The Series on the Kingdom of God continues.

Imagine my embarrassment for hastily thinking we wrapped up the series last week. Who knew… but God. So, we press on and hope you will too. You won’t want to miss Part 11.

Today’s episode continues to solidify our understanding of The Kingdom of God and addresses the question:

Who is a Righteous Warrior?

A brief recap from last week sets the stage for this teaching. We learned from scripture that “righteousness” is a person, and that person is Jesus Christ. Righteousness is also a gift… God’s gift of Jesus to humanity. And lastly, Jesus said in Matt 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“

This teaching unpacks this further to talk about “the way“ of righteousness. The bible has a lot to say about the way -- Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The way is the truth.

It is this backdrop that sets the stage for addressing the question of “who is a righteous warrior”. Most importantly, it’s not what believers say and do (external acts) that deems one as righteous, but rather the motives of why we do what we do. It’s a matter of the heart and our motives.

As you listen to the teaching, here are some takeaways to expect from Part 11.

* Righteousness is a way, a person, and it’s also a system. A system produces something.

* If righteousness is a way, it’s a way to something and a way for something.

* Righteousness is a system that produces life… and produces righteous warriors.

* Righteousness is a cycle (a way) whereby God plants a seed, exposes it to the elements to establish roots, the roots grow and yield fruit, and that fruit produces seeds.

* We don’t have our own way apart from Christ as righteous warriors; however, we get to choose our way (path) either from the Spirit of God or the anti-christ (Satan).

* Every born-again believer has the righteousness of God, the way of God, the truth of God, the life of God, and the systems of God on the inside.

* No one is righteous apart from God… all fall short. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Many Christians will say that “I am the righteousness of Jesus Christ”, but do they truly know the way of a righteous warrior? Do they participate in the system of righteousness?

You’ve probably heard the term that we are to be fruit inspectors. However, how often do we inspect the health of our own internal roots rather than admiring the external fruits of our labor as we inspect the fruit of others?

Stay tuned next week as we continue with our series on the Kingdom of God.

Scripture references:

Matt 5:1-12; Rom 5:17; John 13:6; Matt 7:14; Acts 9:2, 19:23, 24:14; Deut 26:17, 28:9; John 10:23; Jer 17:10; Rom 3:9-11; Is 64:6; Prov 11:19, 12:28, 8:20; Is 35:8, 32:17; Ps 34:19, Hos 10:12; 1 John 3:21-22; Ps 37:25, 92:12-13; Rom 11:36; Gal 2:20; Matt 7:21-23; Mark 4:26-27; Matt 13:31-32; 1 Peter 1:23; John 17:7-8; Ps 1:2-3; James 1:2-4; Rom 5:3-5; Gal 5:22-23; John 15:4-5; Matt 7:17-18; 2 Cor 9:10; Gen 1:11-12; Matt 6:33

If you’ve been following along with the series on the Kingdom of God, you don’t want to miss this one. It’s powerful and brings closure to this series.

Welcome to the Kingdom of God Part 10. We pick from last week’s episode on those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake in Matthew 5:10…

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Bless are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt 5:10-12

In order to discuss persecution, we have to understand what the bible says about righteousness and justice and mercy and truth. Righteousness is the reason why the true followers of Christ are persecuted.

Kim goes into scriptural detail on righteousness (hint: it’s a person) and the foundation of God’s Kingdom. She also explains the different kinds of persecution that are worldly and man-made. Lastly, she distinguishes between religious persecution from righteous persecution and why it’s easy to confuse the two.

Before unpacking persecution for righteousness’ sake in Matt 5:10-12, Kim takes a brief yet relevant and powerful detour on the transition taking place in the church today, that is, the religious system, its leaders and their convincing and artfully repackaged message being delivered from the pulpit. The teaching is bold and an unapologetic truth… and it ties directly with persecution. For those with ears to hear and eyes that see.

Scripture references:

Matt 5:10-12; Jer 23:5-6; 1 Cor 1:30-31; Rom 5:17-19; Ps 89:14; Is 28:16; 1 Cor 3:10-16; Heb 1:8-9, 10-12; Matt 6:33-34; Rom 14:16-18; 2 Peter 1:3-11; Is 55:8-9; Ex 33:13; Ps 103:7, 25:4; Heb 1:1-2; Lam 3:52

Welcome to Part 9 in the series of teachings on The Kingdom of God.

Jesus tells us about the Kingdom experience in Matt 5:1-12, also known as the Beatitudes. We have covered in detail Jesus’s manifesto (His constitution) in the prior 8 episodes. The teachings use Jesus’s words to describe who are blessed, why are they blessed, and what will those who are blessed experience as Kingdom citizens.

The key message Jesus is conveying about the Kingdom focuses on the internal disposition of the heart and soul, representing an internal transformation on the inside as opposed to the external rituals practiced by the Jews in the OT that allowed them to remain in good standing with God caused by sin.

So, here we are in Part 9.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:10

The Kingdom of Heaven is inherited by those who have the awareness of need and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus finishes His message to His disciples (and to us in present day) by saying the Kingdom is inherited by those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Kim explains how persecution follows seven (7) previous Kingdom experiences in Matt 5:3-9. Persecution is the result of these seven experiences that are taking place in your life. Persecution is not a standalone experience of the Kingdom.

Kim also describes the ten (10) differences between teaching God’s word from becoming and embodying the very message that Jesus embodied while on the earth. Jesus was not only teaching a message, Jesus was the message. He became the message that He was prophetically describing in His manifesto and throughout the NT.

Jesus had the Spirit of God in Him that worked through Him throughout His entire ministry. Jesus pours out His Spirit and gives the Spirit to His followers, to the early church, and to us who believe and receive.

Was Jesus persecuted? Darn right He was. Jesus taught what He had become. He walked the walk… unto death. The scripture references about Jesus’s persecution and His mercy are many and are illustrated in Part 9.

Who are those persecuted for righteousness’ sake? Those who embody Christ -- the truth, the way and the life -- who are committed to becoming the message.

Scripture references:

Ps 97.2; Matt 5:1-12; Luke 4:1, 4:14; Matt 12:28; John 3:34, 14:10, 20:22; Acts 2:33; 1 Cor 5:19; John 11:35; Luke 19:41; Matt 26:37-38, 11:29, 21:5; 2 Cor 10; Phil 2:3-5; Matt 5:5, 4:2; John 4:34, 19:28; Heb 5:7; Matt 5:6, 9:36; Luke 7:13; John 8:10-11; Luke 23:34; Matt 5:7; John 8:46; Heb 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; Matt 5:9; Eph 2:14; Col 1:20; John 14:27; Luke 2:14; Matt 5:10-12; John 1:11; Mark 6:3-4; John 5:16, 15:24-25; Matt 12:14; John 11:53; Luke 4:28-30; John 8:59, 10:31; Matt 26:47-50; Luke 22:52-53; Matt 26:67-68; Luke 22:63-65; Matt 27:27-31, 35-44; Phil 2:8; Is 53:3-7; 1 Thess 5:11-13; Matt 7:22-23

Welcome to Part 8 in the series on The Kingdom of God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matt 5:9

In today’s teaching, Kim shows us what the Bible tells us about peace and how it relates to the Kingdom of God. Peace is a big deal in God’s Kingdom, and this episode is both important and relatable to all who desire peace and a Kingdom experience.

Peace means the destruction of the authority that causes chaos. Chaos binds to the masses and destroys life. Simply put, peace is a weapon that destroys the destroyer. Peace brings order and wholeness out of chaos.

There is so much chaos in the world today. We have order without justice, and there is no peace. This is not random… it’s by Satan’s design to bring about his new world order. That is why it’s important to understand peace from God’s perspective.

Peace, justice and righteousness are inseparable. You can’t have peace without justice and righteousness and experience God’s Kingdom.

* We can have truth without peace, and the result is conflict.

* We can have peace without truth and that enables sin and unrighteousness.

* When truth, righteousness and justice are present, real peace lives and endures.

Justice and righteous are the foundation of God’s throne. Peace is the result. Without fairness, without right relationships, without the protection of the weak and vulnerable and especially how we treat one another, peace is superficial at best and false at worst.

The teaching goes deeper into the scriptures to show the connectedness between peace and justice and righteousness. The scripture passages also describe the false prophets that declare peace when there is no peace. We see that in the world today from self-proclaimed prophets and false teachers.

Peace is the feeling that lives inside the walls of God’s Kingdom. God is the founder. Jesus is the framer and the builder, and the Holy Spirit is the assist.

Now that we know God’s perspective on peace through scripture, the teaching wraps up by distinguishing between peacekeepers and peacemakers (with examples). It is the peacemakers (not the peacekeepers) that are called children of God.

The Kingdom of God is peace, righteousness and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Scripture references:

Matt 5:9, 23:25-26; Is 55:8-9; Ps 85:10; Is 48:17-18; Rom 5:1, 14:17; Heb 7:2; James 3:17-18; Jer 6:14, 23:16-18; Ez 13:10; Micah 3:5; 1 Thess 5:3; Luke 12:51; Matt 10:34; Eph 2:13-15; John 14:27

Are you experiencing the Kingdom of God in your life? How would you know?

Welcome to Part 7 in the series on The Kingdom of God.

Kim provides a sound recap of the prior 6 episodes before diving into today’s teaching. So, if you’re tuning in for the first time, it’s okay.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matt 5:8

INSIDE OUT - is the person you are on the inside reflect the person you present on the outside? It’s a matter of the heart. Our motives matter more to God than the outward display of kindness, generosity, graciousness or loving actions.

When we become pure in heart, our motives become in sync with God. It’s about sincerity and alignment between your inner thoughts and your outer spoken words and actions.

The following 3 Questions will be answered (supported by scripture) in today’s teaching:

* What is it that your heart includes?

* What does it mean to be pure?

* When will we see God?

Everything you do flows from the heart… and God wants your heart.

What’s in your Heart?

God knows your Heart.

Do you want to experience the Kingdom of God in your life?

Scripture references:

Matt 5:8; Gal 1:4; Prov 4:23, 16:2; Jer 17:9-10; Ez 36:26; Rom 5:5; Matt 12:34, 7:20-23, 12:33, 35; Ps 24:3-6; 1 Tim 1:5; 2 Tim 2:22; James 4:8; 1 Peter 1:22-23; Rom 2:28-29; James 1:7-8

Can you believe that we have just delivered Part 6 in the series on The Kingdom of God? This topic on God’s Kingdom is very important for believers to understand and experience for themselves, so we press on as God will have it.

If you consider the question posed at the beginning of this series -- “how much of the Kingdom of God are you experiencing in your life” -- wouldn’t it be important to understand WHAT IT IS we are supposed to be experiencing?

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM EXPERIENCE?

Welcome to Part 6! Today’s teaching will address the answer to this question.

The Kingdom experience is about moving from “identifying with God” to “belonging to God… from the inside out”. A believer’s internal transformation of the heart moves us from religion and ritual to an actual relationship with God. It’s a shift from knowing and talking about God’s Kingdom to understanding and experiencing it.

Without this heart transformation, any emotional experience can masquerade as God’s presence; discernment will surrender to emotion and loyalty will succumb to false prophets and teachers. As such, we will forfeit the promises of God’s word and His Kingdom that we are declaring.

So… what is the true Kingdom experience?

Listen carefully as Kim shares the intent of what Jesus taught to His disciples in Matthew chapter 5.

“Blessed are the merciful, for the will receive mercy.” Matt 5:7

MERCY

Scripture references:

Romans 6; John 21:18; Luke 17:20-21; Matt 5:7; Micah 6:8; Lam 3:22-23; Ps 23:6; Col 3:12-13; Ez 36:26; Luke 6:36; 1 Peter 1:3; Is 49:15; Ps 103:13; Rom 12:1; Is 61:8; Ps 89:14; Zech 7:9; Hos 6:6; Matt 9:13; John 3:16; James 2:13; Matt 23:23; Gal 5:22-23; Is 54:1-3

When you are hungry or thirsty, do you satisfy yourself with food and drink? Of course, but what happens afterwards? Over time you get hungry and thirsty again, and so the process of satisfying your hunger (and thirst) repeats.

Hunger and thirst are the physical needs of the body. Do we not also hunger for things to satisfy our emotional and mental needs for love, acceptance, validation, peace of mind, etc.? We do.

Maybe it’s time for some SOUL FOOD! This “soul food” that I’m referring to is free, filling and transformational. However, there is only one place (source) to get it.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled”. Matt 5:6

Welcome to Part 5 in the series on The Kingdom of God.

Today’s episode continues to reinforce the importance of the internal “heart work” that transforms us from the inside so that we can experience the Kingdom of God in our lives. This is God’s desire for us.

Part 5 provides an understanding of what Jesus taught us in Matt 5:6. It takes a closer look at the meaning and context of this scripture so that we can apply it to our lives.

Hunger and thirst

Righteousness

Filled

As you tune in to the teaching, remember that Jesus came to change us from the inside -- within our hearts -- so that we can become more responsive and yielding to the Truth. As born-again believers, we give Jesus permission to do just that… to be open to a relationship with Him.

Thank you Jesus!

Scripture references:

Deut 6:4-9; Ez 36:25-27; Matt 5:6; 2 Peter 1:3-4; Matt 4:2-4 John 4:10, 13-14, 15-18; Jer 23:6; Rom 3:21-23; 1 Cor 1:30; Rom 5:17; Is 64:6; Phil 3:8-9; Is 61:10-11; Job 29:14; Gal 3:27; Eph 4:20-24, 6:14; Rev 19:7-8; John 6:35, 7:37

If you have been following this series on the Kingdom of God, you may recall the question that was posed back in part 1.

How much of God’s Kingdom are you experiencing in your life?

Today’s episode focuses on Jesus’s teaching in the Beatitudes in chapter 5 of Matthew’s gospel.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matt 5:5

Meek…

Inherit…

Earth…

Words matter. To better understand what Jesus was telling His disciples and what He is telling us today in this scripture, we need to address the meaning and context of the words meek, inherit, and earth before we can apply them in our lives.

Welcome to Part 4 of the series on The Kingdom of God!

Before you dive into this teaching, let me reiterate an important distinction between behavior and motives, between the covenants of the Old and New Testaments, and between external compliance and internal transformation.

Jesus turned the world upside down when He fulfilled God’s will during His brief human existence. Jesus is telling us today that being reconciled with God through Himself is no longer about your behavior, your external ‘good works’, or completing your daily ‘check the box’ religious to-do list. It’s a matter of the heart… an internal transformation of your heart and soul that manifests in your outward behavior, your actions, and in your relationship with others.

Jesus set the criteria for this internal transformation when He taught His disciples The Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5.

Understanding this one biblical truth about a transformed heart has the authority to change the trajectory of how you relate to God, how you read the bible, and how you live your life.

Are you still doing all of the external religious “activities” without an internal transformation of your heart and soul?

Again… how much of God’s Kingdom are you experiencing in your life today?

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matt 5:8

Oops… I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll save that for later. :)

Scripture references:

Matt 15:17-19; Mark 7:15, 19-23; John 10:18; Matt 7:21-23; Matt 5:5-7; Luke 7:21; 1 Cor 4:7-8; Matt 11:28-29; 1 Cor 4:21-22; Gal 5:22-23; Phil 4:5; Is 65:17, 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Rev 21:1-2, 19:2, 21:9

Good Mourning!

Why the pun? Well, today’s episode will explain the connection between mourning and the Kingdom of God and how it relates to believers today as we continue this series in Part 3.

After a brief recap of last week’s teaching about Jesus’s manifesto (Matthew 5-7), Kim reminds us what Jesus said about the requirement for entering the Kingdom of God. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 that “no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above” or what is referred to as “born again”.

Again, Jesus said, “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17

Aren’t children dependent on their parents?

Now let’s talk about mourning. There are two aspects or dimensions to the word mourning. That is, something lost and something gained. Mourning is turning away from one thing and turning towards something else.

Consider the Israelites under 400 years of slavery in Egypt. The book of Exodus accurately describes the mourning of God’s people in the wilderness. God’s goal for emancipating the Israelites was to keep His people in relationship with Him. This required His chosen people to turn away (loss) from idolatry and pagan practices of Egypt and enter into a covenant that required adherence to laws and sacrifices to preserve their relationship with God (gain). However, the emphasis was based on external behavior: obey the law, atone for sin through animal sacrifice and be in right standing with God.

When the Israelites turned away from Egypt (idolatry, sexual immorality, child sacrifice) and turned towards God, this is represented in the Bible as mourning.

Jesus flipped the script by being the final sacrifice and establishing a new covenant for ALL.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus taught his disciples, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matt 5:4

How does mourning relate to born again believers today?

Welcome to Part 3 on the Kingdom of God and hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying in this episode.

Scripture references:

Matt 4:17; Matt 5-7; Ps 51:5; John 3:3; Mark 10:15; Luke18:17; Matt 5:4; Prov 17:17; Mark 3:25; Ecc 4:9-10; John 10:28-29

Today’s teaching builds upon the prior episode on the Kingdom of God. We know that the Kingdom of God is a person (Jesus); it is also a system with methods, policies, procedures, blessings and consequences, etc.

John the Baptist proclaimed, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near.” So, it begs the question for believers today:

How much of the Kingdom of God are you experiencing in your life?

The answer to this question depends on how much of Jesus’s message, His manifesto and His methods are you adopting in your life.

This episode focuses on Jesus’s manifesto using Matthew’s gospel message to the Jews, God’s original covenant people. In the book of Matthew, Jesus shares His message, His Manifesto, and His Methods, and He answers three important questions: What, Why and How.

Jesus’s message answers the “what” question -- what are we talking about, what’s the main idea? Jesus made His message simple: Repent because the Kingdom of God is near!

Jesus’s manifesto answers the “why” question -- why now and why to the Jews? Because His manifesto was a departure from what the Jews believed for thousands of years.

Understanding the “what and why” questions would later address the “how” question… an understanding of the infrastructure or the “systems” of His Kingdom.

So… if you don’t understand the what, and more importantly the WHY (what Jesus values), your experience of God’s Kingdom will be hit or miss in learning how to operate in His Kingdom. And it’s bigger than merely knowing the “Christian do’s and don’ts” that many of us have come to believe.

Listen on and experience the importance of Jesus’s manifesto, because understanding the WHY question will help you experience the Kingdom of God in your life.

Scripture references:

Exodus 19:5-6; Deut 7:6; Ezek 36:25-27; Matt 3:1-3; 4:17; 5:1-11; Luke 6:20-23; Rom 12:1; 1 Cor 6:19; Matt 11:11; John 7:39; 4:13-14