Whenever the subject of the Kingdom of God is discussed, one question will usually surface eventually. It is the question of “When?”

Over the centuries, numerous theories have accumulated, and each one has seen some popularity, according to the mood and desires of the times. Many books are being sold every day which promise to give the reader some inside information concerning the end times and the coming of God’s Kingdom. They are read by both sinner and saint alike, for they address universal concerns and arouse the curiosity of many.

The Pharisees, and even His disciples posed the question of “When” to Jesus. But it is interesting to consider His responses in each instance. In neither case did He give them a specific time. To the Pharisees He declared the location of the Kingdom, and to the disciples, clear direction was given that would lead to Kingdom activity.

If any allusion to time was given, it was always in the present tense. While Jesus consistently held forth the futuristic aspects of God’s reign of righteousness, peace and joy in the earth, no one could dispute where His emphasis lay.

There was always an immediacy in Jesus’ teaching and practice. “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand,” was His theme! How are we to respond to this? Does it not flush away our mythology — and our excuses as well?

Is not NOW the time to hear His Voice and respond in Loving obedience? Will we adore Him with our lips, calling Him “Lord, Lord,” but fail to simply do those things which He commands?

Has our eschatology, that is, our beliefs concerning the last days, and our traditions concerning Him, made His commands to us ineffectual? Is not today the day to give our lives and our very souls to the fulfillment of His will in the earth?

Cannot He take care of the final outcome of all history, while we just simply live, move, and have our being in Him? And in this abiding in His presence, are there not important actions that must necessarily follow?

Think of all the action verbs that Jesus employed! “Go, Do, shine, preach, teach, feed, love, heal, forgive!” Could it be that these very words can take us into Kingdom reality? Could these very actions themselves bring heavenly life into this sin-cursed world?

Or would we choose a complicated system of Biblical interpretation over the simplicity of knowing, loving and serving our Lovely Lord and King? Can we not trust Him to protect us in these fearful and terrible times, as we choose to follow Him?

But what of the future? How are we to prepare for it? Is it not important for us to have detailed information concerning the end times? Should we not be warning others of the dreadful times to come?

Truly these are frightening times. Children are killing children, and even normal family love is difficult to find. Every event that inspires optimism is countered by signs of decline and decay. Surely, every child of God should look to discern the signs of the times.

But from where does our hope spring forth? Is it from our knowledge of supposed predictions? Or is it from the Person of Jesus Christ Himself? The Name of the Lord is a strong tower! The righteous run into it and are safe!

But some attempt to draw our confidence towards them or towards their ability to understand and explain complex and questionable interpretations of Biblical prophesy. May I declare unto you today that the small of intellect, the young and even uninformed can often find the greater security — for they can have the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! All can know Him! From the least unto the greatest! All can learn to hear His Voice, and respond to it! All can run into His loving arms for peace and true security!

Surely we can and will help one another to know the reality of the Saviour, and my hope is that this message and ministry is a part of just that. For knowing Him more intimately will lead to greater understanding and also greater pow[...]

This message was originally broadcast in 1998 on WXIC in Waverly, Ohio. I hope you will enjoy it!

Most modern atheists and materialists assume that faith in the Biblical Jesus Christ is basically irrational, and that their view of reality is purely objective and reasonable. At the same time we find many of them who accept as fact, fantastic theories that actually have not been proven with hard evidence!

Christians themselves often are quick to point out that our faith is heavily based upon a personal experience that cannot be explained in human terms. There certainly is a transcendent reality to which we are exposed when truly encountering Christ. We use words like “supernatural,” “spiritual,” and “revelation,” which indicate that there is a reality that is higher and deeper than what can be simply experienced with our five senses.

Throughout the Biblical story we see individuals who have been touched and transformed by this awesomeness, this overwhelming sense that God is far beyond anything the human mind can comprehend! There is even a taste of what we understand as heaven in our experience of God, and the realization that what we see, hear, touch, taste and smell is not all that there is.

A big part of Christian worship around the world is about entering into that transcendent realm where we are more conscious of God than anything else. This wondrous state of being puts everything else into proper perspective. Ideally, this experience, this different perspective will carry over into other aspects of our lives, empowering us to glorify God even in difficult situations.

Knowing of this transcendent reality, should we then jettison reason altogether in favor of personal subjective experiences? Some would suggest this very thing, along with even denying the value of our physical senses.

Today I would urge extreme caution when hearing this kind of language. It is the very language of many cults and fanatics who dislike having their words and actions questioned!

In fact, Jesus did not withhold from Thomas the evidence that would clear away his doubts. He also insisted that each of us should love the Lord our God will all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. John explained that one cannot truly love God, whom we have not seen if we do not love our brother, whom we have seen with our physical eyes.

The fact is, that it was God who created us as spiritual, physical, emotional and rational beings!

Faith itself is actually a persuasion, that is something that has come about through serious consideration. This is what the apostle Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends when He walked this earth, was attempting to say in his first letter, chapter 3:14-15:

“But if you suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are you: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you, a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

Notice what he did not say. He did not tell believers to answer inquirers with irrational statements or to tell them to “take a leap into the darkness.” They were told to prepare beforehand in order to present the logical reasoning that brought them to this place of faith.

Throughout the Acts and the letters in the New Testament we observe many powerful arguments attempting to convince others that faith in Christ was the most reasonable course of action available. Even in the face of death these witnesses could be emboldened by the historical reality of Christ’s resurrection!

Even though they knew that the Truth of the Gospel was too big and too marvelous for our human minds to fully comprehend, they told it anyway. Why? Because they also knew that the same Spirit of God that was within them and prompting them to speak, would also be on the other end convicting many of the truth of their words!

Acts 17:1-3:

“As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scr[...]

When considering the state of Christianity in general, do we sometimes find that believers often fail to experience the full and abundant life that Christ came to give? Could this situation then reflect falsely to the unbelieving world, and fail to accurately witness to the resurrected Christ in the earth?

And what about the lack of Kingdom consciousness among believers? In view of the fact that Jesus gave the last 3 1/2 years of His life as a man on earth to the Good News of the Kingdom of God, one could wonder why His followers have such a lack of interest in it. If His desire and joy is our strength, should not His pleasure and purpose become ours as well? Should not our zeal and energies be directed to discovering and finding delight in His plan?

It is my conviction that a renewed interest in the wonderful Good News of God’s reign in the earth could cure many of the ills of Christianity, and recover a fuller witness to the life of Christ among men. By the Lord’s grace His Church is recovering her testimony in the earth, to bring greater glory to our Savior, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

This, in part, is the focus of this ministry. The Heart of God cries out for it, and humanity groans to see it. All of Creation awaits the glorious liberty of the children of God!

Do you really want to see revival in the land, and souls won to Jesus? Well then give yourself in loving service unto Him, and to discovering His Will and His Kingdom Life for you today!

In order to establish a prophetic foundation for this series of teachings, we will turn to a well-known passage in the Book of Daniel, chapter 2, verses 31 through 45. It is the famous story of Nebukanezzer’s dream, and the interpretation giving by God to Daniel:

“You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue–an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.

While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

“This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king:

You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. “After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron–for iron breaks and smashes everything–and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.

Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

Now it is commonly understood that these four kingdoms are Babylon — the head of gold. Medio-Persia — the chest and arms of silver. Alexander the Great’s Grecian rule was seen in the belly and thighs of bronze, and the Roman Empire was represented by the legs of iron with feet of iron and clay. It was during this time in history that Christ[...]

Jesus came that we might have Life, and that more abundantly!

Luke 3:16-17: “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.”

Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Acts 2:3-4: “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Rom 12:10-11: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

same.

For forty years the United States engaged with the USSR in what was known as the cold war. When the Berlin Wall was torn down, and that period of our history seemed to be over, I began reflecting on the existence of a different kind of enemy. This is one that threatens to erode the security and well-being of every worthwhile cause or institution. This is not a cold war. It is not even a war at all by normal definition. This enemy is very deadly just the same. It is the condition of a heart that has become cold and indifferent. Like a contagious disease it spreads from soul to soul, aided by the power of the electronic and paper mass media. It effectively divides and weakens us, by robbing us of the love we both need to share and receive. Even the most passionate and caring are vulnerable to this malady. It’s roots are fear and hopelessness, as it feeds pride and selfishness. The result is a loss of desire and zeal for those things we need the most, and a relentless pursuit for vain and unprofitable diversions.

The fact of this problem is undeniable. We are living in a time when many have become very callused and insensitive, and others do not seem to care much for anything other than a good time. Ah, but this condition presents another glorious opportunity for the Word of God and the Good News of Christ’s Kingdom! In His Voice is the power to arouse the people of God to become a demonstration of what this mighty King of the Universe can do! While millions continue to await a word that will set them free, God is already speaking very loudly and very plainly to those who have ears to hear from Him.

He is at work in this present time, actively kindling His fire in the hearts of many with a zeal to satisfy His Great Heart of Love! No cause could be greater, and no flame could burn brighter than the fire of God Himself, as He consumes us with a vision of His purpose for us and all humanity. How we have tried to stir up and motivate ourselves and others to good works and worthy goals, only to find the desire becoming a dying ember! Oh how it is high time for all to tune in to the Heart of God and become ignited with His Eternal Flame! His is a fire that cannot be quenched, and once we have experienced it, we can never be satisfied with anything else!

Let us take some time to examine the disease, before we implement the cure. This condition has become common to us all at various times. Often those who are inspired and passionate for a message God has given them, become offensive to others who have not been touched similarly. In reality, we may not ever possess the exact same focus or direction from God. He uses each one in a different way to accomplish His overall plan. One thing we must share, however, is the same zeal, love and desire for Him, that liberates us all from the spirit of competition and selfish ambitions.

How do we become cold and complacent? Is it because when we hav[...]

Have you ever been faced with the reality that what you have dreamed for, hoped for and prayed for will never happen? Has the giving up reaction in this one event spread into every corner of your life, effectively killing your faith in the unfailing love of God? Have you been seduced into believing that life is a series of situations over which you have no control? So why not just be satisfied with the good things that you do have, finding contentment in the things that satisfy most people? In other words, mediocrity!

Maybe you have not been there as many of us have. If not, these words and truths we are about to share might still be useful to you in encouraging others to reach for the stars! Did not Jesus give us this dream? Did not He set hearts on fire to believe the unbelievable? Did He not teach us to attain the unattainable? Did He not plant the seed in us through which we would do greater works than He?

Hope is the expectation of the overwhelming Goodness of God.

We must first of all realize that He is the author and finisher of our faith. Then we can be settled in our minds as to what the Creator of the Universe desires for us. It is His intention to stretch our imaginations and expand our horizons to begin believing for and working towards great and wonderful possibilities! It is time to forget the failures of the past and begin walking into a new day! Look around you for just a few minutes. In a short time you can easily see the immediate need for miracles everywhere! Then, if we lift up our hearts and arise into Him we can be the channel through which Jesus wants to bring these wonderful solutions!

The Lord might not be interested in formulas and rituals, but He does desire a relationship with us. From that relationship we can cultivate a faith, hope, and love-filled life. Behold Him! His beauty! His Power! His unconditional Love! Become overwhelmed with the compassion that He has for all mankind! Realize from this that He thrills in opening His hand to those in need, and in using us to deliver them.

Jesus taught us to pray without ceasing and not to faint. Realizing there are situations that are beyond our understanding, we must come before Him in humility. Never giving up in prayer does not mean insisting on our own way. It means we are persuaded by God that the best interests of all of us are in His heart. We must never yield to thoughts that His love will fail us.

Hope is the expectation of the overwhelming goodness of God. Sometimes we have the substance of that hope in a specific situation, and we can cling tenaciously to it until the final outcome. Other times we can only trust in that goodness, the trusting being our only participation. The poorer choice is to fail to participate at all. This cuts us off from the life of God as it flows out to meet the needs of others. Far too many of God’s people have made this wrong choice. Today, however, He is giving us the understanding that there are so many more positive and creative options than before were realized!

Prayer is a petition for the well-being of ourselves and others, and it can be expressed in a number of ways. When there is an opportunity to directly affect a situation to bring it into God’s perfect will, the greatest prayer we can offer is our service to God. Obedience to Him in itself is a very powerful option. Other times we can only offer supportive thoughts and words as we enter into our spiritual communication with Him.

Miracles are God’s pleasure. When the conditions are right in us, He is pleased to demonstrate His power in this earth. This is what He instructed us to pray for, that His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. Believe me, this does not ordinarily happen. It happens when we pray and never give up. Will the son of man find faith in the earth? That depends upon how you and I respond to Him in our present circumstances. He has freely given us His Word to rely on, and in that trust we obtain the power t[...]