Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.
Jonathan Edwards
Aren’t Enough Martyrs
“If the Christian life has become the path of ease in the modern west, then corporate worship is the place of increasing entertainment. The problem is not a battle between contemporary worship music and hymns; the problem is that there aren’t enough martyrs during the week. If no soldiers are perishing, what you want on Sunday is Bob Hope and some pretty girls, not the army chaplain and a surgeon.”
John Piper
Who Doesn’t Inherit the Kingdom?
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:3-5 (ESV)
In John 3:3-5, Jesus was saying to Nicodemus that a person must be born of water (into this world, flesh) and be born again (or from above) by the Holy Spirit. Upon repentance of sin (Acts 2:38; 3:19) and belief on Jesus (John 3:16) the Holy Spirit brings a new birth and with it a new creation or creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). A person must have this born again experience or they will not be allowed to see, enter or participate in the kingdom of God. Continue reading
Entertainment
“The church that can’t worship must be entertained. And men who can’t lead a church to worship must provide the entertainment.”
A.W. Tozer
Ordered Existence
The unceasing activity of the Creator, whereby in overflowing bounty and goodwill, He upholds His creatures in ordered existence, guides and governs all events, circumstances, and free acts of angels and men, and directs everything to its appointed goal, for His own glory.
J.I. Packer
The Subjects of the Kingdom
“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:11-14 (ESV)
A kingdom usually consists of a least three elements; a king, a realm and subjects. The subjects are the people who are submitted to and ruled by the king. The subjects of the kingdom of God are those people who have submitted to Jesus Christ and have come under the mastery of his lordship (Romans 10:9; 13:14; Ephesians 5:24; Colossians 1:18). These subjects have other identities such as “the church” or “the body of Christ” or “saints.” (1 Corinthians 1:2; 12:27; Ephesians 4:12; Colossians 1:24) The church is not the kingdom but rather the community of the kingdom. Continue reading
Heavenly Birth
“The moment the Spirit has quickened us to life in regeneration our whole being senses its kinship to God and leaps up in joyous recognition. That is the heavenly birth without which we cannot see the Kingdom of God. It is, however, not an end but an inception, for now begins the glorious pursuit, the heart’s happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead. That is where we begin, I say, but where we stop no man has yet discovered, for there is in the awful and mysterious depths of the Triune God neither limit nor end.”
A. W. Tozer
The Ministry of the Kingdom
“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them.” Matthew 4:23-24 (ESV)
It seems that everywhere Jesus preached the good news he performed miracles; signs and wonders (Luke 7:21). The combination of the message and ministry of Jesus were the manifestation of the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus said, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:28 ESV) The signs and wonders Jesus performed was part of the proclamation of the kingdom of God (Matthew 9:35). Not only did Jesus proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom, he commissioned his disciples to heal the sick and proclaim “the kingdom of God has come near you” (Luke 9:1; 10:9). Jesus wanted people to understand that God’s kingdom consists of more than just words but power also (1 Corinthians 4:20). Continue reading