LOVE IS THE NEW COMMANDMENT (36)/ THE KINGDOM OF GOD (4)

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the books of Romans 14:16-18; Matthew 5:6; Mk 10:35-52.

THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

Love is the greatest word in the Bible. In Greek, there are three words for love. Eros refers to sexual love. Philio refers to friendly attachment. Agape means unconditional sacrificial love. This Love is not just a feeling. It is the highest, most pure form of love, born not out of natural attraction or obligation, but a willful choice and a command to be obeyed.  It is the unselfish, pure, powerful, and sacrificial love that desires the best in another person. This love is best expressed as the Fatherly Love of God for humanity. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). This is the Gospel: God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man and die on behalf of sinners. The unbelievers may be religious, but they do not know this agape love. Love is a gift given only to the children of God, who are saved by grace and thru faith in Christ. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn15:13). Because we are born sinners, agape love does not come naturally to us. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment, courage, strength, wisdom, faith, and sacrifice. Agape love is the magnet God uses to attract the world to Jesus! It was so in the early church, and during all the revivals in the history of the Church! God the Father gave us His only begotten Son, to save us! God the Son gave up His Life to pay for our sins! There is no greater Love than that!!!

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).

Apostle Paul reminds us about the Kingdom of God. It is easy to get lost in detail, until we forget the main issue. Matters of indifference are not as important as the central revelation that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). The Kingdom of God is defined as the rule and reign of God done by His Word and thru His Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of His Kingdom. “He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev 19:16). Let us not get distracted by other matters and forget our King!          

The word Kingdom comes from two words: King and Domain. God has always been God. Then God created the spiritual (invisible) world and the physical world (man). He created it for His own pleasure and because He is a Creator. Once God created His domain, He became King over His domain. Let us start with what the Kingdom of God is not. The Apostle Paul says that it is not ‘eating and drinking’. It is not ‘meat and drink’ (KJ). It is not made from material things, man-made, temporal, or perishable items. It is not a collection of some little things that you buy with money. We often forget the littleness of this material world and the amazing majesty of the eternal God. We forget that all things do not have the same power or value. For example, Jesus said that life is more valuable than food and the body is more than the clothes that cover it. “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matt 6:25). To worry about food and clothes, and to ignore your life, is foolish. For unbelievers, food, and clothes are more important than their souls. Here you see that the doctrine of the Kingdom of God is not a matter of indifference. The Kingdom of God is not just a little religious behavior. It is not something small, narrow and negative.

The Kingdom of God is the realm, rule, and reign of God, where Jesus Christ is King, advancing on earth, by the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, bringing righteousness, peace, joy, healing, freedom, prosperity, and deliverance, by driving away the forces of darkness. Jesus said: “But if I drive out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already come upon you” (Lk 11:20; AMP). As a citizen of heaven, you must experience deliverance, victory upon victory in every area of your life! Amen!  God’s Kingdom is the realm of God Himself, filled with truth, love, holiness, righteousness, power, grace, and Glory!  It points to spiritual things, to eternal life, to the atmosphere of heaven, to the worship there, and to the authority of God. The Kingdom of God has three basic attributes: Righteousness, peace, and joy, in the Holy Spirit! 

PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS

Generally, righteousness means conforming (agreement) to the standard of morality, to what is right or good. It means to be good and to do good. The righteousness of men is conformity to the laws in the Constitution or according to their culture. God does not accept that. Righteousness is an attribute that belongs to God, our King, Savior, Judge, and Lawgiver. It’s revealed in His laws. “For the Lord is our Judge, The Lord is our Lawgiver, The Lord is our King; He will save us” (Is 33:22). This is a fact: God never makes mistakes! Righteousness means acting in accord to God’s moral law and being free from guilt, shame, or sin. Righteousness is found in Christ alone. It is God’s gift to men, thru His grace and His Love. Righteousness means being right with God and man; in your behavior, words, character, and conscience. God gives men His laws.

Practical righteousness, behaving well, means defeating sin and death. “In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway, there is no death” (PV 12:28). “The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion” (PV 28:1). Righteous behavior should be jealously guarded, especially from the influence of bad company. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray” (PV 12:26).

HUNGRY AND THIRSTY FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6)

One of the best definitions of a Christian is one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness. The word ‘blessed’ means happiness. Please observe that the Christians does not hunger for happiness. It is the world who hungers for it. There are many ‘toys and things’ to make a man happy in the world. Even so, as much as man desires to be happy, happiness runs away from him. It is not found by pursuing it. Happiness is a byproduct of righteous behavior. In other words, if you are right with God and man, then you will have joy; you will be truly happy. This is the Gospel. You cannot be filled with righteousness by working for it. But you can desire, seek, hunger, and thirst for it.

What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? This is a fact: only the born-again Christians desires to be righteous! Selah! Only the believer wants to be right with God. This longing to please God, to be free from sin, becomes heavy on his heart. It is like a pain he carries daily, that has no cure in this world. This desire intensifies from one level to another. It rises from hunger to desperation. For example, when the prodigal son became hungry, he went to look for a job. He was hired to feed swine. But during that time, the hunger increased and became desperation. That is when he abandoned his job and decided to go home to his father. Nothing else could make him stay in that strange country that he once loved. Seeing his father before he dies became an obsession that nothing else could satisfy. Therefore, natural hunger leads to finding work and money. Desperation (spiritual hunger) leads to finding God.

Once a believer becomes hungry for righteousness, the spiritual warfare starts full force. The believer becomes desperate and violent in his pursuit of righteousness. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matt 11:12). He starts to hate sin and fights to remove every stain from his character. He hates not only sin in general, but his own familiar sin. Despite that, and against his own will, he finds that he still takes pleasure in committing sin. He knows that by his own efforts, he cannot stop this evil power working in his body. Like a dying man, he prays for the Holy Spirit to help him overcome the power and the pollution of sin; to be free from the bondage of sin. Thirst is more powerful than hunger. The believer becomes more desperate to have victory and freedom against the bondage of sin. He wants to be a righteous, good Christian! God’s promise is that he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, with the manifested righteousness of Christ. Seeking God is never in vain! God rewards faith and perseverance!

These are some signs that you are a truly saved, that you seek this righteousness from God, to be conformed to the image of God’s Son:

*Genuine humility. By God’s grace, you now know that your own self-righteousness is useless to impress God. In the past, you used to be proud of yourself, of your religious achievements. You used to congratulate yourself for your work done in church and boast about your success in life. You got angry when people did not appreciate your social status, wealth, or fame. But now, you have been humbled before God. Like with Apostle Paul, all your past success seems like ‘dung or rubbish’ in your eyes (Phil 3:8). Lesson: If you still argue and defend your success and achievements, you are not yet hungry for the righteousness of God. Search your heart and repent!

*A deep desire to repent and change your life. You come to a place where you are tired of yourself. There is a spiritual depression holding you captive. You stop trusting yourself or other men. You stop trusting in money. You have tried all these things. You know what they can do. But now, you feel that none can help you except God. There is a desire to encounter God, to experience a miracle. You read about the great men and women in the Bible and now, you want to be like them. In the past, your idols were millionaires, divas, singers, or actors. Now, your perspective has changed. You want to be like Moses, Samuel, King David, Apostle Paul, Prophetess Deborah, Queen Esther, and others. They are your new mentors. You are truly surprised at the deep change in your soul. Most of all, you want to be like Jesus. He was always so loving, merciful, wise, patient, generous, kind, calm in the mist of troubles, having faith to move all mountains. “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14). Once you genuinely start to admire Jesus and want to be like Him, the hunger for righteousness has started in you. You are now blessed!

*You have faith to position yourself where the Holy Spirit can fill you. This is your prayer now: “Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face” (Ps 5:8). It is true that you cannot buy this righteousness with money. You cannot produce it by your works. But you are ready to do anything it takes to receive it. For example, blind Bartimaeus could not heal himself but when he heard that Jesus is passing by, he positioned himself on that road and shouted for help. Hannah wanted a son. When Eli, the Priest, insulted her, she was not offended. She stayed at the altar until the same priest Eli, repented of his mistake, and blessed her. The woman with the issue of blood took the risk to be beaten by religious men, for breaking the law. She was supposed to stay hidden, but she passed thru the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. The widow who was seeking justice went to the same judge again and again, until she got what she wanted. Are you like that? How hungry are you for an encounter with Jesus? To be filled!

This is a fact: all true believers love to go to church. Nobody is forcing them to go to the house of God. They faithfully come and attend the services, believing God for a word, a touch, or a miracle. They eventually get filled with the Holy Spirit and receive their hearts’ desire. But the people who complain that going to church, reading the Bible, or praying, is too much labor, never get anything. Selah!

AS THE DEER PANTS FOR THE WATER BROOKS

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, “Where is your God?”… A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep drafts of God. I’m thirsty for God-alive. I wonder, “Will I ever make it; arrive and drink in God’s presence?” I’m on a diet of tears; tears for breakfast, tears for supper. All day long people knock at my door, Pestering, “Where is this God of yours?” (Ps 42:1-3; NKJ, TM).

The deer is chased by dogs and hunters. The psalmist is talking about a female deer or an antelope. She is gentle and beautiful. She is now in great danger. She runs and runs. She becomes tired, thirsty, feeling faint in the heat of the day. She longs for water to drink. If she does not find a brook of water, she will die. The thirst becomes a monster. It is stronger and more dangerous than hunger. In the same way, the believer’s soul pants for God. To pant it means to gasp, to breathe hard, quickly and loudly, because of strong physical exercise. 

This is how the Christian feels when he gets thirsty for God. He misses church. But going to church alone does not satisfy his soul. He longs for an encounter, for a personal touch from the only Living God. Here, the psalmist cannot go to the sanctuary. He misses God’s presence. He misses the fellowship of the brethren. He is restless until he goes to find God. Lesson: believers cannot find rest, peace, joy, or satisfaction outside God’s presence. To appear before King Jesus is a dream come true for any believer. It is also the greatest horror for the wicked. The believer longs for God’s presence, to receive a Word, a kiss of Love, a light to guide… The desire to know God is the greatest, purest, of all desires in the human soul. Have you experienced it? Are you like that? Do you long for God’s presence, for His Word? Do you miss cooperate worship or reading the Bible? If the answer is yes, then you are blessed! It is well with your soul!

BLIND BARTIMAEUS SEES HIS KING (Mk 10:35-53)

This is a special story. The only person who was healed and named in the Bible is Bartimaeus. The word ‘bar’ means ‘son of’. He was the son of Timaeus. Jesus just told His disciples that the greatest in the Kingdom is the servant (Mk 10:42-45). Bartimaeus was a beggar. On the social ladder, for the Jews, a blind beggar is as low as a lepper. Therefore, Bartimaeus is a role model for a servant we should imitate. He was begging for food. It means he was not only blind, but he was a poor man. Rich people that are blind do not beg. They have help in their fancy homes. Despite his blindness and poverty, Bartimaeus never stopped dreaming that one day he can see God’s creation, can enter God’s House and see the worshippers. As a blind man he could not enter the temple. But he wanted to enter God’s house. He possibly heard about Jesus, how kind He was, how He healed many people. A mustard seed size of Faith was planted in his heart. He sat on the side of the road, outside the city of Jericho, which is an oasis in the desert. It is situated lower than Jerusalem.  The road between Jericho to Jerusalem was a very busy road. Many travelers and businessmen still travel on that road. Most beggars sit inside the city, not on the road going out of the city. But Bartimaeus positioned himself so that as Jesus was leaving the city, he could reach Him for help. As Jesus and His disciples passed by, with all the noise and the dust, Bartimaeus knew that this is his destiny moment. Jesus was leaving Jericho, on His way to Jerusalem, to die on the Cross. Bartimaeus knew somehow that his opportunity for a miracle was now or never. The people who are healthy, who are not blind or crippled, do not understand the isolation, the painful loneliness, and the frustration of the sick. Many look down on the blind, seeing them as mentally retarded.

Though blind and illiterate, Bartimeus was not a fool. He had a strategy. He calculated in his mind the best time to call the name of Jesus. He was ready to shout as loud as he could, above the noise of the crowd. He decided to call the name of Jesus without stopping. He made up his mind that no man will shut his mouth. He decided not to give up until Jesus hears him and heals him. This faith in Jesus and his stubborn persistence, born out of desperation, is the key to his miracle. “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mk 10:47, 48). He addressed Jesus by His prophetic messianic royal name: The Son of David. Then he asked for mercy. He did not ask for money, not even for healing, but for mercy. When told to shut up, he shouted even louder. Bartimaeus was desperate. He was persistent. He had nothing to lose. His shout was like the cry of a baby who has fallen and cannot get up. A mother knows when the baby is crying just to get attention, or when the baby cries because he is in danger. Jesus is more loving than any mother. He heard the cry. He stopped. He commanded that Bartimaeus be brought to him.

This was the moment of destiny! Face to face with the King of the Kingdom. Jesus asked him what he wants. Many people will ask for money, power, marriage or fame. But Bartimaeus was not distracted. He knew what he wanted. He asked Jesus for his sight. Jesus healed him immediately. Jesus said it was his faith that made him well. Lesson: Faith in King Jesus is the key to receive a miracle from God. Faith is another word for being hungry and thirsty to be filled. Faith pleases God. Faith is the helper of the true seeker. Faith believes in rewards from God. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6). May we recognize the power of true faith in God!

Once healed, Bartimaeus never went back to Jericho. He did not go back to say goodbye to his family and friends. He celebrated his eyes by looking unto Jesus. He followed Jesus to Jerusalem, to the cross. According to God’s promise: his eyes have seen the King in His beauty and the glory ahead (Is 33:17). He sang: “The world behind me, the Cross before me!” The story of Blind Bartimaeus happened more than 2000 years ago. It is written for our learning. “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom 15:4). We too must have faith, patience, and hope as we apply these spiritual principles to our lives. As a poor beggar, Bartimaeus was at the mercy of people. But he wanted the mercy of God. David said it is better to fall into the hands of God than in the hands of men. “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man” (2 Sam 24:14). Bartimaeus knew that only Jesus can help him. There was no other Helper. People tried to discourage him. But his faith did not shake. He did not stop shouting. He increased the sound of his prayers. Jesus always recognizes the cry of His elect. He called him and granted his request!

When Jesus called Bartimaeus, this call is a destiny moment! It is one thing for you to call upon Jesus, to pray. It is another thing for Jesus to call you! Observe the way Bartimaeus answered the call. He did three things: he threw his garment of begging, he rose, and he came to Jesus! Note that Jesus asked the blind man the same question he asked James and John, few minutes previously: “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mk 10:36, 51). Bartimaeus did not want money, promotions, positions, or gifts. He was a simple Christian. He said: “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight”.  James and John addressed Jesus as “Teacher”. But Bartimaeus addresses him as “Rabboni”, which means master, mentor, coach, my life teacher, and Lord. It is an intimate word of worship and total submission. It is the same word Mary Magdalene addressed the resurrected Christ. “Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher)” (Jn 20:16). Jesus healed this humble man, Bartimaeus, to teach His disciples a lesson in humility, submission and genuine faith. Where the disciples failed, this blind man succeeded. His faith was rewarded openly. He got his sight. His spiritual and natural eyes got opened. Immediately, he became a follower or Jesus.

This story is about healing, about a miracle. This is a reminder: only God can perform miracles. The healing came through the power of faith. What was special about Bartimaeus? Nothing! He was a poor blind beggar. The only special thing about him was his faith. Jesus praised him for his faith. This is the story of a man who was determined to do everything he can to receive his miracle. He knew that he had no power to heal himself. Building his faith, he refused to be silenced by others who had eyes to see. He cried louder and louder to Jesus, the only One who could help him. But even before Jesus called him, he believed that Jesus is the Son of David. The Pharisees rejected Jesus as King. They even said that Jesus has the power of the devil. But Bartimaeus believed the truth about Jesus and shouted with all his strength that Jesus is the promised Messiah and the King of God’s Kingdom.

Once Bartimaeus heard the call of Jesus, he threw his outer garment, his cloak, and went to Him. For a Jew, the cloak is an important piece of clothing. It was a long garment, down to the ankles, sleeveless, a coat worn on top of the shirt. It serves as a covering for the cold weather, or a blanket to sleep on it. The cloak had a great value for any Jew. It could be used as a pledge when taking a loan. God’s law insisted that each man should have his cloak in the evening. “If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. 27 For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious” (Ex 22:26, 27). The rich men wore expensive cloaks. But Bartimaeus was a poor beggar. His cloak was a poor cloak. He used it to cover himself when sleeping. He also used it to catch money when men gave to him. He threw the cloak and never went back to it. It represented his old identity as a blind poor beggar. He was now ready to follow Jesus. The cloak must change too. Throwing his old cloak was an act of faith, of letting the past go and move into the future.

What are some of the lessons for us?

*When you seek the Kingdom of God, when you chase after Jesus, do not allow the voices of men to quench your spirit! Observe the zeal of Bartimaeus. He was not afraid to lose whatever reputation he had. He wanted a miracle. He became a disturbance to men. He did not care. The people ‘warned’ him to shut up. The word ‘warned’ is also translated ‘rebuked’. It is a strong word. Like Bartimaeus, learn to keep focus on Jesus and ignore the negative voices of those who hinder your encounter with Jesus, to have a miracle. Lesson: when you start praying, there will be much opposition.

*Be ready for the moment of destiny. Be sure you know what you want! Stay focused. You must desire one thing only, not to create doubt.

*Salvation is personal. Seeking God is personal. You need to believe that Jesus will stop what He is doing just because of your cry for help. Believe that Jesus will wait for you! Jesus waited until someone told Bartimaeus He is calling him. Jesus waited until Bartimaeus came. Jesus waited until Bartimaeus answers. I am excited that King Jesus waits for me. He is so patient until I come, to grant my miracle.

*Remove all obstacles that may slow you down from seeking Jesus. Bartimaeus’ cloak was long to the ankles. He did not want to take the risk of falling as he was going to Jesus. Better lose my cloak than my destiny moment.

Finally, Seek God and pray until we have an answer. Once you receive your miracle, follow Jesus! Jesus is not on earth now. But, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is closer to you than your breath. Ask, and you shall receive! If you hunger and thirst for righteousness, if you want to be good and do good like Jesus, you shall be filled with the same grace! Be healed! Be filled with the Holy Spirit! In Jesus’ name, amen! Worship the Lord!

LOVE IS THE NEW COMMANDMENT (35)/ THE KINGDOM OF GOD (3)

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the books of Romans 14:16-18 (NKJ); Matthew 5:13-16, 20; 6:1-4 (NIV); Esther 4:1-17.

THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

Love is the greatest word in the Bible. In Greek, there are three words for love. Eros refers to sexual love. Philio refers to friendly attachment. Agape means unconditional sacrificial love. This Love is not just a feeling. It is the highest, most pure form of love, born not out of natural attraction or obligation, but a willful choice and a command to be obeyed.  It is the unselfish, pure, powerful, and sacrificial love that desires the best in another person. This love is best expressed as the Fatherly Love of God for humanity. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). This is the Gospel: God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man and die on behalf of sinners. The unbelievers may be religious, but they do not know this agape love. Love is a gift given only to the children of God, who are saved by grace and thru faith in Christ. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn15:13). Because we are born sinners, agape love does not come naturally to us. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment, courage, strength, wisdom, faith, and sacrifice. Agape love is the magnet God uses to attract the world to Jesus! It was so in the early church, and during all the revivals in the history of the Church! God the Father gave us His only begotten Son, to save us! God the Son gave up His Life to pay for our sins! There is no greater Love than that!!!

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).

Apostle Paul reminds us about the Kingdom of God. It is easy to get lost in detail, until we forget the main issue. Matters of indifference are not as important as the central revelation that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). The Kingdom of God is defined as the rule and reign of God done by His Word and thru His Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of His Kingdom. “He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev 19:16). Let us not get distracted by other matters and forget our King!                

Let us start with what the Kingdom of God is not. The Apostle Paul says that it is not ‘eating and drinking’. It is not ‘meat and drink’ (KJ). It is not made from material things, man-made, temporal, or perishable items. It is not a collection of some little things that you can buy with money. We often forget the littleness of this material world and the amazing majesty of the eternal God. We forget that all things do not have the same power or value. For example, Jesus said that life is more valuable than food and the body is more than the clothes that cover it. “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matt 6:25). To worry about food and clothes, and to ignore your life, is foolishness. But for the unbelievers, food, drink, and clothes are more important than their souls. Here you see that the doctrine of the Kingdom of God is not a matter of indifference. The Kingdom of God is not just a little religious behavior. It is not something small, narrow and negative. The Kingdom of God is the realm of God, the rule and reign on God, having Jesus Christ as its King, advancing on earth, and bringing healing, deliverance, prosperity, freedom, righteousness, peace, and joy, by driving away the forces of darkness. God’s Kingdom is the realm of God Himself, filled with truth, righteousness, power, grace, and glory!  It points to spiritual things, to eternal life, the atmosphere of heaven, the authority of God, and to the worship over there. The Kingdom of God has three basic attributes: Righteousness, peace, and joy, in the Holy Spirit! 

Generally, righteousness means conforming (agreement) to the standard of morality, to what is right or good. It means to be good and to do good. The righteousness of men is conformity to the laws in the Constitution or according to their culture. God does not accept that. Righteousness is an attribute that belongs to God, our King, Savior, Judge, and Lawgiver. It’s revealed in His laws. “For the Lord is our Judge, The Lord is our Lawgiver, The Lord is our King; He will save us” (Is 33:22). Righteousness means acting in accord to God’s moral law and being free from guilt, shame, or sin. Righteousness is found in Christ alone. It is God’s gift to men, thru His grace and His Love. Righteousness means being right with God and man; in your behavior, words, character, and conscience. God gives men His laws. For example, the Laws of nature as the Law of gravity or the Law of motion, are given by God. Apart from these, God has given moral Laws that reveal His righteousness as the King, Judge, and Lawgiver. These laws regulate man’s relationship to God and to one another. Breaking the law of God is sin. By His Righteousness, God punishes sin. “But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. 8 He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness” (Ps 9:7,8). Selah!

PRACTICING RIGHTEOUSNESS

Righteousness as a lifestyle leads to life. Death does not exist where there is righteousness. “In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway, there is no death” (PV 12:28). Righteous behavior should be jealously guarded, especially from the influence of bad company. “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray” (PV 12:26). Apostle Paul confronted those who denied the resurrection, who denied that there is a judgment after death. If these people were right, if there is no hope of going to heaven, then we should ‘enjoy life’ today and forget about tomorrow. To live only for the present, to live only to pamper the body, and completely forget about your soul, that is a deception that weakens the spirit. “If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame” (1Cor 15:32-34). God commands us ‘to awake’ to righteousness. We see here a man who pampers his flesh, a glutton and a drunkard, who has now fallen asleep. He is like a fool. He must come back to his senses, be revived, becoming sober again. Righteous behavior means self-control, sound mind, wisdom, and peace. The righteous always experience revival and make progress in life!

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven“…  “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So, when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matt 5:20; 6:1-4; NIV).

These are words of life spoken by Jesus Christ, our Lord and King. They are part of the Sermon of the mount. He thought them for at least two reasons: to teach His disciples how to apply the Word in daily living, and to contrast the righteous behavior with the false religious behavior of the Pharisees. Our Lord contrasts the godly practical righteousness of a child of God with the false religious self-righteous proud behavior which is rejected by God. Our Lord teaches about the right religious behavior; how-to do-good deeds, how to pray and how to fast. These are different issues, but the principle is the same: do everything in the presence of God! Please God and not men or yourself! In that way, God will reward you ‘openly’ (NKJ). The Lord exposes man’s tendency to be selfish. Remember that God sees everything. He judges not only the actions but the hearts, the motives of actions. Because we are born sinners, we tend to do everything, including good deeds, not for the pleasure of God, but for the pleasure of men. The reason why we want to please men is because they will praise and flatter us in return. Pleasing men means pleasing yourself. Jesus said that He does not accept the honor or praises of men. He only seeks the honor that comes from God. “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” (Jn 5:41-44). We are to be right and do right just like Jesus.  By God’s grace, we too should not covet the praise or flattery of men. We should seek God’s praise!

God’s Word is a double-edged sword. Reading the Bible is hard because it exposes our hearts. To learn how to love you must learn to examine yourself, your motives in serving God. Ask yourself, why do you want to do good deeds? Sin in the heart is so deep, so deceitful, that it is hard to detect. Religion is a great cover for sin. Many Christians are ignorant of the sin of self-righteousness, selfishness, and pride that dwells in their hearts. In trying to be righteous and do righteous deeds, we must expose the natural desire to be praised by men and to take some credit for ourselves. To practice righteousness is not just a set of rules and regulations. Any good thing you do, if it is not ignited, led, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, it’s of the flesh; it’s sin! God will reject it. Never forget! We live and move in the presence of God. God searches all hearts and motives of actions. It is only the Holy Spirit that has the key to help us do ministry accepted by God. 

ABOUT REWARDS… Some Christians preach that it is sinful to desire rewards from God. But we are encouraged to know about heavenly rewards and desire to have them. Look at the testimony of Moses, the great man of God. “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb 11:24-27). The knowledge of the promise of a reward from God helped Moses to die to the world, and to sin. He chose to identify with Christ and His flock than to be the king of the world in Egypt. It is the reward ahead that helped Moses to endure, to persevere against much opposition from men and demons. The revelation of a reward in heaven strengthens Moses in his faith, seeing the invisible God by faith. Of course, the greatest reward of all is God’s constant presence. God told Abraham:  “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward” (Gen 15:1). The main warning here is not to please men or to desire reward from men. We are to desire our reward from God alone. For example, if I give my son some work to do, and I promise that I will give him a gift, that promise is enough for him to refuse any other payment from strangers and all forms of bribes. Faith in God’s reward is a form of protection for the heart against the love of the world.

Jesus also said that when we do good, we should not announce it with ‘trumpets, like the hypocrites’. Our Lord says that you should be humble even when doing good deeds. Lesson: Do not focus your attention on yourself or on your gift. When you give a donation, do it simply, for the sake or Christ and not for your praise. Our Lord says that when you do good things, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Practically, this means to do all things in a way that people do not know about it. That is easy. But the Lord says that even you should not know what you are doing!!! Selah!  This is to avoid the praise of men, and self-praise too. This command is hard to practice. You need to be filled and led by the Holy Spirit. You need to be dead to sin, to the world, and even to your own fleshly desires to achieve fame. Many believers become proud because they are wealthy and able to help others. It takes humility and self-discipline to do things in the secret place of the Most High God. The danger in ministry is the possibility of coveting the glory of God. That is major sin!

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the gift of helps. God empowers some believers to give from what they have to others who have less than they. This is God’s word about this gift: “He who gives, with liberality… he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity (Rom 12:8;NKJ, KJ). In Greek, the word liberality is also translated as purity, simplicity, sincerity, and singleness of motive. Lesson: when you give a gift to someone, do it simply because God has blessed you and you want to give Him all the glory. A gift given with a secret desire to gain fame for yourself has lost its power of righteousness and godliness. By receiving praise from men, you have blocked your spiritual account. God will not reward you by Himself. Lesson: you cannot receive two rewards at the same time, from men and from God.

Another way to avoid getting proud when doing good is by trying to forget what you have done. Once you do a righteous deed, simply thank God for the privilege to serve Him and to be a blessing. From that moment, the matter is in God’s hands and not yours. After that, forget about it. The next time you see the needy person that you have helped, you treat him (her) with respect, greet him and move on. You do not want to remind people about the good you have done to them in the past. Stop thinking about the good you have done! You should meditate on God’s Word, not upon your past deeds. “Love keeps no records of wrongs”(1 Cor 13:5; NIV). At the same time, Love keeps no record of doing good works. When you do good things, learn to forget about them. Just trust that God sees and knows everything. One day, He will say to you: “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter the joy of the Lord!” That is all that matters. Your good deeds are an investment towards your future, not to your present life. Your righteous life is a blessing to your family and descendants. To the glory of God!

TESTIMONY

There is a right way and a wrong way to announce helping the needy. For example, in our church, when we are led to help the needy in our midst, we make a simple announcement, about two weeks in advance. This is necessary so that those who want to donate food items can get ready to do so. On the day of distributing the food, we do it simply and orderly, knowing that we are in the presence of God. We share food as a form of worship. We also tell people not to take pictures of videos during the exercise. By doing this, we do not grieve the Holy Spirit through pride. By the grace of God, we give God all the glory, in all things, big or small. Praise the Lord!

When we were building this church, we spent a lot of money. My husband, Pastor Richmond Sisan Leigh and I, decided not to keep accounts in our minds about the expenses. This is to avoid becoming proud. After the building was completed, many people came and asked: ‘How much did you spend to build this church?’  We always answered, ‘we don’t know how much’. This was the truth. Glory!

LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  14. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:13-16). These holy words are also a part of the Sermon on the Mount, preached by our Lord. He says that just as salt’s identity is in its saltiness, so light’s identity is to shine. Some products can be used in many ways. For example, water can be used to drink or to take a bath. A car can be used for transport or to sleep in it. But salt and light do not have secondary benefits. If salt has lost its saltiness, it is good for nothing. It cannot be used as fertilizer or as building material. It will be thrown away as dung and trampled by men. It is the same with the light. A light that is covered is useless to men.

Light must shine so that men can see. God’s Word is the light dwelling in the believer. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments” (Ps 119:105,106). A believer shines the light of Christ in him. God commands us to preach His Word. That is a righteous judgment. We must keep it! A Christian cannot hide from being seen or heard. A Christian who hides from men, who is silent, who is shy, is clearly backsliding. To hide your identity in Christ is foolish and dangerous. The devil will assume that you are a child of darkness and will come close to you. A nominal or a backsliding Christian is totally useless to God and man. He knows something about God, but he does not share his knowledge with anyone. Because he knows some scriptures, he is not totally happy in the world. And because he hides in the church, he is not totally happy during the services. The criminals know that the best place to hide is not to go alone in a forest, but to hide in the crowds in the city. Many Christians hide in the congregation because of fear of persecution, afraid less their unbelieving friends will mock them for being Christians. They are ashamed of Christ. This is the Lord’s warning: “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels”(Mk 8:38). Our Lord warns the believers that if their love for God does not manifest, does not shine out for men to see, He may take away that light from them. “Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent” (Rev 2:4,5). Selah!

How do we keep shinning our lights for Jesus? During the time of Jesus, people used lamps that had oil and a wick to burn. The lamp needed to be filled with oil constantly. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. We need to be filled daily. The wick also must be trimmed daily so that it can burn well. The wick stands for our lives. We must read God’s Word and pray daily. The trimming of the wick means that we should humble ourselves. Like the burning bush attracted Moses, you shall attract people. They come not to see your beauty or your intelligence, but to hear God speaking thru you. It is a temptation to think that people are attracted to your person. People do not need you. They need God’s Word spoken by you. Therefore, a Christian should not be afraid to be seen or heard. But self must be dead on the Cross with Jesus. A Christian is never self-conscious. He has no inferiority or superiority complexes. He is not foolish, and he is not proud. This balance is extremely important when we stand as ambassadors of Christ. We do not draw back in fear from opportunities to speak for Jesus. At the same time, we are not forward or ambitious in our attitude toward men. We do not advertise ourselves through the ministry. Maintaining this delicate spiritual balance is another word for practicing righteousness. May God help us to do it better! Amen!

As a Christian, you cannot live in fear, be shy, hide from men and have the attitude of a monk, or of a grasshopper. You must live in the light, in the open. Being transparent and fearless before men is a proof that you are a mature Christian. By your words and deeds, as a Christian, you will surely attract attention from men. Light cannot hide. You should not desire men’s attention. Let it come by itself. When it comes, God will give you the grace to manage the ‘fame’ in a humble and wise manner. It takes strength to remain humble in the light. He will use your visibility for His glory. Then, He will reward you ‘openly’. Worship the Lord!

QUEEN ESTHER DID WHAT WAS RIGHT (Est 4:1-17)

This is the beautiful story of a Jewish girl, an orphan, who grew in Babylon, among the exiles. Her Jewish name was Hadassah. It means the Myrtle tree who grows in the desert (Is 41:19). But in Babylon, her name is Eshter, meaning Star. By God’s design, she became the queen in Babylon. Mordecai is her uncle and foster father. He told Queen Esther about the King’s decision to kill all the Jews. The king was manipulated by his prime minister, Haman, who hated Mordecai and his people. None knew that Queen Esther was also a Jew. Mordecai tells Esther that she has to go and plead with her husband, the King. Esther had not seen the King for thirty days. She was the Queen, but she was not the only wife. She may have lost the King’s interest. Esther also knew that her husband had a hot temper and made decisions that he later regretted. That was evident in the way he treated Queen Vasthi. Eshter also tells Mordecai that none can go to see the king on his throne except if invited by him. Going uninvited meant death. That was the law. Mordecai tells her that all the Jews depend on her intercession. What was she to do? Is she ready to die trying to save her people?

Put yourself in Queen Esther’s position. If she takes it for granted that her husband will always see and listen to her, that is presumption. Her deed is rooted in pride, selfish ambition, and self-confidence. God cannot reward her for that. If she becomes afraid and refuses to act, she will display the attitude of a grass hoper. Hiding her light, she becomes useless to God and man. In this moment of crisis Hadassah stands as a real queen, a child of God, a royal priesthood, and a citizen of the Kingdom of God. She does the right thing. She displays great spiritual balance. This is righteousness in action. She offers herself as a living sacrifice on God’s altar. She tells all the Jews to fast and pray to God for three days. She is not confidant of herself, but her total trust is in God. Though it is against the Persian Law, uninvited, she goes to see the King. “If I perish, I perish”, she says! Before the throne, she finds fresh favor with the King. In this picture, the king is a symbol of Christ. He stretches his scepter of righteousness, mercy and grace to her. She touches it. She is saved. Thru her intercession, the Jews are saved from slaughter. The enemy, Haman, is dead. Mordecai is promoted and takes his place. Righteousness is displayed: the humble are rewarded with peace, prosperity and good name. The wicked receive their judgment of death.

What changed Esther? It was Mordecai word of challenge: “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Est 4:14). Suddenly, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Esther found her identity and place in Christ. This revelation became destiny moment. Once she saw herself not as a citizen of Persia, but as citizen of the Kingdom of God, she stood unafraid, ready to be used by God, for His glory. In the Book of Esther, all the women are seen as victims of selfish men. This is the first time that a woman stands for Christ amid men who controlled politics and culture. In Christ, there is no male no female! Esther’s stand to fulfill destiny is the moment that starts the turning of tables. The rich and powerful Haman starts to fall. The persecuted Mordecai starts to rise. Nobody can stop this new arrangement. It is righteousness in action. The Kingdom of God has spoken! Like Esther, may God use us as catalyst for revival. Worship the Lord!     

LOVE IS THE NEW COMMANDMENT (33)/ MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE (15)/ THE KINGDOM OF GOD (1)

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the books of Romans 14:12-23; Matthew 18:21-35; 19:27-30; 20:1-16.

THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

Love is the greatest word in the Bible. In Greek, there are three words for love. Eros refers to sexual love. Philio refers to friendly attachment. Agape means unconditional sacrificial love. This Love is not just a feeling. It is the highest, most pure form of love, born not out of natural attraction or obligation, but a willful choice and a command to be obeyed.  It is the unselfish, pure, powerful, and sacrificial love that desires the best in another person. This love is best expressed as the Fatherly Love of God for humanity. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). This is the Gospel: God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man and die on behalf of sinners. The unbelievers may be religious, but they do not know this agape love. Love is a gift given only to the children of God, who are saved by grace and thru faith in Christ. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn15:13). Because we are born sinners, agape love does not come naturally to us. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment, courage, strength, wisdom, faith, and sacrifice. Agape love is the magnet God uses to attract the world to Jesus! It was so in the early church, and during all the revivals in the history of the Church! God the Father gave us His only begotten Son, to save us! God the Son gave up His Life to pay for our sins! There is no greater Love than that!!!

MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE

The Book of Romans is a masterpiece. It is considered the best Book in the Bible and the greatest piece of literature in the world. It is written by the great Apostle Paul. Many great men of God became born again by studying this Book. It contains the major doctrines of the Gospel. In the first 11 chapters, the Apostle writes about the doctrines of salvation. From chapter 12 to the end, he writes the application of these doctrines. The first two verses in chapter 12 are the basic scriptures on the application of doctrine. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:1,2). We see that the Christian life is a life of sacrifice for the sake of Christ, to give glory to God! By faith in God’s Word, our minds are renewed and transformed. From starting as ‘babies’ in Christ, we become strong in the faith. Becoming spiritually mature is the aim for every believer. Agape Love is the engine of this transformation. The New Law of Love takes over obedience of the Law as found in the Old Testament.

In chapters 14 and 15 we find the practical application of the Gospel especially in the relationships between believers. Theologians call these principles ‘matters of indifference’ or ‘grey areas’. These are important teachings, but they are not essential to our salvation. They apply to the type of food Christians eat, the mode of dressing, the type of entertainment, the types of baptism, the type of prophecies, the importance of days and how we celebrate our faith. The major doctrines of the Bible cannot be argued about.  As Christians, we all must agree on the major doctrines in the Bible, but we can lovingly disagree on these matters of indifference. If something is forbidden, it is sin. There is no need to discuss it. For example, the Bible says that adultery is sin. We cannot debate that. We now study things that are not clearly forbidden in God’s Word and our attitude to them. Over the years these things have bought much confusion, pain, and division in the Body. The church is made of many believers; some are spiritually strong, and others are spiritually weak in the faith. The first lesson we must learn is that the Body is One!!! The strong ones are commanded not to despise the weak ones. The weak are commanded not to judge the spiritually strong. Lesson: Matters of indifference should never become central doctrines. We study these teachings so that we behave better, we love without quarreling or causing division in the Body. Selah!

These are some laws of agape Love:

1-NEVER BE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO ANYONE. DO NOT GRIEVE YOUR BROTHER.

2-DO NOT REJECT FOOD- PRAY! ALL FOOD IS CLEAN AND GOOD

3-NEVER DISCRIMINATE PEOPLE

4-DO NOT MISUSE YOUR FREEDOM TO DAMAGE YOUR GOOD TESTIMONY

5-DO NOT DAMAGE YOUR CONSCIENCE AND THE CONSCIENCE OF YOUR NEIGHBOUR

6-DO NOT LET YOUR GOOD BE SPOKEN OF AS EVIL

7-DO NOT LET BITTERNESS GROW IN YOU

8-LOVE CONTROLS AND LEADS KNOWLEDGE (THE SPIRIT LEADS THE SOUL)

9-THE SAINTS PERSEVERE BY GRACE AND THRU FAITH UNTIL HEAVEN

THE KINGDOM OF GOD (1)

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).

Apostle Paul reminds us about the Kingdom of God. It is easy to get lost in detail, until we forget the main issue. Matters of indifference are not as important as the central revelation that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). The Kingdom of God is defined as the rule and reign of God done by His Word and thru His Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ is the King of this Kingdom. “He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev 19:16). Let us not get distracted by other matters and forget our King!

To understand the Kingdom of God, we’ll study the kingdoms of this world. These are symbols of the Kingdom of God. An earthly Kingdom is defined as a territory (domain) governed by a King (or a Queen). The King has absolute dominion and influence over the people in his domain. Dominion refers to the authority and domain refers to the territory. Every king is automatically the ‘lord’ or master over the people in his domain. The King is not voted by people. He becomes a King by birth. Because his father was a king, the heir is born with the right to be king after his father dies. The king is totally different than the president of a country, a prime minister, a governor, or a mayor. By right, the king personally owns the land, the wealth, and the people. Remember that kings and property always go together. For example, Jesus is the King and Lord of all. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein” (Ps 24:1).

Authority flows from the king by his word, which is supreme. The kingdom reflects the glory of the king. If the king is godly, just, honest, the kingdom will be the same. If the King is corrupt and wicked, the kingdom will be the same. The constitution of the country is the covenant the king makes with his people. It expresses the will of the king concerning the people. The King provides all that the citizens need to live a good life. The King is personally responsible to take care of his citizens. That is why many want to become citizens of a good Kingdom. The King can give any gift to any of his citizens. He owns everything, so he can give any privilege, title, or wealth to any citizen he finds faithful. “When the king smiles, there is life; his favor refreshes like a spring rain” (PV 16:15; NLT).

As of 2024, there are 43 sovereign states in the world that have a monarch (king or queen) as their head of state. In Europe there are 12 countries ruled by kings (or queens). Among them are The United Kingdom, Belgium, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweeden, Spain, and Monaco. The Pope is like a king in the Vatican. Some of the Muslim monarchies are Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia. In the past, most of the countries in Africa were ruled by kings who were the heads of state. But now, most African countries are republics. A republic is a form of government whose leader is freely and democratically elected by the people, as opposed to a dictatorship or monarchy. There are only three sovereign monarchies in Africa: The Kingdom of Morocco, The Kingdom of Lesotho, and Eswatini (the Kingdom of Swaziland).

King Charles III is the present King of the United Kingdom. His authority is limited. He reigns but not rules. But he still has rights above any other British citizen. For example, because of “sovereign immunity,” King Charles is exempt from criminal and civil proceedings. The law bars the police from entering private royal estates without the sovereign’s permission to investigate suspected crimes. As the British king, King Charles can travel anywhere in this world without an international passport. This is because all the British passports are issued in the name of the King. No other British citizen has this privilege. The King and other members of the royal family can drive as fast or as slow as they please when they are escorted by police officers on official royal duties. King Charles can drive any car without a license plate and without a driving license. This is because all licenses in the UK are issued in the King’s name. The King does not pay inheritance or income taxes. In the UK there is a law against racial and sexual discrimination at the workplace. But the King is exempt from this law. Any person who works for the royal family cannot file a complaint in the court about equal pay, racial or sexual discrimination.

The Bible is the constitution of the Kingdom of God. It expresses the mind and will of God. The people can become citizens of God’s Kingdom not by right, but as a privilege of grace. No one can buy his citizenship. King Jesus’ favor (or grace) to bestow citizenship is always a privilege and never a right. Once a man becomes a citizen of the Kingdom of God, his greatest desire is to please the King; to be in a right relationship with King Jesus. That attitude is called righteousness (Rom 14:17). In the Kingdom of God, King Jesus provides all you need. He said: “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt 6:31-33). The citizens love their King and obey the King’s Laws. They praise Him for His grace, wisdom, goodness, holiness, and generosity. King David said: “I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever” (Ps 145:1). The social culture of the Kingdom reflects the culture of the King. The King’s words and deeds influence the citizens and they want to become like him. That is why a Kingdom’s culture is different than other democratic countries. The Kingdom has an army. The King is the supreme commander. The army secures the territory and protects the citizens. In the Kingdom of God, the angels protect the citizens. “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all. 20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. 21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul” (Ps 103:19-22)!

In the past, the Kingdom of God was represented by the nation of Israel. God said: “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel”(Exo 19:6). But Israel rejected their King. They crucified the Lord Jesus Christ, who came full of grace and truth. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (Jn 1:11). God said that the Kingdom will be taken away from them and given to other people. This was the topic of Jesus’ parable against the Jewish religious rulers. “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder” (Matt 21:42-43). The Kingdom or God must be fruitful and glorious. Glory to the King of kings! 

 In the New Testament, the revelation of the Kingdom of God is clearer. The church represents the Kingdom of God.

Jesus started His ministry by preaching repentance, faith in the Gospel and the Kingdom of God. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15). The Kingdom of God has two parts: the present time and the future time. The present time started when Jesus came to the earth. He became a man, lived, and died for sinners. He is the King of the Kingdom. All those who by God’s grace repent of their sins, and have faith in Christ crucified and resurrected, become born again. They become citizens and enter the Kingdom. In the future, Jesus will come back to earth again, not as a suffering servant but as the Victorious King of kings. He will destroy that which He has defeated on the Cross. The Kingdom of God will then be fulfilled. “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Rev 11:15). With the mixture of wheat and tares, the Parables of Jesus describe the present time of the Kingdom of God, and not the future when all things are fulfilled. Selah!

THE PARABLE OF THE WORKERS (Matt 19:27-30; 20:1-16) 

Jesus spoke this parable to teach people about the Kingdom of God. The parable is directly connected to Peter’s question: “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore, what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Matt 19:27,30). Peter forgot that he was a sinner saved by grace. He now wanted to know what his reward will be for taking his cross to follow Jesus. He was influenced by the rich young ruler who failed the test of love. Jesus corrects him (and the others) by telling them this parable.

Lesson: Agape Love does not make demands. Love does not ask for payment, especially when you owe so much to the Lover of your soul, King Grace. Jesus promises that all who died to the world and sacrificed even the good things of life to follow Him will surely be rewarded in this life and in heaven. But there shall be many surprises. Grace rewards the humble. Love rewards the faithful.  

This parable is about a rich landowner who hired laborers at different intervals, from morning till evening. He made an agreement only with those who came first, that he will pay a denarius a day. In Israel a working day was from 6 am to 6 pm. A Denarius was the usual payment for a day of labor for an unskilled worker. These were jobless men waiting to be hired to do any work. The amount of money was not too small. It was about the same as a soldier in the Roman army was paid daily. The last workers were hired at 5 pm. They only worked one hour. At the end of the day, the Landowner paid all the workers the same amount of money. The ones who came in the morning expected to be paid more, because they worked longer hours. They grumbled when they received the same amount with those who were hired later.

Let us say that in your office, you work the whole week very hard. Then your boss hires a man on Friday morning. That Friday both of you are paid the same amount of money. The newcomer is overjoyed. Will you rejoice with him? Tell the truth! The answer is No! You will be angry. You will feel cheated. This is the reaction of any sinner. Many say: It’s not fair! God is not fair! But this is the atmosphere in the Kingdom of God!

Then the Landowner said: “‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen” (Matt 20:13-16). Clearly, the workers who came in the morning, did not understand the law of the Kingdom of God. They used common sense to arrive at conclusions. In God’s Kingdom, worldly wisdom will always disappoint and clash with the Kingdom’ culture. The rich Landowner is Christ, the King. Here we see that the King has supreme power. He hires workers and he rewards them as He wishes. The King owes everything, both the land and the workers. The King never makes mistakes. He is rich and free to use his riches as He wants. In the Kingdom of God, we see justice, sovereignty, and grace. Jesus is always righteous and just. He said: “You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you”. (Matt 20:4). Jesus is not just righteous. He is Righteousness Himself. He can never do wrong. He can never cheat. He can never lie. He is sovereign in the way he calls the workers and how He pays them. Grace is always there but it manifests especially in the way he pays the ones that come at the 11th hour. They surely received more than they expected.

The ones who came first grumbled. They were not satisfied with the payment. Dis-satisfaction and grumbling are the major sins and a great danger for the believers who have worked for God for a long time. They compare themselves and their rewards with those who repented late in life. The lack of understanding of the laws in God’s Kingdom will disappoint and demote some. The ones who humble themselves and submit to the King, will be promoted, and rewarded. For example, the elder brother of the prodigal son was not happy that the father loved both of them equally. He thought he should receive more love and a greater reward for not backsliding openly. Grace pays the late comers more than they expect. God is happy when a sinner repents, even if it is on his dying bed. The grace given at that hour is amazing, to encourage the soul to enter heaven. Lesson: We should never be jealous on other people’s rewards or gifts, not compare ourselves with others. We should be found to be good and faithful servants to the end! We should not grumble when we don’t understand the ways of King Grace! We should be always grateful for God saving our souls and bringing us into His Kingdom!

IS GOD NOT FAIR? SOME PRINCIPLES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

When you think that God is unfair, study some of the Principles of the Kingdom:

1-God owes everything. God does not owe us anything.

2-God has done much more than we deserve. One denarius was the salary for a solider. If God has done nothing more than saving your soul, it is much more than you deserve!

3-God’s blessings do not depend on how hard we work. He blesses us by His Grace alone. His grace is sovereign! It cannot be bought!

4-Never look down on the 11th hour workers. One day, you can be in that group. When you backslide and need more grace to come home!

5-If you are saved for a long time do not look down on the baby Christians! The spiritually strong should not despise the weak in the faith!

6-Do not compare with others! Do not become jealous, ungrateful, or bitter towards God.

7-Reject the evil spirit of ‘doing business or demanding something’ from God!

8-Do not always look at what God can give to you. Look at what you can do for God, to serve Him better! In this way, you stay humble!

The landowner, was he fair, less, or more than fair? The answer is that he was more than fair. He hired men who will work very little for him (one hour). He paid them the same amount. God is always fair. God does not give us what we deserve. Because we are born sinners, we deserve to die. But God gives us mercy and grace. I have food to eat. I don’t deserve it. It is by God’s mercy. The only thing I really deserve is God’s anger, punishment, and hell. I don’t need for God to be fair with me. I need His mercy. Justice and mercy are not contradictory. Justice goes so far. From that point, mercy takes over. If anyone shows mercy to another, that is entirely to him, if, when, and how to show mercy. God is obligated to show justice but not mercy. He shows justice to everybody, but He does not show mercy to everybody.  “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens” (Rom 9:14-18). God chooses to whom He will show mercy.

How does God choose those to whom He will give mercy? This is a great question. But first, remember that there is nothing like ‘luck’ in the Kingdom of God. There is nothing like ‘lottery’ about who receives mercy. In the world people live by luck. That is why many gamble to win money. They depend on good luck. That is why the Christians should not gamble. God choses the recipients of His divine mercy according to His principles that are the laws in the Kingdom of God:

*God shows His mercy to those who ask for it. The Christians pray for healing, protection, or finances. But few people pray for mercy. Why? Because they think they are not too bad. “The tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Lk 18:13). God gives mercy to armed robbers and rapists as they prepare to die. Many criminals became born again in the prison. When they died, they went to heaven. How do you feel about it? Angry?

*God shows mercy to those who will invest it into others. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt 5:7). In the Parable of the unforgiving, unmerciful servant (Matt 18:21-35) we see that mercy can be withdrawn when mercy is not shared to others. The king cancelled the huge debt of millions of naira to a man. But the same man could not let go of a debt of 100 naira that another servant of the king owed him. The king was angry because his mercy did not produce fruits. He revived the debt. The man was sent to prison until he pays the last kobo. This is a very serious matter. This parable also describes the Kingdom of Heaven. Mercy and kindness are highly appreciated. Any sin against mercy is severely punished. Unforgiveness is a stronghold blocking God to show you mercy.  If mercy cannot flow out, it will not flow in. To forgive your enemy is very hard and painful. But it opens the way to God to show you mercy. Selah!

*God will show mercy to those who will not take it for granted. Let us say a man is caught in adultery. He got infected with a venereal disease. He cries to God for mercy. God heals him and helps him to restore his marriage. Few months later, the same man commits adultery again. And he cries for mercy again. He is a fool. “As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly” (PV 26:11). God does not show mercy to fools. After saving the woman caught in adultery, Jesus said to her: “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (Jn 8:11). Jesus commanded her to repent of her sins. If not, mercy may not be found again! God gives us mercy to help us stop sinning not to continue in sin! “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!” (Rom 6:1, 2).

WORSHIP YOUR KING!

The Kingdom of God is not created in this world. The Kingdom of God comes from heaven. When Jesus came to earth, He brought the Kingdom with Him where Truth is in its constitution. Jesus is the Truth! The Kingdom of God is totally different than any other kingdom on earth. You need the revelation of the Holy Spirit to understand the authority of God’s eternal Kingdom. “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (Jn 18:36, 37). Once a sinner becomes saved, he must renew his mind to be able to obey the new laws of this kingdom. He must have the mind of Christ. This is done thru the process of sanctification, by obeying God’s Word by the power of the Holy Spirit.

To enter God’s Kingdom, the sinner must become born again. Conversion is a miracle. Salvation is God’s gift, thru Grace and by faith in Christ crucified and resurrected. Religion does not save a sinner. Jesus told the religious leader Nicodemus: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (Jn 3:3). After you become born again, you need to make progress, to mature as a Christian. The fact that you are saved does not mean that automatically you will know how to behave in all situations. You need to study God’s Word, pray, attend a local church, and serve God in any capacity before you will see changes in your attitude and actions. Agape Love leads the way. The Body of Christ is One! But in the Body, there are weak Christians and strong Christians. The more you pay the price for spiritual maturity, the stronger you shall be as a Christian. Apostle Paul said: “However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Cor 2:6-8). Spiritual maturity manifests as divine wisdom, which is the platform for the display of God’s glory on us. The unbelievers, the rulers of this age, though they are proud of their knowledge, they do not have this wisdom. In their foolishness and ignorance, they crucified Jesus, adding sin upon sin. They are out of the Kingdom of God.

Question: are you born again? Are you a citizen of the Kingdom of God? Is Jesus Christ your personal Savior, Lord, and King? Then humbly bow down and worship Him forever! Acknowledge His amazing Grace and unfailing Love! This is the worship of heaven: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev 5:13). Worship the Lord!