‘’LIVING THE KINGDOM, ENJOYING THE BLESSINGS’’
Revelation 5:9-12 – ‘’And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing’’.
Matthew 6:25-34 –‘’ Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. ‘’
How much I welcome you to the purposeful month of Greatness – ‘’Living The Kingdom, Enjoying The Blessings’’. The great mandate and privilege of being Born into the kingdom is to enjoy the blessings also. For everyone born into the kingdom which is as a result of believing in the Redemptive work of Christ is not only just to be saved but are called to inherit a blessing. –
Galatians 3:13-14 ‘’Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith ‘’;
1 Peter 3:8-12 ‘’ Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil ‘’
Hebrews 6:10-12 ‘’ For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises ‘’.
Our good Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of His people. He wants each of us in the kingdom not to become just a mere believers in Him but to live the kingdom in achieving their goals and aspirations in life with godly success, happiness, peacefulness, wellness, healthiness etc. This applies to our goals in having a good home, marriage, property, business/career, children, etc/
John 10:10 ‘’The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly‘’
Psalm 35:27 ‘’Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant ’’
3Jn 2‘’Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth ‘’
Joshua 1:8 ‘’ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success‘’.
But unfortunately, many believers in Christ, in pursuance to have this life’s basic amenities have forgotten the kingdom’s major priority or prospect – Living the Kingdom. It’s for this cause that there are a lot of worries, anxieties and depressions with their side effects happening to us in spite of all we have accumulated as possessions.
In the book of Romans 14:17 ‘’ For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost ‘’, we can fully ascertain what the kingdom of God is all about. Not just merely fun or of eating and drinking but having a righteous lifestyle before God in our relations with life and mankind, having and living in peace with others and without shame before God in a turbulent world and a joyful life in the Holy Spirit in spite of all happenings around you. Living the kingdom is about having a righteous standing with God in an unrighteous environment, living with Peace in the midst of hatred, jealousy, envy, wickedness and disappointment, and rejoicing in your faith by the Holy Spirit in absolute adversities. This is the way to live the kingdom and be above in the present economic and financial instability, natural disasters, political instability, family/domestic breakdowns, business and career uncertainties and much more the continuous and constant spiritual warfare against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places.
2Corinthians 10:3-6 ‘’ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled‘’
The Scripture says all who thirst and hunger after this kingdom pattern will be filled, as written in Matthew 5:6 ‘’Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled‘’. This means that the amount of satisfaction and fulfilment one enjoys or can enjoy in the kingdom is as a result of the quest, thirst and hunger one craves for in the kingdom. God will not waste His kingdom resources that have cost God His Son – Lord Jesus – for our salvation on people whose main purpose is self gratification and materialism for human egos. For this cause, Jesus made some illustrations on how to value life in the kingdom as written in Matthew 6:25-34 (Main text above). The above scriptures inform us that our life is more precious than mere food and drink, that the body is more vital than clothing. And much more, that we seek first the kingdom of God and His way of doing things (Righteousness), which will enhance all we intend to pursue or are pursuing as believers, then we can have our desires come to reality by no act of stressfulness; and not the other way round as being done in a crazy manner by the unbelievers (Heathens or Gentiles, the scriptures call them). Living the kingdom will give freedom from all forms of anxieties, worries, depression, trauma and disappointment, for we are a people of life, faith, hope and love. We need not to fight or pursue life affairs as those without life, faith, hope and love. Know full well that we are of God and God’s promises will never fail. Delay is never a denial, for our God is always on time. 1 Corinthians 1:9 ‘’God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord‘’.
GOD PROMISES/BLESSINGS:
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God wants to ADD wellness to your life – Matthew 6:33 ‘’But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you ‘’.
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He promises us a life of hope, welfare and future – Jeremiah 29:11 ‘’ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end‘’.
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That in times of famine He will look after us – Job 5:20-27 ‘’ In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee. And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth. Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good ‘’; Psalm 33:16-19 ‘’ There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine; Psalm 37:16-19 ‘’A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied‘’.
In the bible days when the ECONOMY and MONEY FAILED the men of first civilisation in Egypt, God was THERE for His people, much more now we are under His grace and mercies, He will care for His own. Genesis 47:13-27 ‘’And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not aught left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s. And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants. And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s. And Israel (God’s people) dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly‘’.
Beloved, as Achievers in Christ Jesus, I pray that you live in the consciousness of the kingdom for what your are as in 1 Peter 2:5-10 ‘’ Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, and precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy‘’. Today a great shaking is happening in diverse places in the world which is invariably affecting nations, some having an economic and political instability, natural disasters, financial crunch, business/career insecurity, family and domestic decadence, community killings or rituals, local and international wars etc. Some of these things we have created are hunting us in a way. But as God’s own child, the scriptures have made it plain that we can live above all these circumstances and that comes by Living the Kingdom in order to enjoy the Lord’s goodness with pleasure – Psalm 65:11‘’ Thou crowns the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness ‘’.
Finally, as we go through this purposeful month of June, the book of Revelations 5:9-12 (explained earlier) indicates seven key kingdom covenant blessings which Christ received on our behalf as His redeemed people. We are redeemed to enjoy them and I duly present them to you and that you pray them into your life as you ‘Live The Kingdom To Enjoy The Blessings’:
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Power for fear, inferiority complex and timidity (2Tim. 1:7)
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Riches for our Poverty (2Cor. 8:9)
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Wisdom for ignorance (James1:5)
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Strength for our weakness ( Isaiah 40:28-31)
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Honour for our shame (Eph. 2:5-10)
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Glory for our reproach(Col. 1:27)
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Blessing for our curse(s) (Gal. 3:13-14).
I pray that all these kingdom rights and privileges be added to you as you seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness PURPOSEFULLY and I do prophesy that Isaiah 3:10 become your daily song and experiences throughout this month of JUNE. BE ETERNALLY PROSPERED! Amen.
In His World For His Glory,
Pst Chukie
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