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| Seeds in a pod in Japan - he writes on creation his ways |
Two Fish - 5 Loaves of Bread.
Five Thousand Eat a Wonderful Lunch
This is the Kingdom of God among us.
It is buried treasure in a field - Luke 12:24
It is a pearl of great price - Matthew 13:45
It is the seeds planted by God all around and in our lives - II Corinthians 9:6-9
It is Faith, HOPE and LOVE. I Corinthians 13
So how does this happen? Grace, LOVE, flooding our lives?
Or, does this NOT really happen at all?
Are the things of the Kingdom simply high ideals and ideas?
Do we know and experience them in real time and real life?
In our deconstruction mentalities - the NO - the negative - the darkness - we focus on what is NOT. And so we reap what we sow?
1. This is where the Kingdom meets the world in miracle and wonder. The NOT - ie "What we don't have". There is no lack in the Kingdom.
IN our wild and prosperous culture it is easy to look more at what we don't have. In fact, we are conditioned to look at the world this way. Day after day our fallen culture reminds us of what we don't have. The consumption and capitol machine always wants us to buy what we don't have. Daily we are bombarded with what we don't have, what we need, and what others have that we "should" have. It is a challenge to silence the scream of the world that tells us we need more and more. For those who have all they want the mindset is "I have no need". This is a scary place in spiritual terms. The Laodicean church of Revelation needed nothing. Jesus pointed out their incredible lack; blind, naked, poor, wretched, and pitiful. When we think world possessions and wealth are the Kingdom of God we enter into a fatal spiritual flaw.
Oh for a moment to see what we look like from heavens vantage and not how we look on earth.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Cor 4:17-18
2. We've been expertly trained to focus on our ability to meet needs rather than connect people to the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom is endless provision in every way through the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I've got news for you...the Kingdom of God does not need anything to explode onto the world - well one thing....YOU and I as living sacrifices, witnesses of his love and walkers in the Spirit. The Kingdom of God is boundless in it's provision and ability to meet needs and bring salvation. This is key. If we look at our existing resources and the magnitude of needs in the world we loose sight of the flow of the Kingdom through us. It touches those in front of us. It is a now reality in perfect timing and resource. (II Timothy 1:9-10)
3. Little Children, those who see the Kingdom, expect their Abba to provide.
Yes. This world is full of imperfection, injustice, greed etc...on and on we can focus on it's failure and shortcomings.
But we are invited to see a different Kingdom. An eternal Kingdom that breaks into this life NOW. One that spins something remarkable from two fish and 5 loaves with 5000 people staring at you. We are not the resource. Jesus our Lord is and he has a boundless Kingdom of love, grace, hope, life and peace.
Welcome it. Pray you can stand with 5000 staring at you. These are miracle opportunities that put us out on a limb. These are opportunities for Jesus to shine not you and me. Miracles are about compassion, health and wholeness in the Kingdom rule of Jesus Christ.
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| Disciples learn the ways of the Kingdom and hand out the miracle! |
3. Crucify the idol of the age - the SELF - and let the Kingdom of God explode from the inside out! Jesus was clear. The way of the cross requires a daily sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). We die to the fruitless mindsets and ideas of this world each day. Some believers focus on the death. Jesus rose again. He completely shattered reality as we know it and brought forth a whole new life. We need to focus on the life! We get freedom from bondages and chains and then we smash the dominion of darkness by simply being a "living sacrifice". Rom 12:1-2 Abiding in his presence is our inheritance and our refuge.
Regain the place of resting and abiding through prayer, intercession and a realization that the Kingdom is present right now to meet what you and I are facing.
Then he said to them all:
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily
and follow me.
Luke 9:23
4. Rivers of living water flow in taking the RISKs we are called into in the Kingdom. The Kingdom is PRESENT now. Learn to relish the moments when you don't have what appears to be required.
A reality check is what this moment is for all of us. God's Kingdom has provision for what is in front even if we are holding two fish and 5 loaves in the face of 5000 hungry people. When his love and compassion make our hearts beat, we hunger for a way to break open in the Lord.
In the wild and prosperous culture of Jesus' Kingdom it is easy to overlook the simplicity with which it contacts our broken world. The Kingdom is mind blowingly simple. WE RECEIVE AND WELCOME IT.
We don't invent it or manage it. Jesus does through the Spirit. That's it. Receive HIM. Welcome HIM. Jesus will meet you as his son or daughter with the most amazing grace and love and wisdom in the moment. Open the doors little ones.
5. The significance of numbers, the 2 and 5. The Witnesses of the Kingdom and the Grace of his government.
The bible is fascinating. A simple study always grows into 100's of avenues, roadways and paths to discover more of the Love and grace of the Lord Jesus. He is the Word. The intricacy of Scripture is remarkable. In every way it speaks. 2 fish and 5 loaves are significant.
The disciples were getting a lesson in the order of the Kingdom of God. 2 witnesses carry with them every provision and power to save the world. And the Fivefold grace of ministry provided personally by Jesus to the Church is a never ending stream of prophetic encouragement and revelation of the NAME. The NAME above all names. Elevate your understanding of the Word by studying and showing yourself approved.
The first thing to let go is that Scripture is just about meeting my need. God is winning Nations to him today.
The confidence of sons and daughters gives way to an army of grace and love that invades the world with miracle power and love. Elevate your understanding!
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| 5000 for lunch on this. Go Jesus. |
Goodness and mercy are to follow us. What opens the door in front of us so they can follow? LOVE. The Kingdom provision for loving the world is endless. This is how God approached us. "For God so loved the world...." Jn 3:16 Put love in front. Ask the Spirit to enlighten you to how you can love in whatever situation you are in. He will answer you. Right now in the moment. Amazingly he often feeds 5000 with a few fish and some bread.
7. We receive and welcome the Kingdom into everything we know and experience in life.
It is essential to know that the Kingdom of God is not something we generate. It is Jesus' Kingdom. The Alpha and Omega pours out assignments in wisdom and love. Galatians 1:1. Paul makes clear his ministry is not "from men" or " through men". Meaning it is heavens idea. Heavens initiative. Heavens plans. There is too much noise these days. Noise arising from those who want to "do a great thing FOR God" rather than "Let God do the great thing he intended all along through them".
The baseline perspective, the Kingdom we carry with us everywhere can shape the very life and experiences of our world. It's God's Kingdom touching earth again and again.
We can see the world with the "eyes" of lack, want and need.
Or we can see it from the vantage point of the Kingdom of Jesus.
Boundless. Never ending resource of LOVE, GRACE, Healing, deliverance, freedom, connection, and family.
I have good news. ALL this is yours in Christ Jesus! And his open invitation.....
COME. FOLLOW ME
Comments? Ideas? Testimonies?
Send those to me.
Thanks for +1's and re-shares.
Other posts that may interest you:
Thanks for reading.
The dialogue is awesome. Thank you.
Testimonies? Share em with me.
I am hoping to do Google Hang Outs Soon on Friday's.
Uganda was amazing.
Thank you for your prayers and support!
So appreciated. Such an offering. Makes all the difference.
With much love in Jesus
You can do this thing! He's got you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
Brother Jeff
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