Kingdom of Heaven

What does really make us scare? Surprisingly enough, it's Jesus for the disciples. Jesus was walking on the water and they saw Him on the body of sea and cried out, supposing it was a ghost. No disciples missed seeing Him and were not troubled. Why were they so scared and troubled? Because they did not understand the realm of the heavenly places. They were still bound to the realm of the earth. Life, death, angles, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, and depth are all in the invisible heavenly places. Though they learned a lot of Jesus' teachings and witnessed many miracles, they did not still see the kingdom of God clearly. But when Jesus talked with them and encouraged them not to be afraid, they were released in the end and greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure and marveled. They were literally blown their minds at the revelation of the kingdom of God to the eyes of the hearts. So, what scared them was Jesus and what released them was exactly the same Man. Is it not what is going on right now in the midst of troubled and pressured lives? How many times were we sacred and troubled at things happening unexpectedly and suddenly by the hands of God? And how many times have we been released by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ? The more we grow to maturity in Christ, the less we become panicky. No wonder Peter and John spoke boldly when they were arrested and questioned before the Sanhedrin.  

"And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. (Mark 6:49-51 NKJV)

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NKJV)

Real Life

There are many illusions and delusions in our midst. One of the most attractive ones is that the rich and the proud seem to be easy going and have no worries of life because they are simply wealthy. It is a powerful appeal to all people since the fall of man. But that's not true. If you can, interview them and ask a couple of questions starting with, "Are you worry free?" They might respond back to you, "Are you nuts?" It doesn't mean that being rich is wrong and everyone is supposed to be poor. Nothing is wrong to be rich or poor. What matters is to find true reality and truth in life. That is the main thing. This is the age of deceit and deception. It is so natural to be what you want to be by earning money, fame, and status in old and this age. So, as far as man can and as fast as he can, he drives himself to that direction. But our God knows our hearts what we are thinking and reveals it by the words of the Son Jesus. True life is found in Him only as the scriptures confirm consistently. Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." There are things in heaven and things on earth. There are invisible things and visible things. What is seen is not all but what is unseen is reality. The kingdom of God is in our inner thought world where God reigns. So, when man enters into the realm of the kingdom of God, he has now begun to live a real life. That’s the beginning of new and eternal life in Jesus Christ.  

"But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:20-21 NKJV)

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NKJV)

Shun Sexual Immorality

Why do the scriptures bluntly put the strictest prohibition on sexual immorality and fornication as of the first thing among other wicked and evil ones? Why does God treat sexual sins so severely? Humans are basically sexual. The sexual drive is one of the most powerful forces in humanity. It doesn’t mean we must abstain from all kinds of sexual activities. God made and gave sexual desire, so it is good for us to enjoy God-given sexuality. Just as the desires for food and sleep need to be restrained appropriately, so also the sexual urges do need to be guarded and constrained according to the Law of God. Leviticus Chapter 18 lists out all sorts of sexual sins and wrongdoings which God has forbidden. These are eternally wrong and wicked in the eyes of God. Within the marriage only between one man and one woman, God allows the full enjoyment of sex. Anything outside of the holy union of marriage between one man and one woman is wrong, absolutely wrong.

Why did God make man a sexual being and allow the most fascinating enjoyment of pleasure in humanity? God did not make anything without purpose. God wants to teach man something out of the mysterious union of marriage and the enjoyment of sex. He wants man to learn how to fulfill his life by giving up everything to his spouse. The age of secular human mind treats woman as a disposable thing. That is the perverted and evil mind which distorts and twists God-given sex into something playful at random. That is far cry from the truth. Such a mind inevitably ends in sheer futility, void, emptiness, meaninglessness rather than fulfillment and satisfaction at all. That is merely the act of selfishness and self-centeredness and pride. That is not from God but from the devil. No, man can fulfill and satisfy in full measure when he gives up his egoistic way of fulfillment and offers his body for his wife.

Is it not what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us? He offered His own body to the Father in order for the elect to have life in full, eternal life. Apostle Paul commands husbands to love their wives as Jesus Christ loved His church and gave His life for her (Ephesians 6:25). How did Jesus love the church? He sacrificed His body with blood as the fragrance offering acceptable to God for us to have the forgiveness of sins, the redemption of soul, body and spirit, and the full impartation of His resurrection life. By His wounds and scars we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). He paid the full price for redemption to possess His church as the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Sex is the act of possession. Man urges to possess his wife through God-given sex. That possession is only possible as he exercise selflessly like Jesus did for His church. That’s what God wants us to learn through sex.

Shun any and every form of sexual immorality, especially pronography, premartial sex, fornacation, adultery. 

“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18 NKJV)

“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” (Ephesians 5:3-4 NKJV)

Jesus, the Christ of God

Why were the disciples not allowed to say that Jesus was the Christ? But they were allowed after the resurrection. It was because what they knew about Him was not complete for Christ was not yet glorified. What Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ was from the revelation of the Father. Until he was fully equipped with the whole story of Jesus, the unsearchable riches of Christ, he did not fully understand Him and what to say about Him. It could mislead him as well as the hearers. The mystery of Christ is not only the story of His death in our place and the burial and the resurrection from the dead but the impartation of His life in the hearts of the believers who died with Christ. Plus, the experience of the Spirit who indwells in each believer's heart shall be demonstrated. Then, all the disciples shall say that Jesus is indeed the Christ of God who was to come and has come and will come again.

"Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him. (Mark 8:30 NKJV)

Mustard See Parable

The mustard seed parable is well known as if the church of Christ may grow in numbers though it started small like a mustard seed. The birds of the air in the parable are understood as people who need shelter and rest. But that is not what Jesus says. Notice a concern found before He uttered this parable, "With what parable shall we picture it?" Jesus reveals the secrets of the kingdom of God through the teachings in parables. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed not in quantity but in quality. The seed's quality is pungency and bite. The smallness of the seed indicates lowliness and gentleness (Ephesians 4:2). The focal point of the kingdom of God in His sight is church who are the regenerated by the blood of Christ Jesus. The church of Christ is humble and meek like a mustard seed and yet pungent and biting, changing and transforming people into being worthy of God. The message of the church of Christ is rather powerfully working in heart and mind to strip off all the facades and pretenses. It is truth and reality which consumes all the illusions and fantasies and delusions of the world and breaks through the heart of the prime evil in humanity. That is how church functioning in the kingdom of God. The birds of the air indicate the demons of Satan. Jesus warned His disciples before He gave the interpretation of the parable of sower. “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?” (Mark 4:13 NKJV) In that parable Jesus calls the birds of the air as Satan (Mark 4:15). Given the Lord’s interpretation, the church grown up greater than all herbs and shot out large branches indicates unnatural growth which embraces the devil’s nest under its shade. We are now living in the kingdom of God which is inner and invisible world in our minds and hearts. As Jesus teaches us in the parable, this is what is really going on in the ages and generations. False teachings and heresies are really in the churches like nest under its shade.

"Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” (Mark 4:30-32 NKJV)

(Wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_seed)

Hidden Treasure Parable

There is a parable which has been misinterpreted many years in my life. It is a parable like treasure in a field. I used to think a man in the parable indicates a person who found treasure. The treasure was thought as the gospel of Jesus Christ. If that is the case, then it is equal to say that humans can purchase the gospel of Jesus Christ with material things. Or some might say that if man gives up everything in order to purchase the treasure in the field. But that is exactly opposite what the scriptures say. We cannot buy the gospel of salvation by any means even with life. It can be given as the gift of God unto us through His grace only. Therefore, the treasure is church and a man is Christ Jesus who laid down His life to purchase the treasure of church out of the bondage of slavery under the devil. He Himself became the ransom sacrifice to redeem the hidden treasure out of the world. That is the picture of the kingdom of heaven. The body of Christ purchased through the blood of the cross in Calvary is the treasure hidden in the world. The church of Christ is people who have been redeemed by grace and mercy according to the promise. We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, Jesus says.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44 NKJV)

Written Word for Our Learing

The events like the flood and the Pentecost had happened not only for the people who directly affected but for our learning and instructions down through the generations and ages. All things are occurring in time and eternity by the loving and infallible hands of God. So, we shall take a careful heed to what our God has demonstrated out of long-suffering and comfort. God does not leave us in darkness to find out a way out at best. God shines light into our hearts through the factual events and occurrences in our midst. Faithful servants like Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Paul, Peter. John, have recorded for us to understand how God has been shining the marvelous light of Jesus Christ the Lord out of the world. Gospel truly becomes the gospel for each of us when we personally accept the One who did all things for His glory. The gospel is Person, the Son of Man. Until the Person incarnates into our hearts the gospel remains only as knowledge. When we are truly and completely possessed by the Person of Jesus Christ we can finally be fulfilled and satisfied in full. That's what we are commissioned for dispensing and appropriating the mysteries of God at the proper time faithfully.

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4 NKJV)

"Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Romans 4:23-25 NKJV)

"Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. (I Corinthians 10:6 NKJV)

All Trouble Common to Man

It seems our trials and sufferings are most harsh and even terrible compared to others. Others seem to relax and enjoy life, especially those who are wealthy and proud. However, our God sees them as rather surprisingly and completely common. The mind of God is revealed by Paul in the letter to the Corinthians. All the troubles and wrestles are common to man, Apostle says. God prescribed the human recovery program when Adam fell and collapsed to meet the commandment. God cursed the devil who is the mastermind of lie and murder and promised to send a Mediator to deliver mankind from the evil one. Then God gave the woman birth pain and desire for her husband and gave Adam hard toil and sweat for survival till his death (Genesis 3:14-19). Since Adam succumbed to the devil's falseness, disobeying the commandment of God, that evil mind has been deeply embedded in humanity. God sees all humans as the victims of the devil. This is one of the hardest lessons for humans to accept in ignorance and blindness. In order to rescue the degenerated people who have been made in His image and His likeness, God prescribed a lifelong program which gives a thousand and one opportunities to see the faithful and loving Father in His Son Jesus Christ and to return to Him. God knows how much each can take and with the trouble will also make the way of escape. In Christ Jesus, there are no trials and troubles that we may not be able to bear.

 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

Today Salvation Has Come

Salvation comes without any partiality only when man humbly asks for help. Man asks for help rather the last minute when he found himself in the box with no way out. Zacchaeus was in that state of bankruptcy after all carefully sought after the solutions available in the world and religion. He found himself as a lost one, not knowing where to go and what to do. Mechanical, habitual, monotonous, dull, humdrum, tired life never reach out to the inner most thirst and hunger. Money seems like giving much but in effect delivers nothing. Promising job always gives confusion and uncertainty and most of all ever increasing tiredness and loneliness. Our God is searching such a thirsty soul to give true life, eternal life. The moment to yield ourselves to the Lord Jesus is the day of salvation. That is today. Every morning whether gloomy, rainy, stormy, sunny is today the Lord's salvation has come.

"And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:9, 10 NKJV)

Faith

Faith is not feeling but believing. Faith is not believing in fantasies but in facts. Faith is not believing facts on things but on God who is invisible. Faith is not knowledge only but with deeds. Faith does not evade obstacles but face them. Faith is a gift from heaven above not from the earth. Since faith is coming from the Father, we fix our eyes on Jesus who is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Faith is dynamics to live a life worthy of calling. We don't live by what we see but by what we do not see. It is impossible to please God without faith.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

Truth Set Free

The truth will set you free, Jesus says. God is truth, so He reveals reality. What God sees and thinks is truth and reality. There is no freedom where uncertainty and confusion loom. When we know what we are we can be sure and confident in whatever we do in our lives. We can know who we are only when we hold on Jesus' words. What we are in Jesus Christ is sons of God. As sons of God all God has is ours. Since we know the truth, we are free indeed in Jesus Christ. We are out of the iron grip of bondage and slavery of confusion. So, we can be what we want to be. We can be content what we are as the servants of God now and forever.

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31, 32 NKJV)

Christ, the Son of God, Giver of Life

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31 NKJV)

John tells us why he wrote the gospel? It is for us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we may have life in His name. Three things John tells us here. First of all, Jesus is the Christ. Christ means the Messiah, the promised One to come to save His people. Many prophets repeatedly prophesied of His coming as the Lamb of God. Even God Himself pronounced the coming of the seed of woman (Genesis 3:15). Jesus says that anyone who enters the sheepfold not through the door is a thief and a robber. But he who enters the door is the shepherd of sheep (John 10:1-2). Jesus came in the likeness of human and died and buried and rose again from the dead according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

He is the Son of God. He is the Triune God. In the beginning there was Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1). He created all things and noting was not made without Him (John 1:3).

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:15-18 NKJV)

In addition, we may believe that believing we may life in His name. That’s the only way to come to the Father in heaven (John 14:6). God so loved the world that he gave His begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus Christ invites all kinds of people who thirst and hunger to come and drink, then river of living water will overflow from within (John 7:37-38). Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, Another Counselor, who abides within forever (John 14:16). The resurrection life is ours now and forever since we have believed in the Christ Jesus and the Son of God.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,

And to present you faultless

Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

To God our Savior,

Who alone is wise,

Be glory and majesty,

Dominion and power,

Both now and forever.

Amen. (Jude 1:24-25 NKJV)

Noah and the Flood

No one knows of the Day of the Lord, but God only. However, Jesus gives us a reasonable hint how we shall be prepared for it. It would never be enough to say about His coming. Paul exhorts us to be sober and watchful because the night is nearly over (Romans 13:12). Jesus says that the Day of the Lord will be like the days of Noah. The flood swept through the earth and destroyed all the living beings, both humans and animals except Noah and his families and the selected animals.

The message of the flood is that there will be such a day, the Day of Judgment, when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again. It also tells us that the Son of God will be coming like the days of Noah. As in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Eating and drinking, and marrying are normal and ordinary activities of human lives. There is nothing wrong with that. The Judgment of God comes like a thief at night. While people are normally maintaining lives, Jesus will come suddenly and unexpectedly. The Day of Judgment will come at the end of physical life for each individual. No one knows when he dies. Therefore, Jesus says, “You also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:36-44 NKJV)