Posted: 04/25/2008 at 10:46am | IP Logged

Practical Kingdom Living

How is real life changing in the kingdom?

By Ron McGatlin

In the transition from the church age to the kingdom age, our daily lives will change. Deep inner spiritual changes within the heart of man will cause significant changes in our practical life experience. Some of these significant changes are beginning to be seen and at some level experienced in this season. Much more will come into view and be experienced in the not too distant future.

These changes relate to continued revelation light coming through increased intimate relationship between man and God. Men and women with pure hearts and clean hands who are made holy by the practical experience of the resurrected Christ abiding within by the Holy Spirit are drawing near to God in intimate one on one relationship.

A great awakening continues to come to the people of God even as great darkness continues to increase the shroud upon the ungodly.

The emerging kingdom people are being changed from within by the Spirit by supernatural means. The spiritual supernatural within becomes the practical reality of outward life that brings heavenly change to the world. The major precepts and practices of life on earth will be changed from the fallen world's ways to God's kingdom life principles and ways of doing and being.

The spiritual supernatural will become the practical natural experience of life.

The "basileia" kingdom of God from heaven on earth is supernatural and natural. From God�s perspective there is no difference. The supernatural is natural with God, and if we really think about it, the natural is supernatural to man. That is to say the things of life we experience such as human and animal reproduction, seeds growing into trees and plants, the complexity of the human body and all of nature including the solar system and all the stars we observe every night are far beyond our natural understanding and bear the mark of the supernatural. However, we think of these things as natural. Yet, science can only guess at the origin and continued existence of all nature.

The vast intricate complexity of nature and all creation is indeed miraculous by any standard. All nature and creation has its origin in the spiritual realm. However, mankind tends to qualify some things of God as supernatural/spiritual and some as natural/physical. Many accounts written in the Bible are considered supernatural miracles because such powerful works of God are not commonly seen by the people of today's fallen world.

Through Adam's separation from intimate life with God in the Garden of Eden, mankind lost a large portion of his originally designed potential to function as God's Spiritual/physical (Supernatural/natural) interface and liaison between God and the world of Planet Earth.

Christ Jesus restored to man the potential of intimate life with God and all its power to bring forth the will and works of God from heaven on earth to restore the kingdom of God and His righteousness which, will return the order and rule of God to the planet through man.

Soon after the first century the church was robbed of its place of intimate relationship with God through Christ by the Holy Spirit by religion and secularism. Instead of bringing the righteousness of God that Jesus provided, religion and secularism brought forth the fallen world�s ways to order and rule in the world.

In this season many people are returning to an intimate relationship with God.

God's holy, pure-hearted men and women walking in the Spirit intimately relating to God are beginning to bring forth the ways of the kingdom of God that will affect the world. The people who are shrouded in darkness will see a great light and either move toward the light or flee from the light to even greater darkness.

Some of the manifesting kingdom activity is discernable in the changing characteristics of church, personal life, and business now and promises to increase.

Out of the heart flow the issues of life. From the un-redeemed spirit of man "un-life" (death, evil, and human good) flows into the soul producing rebellion and disobedience to the will and ways of God.

The redeemed man is made alive and lives by the Spirit. The loving grace of God is the Spirit of Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit gracing the spirit of man which fills the soul (mind, will, and emotions) that flows through the body to do the will of God in the world.

Natural or physical life in the world flows from the heart of man. The heart of man is the spirit and soul of man. Changing the heart of man changes his life and begins change in the world.

Prov 4:23: Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Luke 6:45: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

The kingdom of God on earth from heaven comes forth as mankind is made alive by the Spirit and then chooses to walk in the spirit (be guided by and empowered by the indwelling Spirit of God).

Gal 5:25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Gal 5:16: I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES (manifest) AS WE LIVE AND WALK IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The greatest practical evidence and distinction of living by and walking in the Holy Spirit as opposed to walking in our natural soul is that we are no longer ruled, guided, and empowered by our flesh (natural self-focused ways). Our soul is no longer clouded or enhanced by the power of evil spirits when we no longer walk in the flesh but walk in the Spirit of God.

Even born again believers made alive by the Spirit who do not truly walk in the Spirit will continue or revert to walking in natural self-focused ways.

The first desires of the natural soul are self-preservation, self-gratification, and personal gain. Life becomes a continual seeking to gain those things that one believes will provide continued life and gratification. The love of money is the love of self-gratification and personal gain, and is the root of all kinds of evil. Competition, self-promotion, taking from others, cheating, lying, stealing, deceptive schemes of doing business, and ministry are just a few of the beginning evils of loving money.

1 Tim 6:10: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The kingdom of God way achieved through walking in the Spirit is the opposite of life in the natural soul and flesh. When we walk in the Spirit, the desire of our soul is to lay down or lose our lives that Christ Jesus can live through us by the Spirit. Rather than pleasing or gratifying ourselves, our heart's desire is to pleasure and please our Lord - to intimately know and relate to our Father in heaven.

Mark 8:35: For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.

Rather than self-promotion we desire to promote Christ Jesus; instead of taking from others, our heart is to care for and give to others from our abundance of life in the Spirit. Our work, business, or ministry becomes primarily focused on meeting the needs of others, especially those of the household of faith (Gal 6:10). What we do in our daily work and lives is seen as a service to God by serving others. No longer is the primary purpose of what we do to provide for our needs or gain. God is our source and will provide for the needs of those who seek His righteousness and His kingdom first (Mat: 6:33). We do not work to get; we work to provide a service or product to meet the needs of others and the world around us.

Being made alive by the Spirit but not walking in the Spirit causes a regrettable mixture.

This mixture in modern life and ministry is being exposed by the enlightenment and the fire of God moving upon the church and the world. As people of God truly begin to walk in the Spirit, the mixture within them is exposed by the light of the Spirit. Many will quickly repent, be cleansed, and continue to walk in the Spirit. However, others will justify their condition, walk out of the Spirit, and slip toward further darkness.

For those of us who are walking in the Spirit, the mixture in others, especially leaders, is quickly discerned. This becomes a burden to the person walking in the Spirit, a burden that calls for a Holy Spirit-led response to the situation. There is a snare set by the enemy to discourage and entrap us into critically judging from the natural soul and move from walking in the Spirit. We need to remember that we were a mixture before we were fully sanctified unto walking in the Spirit and that we do not have all knowledge of the specific situation. We must seek God and do and say only what we see Him doing and saying. Our hearts may be broken as we see the plight of our brothers and sisters entrapped in the love of money and seeking self-gratification using their gift and their once genuine desire for the work of God for personal gain. Or God may lead us to confront firmly with tears and love. Or God may call for some other response or no response at all on our part.

James 4:8-11: Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.

Keep on pursuing love.
It never fails.

Ron McGatlin

archive.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

Posted: 04/25/2008 at 11:16am | IP Logged

Yes Brother Ron we come to believe and respond in kind(HOLY SPIRIT), that IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM!...as we begin to see EVERYTHING & EVERYONE through ABBA FATHER'S EYES. Thank you again, for these Words of Wisdom. I heard Rodney Browne speaking just this morning about this is "A REAL LIFE, WITH A REAL SAVIOR, WITH A REAL MESSAGE,,,Rodney went on for a spell naming "THE REAL LIFE", was right in line with your post here,,,no surprise as we are hearing from the ONE REAL HOLY SPIRIT,,,AMEN.  Listened to Bill Winston sharing that he NOW CALLS GOD the ORIGINAL GOD...I have used this a few times, it surely lets those know you are conversing with WHO GOD IS!    Love you ALL-prayin' & decreein'

Posted: 04/25/2008 at 1:21pm | IP Logged

"Christ Jesus restored to man the potential of intimate life and all its power to bring forth the will and works of God from heaven on earth to restore the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Thus returning the order and rule of God to the planet through man."

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Jesus! Hallelujah, Hallelujah Blessed be Your Name! Thank You for restoring righteousness, right-relationship with our Father and one another. Be exalted in and over all the earth!

Posted: 04/25/2008 at 4:05pm | IP Logged

Ron McGatlin wrote: Practical Kingdom Living How is real life changing in the kingdom? The redeemed man is made alive and lives by the Spirit. The loving grace of God is the Spirit of Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit gracing the spirit of man which, fills the soul (mind,will and emotions) that flows through the body to do the will of God in the world. Natural or physical life in the world flows from the heart of man. The heart of man is the spirit and soul of man. Changing the heart of man changes the life and begins change in the world. Prov 4:23: Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Luke 6:45: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

YES YES YES...

How humbling it is when you see the Lord changing the hearts of those around you!!!!

THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!

Touch the hearts Oh Lord God of those in our governments!!!!

Let us see this whole earth  be a Kingdom without walls where all live in the abundance that you provide!!!

Posted: 04/27/2008 at 10:17am | IP Logged

"Some of the manifesting kingdom activity is discernable in the changing characteristics of church, personal life, and business now and promises to increase."

Praise our God for the Good News of the Kingdom!

Posted: 04/29/2008 at 12:26am | IP Logged

ITS ABOUT JESUS!!!!

quote Ron...The kingdom of God way achieved through walking in the Spirit is the opposite of life in the natural soul and flesh. When we walk in the Spirit, the desire of our soul is to lay down or lose our lives that Christ Jesus can live through us by the Spirit. Rather than pleasing or gratifying ourselves, our heart's desire is to pleasure and please our Lord - to intimately know and relate to our Father in heaven.

Posted: 05/05/2008 at 8:37pm | IP Logged

Yes LORD!!! Just as we pray the prayer from Eph.3:14-20,,,by the time the 19th verse comes out my mouth I am shouting it, (((to know this love that surpasses knowledge; that you may b filled to the measure of the FULLNESS OF GOD)))!  HALLELUAH TO KING JESUS THAT THROUGH HIS SHED BLOOD WE ARE NO LONGER ENEMIES WITH ABBA FATHER GOD, BUT SONS OF MOST HIGH GOD!!! GLORY! I SHOUT GLORY TO GOD!!! LET YOUR GLORY FILL US AND FLOW OUT TO ALL THOSE AROUND US-OVERFLOW, A RAGING UNCONTROLABLE RIVER OF RESURRECTION LIFE!!! YEAH GOD!!! TY JESUS! TY JESUS! TY JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   \o/\o/\o/\o/\o/   OH, JOY, YOU FILL THIS HERE SOUL FULL OF GLORY!!!  LUVS YA MY PRECIOUS SISTER LYN, & AM ENJOYING YOUR POSTS EXCEEDINGLY!   Love you ALL-prayin' & rejoicin'

Posted: 05/05/2008 at 10:01pm | IP Logged

Love you too Precious Gayle... very much... you are a real blessing

FROM MY GARDEN...