Thursday Evening Blog With Pastor Williams (December 2008)
Posted on December 1st, 2008 by TADCCBLOG
Pastor Williams will be active on this blog site THURSDAY from 8:30 to 9:30pm. Please suggest topics or questions for discussion.
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How can you be kingdom minded in a world that does not teach kingdom principles. What is the Kingdom of God and how do we approach and enter into it? The answers to these questions are essential for every person aspiring to eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are used interchangeably in the New Testament. The one major difference being the Kingdom of Heaven is used only in the Gospel of Matthew and nowhere else in the New Testament. Matthew was written to the Jewish community in Palestine and therefore relied heavily on Jewish terms. However the term Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Theos was a term Greeks or Gentiles could better understand.
Kingdom of Heaven is the Kingdom of Uranus in the Greek. Uranus was the sky/heaven god. To prevent the Gentiles from confusing the idolatrous form of worship from true worship the other writers in the New Testament used the term Theos when writing about the Kingdom. It is the same confusion that is in the Ecclessia/church today. There has not been a proper distinction from the things of idolatry when compared to the things of God. The Jewish believers understood the differences but the Gentiles coming into the faith had problems distancing themselves from their sinful past.
1 Corinthians 6:9,10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of Heaven is the promise that God gives to every believer. Daniel 7:14 gave a glimpse of the future Kingdom to the Jews. The Son of Man in this Book was given dominion and a Kingdom that shall be everlasting. Anticipation of the future Kingdom established hope in the heart of the Jews no matter what problems befell them – and there were many. Because of their hope for a New Kingdom they were able to persevere. How could they maintain hope in a Kingdom when life as they knew it offered oppression, grief, heartache and even death.
If we want the same hope that does not wither with the pressures of time we need to understand the message of the Kingdom of God. One of the first messages that our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus preached along with the apostles was the message of the Kingdom.
Mark 1:14,15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
He preached the Kingdom because it should be the desire of every believer. The prayer, that we often call the Lord’s Prayer, states “thy kingdom come”. We should look for and desire the Kingdom to manifest on earth. The Kingdom is God’s will being done on earth. The Kingdom is being subjected to a righteous leader. The Kingdom is joy and peace in the Holy Spirt (Romans 14:17). It is not based on man’s reputation before other men, but it is based on a person’s ability to submit to the will of God. That is why publicans and harlots (Matthew 21:31) will be a part of the Kingdom. They will have acknowledged their transgressions and also allowed the healing power of Christ Jesus to not only transform their lives but place them in a Kingdom that is reserved for only the best of God’s creation.
Christ Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). Behold what love the Heavenly Father has for us that He would deposit His Kingdom within us. Healings, miracles and whatever else we need, He has already given it to us. To be Kingdom minded is not only to think on God’s presence here on earth, it is also to receive what He has for us to make it into His Kingdom.
Luke 18:29,30 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
However, the one condition that goes with the Kingdom is repentance. Without repentance we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. It is the righteousness of God that propels us into His Kingdom.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Not only does repentance produce righteousness, but it also adds unto us the things we need. Therefore the incentive to receive good things from God should lead us unto righteousness. God wants to give us the Kingdom ( Luke 12:32) but we must be willing to receive the Kingdom by changing our lives.
We know that the Kingdom of God is nigh by the miracles the Lord Jesus performed.
Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
The Jews were also witnesses to the miracles of God, but because they refused to repent, Matthew 21:43 states the Kingdom was taken from them “and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof”.
Let us not be misled by looking to the god of this world and have the Kingdom taken from us. Instead let us look unto the one that is able to keep us from falling and present us faultless in the Kingdom of His dear Son.
Stop looking for answers in the world’s system when God has already given us answers in Him.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
QUESTION: What does the Bible say about managing your finances?
ANSWER: That is a broad subject, but the Bible does have a lot to say about managing your finances. Below is a list of Bible references you can look up. Quote at least one verse regarding each specific aspect of finances. Concerning borrowing, see: Proverbs 6:1-5; 20:16; 22:7, 26-27 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave…Do not be among those who give pledges, among those who become sureties for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you? Concerning bribes, see: Proverbs 17:8; 18:16; 21:14; 28:21; 17:23 A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice. Concerning riches, see: Proverbs 10:15; 11:4; 18:11; 23:5; 28:20. A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
Concerning the sluggard and finances, see: Proverbs 6:6-11 Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man. Concerning the futility of riches, see: Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12, 5:10 says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This, too, is vanity. Also 1 Timothy 6:6-11. Concerning giving, see: Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 verses 6-7, Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Concerning stewardship, see: Luke 16:1-13 verse 11, Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will entrust the true riches to you? Also James 1:17. We are also responsible to provide for our own household. 1 Timothy 5:8 says, But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. This is not an exhaustive list of references regarding finances… just a start.
Dealing with Disappointment
Very timely Bible meditations below for those who have suffered disappointments.. There was a 19 year old girl that we were praying for God through His Son Christ Jesus to heal. All the indications were there that she would be raised up from her hospital bed but she was not. This led me to delve deeper into understanding of God’s Word. Your second point I found to be the major reason people are disappointed with God. They do not understand God’s purpose for their lives. Healings and miracles impress us, but they do not impress God. While we are praying for miracles and healings, God is looking for faith. Faith is trusting God with your life – NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME.
The Hebrew boys in the Book of Daniel said whether God delivers us or not, we know that He can.
Daniel 3:17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
They prayed, they trusted God, but even if God did not give them what they were requesting from Him, they still Had faith in God. Many people have faith in results or the object of their prayer. The Heavenly Father desires faith in Himself, not faith in what He can do for you. It is this type of teaching that lead people to be disappointed in God. Yes we know God can raise the dead, but if He does not, it should not change our faith in Him. The fact that He saved us should be reason enough for us never to be disappointed in Him.
Psalms 44:6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
Psalms 56:4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Psalms 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
We see the same thing in Matthew 26 while Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed the first time Father if it be possible let this bitter cup pass from me. However, Christ Jesus our Lord prayed the same prayer twice more.
Matthew 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done
Matthew 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words
The thing that allowed Christ Jesus to remain faithful and not disappointed was the faith He had in His Father. He knew the purpose for His here on earth. He also knew that it required bearing the sins of the world. A person that was sinless and never knew sin was to bear what he never did and that is sin. It was a heavy burden, but His faith in His Father allowed Him to remain resolute. If we know God’s will for our life, tragedies and disappointment will not shake our faith in God. If our faith is not shaken, then we are not disappointed, for we know that all things work together for good to those that love the Lord that are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Much blessings and Peace to you.
In the Service of Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living God
Pastor Sylvester Williams
Rebellion in the Church
The evidence of Being Filled with the Holy Spirit is signs, wonders and a changed life. First Corinthians 12th chapter and Romans 12th chapter contain gifts that show that a person is filled with Spirit of God. However, even after being filled with the Spirit of God, God never takes away your will. He wants obedient and willing servants. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. After a person has received the Spirit of God, it is then the requirement of the church leaders to teach the Word of God. The Apostle Peter had to be corrected by the Apostle Paul.
Galatian 2:11 ¶ But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
If a person does not want to heed the teachings from God’s Word then he is a heretic and you should leave them alone.
Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
If there are signs of rebellion that you want help from the scriptures with, please let me know.
In the service of Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living God
Pastor Sylvester Williams