June 23, 2012
Have we abandoned Jesus and His teachings? Could it be possible?
Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to us, He came to bring His Kingdom to this earth. Jesus demonstrated this in all He did. In Heaven all God's people are a family. A family that cares for one another.
Jesus taught the first apostles how to live according to the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. He taught them how to fix the "needs issue" in the church. Acts 2:42-47* After Jesus came, He taught that giving was not about a mere 10%...but giving 100% of our lives. Living in the Kingdom is about laying down our lives completely. It's realizing that what we have been given, is not just for "us" ...but what we have been given has been given by the Lord to also care for those around us.
John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. This type of love cares for others, actually preferring others before ourselves.
Here on the earth what we know is the works of the flesh...everything is MINE MINE MINE!!! Does this ring a bell for you? It does for me, I raised six children. This sounds like just like young, selfish, immature children that do not want to share.
Are we not driven by selfishness in all we do?
It's our car, it's our money, it's our home, it's our food, etc, etc. Do our lives not exhibit this? This my friends is "living in and OF the world." Jesus told us specifically to not be OF this world and yet we are all doing it. Because of this, the national governments have to step in to meet the needs of people. The Government is doing what the people of God should be doing. We have abandoned the very teachings of Jesus! Jesus actually left the multitudes to go after the ones that were neglected and abandoned. He went after the outcasts and the needy! While today I hear many ministers building kingdoms for themselves.
I hear many today desiring wealth. While wealth is not a bad thing, what is the motive? Is it to help care for those around you? If not, you are missing what Jesus taught. If not, you are missing what the first apostles taught. If not, you are missing the very principles of the Kingdom of Heaven. In Heaven everyone’s needs are met. There is no lack....this is the same Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus taught. This is the same Kingdom of Heaven the apostles taught...and as believers in Jesus Christ we still should be teaching this same kingdom. The Kingdom of Heaven.
In the Kingdom of God there are no laws, because the laws of God are to be written on our hearts. What's mine becomes yours also. We see the fruit of Jesus teaching this to the apostles in Acts 2:42-47*. We see the seal of God's approval was upon them because....honor was given to the ministry gifts (apostle, prophet, etc.), signs and wonders were present, and everyone's needs were met. Scripture says that there was "no lack" among them. They were "daily" a part of each others lives, and thousands were added to the Church in just a day.
We talk about wanting the Kingdom of God?...Are we ready to give 100% of our lives?
For love like this to happen...the foundation of our first love must be in place, relationship with Him. Then we must progress by being willing to allow Him to transform us into His image. This is the goal of every believer. We were not saved to merely go to Heaven, this is not the gospel that Jesus brought. His Gospel "good news" is that He destroyed the works of the enemy and He brought the Kingdom of Heaven to us. All that we lost through the fall, He bought back for us to live in, HERE on this earth. Did He not demonstrate this in all He did when He was here? When we are transformed into His image it is then His unconditional love "through us" that will be the fruit. It is then, that we will see His Kingdom on this earth.
The teachings of the apostles were not some “made up” teachings. Jesus spent day and night teaching the first disciples. He taught them to overturn and take dominion over all the works of the enemy and bring the Kingdom of Heaven to mankind. When they could be trusted to teach/preach His very words, when Jesus knew He could trust them to NOT twist or add to His teachings, He sent (apostolos) them, to teach others. It was only AFTER Jesus knew that He could trust them with the truth of the Kingdom of Heaven....that He sent (apostolos) them to teach others. If ANYONE EVER teaches another Gospel....they are to be accursed. (Gal. 1:9)
This Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ is what they taught and what they lived. They said if anyone taught another gospel, that they were to be accursed. Is this the same gospel believers are being taught and living today? Is this the gospel you are living?
*Acts 2:42-47 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
*Acts 4:32-35 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, (why???) for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.
Ephesians 4:13 ...until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Gal. 1:6-12 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Is this the Gospel of Jesus what you are being taught?? Is this the Gospel you are living??
~Shalom~
Zanild Abarrane Tsadak Kohein