An emphasis on the need for a sound foundation for those who are part of the priesthood of all believers?
The eternal purpose … the mystery made known … that all human history should be consummated in Christ, that everything that exists in heaven and earth should find its perfection and fulfilment in him (Eph 1.9)!
All things were created through Christ, and for him … the first born from the dead, which gives him pre-eminence over all things. It was in him that the full nature of God chose to live, and through him God planned to reconcile to his own person everything on earth and everything in heaven, making peace by virtue of Christ’s death on the cross (Col 1.16-20).
In Christ we have been given an inheritance … (Eph 1.11).
To those who love God everything that happens fits into a pattern for good … chosen to bear the family likeness (Rom 8.28-29).
Of the increase of his government there will be no end …
Father, may your name be honoured (the glory is yours) – may your kingdom come and your will be done. Give us each day the bread we need for the day, and forgive us what we owe to you (our failures) because we forgive everyone who owes us anything (fails us); and keep us clear of temptation and save us from evil.
It begins individually as we follow Jesus daily – aligned with the will of Father and guided by the Holy Spirit!
Matt 6.24-34 – seek first the kingdom of God. Focus divided is focus lost! We cannot follow Jesus and the opinions of men (or our own assumed needs)! What is God’s need / purpose / desire?
Unless Jesus is at the centre … Lord, I need to see things from your perspective!
The need to pray for what God wants – and to adjust our minds to the outcome – to let go of self!
Seek first the kingdom of God – be still and listen – why do I do what I do?
The need to focus on what Father wants!
Real prayer = co-operating with God and his purpose. We must adjust to God in prayer (24/7) as servants or friends – so that we discover God’s needs (beware of the teachings of men).
Self-denial = co-operation with God rather than wrestling – attached to the vine – divine energy!
The kingdom of God never comes by looking for signs of it. Men cannot say, “Look, here it is”, or, “there it is”, for the kingdom of God is inside you (Luke 17.21). It begins with individual disciples!
Jesus didn’t fit the expectations of the Jews and what the Messiah was going to do – they were looking for an earthly kingdom! Jesus is building his church with living stones (Matt 21.42) – a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (1Peter 2.9).
A spiritual nation of disciples who take up the cross and follow Jesus daily!
Everything God has done, is doing, and will do … of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end (Isa 9.7) – a kingdom that shall never be destroyed (Dan 2.44).
How can we pray for this if it isn’t already established in us?
We cannot pray for forgiveness and harbour unforgiveness at the same time. This is an issue we have to deal with before we can go out into the world. Unforgiveness (or bitterness) leads to physical and spiritual suffering – (prisoners of our own emotions). We have to forgive for the sake of our own emotional well-being. It’s part of the process of growth when Jesus lives in and through us.
How can we really forgive others if we don’t understand what it means to have been forgiven?
Do we recognise that we are walking in the light? Do we allow fellowship with Father to be disrupted by what others have done?
Forgive us for our sins – togetherness – we all fall short – all part of one tapestry. God freely forgives in order to teach us what it means to love one another and release one another!
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil (Matt 6.13) – Phillips translates this as keep us clear of temptation and save us from evil – how significant is that?
Temptation – (putting to proof – examining) – seems to be related to judging or distinguishing between good and evil – which makes sense when we think of the knowledge of the tree of good and evil.
The meaning of evil from Strong’s is very obscure. It could include ‘worthless’, ‘hurtful’, ‘culpable’ (deserving of blame) – anything that resists God’s purpose including religion, that takes us away from the narrow path – away from simplicity of the gospel? Consider 1John2.18-28!
Even in those days the world was full of impostors (2John 7)! Beware of agendas!
The need to recognise that others will judge the Christian faith by what they see!
Remember that as a result of the blood of Jesus we are able to go to Father for forgiveness whenever we miss the mark.
If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all right to himself, carry his cross every day and keep close behind me. For the man who wants to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for my sake will save it (Luke 9 23-24). Follow me!
A man’s temptation is due to the pull of his own inward desires, which greatly attract him. It is his own desire which conceives and gives birth to sin (James 1.13-14).
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the all-glorious Father, will give you spiritual wisdom and the insight to know more of him: that you may receive that inner illumination of the spirit which will make you realise how great is the hope to which he is calling you – the magnificence and splendour of the inheritance promised to Christians… (Eph 1.17on) – delivered from evil through Jesus!
God’s kingdom will be established on earth – the focus of all prophetic scriptures.
And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed (Dan 7.14).
Disciples can be helpful but it is Jesus who is building his church!
The power belongs to God – all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus (Matt 28.18) – it can’t belong to anyone else. The concept of a powerful devil gives people an excuse to live a defeated life! Many have an illusion of control and power – when the truth enters in that power is lost! Because Satan doesn’t have real power he operates through darkness, lies and deception! When people are deceived an illusion can look very real. Christians spend so much time fighting the devil – if they had more idea of what Jesus is doing they would surely be overcomers instead!
A spirit of wisdom and revelation (Eph 1.17) – raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (2.6).
Until God reveals something directly to us! Has God revealed the significance of Jesus? An anointing that will lead us into all truth! If we really understand we will live differently – we will see the world differently – and be who we are in Christ!
The glory belongs to God - the earth will be filled with the glory of God!
We do not yet see all things submitted to God (Heb 2), but Isaiah had such a vision (Isa 6.1on).
And the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father (John 1.14).
If what we are experiencing is not bringing us into a closer relationship with Father why not let it go!
Most people didn’t behold the glory of God in Jesus – the disciples believed but most people missed it! Most are still looking in the wrong place? Thine is the glory – there is no other outside of Jesus.
Father, I want those whom you have given me to be with me where I am: I want them to see that glory which you have made mine – for you loved me before the world began (John 17.24).
We cannot behold the glory without being with Jesus. If we don’t take the time to be with Jesus we won’t see the glory of God. God is not going to give us a vision unless we have been with Jesus because Jesus is the vision. There are no short cuts. The need to sit at Jesus’ feet – like Mary! The invitation! Only by being with Jesus (in the inner court?) will we begin to understand.
The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, and prevents the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, the image of God, from shining on them. For it is Christ Jesus as Lord whom we preach, not ourselves; we are your servants for Jesus’ sake. God, who first ordered light to shine in darkness, has flooded our hearts with his light, so that we can enlighten men with the knowledge of the glory of God, as we see it in the face of Christ (2Cor 4.3-6).
What is it that shapes our thinking, moves our feelings and changes our actions?
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