THE RIGHT-SIDE UP KINGDOM OF GOD
Tuesday – July 9, 2019, Tamuz 6, 5779
Greetings to all and welcome back to this in-depth Bible Study of the Book of John. Our Lord, our God is the only living God and is so merciful and so gracious to us all, saint and sinner alike. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment and hit the “like” and “share” buttons so I know you are engaged and sharing these Truths. The featured pictures this week are from a recent trip to Samoset Resort in Rockport Maine. Now let’s turn our attention to our study by reading the primary Bible text aloud.
John 11:5-10 (KJV)
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
As we move forward with this account of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, I want to take a moment to reflect on a perhaps overlooked point. To fully understand this, we must have read and mediated on the last few lessons especially with regard to the difference between friendship and love relationships. In verse three Jesus receives a message saying that His friend Lazarus is very ill or sick. In verse five the narrator (John) tells us that Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. God loves all peoples saved and sinner alike. That means that He relates to each one according to the Word, Spiritual Law, in an unselfish way, and according to Blood Covenant (saints not sinners). This is how Jesus was relating to Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Persons who are a friend of God are operating (thinking, talking, and acting) in the fulness of their Godly knowledge and are being diligent to move forward in the ways of God (thinking, words, and actions). I hope you can see this as something like a rheostat and not dependent on absolute thought, words, and actions but walking in all the light they have and moving into more light day by day.
Even though we may sing the song in Church that we are a friend of God, for most people that is unlikely. Being a friend of God (and thus Jesus) is directly related to faith in God, in the Word. Everything in the Kingdom of God comes by faith, motivated by love, and led of the Holy Spirit. An interesting dynamic is at play here which is opposite that of the world. In the world it is generally thought that friendship precedes love however in the Kingdom of God love precedes (comes before) friendship. Love for the born-again Christian, those in the Kingdom of God, as we hopefully know, is entirely different than how the world defines love. The worlds’ idea of love has a huge emotional or soulish connection first, before any covenant connection. That is not to say we do not enjoy the emotions God has given us in our relationships, it is just that we must understand and give our covenant responsibilities first place.
Let me give you a real-life example of how this works in real life, a personal example. As many if not all of you know I have recently married a wonderful, beautiful, and Godly lady (Donna). From before the first date we established that each was a child of God and that God was first place, the Word of God was first place in each other’s lives. On the first dates we had lengthy discussions about what love (agape – the God kind of love) and Blood Covenant. Each of us became conversant in this and came into total agreement about an agape and Blood Covenant relationship. This was before the emotions and the kissing kicked in (hormones). Once these things were established the only question was; is this woman, and for her, is this man, God’s choice for me. Once that was established that she was indeed the choice of God for me, I trusted Him (God) that we would indeed be augmenting spiritual partners, the very best of friends, and that we would be pleasing to each other in all ways. So, we established a Kingdom of God love (agape) relationship first, then the friendship came very rapidly and wonderfully. All that each of us trusted God for in a help-meet is a present reality in our lives, our life. As they say, one must have the horse (agape and Blood Covenant) before the cart (friendship, emotions) not the cart before the horse like the world. It seems like people are spending tons of time trying to figure out if they like or love each other rather than asking God. We must trust God to bring us the right person, once that is established, we trust God that everything about this person will be pleasing. At the very onset of all of this and mixed in must be the establishing of a common understanding of the elements of love (agape) and Blood Covenant as immutable elements of the relationship first.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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