This week we sat together in order that we might get a glimpse of the larger purposes of God. Our survey of scriptures that speak of the "kingdom of God" appeared at first glance to be very complex, yet as we wrestled through them, we discovered that God was opening the door into treasures of understanding and blessing. I saw us as women in search of fine pearls (Matthew 13:45-46).
What we discovered from our survey of scriptures and looking at the Greek and Hebrew meaning of "kingdom" was that the root meaning of kingdom is the reign or rule of God. We also saw that some passages refer to the kingdom as a future realm of salvation (heaven, Age to Come) in which we enter and experience the fullness of his reign. Lastly, what we discovered was that by receiving Christ as Lord and Savior, we have entered into a new and present realm of the kingdom of God in which we experience redemptive blessings.
Our digging has just begun. We want to be women walking in the fullness of the blessings of the Kingdom of God.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Opposition to the Redemptive Purpose of God
In looking at the temptations Jesus faced in Matthew 4, we saw that this is what we face today: the temptation to be relevant; to be spectacular and to be powerful. The activity of Satan has not changed; his single purpose is to frustrate the will of God in our life. We are empowered when we hold on to the very promises of God.
First Corinthians 10:13 promises "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." We stand on the faithfulness of God.
In Psalm 84:11 (For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless) and Luke 12:32 (Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom) we discover what God desires to give us is more than the world could ever offer. Yet again and again we give in to temptation.
Here's our encouragement, when we miss "the way out" provided by the Lord, as Jesus said to Peter in Luke 12:32 "But I have prayed for you, [Sister], that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your [sisters]. This is the power and reach of the Redemptive Purpose of God - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.
First Corinthians 10:13 promises "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." We stand on the faithfulness of God.
In Psalm 84:11 (For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless) and Luke 12:32 (Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom) we discover what God desires to give us is more than the world could ever offer. Yet again and again we give in to temptation.
Here's our encouragement, when we miss "the way out" provided by the Lord, as Jesus said to Peter in Luke 12:32 "But I have prayed for you, [Sister], that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your [sisters]. This is the power and reach of the Redemptive Purpose of God - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Impending Kingdom Activity
As we looked at the life of John the Baptist in each of the gospel accounts, we discovered the children of Israel were filled with a great expectancy. After 400 years of prophetic silence, God was now speaking through a prophet. God was about to act in His kingly power to bring about the salvation of the righteous and the judgment of the wicked. Yet, it was done in a manner that many had not expected - even John the Baptist.
This impending kingdom activity was going for the heart - our motives, our thoughts, our desires, our attitudes. . . .
And many turned away because they had a vision of an earthy or worldly greatness. Jesus said "whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (Mt 20:26b).
Where do you find yourself today? Are you walking away because this Christian life is so very different than what you had envisioned? Or have you embraced the impending kingdom activity in your heart? "And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new" (Rev 21:5a).
This impending kingdom activity was going for the heart - our motives, our thoughts, our desires, our attitudes. . . .
And many turned away because they had a vision of an earthy or worldly greatness. Jesus said "whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (Mt 20:26b).
Where do you find yourself today? Are you walking away because this Christian life is so very different than what you had envisioned? Or have you embraced the impending kingdom activity in your heart? "And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new" (Rev 21:5a).
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Our Sure Foundation
In today's study we looked at Matthew 1:18-2:23. Specifically, 5 scriptural references that Matthew highlighted to the Jewish Christians that were foundational to understanding and believing that this Jesus was the promised Messiah they longed for. "And so was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets . . ." The sealing of this foundation came in Matthew 12:6, 41 and 42, where Jesus declares He is superior to those whom God led his people in the past - priest, prophet, King and sage.
Today, we examine ourselves and ask, "Do I have this foundational basis that Jesus is the promised Messiah? Do you see God continually building upon this foundation?
When we looked at Matthew 2:23, we saw that being called a Nazarene had a negative connotation. What was spoken by the prophets is that Jesus would be despised and rejected, "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Jesus was rejected by his own people because he was so very different than what they had imagined.
Likewise, are we rejecting Jesus because this Christian life has become something different than what we had imagined?
Today, we examine ourselves and ask, "Do I have this foundational basis that Jesus is the promised Messiah? Do you see God continually building upon this foundation?
When we looked at Matthew 2:23, we saw that being called a Nazarene had a negative connotation. What was spoken by the prophets is that Jesus would be despised and rejected, "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." Jesus was rejected by his own people because he was so very different than what they had imagined.
Likewise, are we rejecting Jesus because this Christian life has become something different than what we had imagined?
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Threads of Hope
Our first lesson was on the genealogy of Jesus. As we looked at many in the lineage of Jesus we saw liars, murderers, prostitutes, adulterers, incest and just plain evil men. Yet, this is where the God of the Kingdom chose to come as King to rescue a people held captive to sin.
Now that you've had time to think about the lesson, what has God been saying to you? As you examine your own genealogy, what have you seen? Have you allowed the cleansing blood of Jesus to wash away all the vestiges of slavery or do you walk in the brokenness that plagued your genealogy?
I shared with a part of my own genealogy and a thread of hope found even in the midst of slavery. How a slave owner who impregnated a 12 year old slave girl and fathered 3 children by her, set them all free. More than that, he gave them his name and gave them a part of his land so that might build their own lives. What's your thread of hope that God placed into your genealogy?
Now that you've had time to think about the lesson, what has God been saying to you? As you examine your own genealogy, what have you seen? Have you allowed the cleansing blood of Jesus to wash away all the vestiges of slavery or do you walk in the brokenness that plagued your genealogy?
I shared with a part of my own genealogy and a thread of hope found even in the midst of slavery. How a slave owner who impregnated a 12 year old slave girl and fathered 3 children by her, set them all free. More than that, he gave them his name and gave them a part of his land so that might build their own lives. What's your thread of hope that God placed into your genealogy?
Prison Clothes - How do I take them off?!
As happens so often, several of us were talking after class about today's lesson. Amy asked the question that came to her while we were talking about dining at the King's table with prison clothes on (2 Kings 25:27-30). How do I put off these prison garments?
The word of God tells us in Isaiah 61:10a "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness." So as a child of God those prison clothes have been exchanged for salvation and righteousness. Yet our mindset (which controls our behavior) is that we have these prison garments on.
It is a issue of the mind - we have to walk in the truth of God's word, which tells us we have a new set of clothes. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." Additionally, Ephesians 4:22-24 22 tells us, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." In other words, we must exchange this constant accusation from Satan (see Revelation 12:10) for the truth of God - we have a set of new clothes - the very righteousness of Christ.
Zechariah 3:1-5 gives us a great picture of how this looks in the spiritual realm.
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. "
The word of God tells us in Isaiah 61:10a "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness." So as a child of God those prison clothes have been exchanged for salvation and righteousness. Yet our mindset (which controls our behavior) is that we have these prison garments on.
It is a issue of the mind - we have to walk in the truth of God's word, which tells us we have a new set of clothes. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." Additionally, Ephesians 4:22-24 22 tells us, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." In other words, we must exchange this constant accusation from Satan (see Revelation 12:10) for the truth of God - we have a set of new clothes - the very righteousness of Christ.
Zechariah 3:1-5 gives us a great picture of how this looks in the spiritual realm.
"Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, "Take off his filthy clothes." Then he said to Joshua, "See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you." Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. "