Every summer, I recall my parents would take us kids to the Clearfield County Fair. As we wandered around, the sights and smells gave us a sensory overload!
Exploring the Farm Exhibits
We would start by walking through all the farm exhibits: cows, rabbits, chickens, hogs, horses; you name it, I think they had it! Mom would want to walk through all the exhibits that highlighted things like canned foods, knitting, quilts, paintings, and the like.
The Allure of the Mid-Way
While the animals and farm exhibits were interesting, I would catch glimpses of the Mid-Way; the rides, games, and cotton candy were beckoning me to come and see! I would tug on Mom and Dad’s hand, hoping they would get the hint.
The Excitement of the Mid-Way
Finally, we entered the Mid-Way… WOW, what a sight! Dad took me on the double Ferris Wheel, and as we spun high above the clamor, we could see forever, or so it seemed! Getting a bird’s-eye view, we could see it all and could even see Mom far below, waving up at us.
Navigating the Gauntlet of Games
As we began to walk through the gauntlet of games and attractions, some of the game operators began to call out to my dad, and I became a bit uneasy. They would say slightly demeaning things like, “Hey you, why don’t you show your boy how strong you are? Take the hammer and ring the bell; make your boy proud!”
It seemed like every game we went by, some carnival worker would bark out stinging little slogans designed to get my dad to react and buy a ticket to play.
A Memorable Game Challenge
I recall stopping by a game where one of the players was having a dispute with the operator. The game looked simple: a pool ball placed in the center of a circle with a silver dollar on top of the ball.
The idea was to take a cue ball and knock the ball away, dropping the coin in the center of the circle, not touching the lines of the circle drawn on the table. One of the men who had been trying the game declared it impossible to win, and the argument was heated.
Since we had a pool table at home, I knew I could do it! I asked Dad if I could play. He was not too keen on the idea, but since I had the money for the game, he let me play.
A Triumphant Moment
I lined up the cue stick, put a hard spin to the left, and hit the cue ball hard. It nearly missed the desired ball with the coin on top but just nipped it, leaving the silver dollar drop perfectly in the center!
The carnival game operator made such a fuss about me accomplishing this task that he gave me the largest stuffed animal he had; it was nearly as tall as I was! The man who had been arguing walked away in disgust!
Drawing Parallels to Political Unrest
The experiences at the carnival remind me of the current state of political unrest in our country. It’s as if the politicians have become nothing more than “carnival barkers,” attempting to elicit emotional responses by shouting empty slogans designed to get a quick reaction.
The Noise of Political Barking
It seems both sides of the political spectrum are fully engaged with constant “carnival barking,” hoping to gain the most attention in the shortest amount of time. The goal seems to be convincing those passing by to join in the hate and animus of the day.
A Christian Response to the Clamor
How are we, as Christians, supposed to negotiate the constant clamor and confusing rhetoric coming from those elected to serve us?
Keeping Our True Citizenship in Perspective
First, we need to keep our “true” citizenship in perspective. Jesus reveals that we are not of this world any more than He is! “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16)
When we decided to follow Jesus and make our allegiance to Him, we became part of His Kingdom. The Apostle Paul declares in Colossians 1:13, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love…”
Therefore, even though we love our country deeply, our first and strongest loyalty is to Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom!
Recognizing Manipulative Tactics
So when the political “carnival barkers” shout demeaning slogans against people created in the image of God, as you journey by, you can see it for what it is: an attempt to draw you out of the Kingdom of God and back into the kingdom of darkness.
Engaging with Purpose and Guidance
Secondly, it is OK to get involved with the political system if you choose to. If you decide to jump in, be sure to do so with the prompting and leading of Jesus. Go in with a clear-eyed view of what you are doing.
Just like the little game I played and won, the training, confidence, and the backing of my dad gave me everything I needed to do it and win; you need the same from your heavenly Father, and you will win too!
Staying Grounded Amid the Noise
So, let the carnival barkers bark; it is what they do! Do not believe every word they shout; most of them are not true at all. It is only a ploy to get YOU off your game and into theirs. Enjoy the carnival… but be careful out there!
You Have Been Seated with Christ in the Heavenly Realms
God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW!
As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective, and we are transported into the heavens with Christ; we live, breathe, and find our being in Him!
This Bible study will help you rediscover how it all began, what happened in the Garden of Eden, who is the Devil really, and what is he up to today.
Head into the heavenly realms and discover profound truths concerning your relationship with God, and His incredible plan for you.
Search your heart, preparing for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this study, you will enter into God’s armory, suiting up with the whole armor of God.
Discover the Keys to the Kingdom given to you, and learn what they unlock; discovering your true nature in Christ, the authority given, the Sword of the Spirit, the covering armor, and the mission ahead, you will truly learn to pray . . . Upside Down!
It was early in my pastoral career; I was serving two small community churches about 16 miles apart. I received a call from a woman at one of the churches.
The woman told me that a friend of a friend, heard of a family in the community, whose mother was in critical condition at a local hospital; and would I go see her.
New to ministry, and wanting to be a good pastor, I said that I would go. I put on my pastor suit, grabbed my Bible and headed to the hospital. I was ill prepared for what I was about to encounter.
Stepping Into the Unknown
When I arrived to the hospital, I asked for the room number of the ailing mother. I approached the room with a great deal of anxiety; not knowing what to expect.
The door was open, so I gently entered the room, standing in the doorway. I saw about 8 people in the room, and an elderly woman in the hospital bed.
She was on life support; a respirator was helping her breathe; I could tell she was not long for this world.
When the family in the room turned to see who I was, they recognized I was a preacher; two of the teenage granddaughters, burst into tears and ran out of the room past me. The rest of the family just looked at me, not saying a word.
Divine Interruption
I began to stammer a bit, as I struggled for something to say. I told them that a friend of a friend of theirs had mentioned to a friend of mine, the situation regarding their mother and I thought I should come . . . awkward silence ensued!
As I stood there, in that tongue-tied, odd moment of indecision, the Lord took action; the power went out to the entire hospital!
The room went dark for about 15 seconds; which seemed like an eternity. The magnetic doors to all the rooms slammed shut; the poor woman on the ventilator began to choke and gasp for air, alarms were going off, and the family in the room began to panic!
The whole power outage was short lived, but it created quite a stir; the nurses came bursting into the room, caring for the elderly woman; resetting the alarms and making sure she stabilized.
Purpose in the Chaos
When the pandemonium calmed down; I whispered; “Lord, You don’t ever have to do that again . . . I know what I need to do and why I am here.”
I went to the bedside of the woman and I took her hand. I could not tell if she could hear me or not; she never once opened her eyes.
I told her that I was a pastor who came to pray for her. I began to tell her how much Jesus loved her, and that she needed to trust in Him right now.
I shared a little more about Jesus, and then I asked if she was trusting in Jesus right now; at that instant, she gripped my hand hard, an indication to me that she heard everything I was saying, and that she was indeed trusting in Him.
I told her that if Jesus comes to her soon, that it is all right to go to Him. I said a prayer for her, and then quietly left the room.
Ministry Beyond the Hospital
The next afternoon, Jesus came to receive her, and she went quietly with Him.
The family, none of whom attended any church, called me to see if I would do the funeral for their mom, since “I knew her.” I graciously accepted the request with honor. I began the funeral service by telling the very same story, I just told you!
God helps us in our walk with Him, going to extraordinary steps; getting our attention. He got mine that day, and reminded me that I am on a mission to let people know, sick or not, that He is near, He loves them, and wants them to follow Him . . . It is that simple!
Anger is an emotion we all have, and how we express it is very important. Uncontrolled anger quickly turns to rage, a form of abuse.
Anger, when properly controlled helps shape new ideas, it is a healthy mechanism used to set boundaries and keep us from over reacting to situations.
You may recall Moses becoming angry many times, as he encountered difficult people, and God used those moments to help shape the man Moses, and indeed an entire nation of people.
Uncontrolled anger turns to rage, and rage is very destructive, often becoming addictive. Anger in and of itself, is not bad. When we are faced with a situation that causes us to become angry, we need to talk it out, find solutions, set boundaries.
Biblical Insights on Anger and Bitterness
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Did you catch that? “Get rid of all bitterness . . .”
Let’s look at this word for a moment.
The root word used for bitterness is:
Pikrospik-ros’ (piercing); sharp (pungent), that is, acrid – bitter.
Explosive Nature of Bitterness: A Historical Analogy
I grew up in Cameron County, a rather remote area in North Central Pennsylvania, the heart of the Pa. Wilds. Residents are familiar with the term Picric.
Early in the settlement of Cameron County, there was an abundance of Hemlock; it was everywhere. The hemlock trees were debarked, and the hemlock bark processed to produce tannin, in turn used in the process of tanning hides.
Picric (bitter) acid helped pull the tannin out of the hemlock bark. Since there was an abundance of Picric acid, also used to produce the powerful explosive TNT, factories sprung up across Cameron County in the 1800’s.
So . . . “Pikros” or bitterness is a powerful explosive, and the Bible says to get rid of it . . . all of it!
Bitterness usually manifests in three ways, bitterness toward God, toward others, and toward oneself.
Bitterness Towards God
Bitterness towards God can happen many different ways, and I have seen it happen many times. A precious loved one is taken away, and there are no clear answers.
Someone prays for a healing, and the object of his or her prayers is suddenly gone!
Someone is faithful to God, serving the church, generous in giving, yet end up losing their job, the house is now in foreclosure, and they are about to lose everything!
The natural question in situations like these are; “why would a loving God allow this to happen?
It is easy to fall into the trap and begin to question God’s love, His mercy, and His wisdom. Perhaps you have been there!
You begin to feel angry at God, and you begin to shrink back from Him. You see God blessing others but you feel cursed and wonder why God is passing you by. I have heard people say; “when is it my time to be blessed!”
Your anger towards God grows, and you become resentful, and question everything God does, you even begin to question the very existence of God. A prime example of this, is found in the Book of Acts.
Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.”
They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them moneyand said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
Simon had a bitter heart because he saw the real power of God being used in common everyday folks and he wanted it!
Bitterness Towards Others
The second way we become bitter is towards others. This usually begins with an offense and a hurt that is not forgiven. Often this takes a lifetime to develop and can start at an early age. A child, abused emotionally or physically, finding no way to express the pain; become angry, and resentful to their parents or toward others.
I have seen families devastated when a cherished family member passes away. Heirlooms divided unevenly, the estate, managed improperly, and someone gets hurt, resentment sets in.
As time progresses, the hurt festers, and bitterness of heart, overtake the person and they become toxic.
When a family lives with a bitter person, life can be almost unbearable! The bitter one cannot truly love, rarely if ever says the words “I love you,” unless spoken with an unhealthy dose of sarcasm.
The bitter person cannot find it within himself or herself, to express hope and encouragement to anyone, life revolves around them and their pain.
The bitter heart always sees itself as the victim, the one who is always hurt, and if not hurt now, will most certainly hurt again soon.
The bitter person is almost always angry about something, works hard at producing guilt feelings in others, and when those they must live with distance themselves, more anger and guilt comes rolling out.
A bitter person is full of poison and is toxic like picric, an explosion waiting to happen!
Bitterness to oneself
The last form of bitterness expresses inwardly, toward self. Some people see themselves as ugly, sinful, and disgusting. They have committed crimes against God and man, and simply cannot forgive themselves.
They feel as though God could never forgive them for the things they have done. I have encountered many a person with this affliction; when asked; they often say something like; “I hope God will forgive me.” They have not yet believed that God could, or would forgive them.
For this person, God’s forgiveness is just a bridge too far. Many times this person will do works for God, hoping somehow to earn His forgiveness and love!
Bitterness of heart settles in, and in the end, without forgiveness received, the person’s eternal life is lost; a sad end indeed.
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Bitterness will defile many if left unchecked and if you are reading this today, and you know you have the symptoms of bitterness; then let’s get healed of this disease today!
How to Get Free of Bitterness Once and For All
Overcoming Bitterness Toward God
To get started, we deal with bitterness toward God. The first step is to realize that we live in a fallen world; a world full of sin and destruction.
Remember, bad things happen to good people, and just because we are Christians, does not exempt us from the brokenness of this broken world.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
While there will be pain and suffering in this world, God is working in ways we may not see clearly. In the midst of great pain and suffering, ask God to lead you, hold tight to His hand.
As you encounter painful experiences in this broken world, rather than despise God, ask Him if there is anything that can be discovered from this? Not that God instigated the pain, but rather, can God help you through this and help you learn something too, perhaps something to help another.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Many reading this have been through tremendous pain and suffering, yet you still love God! Could one of the blessings be that there is a way for you to comfort others who may be heading into a season of suffering?
Do not become bitter toward God, He is not your enemy, He is your salvation, trust Him, fall into His arms and love Him, let your bitterness toward Him dissolve!
Overcoming Bitterness Toward Others
Secondly, let’s deal with the bitterness toward others. Remember to make your anger temporary; recall Ephesians 4:26 “. . . do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
Do not allow your anger to cause you to sin; make up your mind you will not do it!
Forgive and forget! Now I know this sounds simplistic, but it works. For someone reading this today, you have kept a running list of every hurt, every offense, and you have learned to nurse them; holding them dear, not realizing that the very thing you clutch to your heart is killing you and is a contagion to those around you!
First, forgive them. That means letting go of the right to retaliate! Give the outcome to God; let Him be the Judge, and the One who has the final say. In your forgiveness, be sure to get rid of all malice, give it up!
Stop wishing harm to those who harm you, stop it!
Once you have made up your mind to forgive; then forget. By forget I mean that you will never bring up the offense again.
A man was meeting with a marriage counselor and he said; “please help me, my wife is historical, she’s absolutely historical!” The doctor said; “Don’t you mean she is hysterical?” “No,” the man replied; “she is historical and is always bringing up the past.”
We will not forget the incident, and the scar may last for a lifetime, but when we forgive, we leave it alone and determine not to bring it back up.
One more thought on this; if you are in an abusive relationship and you have within your power the freedom to leave, then do so; God calls us to live in peace.
I have known people who feel it is their duty to live in an abusive relationship, to suffer great pain and humiliation, only to end up bitter, resentful and lost; this is not God’s plan.
It is one thing to suffer for Christ and quite another to suffer for man; you must discern between the two, and make a decision.
Overcoming Bitterness Toward Oneself
Finally, let’s deal with bitterness toward oneself. To tackle this one, you need to believe God’s Word. If you do, then there is real hope, if you do not, then you will suffer a long life of bitterness and die without Christ.
Those who suffer bitterness toward themselves often wallow in self-pity. Many, who struggle in this way, have what we often refer to as a besetting sin, the one thing that always trips them up! They tend to live in a cycle of sin and self abasement.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Remember that God has provided everything you need for salvation, including the gift of forgiveness. If you have sinned, then confess it to God, tell Him about it! Once you do, then forgiveness comes, it’s over, and He will remember it no more.
Avoid not forgiving yourself, this makes you become as God in your life. Are you stronger, wiser and more powerful than God? I don’t think so! Let it go!
So, let’s get rid of all bitterness today! Make this the first day of a life without bitterness.
For those of you who have experienced bitterness of soul, this is not easy; it will cause tears and great pain. Bitterness has been part of your life, and living without it will be a frightful thing at first.
However, to live with it, will cost you your soul, because there will not be one bitter soul in heaven and if you do not deal with it here, you don’t get to go there!
Time to cast bitterness into the sea
For some of you, you have accumulated a mountain of hurt, so much pain and suffering! You have carried it for years and years; it is time to bring it to God.
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
It is time to cast off the mountain of bitterness; when you, by faith, release this burden to the Lord, He will cast it away into the sea, and sweet water will begin flowing into your soul!
You Have Been Seated with Christ in the Heavenly Realms
God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW!
As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective, and we are transported into the heavens with Christ; we live, breathe, and find our being in Him!
This Bible study will help you rediscover how it all began, what happened in the Garden of Eden, who is the Devil really, and what is he up to today.
Head into the heavenly realms and discover profound truths concerning your relationship with God, and His incredible plan for you.
Search your heart, preparing for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this study, you will enter into God’s armory, suiting up with the whole armor of God.
Discover the Keys to the Kingdom given to you, and learn what they unlock; discovering your true nature in Christ, the authority given, the Sword of the Spirit, the covering armor, and the mission ahead, you will truly learn to pray . . . Upside Down!
Our world faces a growing gap between the wealthy and the less fortunate. Society calls for justice and equality.
Some propose redistributing wealth, like Robin Hood, taking from the rich to give to the poor. However, this approach raises questions of fairness, especially when considering those who earned their wealth through hard work.
As Christians, shouldn’t we take personal responsibility for caring for our neighbors instead of relying solely on the government?
A Bold Idea: Giving It All Away
To demonstrate the joy of giving, I had an idea: we would collect the Sunday morning offering as usual, but the following Sunday, we would give it all away.
After discussing it with our church leadership, we received an offering of just over $1600. The next Sunday, we prepared 80 envelopes with $20 each and gave one to everyone who attended; if you were old enough to walk, you got an envelope!
Biblical Foundation of Giving
I shared a message on giving, focusing on Matthew 6:1-4
“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. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Impact of Secret Giving
We challenged our congregation to secretly give the $20 to someone in need. Stories soon emerged: some used the money to provide meals for families, others bought groceries for those struggling.
One young boy secretly gave his $20 to an elderly woman in a grocery store. The impact of these acts of kindness was profound.
Rewards of Generosity
While giving away the offering seemed impractical at the time, God more than compensated for what we gave.
As followers of Jesus, we are Ambassadors of His Kingdom. We are called to demonstrate His love, not delegate it to a broken government.
Practical Ways to Practice Generous Giving
Here are some practical ways to start practicing generous giving:
Simple Acts of Kindness
If you can afford to dine out, consider setting aside a larger tip to bless your server; perhaps nearly as much as your dinner bill.
Pray for guidance to identify a family in need and then follow through with a blessing.
Thoughtful Gifts
Place one or two hundred dollar bills in a “Thinking of You” card with a simple message of encouragement; and and an ambassador of Jesus; sign His Name to the card.
The Gift of Time
Remember, your time is also valuable. Offering friendship and support can be a priceless blessing too.
Conclusion: Be an Ambassador of Generosity
As ambassadors of Christ, we have the authority to act in His name.
Embrace generosity and experience the joy of blessing others.
You Have Been Seated with Christ in the Heavenly Realms
God’s great hope for us is not simply the forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven when we die; but rather, He wants us totally restored, in heart, mind and soul . . . NOW!
As we enter into this amazing adventure with God, we soon recognize that we are a part of something tremendous, something that is beyond our earthy perspective, and we are transported into the heavens with Christ; we live, breathe, and find our being in Him!
This Bible study will help you rediscover how it all began, what happened in the Garden of Eden, who is the Devil really, and what is he up to today.
Head into the heavenly realms and discover profound truths concerning your relationship with God, and His incredible plan for you.
Search your heart, preparing for a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this study, you will enter into God’s armory, suiting up with the whole armor of God.
Discover the Keys to the Kingdom given to you, and learn what they unlock; discovering your true nature in Christ, the authority given, the Sword of the Spirit, the covering armor, and the mission ahead, you will truly learn to pray . . . Upside Down!
It took a few years to come to this conclusion; but I am convinced that, “I am an alien.”
I know, you are probably rolling your eyes right now thinking, “Rock has finally gone off his ROCK-er.”
Perhaps I have, but kindly allow me to explain…
Following Jesus
It is no big secret that I am an unashamed follower of Jesus. I am not perfect on my journey with Him, however, I do spend quality time with Him and truly call Him my best Friend.
The friendship I am speaking of took a while to develop and was entirely His own idea.
A Spiritual Mess
Many years ago, through an amazing set of circumstances, I came to the realization that I was a spiritual mess.
After chasing drugs, money and other worthless “things,” I found myself faced with a decision to either believe in God, or walk away; rejecting Him, along with His offer of redemption.
A Moment of Decision
I recall kneeling at an altar in an old barn type building one hot July night, where they were holding “religious services.” I risked everything and went to Him; afraid He would reject me, afraid of what people would say, afraid of my own fallibility.
As I knelt there, tears flowing, I said to God, “I have nothing to give you, nothing at all.”
At that moment, I heard the kindest voice say, “I’ll take it.”
A New Beginning
It was there, in that hot building, with dozens of hopeful people looking on, that my friendship with Jesus began.
Amazingly, on the other side of that altar, was my wife, Sherri, having a similar experience and she also became a friend of Jesus that night!
It took no time at all for this relationship with Jesus to really get moving.
He introduced me to His Father, and to the Holy Spirit, who would come and live constantly with me, helping me, teaching me and directing my steps!
Ups and Downs
As I alluded to in the beginning of this writing, I did not, and still do not, always get it right.
There have been some tumultuous times in our friendship. We have had serious disagreements, we have laughed together, wept together, and there have been times when I thought the relationship might be irrevocably damaged; not on His part, but mine!
An Adopted Son
The thing is; this friendship with Jesus is so much more.
When He introduced me to His Father, there was a celebration, and according to God’s own Word; I became adopted into His family…WHAT?
Rescued from Darkness
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
I was rescued from the darkness and brought into His Kingdom! This is not a fantasy show; this is a spiritual reality, but it gets even better!
Adoption Rights
According to God’s Word, not only have I been rescued, I have been adopted as a son! Seriously? The Bible says:
“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Adoption – “To take into one’s family through legal means and raise as one’s own child.” The adopted child is treated by law as the natural child of the adopting parents, upon the entry of the final adoption decree. The adopted child, therefore, gains the right to inherit from the adoptive parents and adoptive parents’ relatives. (Child Welfare Information Gateway)
A Permanent Citizen
So…there you have it! I am now a permanent citizen of the Kingdom of God! How amazing is that!
As an adopted son, now living in “The Kingdom of God” it behooves me to learn all I can about my new home and to live in such a manner as to reflect my gratitude for this amazing gift!
As I have studied the ways of His “Kingdom” I have come to the realization that it truly is my spiritual home; I reside there NOW! I don’t have to die to get there!
Sent on a Mission
One thing we learn quickly as an adopted son or daughter is that, God our Father, along with the Son (Jesus) and The Holy Spirit, is on a mission.
Furthermore, those who are adopted into this family of God, are invited to join in this mission and are expected to wholeheartedly engage in it!
Expressing Kingdom Ideas
For this reason, we are “sent” to the world, to express Kingdom ideas such as: love, peace, joy, salvation, forgiveness, kindness.
We are here as missionaries; we are not of this world…still not convinced?
Jesus’ Words
Listen to the words of Jesus Himself as He prays to His Father and ours in the Gospel of John:
“But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
