Posts from 2017-09-22

TUESDAY MEDITATION

 TUESDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2017.

THE UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM (PART 6)

"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Lk 18:22)

What does it mean to belong to God's kingdom? We have an answer to this crucial question today. There's a story of a certain rich man who came to Jesus to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. (Lk 18:18-26) Jesus' reply that the man knew the commandments was meant to take the man from known to unknown.

The Ten Commandments never mentioned anything about eternal life for those who observed it. It's at best a system that regulated morality, initiated ethical behaviour and spirituality. Having mentioned the Ten Commandments, his expectation was that Jesus would approve him of being ready to inherit eternal life. Instead, Jesus told him "one thing you still lack." Go and sell all that you have and give the proceeds to the poor thereby removing his heart and trust from his riches.

Let me call your attention to three points in this story:

1. THE HEART OF THE MATTER IS THE MATTER OF THE HEART. When you settle your heart issues with God you are ready to become a kingdom citizen.2. Jesus was not against riches. He was against putting one's heart and trust in temporary things. (Matt. 6:24, 33; 1 Timothy 6:7-10)3. No one can fulfil the conditions of entering God's kingdom by observing the laws! The primary condition has been fulfilled in Jesus. (Rom. 5:1-11) It's your turn to repent in response to Christ's provision. The conditions of the laws have been fulfilled in Jesus.

ACTION: The first priority in the kingdom of God is the situation of your heart. God wants first your love, trust, devotion before anything else.

This devotion is a gift of God to you through Bethel Gospel Centre. It will come to you every Tuesday morning. You may share it to allow it benefit others. Have a profitable day.#bgcblog#thefaithandthefaithful#tuesdaymeditation#BethelGospelCentre

TUESDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER, 2017.

THE UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM (PART 5)

The kingdom of God is not something removed from or remotely connected to those who believe in the message and mission of Jesus. They are the carriers of the kingdom. The kingdom of God is within them (Lk 17:20-21).

Your calling to belong to God's kingdom is not a mere invitation to separate yourself from worldliness but to carry the kingdom to wherever you're placed, and to establish it there.

Our text today focuses on Jesus' last wish or command following His resurrection. Please note that this command goes beyond preaching the good news of God's kingdom. In fact, it is about enacting the kingdom of God over the whole creation.

Enacting the kingdom of God over all of creation requires two things: faithfulness to the words of Jesus and engaging in deeds that complement our words. For example, as a citizen of the kingdom, when you speak against the evil political machinations that subtly ensnare people and take take away their liberty of conscience, when you engage in social justice moves to recognise the humanity of others and you declare the matchless love of God to others, you're enacting the kingdom of God on earth.

However, kingdom citizens are often slothful in fulfilling this command today. One known reason is unbelief. That is why Jesus rebuked his disciples "for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe" (Mk 16:14) before telling them to go and establish the kingdom everywhere.

ACTION: Unbelief has no good than to discredit the truth. Get rid of unbelief. Rise up in the arms of faith and begin to establish God's kingdom in your own corner.

Blessed are you for enacting the kingdom of God as you step out!

This devotion is a gift of God to you through Bethel Gospel Centre. It will come to you every Tuesday morning. You may share it to allow it benefit others. Have a profitable day.#bgcblog#thefaithandthefaithful#tuesdaymeditation#BethelGospelCentre

TUESDAY MEDITATION 

TUESDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER, 2017.

THE UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM (PART 4)

We emphasised the power of God's kingdom as evident in transformed lives last week. Today, we are reflecting upon kingdom power in healing and miracles.

Healing and miracles are vital focus of Jesus' ministry. Jesus healed the sick and performed diverse miracles as signs and foretaste of the kingdom. Healing of Jesus revealed His ultimate power and authority over evil and oppressive forces, His dominion over Satan.

When the early disciples were sent out to preach the good news of the kingdom, the command given them was "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." (Matt. 10:8; cf Lk 10:9)

The power of the kingdom is still available to bring health and deliverance to human body today. Faith activates all that Jesus did during His earthly ministry in our own time. The message of the kingdom is the same and the process of partaking in its blessings is as valid as ever.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Heb. 13:8)

That said, it should be mentioned that believers in Christ are not supposed to run after miracles. They are expected to proclaim the good news of the kingdom and miracles bearing them witness as they go.

ACTION: Do you have a situation needing healing or miraculous intervention? Your decision to exercise faith will bring all that Jesus did to reality in your situation.

I join my faith with yours to declare that as you believe God for it, it's released in Jesus' name!

This devotion is a gift of God to you through Bethel Gospel Centre. It will come to you every Tuesday morning. You may share it to allow it benefit others. Have a profitable day.#bgcblog#thefaithandthefaithful#tuesdaymeditation@Bethel Gospel Centre

TUESDAY 29TH AUGUST 2017.

THE UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM (PART 3)

As we focus on one of the characteristics of God's kingdom today, Paul's testimony presents us an opportunity to unpack this characteristic of the kingdom.

The kingdom of God is characterised by power. This power is evident in change and transformation of lives and human character. When we declare the good news of God's kingdom, we are declaring heavenly counsel and are placing demand on the kingdom power to be manifest in human affairs.

Observe that in Paul's declaration the good news of Jesus does not have power BUT IT IS THE POWER OF GOD which brings salvation - pardon and emancipation, even a rescue from the reality of hell. That is why 1 Cor. 4:20 affirms that: "For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power."

What does this power do?

1. It transforms lives.2. It brings God's intervention in human affairs.3. It evokes the reality of the kingdom.4. It equips the kingdom people for kingdom mandates.

I can personally testify to the changes that occurred in my life when I accepted the good news about Christ and allow Him to direct my life. It recreated me from a raging fellow to a humble and gentle person with new set of priorities and values!

The evidence of kingdom change is present in a kingdom citizen! To experience the power of God's kingdom you must continue to declare the good news of the kingdom.

ACTION: Think about ways in which you can experience the power of God's kingdom at work.

This devotion is a gift of God to you through Bethel Gospel Centre. It will come to you every Tuesday morning. You may share it to allow it benefit others. Have a profitable day.#bgcblog#thefaithandthefaithful#tuesdaymeditation@Bethel Gospel Centre

TUESDAY MEDITATION

TUESDAY 22ND AUGUST 2017.

The kingdom of God is a realm of righteousness, joy, and peace that the Holy Spirit supplies. We have a modest invitation to manifest the joy and peace that is exclusively offered in the kingdom of God! What a wonderful privilege!

In this kingdom, you receive God's imputed righteousness, unexplainable joy and unending peace that the world cannot understand. Joy goes beyond your circumstances. It's a strong, bright side of assurance and hope that manifests itself in excitement or exuberance from the inside of you. Peace, on the other hand, is a state of spiritual well-being, an inner flowing of serenity that convinces you of God's presence in a specific situation. Joy and peace proceed from the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5:22)

Living in God's kingdom is neither about the things you fail to do nor things you do wrong. Rather it is about being made right with God and being filled with the Spirit.

Note that in this kingdom, certain things will attempt to attack your joy and peace perpetually. Your sins of the past, the accuser of brethren and our world systems will try to exterminate your joy and extinguish your peace. They will remind you how sinful you were in the past. Never give in to their intrigues because you have been made right with God.

Go out today and manifest the joy and peace of the kingdom, for unto this you have been called!

ACTION: Decide to allow the righteousness, peace, and joy of the kingdom of God to manifest through you from today onward.

This devotion is a gift of God to you through Bethel Gospel Centre. It will come to you every Tuesday morning. You may share it to allow it benefit others. Have a profitable day.#bgcblog#God'skingdom#tuesdaymeditation@bethelgospelcentre

TUESDAY MEDITATION

TUESDAY 15TH AUGUST, 2017

THE UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM

We are starting another series on God's kingdom as an invitation to entire humanity.

Jesus began His ministry by announcing the arrival of God's glorious kingdom. This is the one invitation of all time, clearly issued with good intention, conditions and purpose. Today, we are focusing on Jesus' announcement of the arrival of God's kingdom.

The hearers of Jesus' message were familiar with an idea of God's future kingdom spoken about in the Old Testament (Isa. 9:6-7; 24:23; 32:1; Ez. 34:24; Jer. 30:9). It was not a mistake that Jesus began His ministry by this proclamation.

The kingdom of God is least a geographical location. It is a realm of God's power and dominion. We may conceive it as well as a domain or sphere where humans submit themselves to God's rule as their king. This announcement has two components: arrival of the kingdom and conditions for entering into it. One thing that is clear is the urgency with which Jesus proclaimed His message. Human beings have roles to play in deciding whether to come under God's leadership or not. In coming under this rule of God, the condition is to turn away in opposite direction of one's sins and to believe in the good news that Jesus brings.

This invitation is equally valid for us today. As in the time of old Jesus invites you today to come under God's reign beginning with turning away from self, sin, and Satan. He invites you to believe in God's gracious offer of salvation. It can be yours today!

ACTION: Are you in God's kingdom? If yes, keep on believing the good news. If not, you can enter this reign today by recognising Jesus as the bearer of good news. Ask for forgiveness of your sins and follow Him daily.

This devotion is a gift of God to you through Bethel Gospel Centre. It will come to you every Tuesday morning. You may share it to allow it benefit others. Have a profitable day.#bethelgospelcentre,blog#unshakablekingdom #tuesdaymeditation