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Posted: 08/04/2011 at 7:38am
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Kingdom Life Basics
By Ron McGatlin
Introduction
Imagine what it would be like for each of us to lay down one night at home in our familiar bed and awaken in the morning in a different unfamiliar place, a place where we had never been before.
Everything around us is different and unfamiliar. After a time of sheer unbelief and trying to go back to sleep, that we might awaken again from this strange dream, we begin to come to grips with the reality that this is really happening. We have no idea what is going on, but it is true that we are in a new place.
As we search about our new surroundings, it becomes apparent that most everything is different. We are in a new reality. What do we do now?
There are only two general choices. If we are going to survive in this new reality, we must either adjust to our new world or seek to adjust our new world to us. Our old lifestyle will not function in the new place. Our previously learned ways of life will not enable us to provide for the basic needs of life.
I am not sure if many would survive such a sudden shift. It may not be possible for most of us to learn an entire new system of life quickly enough to survive. Certainly, survival would be much easier if there were a more gradual shift over an extended period of time. If the transformation was more gradual, more people might be able to learn the new ways of life in the new world.
A new world is coming forth on Planet Earth.
Merciful and loving God has been moving mankind toward the new redeemed world one step at the time for two thousand years. It has not been a consistent rate of advancement. It has indeed been an up and down or back and forth progression. However, the advancement has continued from the first century to this present hour.
The change has been occurring through many generations. God has allowed opportunity for mankind to exhaust his every effort to rule the world without Him. Degradation of natural man has continued its downward spiral of self-focused, self-serving godless existence. While at the same time a remnant army of sons of God (male and female) has been being gradually formed and trained through the generations.
I believe that it is obvious that in this current season, the rate of advancement has greatly increased. As we near the latter stages of the world’s transformation from its fallen state to its redeemed and restored state of the kingdom of God, things are happening much more quickly.
The finished work of Jesus is progressively being formed in God’s called-out people and will eventually flow into the entire world. We are currently in a season of much revelation coming forth from God in preparation for functioning in the new world governed by the kingdom of heaven. In this present season, the substance of the New Jerusalem lifestyle is coming into our view by the Spirit of God. Practical understanding of the kingdom is being revealed to and proclaimed by apostolic and prophetic servants of God.
In this series of writings, my intent is to bring forth practical spiritual kingdom understanding in preparation for living the new lifestyle of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. I believe the Lord is directing me to speak into where we are now and where we are soon going and not to go back to square one and re-invent the wheel so to speak. Other written and video materials that are written more from the beginning of the word of the kingdom are available at archive.openheaven.com .
Kingdom Reality
What is your reality?
The passing world system is governed according to the tree of knowledge of good and evil from within the fallen intellect of man and inspired by the powers of darkness. This natural physical life consisting of that which can be seen by the natural eye or felt by the natural touch is reality for natural human beings. Natural needs and desires of the flesh motivate their basic course of life. Lifestyles have developed worldwide based upon the needs, desires, and limited concepts of man inspired from covert darkness.
The God of heaven came to earth as a man.
Over two millennia ago the transformation of life on earth began as the incarnate Christ Jesus began to speak and demonstrate the renewed reality of the kingdom of God into this world. The word and power of the kingdom astonished and greatly impacted the first century disciples. At the same time it greatly disturbed the existing systems of life on earth. The extraordinary LOVE of God demonstrated in and through Christ Jesus, captivated all who believed and greatly antagonized those who did not believe. Heaven’s order and higher ways of life began to be seeded into those who received Christ Jesus. Heavenly truth and righteous ways of life began to restore the kingdom of God within those who received the Son of God.
The kingdom of God is a heavenly spiritual reality. It is higher and more powerful in every way than the natural reality that was created by and is sustained by the spiritual kingdom from heaven.
The kingdom of God is governed by the tree of life which is the Lord and King, Christ Jesus. The fullness of the kingdom that we are beginning to experience is in Christ Jesus. The unprecedented resurrection of Christ Jesus, His ascension to the throne of God, and His subsequent return in the Holy Spirit to indwell His people has provided the potential for the reality of the full measure of the new kingdom life to be available on earth now.
The full potential of Christ abiding in His people on earth is soon to be fully manifested. This will produce the new world on earth as it is in heaven.
Our old-world ways will not function in the new world.
The old will be cut down and burned so that nothing that lifts itself against God will remain. The axe has been laid to the root of the tree, and it is shaking and trembling, soon to come crashing down. Neither root nor branch of the old world order shall remain to contaminate the New Jerusalem ruling city of the Israel of God. Holy angels will remove the fruitless tares, and the sons of God will shine forth. Nothing shall enter the New Jerusalem kingdom of God lifestyle that defiles.
Some of the characteristics of the old-world ways contrasted with the new-world ways are listed below. These and more will be unpacked in subsequent chapters to follow.
Old World New World
Lust Love
Pride Thankful Humility
Darkened Understanding Heavenly Spiritual Wisdom
Religion Relationship with God
Humanism Live by the Spirit –Walk in the Spirit
Independent One with God and Creation
Driven Led by the Spirit
Rebellious Submissive
Need and Lack Fully Supplied to Complete God’s Plan
Competition Cooperation
Striving to Excel Flowing the Glory of God
Fear, Worry, and Anxiety Faith, Rest, and Peace
Resentment Forgiveness
Working to Get Working to Serve
Investing to Gain Investing to Supply
Ruling Over Others Serving Others
Using Others Blessing Others
Sickness and Disease Health and Well Being
Powerless Spiritual Empowerment
These are only a few of the changes we are being prepared to awaken to in the New Jerusalem, Kingdom of God lifestyle.
Luke 12:32-34: "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Keep on pursuing Love. Love never fails
and His kingdom never ends.
Ron McGatlin
archive.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net
Edited by Ron McGatlin on 08/04/2011 at 7:40am
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Topic: KINGDOM LIFE BASICS
