The Simple Gospel of the Kingdom is.... well, simple.
Jesus' message is refreshingly simple. Yet it carries absolute power to accomplish everything promised.
It is blessed and good news for the poor in spirit, the poor in circumstance, the poor in mind and body, the poor in finance, the poor in.....
Jesus' message is refreshingly simple. Yet it carries absolute power to accomplish everything promised. Worth saying twice.
His word is somewhat like the Sun.
The Sun, which he created with a word, out of nothing, burns with an internal flame.
It burns and burns and lights the whole galaxy.
Created by a word from God.
So much of our lives in Jesus are crated by simple words.
Connected with simple actions.
Connected with Spirit power and life.
The simplicity of the Kingdom and of walking in the Spirit is laid out by the apostle John.
"and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us."
I John 3:22-24
Believe in the NAME of Jesus Christ
Love one another
Simple
and at the same time amazingly profound.
The simple Gospel is like seeds. Mark 4
The simple Gospel is one step at a time. Seed steps of faith, trusting the NAME and loving one another like HIM.
A testimony of the simple Gospel at work.
In our men's group, grown out of outreach and simple ministry to the poor, we've seen some remarkable healing, open doors and response to the Holy Spirit.
On one occasion a member of the team had a dream the night before. The dream involved forgiveness and freedom. He shared it at the group and the Holy Spirit expanded it into ministry and discussion on forgiveness. Both forgiving and being forgiven were a bit new to our group members. As we talked and looked at Scripture we felt the Spirit leading and so we set out to take that step in our lives over the next few days.Related Testimony:
One of the guys was living on his parents property in an RV. He had rocky relations with his step Dad for years. With all the challenges of his life and expectations and hopes from his parents, the way he was progressing slowly was not satisfying them. An argument erupted. After hearing their perspective, our men's group fellow stopped and asked his parents to forgive him. Something he had never done before. His step Dad began to cry and they all connected deeply. He then told us about their relationship and it's struggles.
That evening they were both up on the roof of a barn replacing roofing and sharing life together. Doing work together and living in the rich rewards of renewed relationship.
It was Father's day.
The Gospel is a series of simple steps.
The apostles focused that action by focusing on "walking in the Spirit".
Walking is one step at a time.
In the natural it is something we all know how to do, to walk.
Basic to living, walking is the normal action of our lives.
In the Spirit it is the same. Simple steps of obedience are the normal way of following Jesus.
The Spirit points and we typically know exactly what steps we should take.
Now it's up to us to walk.
Steps founded in the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit are presented before us.
And then we walk in them.
Simple Gospel
Simple Freedom
Simple Love
Simple Power
These "steps" look like the steps of obedience to ask for forgiveness or step out and love someone who you really don't even like.
Obedience to pray for your enemies.
Obedience to give when there is nothing apparently left when you do.
In truth, walking in the Spirit looks like a million different choices. Choices the Spirit is leading Saints to make all over the plant every day.
Jesus did give us commands.
"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." I John 3:23
Jesus did give us commands.
Believe in the NAME.
Have faith in the Name of Jesus.
For What?
Everything.
"Trust in is only trust when you spend it." (Dave McRae)
To move in the simple Gospel faith in the NAME of Jesus is comprehensive trust in the purpose and reality of the Kingdom in our lives. Romans 8:28-29
Each step is a step into "Faith in the Name of Jesus"
Each step requires belief. Trust.
Walking in the Spirit is predicated with knowledge of his leading and direction.
Walking in the Spirit is believing in the NAME of Jesus Christ.
Loving one another is the other leg in the stepping.
The outward expression of our lives cannot be just belief and a personal faith.
Love is the natural outflow of revelation of Jesus. John 3:16
The one another's = family of God first.
We've got things flipped on their heads. We've made much of the church into a "service center" or "pool maintenance company". We've turned the disciples into consumers.
Loving one another is far down the list of priorities of the church.
It's a corporation. A machine. A weekly process of productions and events.
Hello. Jesus is not an event.
You don't get to heaven from event to event.
We get to heaven by faith in the NAME and loving one another as he commanded.
We've made an unholy alliance. The simple Gospel of the Kingdom has been gobbled up by the consumer culture of America.
The focus on the church is hardly on loving one another.
But it should be.
Loving one another in the NAME of Jesus Christ is a high and clear calling.
Laying down our lives for one another.
Carrying out his commands in obedience as worship.
Walking as he walked.
Loving as he loved.
"This is my command, that you love one another as I have loved you."
The Church needs to be focused on implementing this command.
Aiding the Saints in walking in the Spirit and truth of this command.
Evaluating itself based on this command.
If you love me, you will keep my commands. Jesus Christ
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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