WORD OF LIFE, PART 17: "SEEING, THEREFORE - PROCLAIM"

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Something very intriguing has been developing all through our study and deeper look throughout Psalm 119. As initially mentioned, each portion has a subhead with a letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. It is no accident that Verses 1-8, for instances are headed by A (Aleph) which is one of the Names of the Word Who became flesh - Aleph (Alpha in Greek). In the previous portion from Psalm 119:121-128, the subheading is AYIN, which means Eye.

Through this "Eye", we observe the verses calling for the Lord to return to not just instruct, illuminate and inspire us with His Words, Commands and Statutes, but we observe that the insight gained therein, leads to a call for final Divine Intervention against God's enemies. This is also coming, one day soon. However, in the past, God has also judged those who hate Him and His people. We see this in the judgment of famine, drought and pestilence.

Now in the next portion of Psalm 119 today, we see the heading with the letter "PE" which means Mouth. The verses are proclaiming several things we are well served, if we observe:
Psalm 119:129-136
PE
129   Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them.
130   The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
131   I opened my mouth wide and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.
132   Turn to me and be gracious to me, after Your manner with those who love Your name.
133   Establish my footsteps in Your word, and do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.
134   Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.
135   Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.
136   My eyes shed streams of water, because they do not keep Your law.

Verse 129: What are the testimonies of the Lord and why are they wonderful? Anyone who has truly been born-again and plunged all into the Bible, will know not just the story of Creation (Genesis chapters 1 and 2; Job chapters 38-41) but the many direct, dramatic and even deadly actions from the Heavens which showed God's Power, Presence, Provision and more. From the Parting of the Red Sea for millions to cross on dry land to the immediate destruction of the Egyptian army...from the provision of all manner of quail to feed these same people in the desert to water from rocks....from God withholding rain from rebel Israel in the days of Ahab and Jezebel to Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem....from Jesus being raised from the dead after being killed on a Cross and buried to Peter and Paul raising the dead and healing many...and so much more. From all of this, we see why the Bible is not just the Oracles of God, but the Chronicles of God's Mighty Hand in Action. If all the actions, instructions and events surrounding God were all written down, there would not be enough libraries to contain all the books under heaven.

For this reason, by staying FOCUSED on Who the Word of God reveals and teaches about, we cannot avoid understanding it once our minds are lit up by it (verse 130)! The Eyes of our Hearts have been opened as the song by Paul Baloche goes (Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord), hence the letter Ayin (Part 16). But the true man, woman or child of God cannot and SHOULD not stop there!

First, we are duty bound to proclaim with our mouth (verse 131). In fact Salvation comes when we "confess with our MOUTHS and believe in our HEARTS, that Jesus IS Lord! So we already have to proclaim Him to be in His Kingdom for eternity. Secondly, many Christians do not know the gospel nough to clearly share the Truth and Love of God with others and those neglect this command to proclaim. If the Christian's desire and heart truly seeks after the Lord and His Goodness, we would not just know and see all His Attributes and Testimonies in His Word, but would have at least a modicum of spiritual wisdom to share and teach. Francis of Assisi is misquoted as saying "preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words". Although he did not actually say that, many Christians now use this to mean "Lifestyle Evangelism" is "the stuff". Francis actually said something to the effect of "let your deeds match your words", but even so, he was implying you have to use words!

So-called "Lifestyle Evangelism" never brought anyone to Christ or to their salvation! All that does is show "what a good person you and I are, compared to the other guy. They can SEE Christ in us by our actions. But what we really should wish the world to see in us is Transformation. It should be obvious to everyone, who have even come into contact with us for ten seconds, that there is something about us, which they should know. This something needs to be a life changed by the Holy Spirit, the Evidence of a life saved by Jesus Christ.

There are action points listed in this passage which will help lead us toward this end, so that we can accomplish what we are called to - teach/disciple/tell the world about Jesus. Here the are: 
- Verse 132 (turn, regard, look with favor and look my way, even for a brief moment that Your Glory will light up my life and Your Love for me will shine through me, oh Lord).
- Verse 133 (let me remain firmly grounded in Truth, so that no lie of the enemy will sway me, even for one second....and even if we get blind-sided as often happens, the sin and corruption of the dying world, will be swiftly swatted away).
- Verse 134 (deliver/protect/get me out of the way of evil men and women who not only do not have my interest at heart, but seek the destruction of the testimonies of the people of God - Christians).
- Verse 135 (continue to regard Your people with favor, oh God even as You correct/discipline/instruct and guide us to the Wisdom of Your Holy Word).

These four verses will lead to an ongoing dynamic and sweet relational abiding in Truth and the Wonder of Holy God. They also are a plea which places the responsibility on the Holy Spirit to light up the inner being of the Christian so that our spiritual eyes will be wide open, and remain this way. It is only when the Eyes of our Hearts are open, that we can then proclaim what we know to be true - the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

THE LORD'S PRAYER: THE MODEL EXPLAINED: PART 7

For Yours is the Kingdom, and the Power and the Glory

So what is the Kingdom.  By all means, it means – the Kingdom of Heaven.  But Kingdom living actually begins at the point of conversion, where we are changed transferred in an instant, supernaturally, from the domain of death and darkness to the Kingdom of Light. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that “if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation”.  The original word “creation” here is “kitsis”. This is the same word which is used in Genesis 1:1 where the earth was darkness and a void and God CREATED the world out of nothing! Please let that sink in for a moment. We are new creations living in a faulty creation, yearning for its creator! Wow!

The Creation of the earth and mankind was supposed to be an joyful thing for eternity. We all know what happened in Genesis 3 when sin entered the world. The Kingdom on earth which Jesus set up in the Garden of Eden was disrupted by Eve, Adam and the serpent (Satan). But there was an expiration date on this flawed state.  This expiration date is up when the Revelation chapter 19 white horse of Christ signals the permanent return to His planet of the Risen Messiah – Jesus Christ. He will then proceed to set His 1000 year (or Millennial ) Kingdom up in Jerusalem until the Final Judgment, which then leads to the Lake of Fire.

This is the “Kingdom come” we are praying for…on “earth as it is in Heaven”. The Kingdom of Christ is on this planet, believe it or not.  This will occur at the end of the Seven Years of Tribulation. But before all of this, we have today – now, the present time. These are the times God, our Heavenly Father, has chosen for us in which to live. This should be considered a privilege when we pray to Him, according to the model prayer He specifically taught us. 

What I have described above is a summary on the macro or larger picture of the Kingdom.  But to bring it to our own personal walk with God, in Christ, we have to know our own Identity in Christ (IIC). Going back to the original premise, at the point of conversion, the Righteousness of Christ, is imputed and embedded into our own spirit as the blessed Holy Spirit then comes immediately from Heaven to seal us until we come into His Presence – either through death in this life, or the coming Rapture. At that point, we also become heirs to Christ and therefore, are inheritors/participants of the Kingdom from Eternity past way into Eternity future!

What this means is we are living RIGHT NOW, as Kingdom people. The True Christian, born-again, converted and being sanctified in this life, IS a Kingdom man, woman and child in Christ! THIS is our IIC – our Identity in Christ. This is what gives us the right to even pray “Thy Kingdom come” to the King because (John 1:12).

Hence, we are Kingdom people, praying with authority, to the King to come and set up His 1000 year reign.  The discussion of the 1000  year Reign  of Christ with Him actually sitting in the Temple as King of Kings in Jerusalem, is going to happen on this blog, but in an appropriate time. But suffice it to say, that this is the kingdom we are praying for as all the saints will return to reign with Christ, until the second and final Judgment.  

Christians SHOULD be praying “Your Kingdom come on earth, as it is in Heaven…..because Yours is the Kingdom”. This will mean the complete end to ALL trials and tribulations, persecutions and the end of Satan’s reign on earth. There will be NO non-Christian in this Kingdom (and this means NONE)! This is our portion in the Land of the Living. This is what we lived our entire Christian lives for – because HIS is the Kingdom: Our Christ Who died on a Cross for us almost 2000 years ago!

The Power and Glory which will be revealed at the end of the Tribulation which Christians will never see. Jesus will cut through the clouds to destroy the pagans, the one world  government and all who have rejected Him, alive then in all the other fake religions. Read the Book of Revelation to see how scary that moment will be. The same Power with which Jesus defeated the grave....the same Power with which He caused His Spirit to live in all His people for all time...the same Power which gave us the Word became Flesh and which was also written down for us – that Power is coming in ALL His Glory! And the Glory of the Lord will be revealed with all His glorious power is shown to the perishing world one last time. For us, the Christian, we will return to dwell in this millennial kingdom which He asked us to preach about in 

Father in the Name of the Crucified, the One Eternal God, the Ancient of Days Who gave up His Throne in heaven, and became poor that we may become rich, thank You for this privilege not just belonging to Your Eternal family, but for granting mere mortals the right, authority and incredible amazing privilege of praying for the Return of the King! Lord, we long for That Day...that day, when we see Him face to Face, in glory and then fall at His feet, just like Your Apostle John in Revelation chapter 1! Lord Jesus, Yours is the Kingdom - the coming Kingdom which we speak off to Your people. Yours is the Power - You, oh Mighty King are all knowing, ever present and owner of everything. You, oh King of Kings are the true Commander of the Universe! 

You speak and the earth shakes. You speak and the seas roar. You whisper and all creation comes into being. The Heavens declare and reflect Your brilliant countenance. The oceans calls to the deep, the depth of Your Love for us. The winds blow a song of worship of the ever present Holy Spirit Who searches the hearts of men and women and children for those who are loyal to You. Yours is the Glory, the Glory which was Yours before the Foundation of the Earth. 

There is none more glorious. There is none more marvelous. There is none more magnificent. There is no adjective and there are not enough words in all the languages of the earth to describe You, oh Yahweh, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End! You, Who sees the End from the Beginning, birth in us a new birth of freedom to yearn for the pure milk of Truth - Truth of Who You are. Truth of the Glory of the soon coming ruler of the Kingdom. Your Glory precedes You, as we live in the eternal now, as co-inheritors, which You have made us, oh Ancient of Days. We love You. We adore You. We magnify and bless Your glorious and Holy Name above all Names, in Thy Name - the Name of Jesus, we pray! AMEN!!