Tag Archive | kingdom of God

Born Again?!

Oct16

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.3.3.NASB1995

Are  you seeing the kingdom of God at work in the world today?

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:5‭-‬6 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.3.5-6.NASB1995

Have you been born of the Spirit?

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.1.12-13.NASB1995

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:5 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/tit.3.5.NASB1995

🌹Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/ezk.36.25-27.NASB1995

To God be the glory for His mercy, grace and salvation.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Persecuted for Christ

Jun10

He (Jesus) opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying
‭“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:1, 10 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.1-10.NASB1995

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled,
Peter 3:14 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.3.14.NASB1995

[19] For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
[20] For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
[21] For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
[22] who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
[23] and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; [24] and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
1 Peter 2:19-24 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.2.19-24.NASB1995

Did you notice in verse 23, ‘Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father’?
Even while suffering he uttered no threats! What an example, of bearing up under persecution, Jesus is for us, and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.

but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.
Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
1 Peter 4:16, 19 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/1pe.4.16-19.NASB1995

‭we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:8-10, 16-18 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/2co.4.8-18.NASB1995

The things not seen are eternal. The kingdom awaits the persecuted for the sake of Christ.

🌹Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Road to Triumph Pt. 3

Mar29

When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord has need of it.” They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it.
Luke 19:29‭-‬35 NASB

Remember from yesterday’s devotion, Jesus was telling a parable and mentioned, “they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately”.
As this passage unfolds you will notice that Jesus and His disciples were not on the same page, the same wave length.

But back to this passage section. . .

Isn’t it wonderfully fascinating how Jesus sends the two disciples on a mission stating exactly what they were to look for and what to say if they faced opposition?! Jesus spoke. Jesus sent. Disciples obeyed. What an experience they encountered.

God’s Word is the same. It tells us what to look for, how to accomplish His plan and what to say when facing opposition. Jesus was present then. We have the Holy Spirit present in us, the believer, now. How many experiences have we missed because we don’t know God’s Word, Jesus Christ, intimately?

🌹God, guide me by Your word and Your presence so I may fully experience what a joy it is to serve You.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Road to Triumph Pt. 2

Mar28

While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.’ ”
Luke 19:11‭-‬14‭, ‬27 NASB

Does King Jesus have reign over you, your life? One day He will return. Will He find you obediently serving His will and purpose?
When I ask myself these questions, I am drawn to the cross. What my King Jesus Christ did for me on the cross humbles me to bow before my reigning King.

🌹Reign in me, Lord Jesus. Help me to serve You faithfully until Your return.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Focus on God

Mar22

Through prayer our focus turns to God.

Focused
Observant
Centered
Unified
Strengthened
     
Guided
Obedient
Delivered

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
Psalms 91:14‭-‬15 NASB

🌹God of grace who hears me when I call, my desire is to focus on You, my Deliverer. I long to be centered in Your will and be obedient to that will. As I  seek Your will open my eyes to see Your work and guide me in that work that I may bring You glory. Strengthen me for your work and unify me to other believers through prayer to seek Your kingdom first.
In Jesus name and for Your glory. amen.

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Repentance to Endurance

Feb3

and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
Acts 14:22b NASB

in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
2 Corinthians 6:4b-‬10 NASB

In Christ is life no matter the circumstances. Jesus suffered for the sake of the gospel to the glory of the Father. If we are to follow in His footsteps, being transformed into His image by obedience to His commands, then we should expect and face tribulations, trials, hardships,  etc. with endurance.

🌹 Let us endure through all tribulation, in the power of God and in the Holy Spirit, by the word of truth on our journey for and toward the kingdom of God.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

What is Your Sacrifice?

Oct31

A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:42‭-‬44 NASB/Luke 21:3-4 NASB

This woman parted with all she had. Her livelihood was placed on the altar. She gave all she had for the glory of God.

How could she do that? She trusted in God to be her Jehovah-jireh – the Lord will provide.

🌹 What are you willing to lay on the altar for the glory of God? This woman gave her all.

And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.” Luke 18:29‭-‬30 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Looking for More

Oct20

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”      Luke 17:20‭-‬21 NASB

Aren’t we always looking for something better? Something more? While looking all about us we miss what is right in front of our faces.

How many of us have searched for something, ie. car keys, when we are in a hurry to go out the door and they are right there in plain sight but somehow we miss seeing them.

Is that what our focus is today regarding Jesus? We are so looking forward to His return, looking for signs, that we miss the “right now” daily walk with Him.

Like the keys that we know are hanging where we always leave them, have we put Jesus away somewhere in the future knowing He’ll be there when I need Him, when I’m ready at some future time? Are we looking for Him when He is right in front of us waiting for our acknowledgement of His presence in our lives today, right now?

🌹Don’t miss out on the relationship looking for His coming. He is already here. His return is simply to gather to the promised land those who are walking with Him now.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

My Will

Jul9

‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NASB

From the Lord’s prayer. Your will be done. Hmm. Have you ever thought on that? God’s will be done… On earth as it is in heaven.

What do we truly seek? Where is our thoughts, heart, mind focused?

The age old problem of my will or God’s will. It’s nothing new.

How can we know God’s will?

Through the prayerful reading of God’s word. Through the fellowship of His saints. Through seeking His will with open eyes looking for His work around us (circumstances).

Unfortunately we get complacent in our walk and we become just as Israel did in the wilderness.

They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city. They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. Psalms 107:4‭-‬6 NASB

They finally woke up and cried out to the Lord and He delivered them.

Why do we wait to desire God’s will until we’ve made a mess of our lives? Now is the time of repentance. Now is the time to seek God’s will, His kingdom, His righteousness.

🌹Suggestion: Read Psalm 107 with God’s will in mind. Evaluate your life and what you see in the world around you. Do you see God’s will or man’s will?

‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NASB

What is your response?

Time Fulfilled

May25

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee,  preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” –Mark 1:14-15

The time has been fulfilled. Do you believe?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon