Regardless What We Say...

Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given to you? [Joshua 18.3]

The more I learn about the Kingdom of God, the more I realize that Jesus made very clear that He brought it and that He expected us to thrive in it AS DID HE. 

Jesus' ministry life was purely a demonstration of Kingdom domination.

Jesus' ministry life began when the Holy Spirit symbolically descended upon Jesus like a dove.

Everything Jesus did as "works," He made clear was the "works" of all who would follow Him.

Jesus was very clear that every "work" He did was by faith.

Jesus was very clear that His followers should exercise the same faith He demonstrated (and worked).

The writer of Hebrews said, "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

James said, "Faith without works is dead." In other words, it is not alive - it does not exist.

So, if our lives do not look like Jesus' life in faith AND its telltale works, then we may think we are His followers, but we are NOT (regardless what we say).

If we do not have "works" (like Jesus), then we do not have faith (regardless what we say).

If we do not have faith, then we do not have salvation (regardless what we say).

If we do not have salvation, then we are hopelessly lost (regardless what we say).

If religion teaches that a work-less, faithless life is okay, then religion is the greatest deceiver known to man.

Jesus' life indicated there was, no doubt action associated with the Kingdom!

Paul said this:

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. [1 Corinthians 4.20]

Faith is not passive. On the contrary, genuine faith is supernaturally active.

Paul talked to Timothy about religion:

They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! [2 Timothy 3.5]

My point is this: we have all the Bible instructing us that if we are walking hand in hand with God, then His power will be demonstrated. Like Joshua told Israel (noted in the opening passage of this post) there is "ground" to be taken! The Kingdom of God is to be advancing - gaining territory, changing circumstances, and saving lives! We cannot claim "Kingdom" over anything that does not look like Jesus!

Father, help us to stop lying to ourselves about being part of Your Kingdom when essentially nothing we do looks like Jesus. Forgive us for this monumental lie we have embraced to our own damnation!