be as Jesus is, in the world? (1 John 4:17)
Such a glorious ministry!
The ministry of the Spirit is not a “get-by-until-Jesus-comes-back” type of ministry. It is the very life of Jesus being manifest, coming forth in our bodies. Only as our “little king” dies, only as we are delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, can the life of Jesus come forth in our body. (Rom 6:11)
2 Cor. 4:7-11: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Pet. 1:3-4: as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge (knowing) of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
THE GRACE OF GOD IS EMPOWERMENT.
Eph. 2:1-10: And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The vastness and significance of the gift of God and the love of God for man are not easy for one to grasp. Not only while we were sinners, but because we were sinners, God gave His glorious grace gift to man.
The grace gift of God is much more than some have thought it to be. It is more than a free ticket to heaven and a blanket to cover our continued disobedience and spiritual powerlessness. It involves more than the death of Jesus on the cross. The grace gift of God for salvation also involves the resurrection of Christ Jesus and the Spirit of Jesus the King. It is the gift of the resurrected Christ indwelling the believer by the Spirit of the Lord empowering the believer to live righteously and to do the will and works of God. It is His workmanship. There is nothing anyone could do to accomplish the works of God apart from God doing the works.
Man must receive the gift of God by faith. One must believe in the heart the resurrected Christ and confess with the mouth unto salvation (Rom 10:8-10). The process of salvation begins with our willingness to believe and receive the work of Jesus on the cross to pay for our sin and the work of the Spirit of the resurrected Christ within to overcome sin and produce righteousness.
Those who will be saved and live godly in Christ Jesus will also participate in His death in this life. Unless one’s “little king” is dead, one cannot fully receive the resurrected Spirit of Christ Jesus the King. The process of salvation includes the Spirit of Christ manifesting His life as King in the place of our dead “little king.” It includes restoration, deliverance, and healing to destroy all the work of the enemy in one’s life, and to provide a clean vehicle, an open conduit for the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King to dwell in and flow through. The presence of the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King flowing through the individual produces powerful righteousness and puts an end to powerless disobedience. Thus, the grace gift of God brings one to salvation and establishes the kingdom of God in the world.
THE MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD
The saving, restoring, purifying power of God flowing in, through, and around the believer may be spoken of by believers as the life of Christ, the presence of God, the grace of God, the anointing of God, the power of God, the glory of God, the presence of the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King, and in other terms. Our finished salvation depends upon the Spirit of God appearing or manifesting in our mortal body to accomplish His workmanship of full redemption. It is God that works in the believer both to create the desire and to accomplish the work of God to save, heal, and deliver man from all the work of the devil (Phil 2:13).
More is required than a head-knowledge type of believing that Jesus died for the sins of the world. More is required than conforming to a religious system by joining a church or following any system or set of rules and practices. Men will continue to yield to temptations and be entrapped in schemes of the devil until the presence of Jesus the anointed One of God is manifested in them. To overcome sin and sinful habits, one must abide in the powerful, spiritual presence of Jesus. In a real and practical way, one must walk in the powerful presence of the Spirit of Christ Jesus and, thereby, put to death the deeds of the flesh. One who knows Jesus in this way does not walk in sin. If one walks in sin, one can know for certain that the experience of the grace of God, the powerful presence of the Spirit is not yet fully happening in one’s life.
1 John 3:5-11: And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
“God is love.”
The predominant characteristic of God is love. His loving kindness released toward man cannot be stopped. The love of God can reach into the darkest corner; it can flow through the thickest wall; it can overcome the vilest evil. Evil cannot be destroyed by evil. The love of God is the most powerful force in creation to destroy evil and establish righteousness. God’s love produces righteous obedience, peace, and joy in life.
The first characteristic of a person in whom the Spirit of the Lord dwells is the manifestation of the love of God. Anyone with the righteousness-producing love of God within will love his brother and overcome sin. God’s love produces righteousness and dissolves sinful living. The person in whom the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King rules will practice righteousness and will love his brother.
Sin and unlove are not of God and anyone who practices sin is not receiving it from God. The devil is the father of sin. God is the Father of love and righteousness. Thus, one who practices sin is being fathered by the devil. In contrast, the Spirit of God is fathering one who is righteous.
This is not a lost-or-saved issue. It is not a born-again or not-born-again question. Certainly, one must be born again for the Spirit of Jesus to live within. But, many who are born are not yet fully grown; and, therefore are in a growth process toward righteous living. As minds are being renewed to the Word of God, and old life structures are being cut down and replaced with the seed of God, one’s healing and deliverance from all the work of the devil is taking place. The Spirit of Christ is destroying all the works of the devil in the life.
Righteousness is a process carried out by the Spirit of God within the willing believer. One must come into agreement with God for one’s “little flesh king” to die and be replaced with the Spirit of the King from heaven, Christ Jesus the Lord.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23)
The seat of power in a kingdom rests in the king.
Only the king possesses all the resources and knowledge to empower individuals or groups to exercise his ways in order to order the kingdom. In the kingdom of heaven, King Jesus is not only the source of authority and power to order all life according to the ways of the Father; but He also is the life. Jesus is the very source of all existence spiritual or physical, supernatural or natural. The kingdom of heaven on earth is the kingdom of Christ Jesus.
Man has proven, from the time of his fall until now, that he is unable to successfully order life on the earth in his own strength or with his own wisdom. The lust of the flesh and the pride of life in natural fallen man produce need and greed that create self-centered beings that cannot order life according to the ways of the true King. It produces “little kings” that attempt to rule themselves and others. Every “little king” goes about seeking power to rule as much of the world as he possibly can for himself his way. Psychological or religious manipulation and political or militant force are some tools used by “little kings” to bring others under their rule and to establish their power to rule more of the earth. Manipulation skills and demonic intrigue are employed to seduce individuals, and then to use them to strengthen the “little king’s” power to rule.
We are not speaking only of big-time political or religious leaders. Ordinary people may employ these and other techniques to get their way in life. To get what they need and want in life, they may use whatever systems and whatever talents they can to rule things their way. Even small children will often demonstrate practices of seeking to rule their world their way.
Dealing with the "Little King” Syndrome
Unfortunately, acknowledging Jesus as Saviour, walking the church aisle, getting baptized, joining the church, and attending Bible college or seminary does not necessarily remove all of the “little king” syndrome. It is very possible to make it through all of the above processes and yet be affected by the desire to rule one’s own life and the lives of others, which is the desire to rule the world. Spiritual maturity is, in part, a development of doing away with one’s own needs, desires, and agendas. It involves becoming a clear, clean conduit for the Spirit of Christ Jesus to flow into and through one’s life. Spiritual maturity involves ordering one’s life and, eventually, the world according to the will of the Father and not the will of fallen man. The Spirit of Christ Jesus the King must replace the “little king” of self-rule, which is truly a flesh king and is often reinforced by an antichrist spirit.
It is important to the enemy to keep this understanding from men, including those seeking to minister for God. The enemy will use anything he can, including religion, to perform a process called “blinding the mind”. His desire is to blind the mind to the existence of the “little king” syndrome in the lives of individuals. He will also attempt to blind the minds of people to the marvelous potential of being filled with or baptized in (saturated with and immersed in) the Spirit of Christ by the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King (the KING’S SPIRIT). As mind blindness is overcome and spiritual eyes are opened to the awesome potential of the King’s Spirit within, the love and power of Christ Jesus can overcome the “little king" syndrome and allow the true King from heaven to rule.
2 Cor. 4: 4: Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Eph. 2:2: in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
2 Cor. 3:5, 4:2: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech; unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.
But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
Who is the Spirit? The Lord is the Spirit!
How are we changed? By the Spirit of the Lord!
Who is the Lord? Christ Jesus is the Lord!
Who is the King? Christ Jesus the Lord is the King!
Who is the Spirit? The King is the Spirit!
The King is Christ Jesus the Lord, who abides in His people by the Holy Spirit.
Where is our power from? Who is our sufficiency to live righteously, to overcome evil, to be saved, to teach and preach and do all the works of God, to be ministers of the new covenant, to rule and reign on earth now? Is it the letter or is it the Spirit of the King, the One with all power that enables one to be as Jesus is, in the world? (1 John 4:17)
Such a glorious ministry!
The ministry of the Spirit is not a “get-by-until-Jesus-comes-back” type of ministry. It is the very life of Jesus being manifest, coming forth in our bodies. Only as our “little king” dies, only as we are delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, can the life of Jesus come forth in our body. (Rom 6:11)
2 Cor. 4:7-11: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
2 Pet. 1:3-4: as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge (knowing) of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
THE GRACE OF GOD IS EMPOWERMENT.
Eph. 2:1-10: And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The vastness and significance of the gift of God and the love of God for man are not easy for one to grasp. Not only while we were sinners, but because we were sinners, God gave His glorious grace gift to man.
The grace gift of God is much more than some have thought it to be. It is more than a free ticket to heaven and a blanket to cover our continued disobedience and spiritual powerlessness. It involves more than the death of Jesus on the cross. The grace gift of God for salvation also involves the resurrection of Christ Jesus and the Spirit of Jesus the King. It is the gift of the resurrected Christ indwelling the believer by the Spirit of the Lord empowering the believer to live righteously and to do the will and works of God. It is His workmanship. There is nothing anyone could do to accomplish the works of God apart from God doing the works.
Man must receive the gift of God by faith. One must believe in the heart the resurrected Christ and confess with the mouth unto salvation (Rom 10:8-10). The process of salvation begins with our willingness to believe and receive the work of Jesus on the cross to pay for our sin and the work of the Spirit of the resurrected Christ within to overcome sin and produce righteousness.
Those who will be saved and live godly in Christ Jesus will also participate in His death in this life. Unless one’s “little king” is dead, one cannot fully receive the resurrected Spirit of Christ Jesus the King. The process of salvation includes the Spirit of Christ manifesting His life as King in the place of our dead “little king.” It includes restoration, deliverance, and healing to destroy all the work of the enemy in one’s life, and to provide a clean vehicle, an open conduit for the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King to dwell in and flow through. The presence of the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King flowing through the individual produces powerful righteousness and puts an end to powerless disobedience. Thus, the grace gift of God brings one to salvation and establishes the kingdom of God in the world.
THE MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD
The saving, restoring, purifying power of God flowing in, through, and around the believer may be spoken of by believers as the life of Christ, the presence of God, the grace of God, the anointing of God, the power of God, the glory of God, the presence of the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King, and in other terms. Our finished salvation depends upon the Spirit of God appearing or manifesting in our mortal body to accomplish His workmanship of full redemption. It is God that works in the believer both to create the desire and to accomplish the work of God to save, heal, and deliver man from all the work of the devil (Phil 2:13).
More is required than a head-knowledge type of believing that Jesus died for the sins of the world. More is required than conforming to a religious system by joining a church or following any system or set of rules and practices. Men will continue to yield to temptations and be entrapped in schemes of the devil until the presence of Jesus the anointed One of God is manifested in them. To overcome sin and sinful habits, one must abide in the powerful, spiritual presence of Jesus. In a real and practical way, one must walk in the powerful presence of the Spirit of Christ Jesus and, thereby, put to death the deeds of the flesh. One who knows Jesus in this way does not walk in sin. If one walks in sin, one can know for certain that the experience of the grace of God, the powerful presence of the Spirit is not yet fully happening in one’s life.
1 John 3:5-11: And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
“God is love.”
The predominant characteristic of God is love. His loving kindness released toward man cannot be stopped. The love of God can reach into the darkest corner; it can flow through the thickest wall; it can overcome the vilest evil. Evil cannot be destroyed by evil. The love of God is the most powerful force in creation to destroy evil and establish righteousness. God’s love produces righteous obedience, peace, and joy in life.
The first characteristic of a person in whom the Spirit of the Lord dwells is the manifestation of the love of God. Anyone with the righteousness-producing love of God within will love his brother and overcome sin. God’s love produces righteousness and dissolves sinful living. The person in whom the Spirit of Christ Jesus the King rules will practice righteousness and will love his brother.
Sin and unlove are not of God and anyone who practices sin is not receiving it from God. The devil is the father of sin. God is the Father of love and righteousness. Thus, one who practices sin is being fathered by the devil. In contrast, the Spirit of God is fathering one who is righteous.
This is not a lost-or-saved issue. It is not a born-again or not-born-again question. Certainly, one must be born again for the Spirit of Jesus to live within. But, many who are born are not yet fully grown; and, therefore are in a growth process toward righteous living. As minds are being renewed to the Word of God, and old life structures are being cut down and replaced with the seed of God, one’s healing and deliverance from all the work of the devil is taking place. The Spirit of Christ is destroying all the works of the devil in the life.
Righteousness is a process carried out by the Spirit of God within the willing believer. One must come into agreement with God for one’s “little flesh king” to die and be replaced with the Spirit of the King from heaven, Christ Jesus the Lord.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23)
We do not and must not continue to live in sin. We must continue on to maturity. The love of God must be perfected in us. If we truly know Him in the sense of abiding in Christ and having His Spirit abiding within our being, we will not live in sin. We will keep His commandments. But, while we are in the process of dying to our self-governing “little flesh king” and becoming ruled by the King from heaven, we have an Advocate with the Father. Jesus is there pleading our case, telling the Father that He is still working on the job of cleansing His child from all unrighteousness. Confessing our sin is the first step to forgiveness for the past act of sin and cleansing for future righteous living.
1 John 1:8 - 2:5: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
Gal. 5:14-17a: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.
The kingdom of God from heaven on earth is established and continues by the Spirit of God in man producing victory over sin and establishing God’s will on the earth as it is in heaven.
Keep on Pursuing Love
It Will Never Fail
Ron McGatlin
http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net
1 John 1:8 - 2:5: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
Gal. 5:14-17a: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another.
The kingdom of God from heaven on earth is established and continues by the Spirit of God in man producing victory over sin and establishing God’s will on the earth as it is in heaven.
Keep on Pursuing Love
It Will Never Fail
Ron McGatlin
http://www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net
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