Are You Living in the Kingdom of God?

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The Promised Kingdom of God Came With Jesus

⁴⁴“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever” (See Daniel 2:1-45).

¹⁵“‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’” (Mark 1:15).

²⁹“And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, ³⁰so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:29-30).

¹⁰“… ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down’” (Rev. 12:10).

¹⁵“… ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever’” (Rev. 11:15).

Experiencing the Kingdom of God

⁹“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven’” (Matt. 6:9-10).

²⁰“… The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, ²¹nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20-21).

¹⁰“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water … ¹⁴whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life”

²³“… a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (See John 4:1-26).

¹⁵“If you love me, keep my commands. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—¹⁷the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ¹⁸I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. ²⁰On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (John 14:15-21).

³⁷“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ^‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ ³⁹By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified” (John 7:37‑39).

¹⁷“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).

The Fullness of the Kingdom Will Come

⁵⁰I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—⁵²in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’
^55‘Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?’” (1 Cor. 15:50-55).

²⁰“… our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Php. 3:20-21).

Rob Morley

Let Her Fly! Freed From Patriarchy

My wife and I have just published our book, Let Her Fly! Freed From Patriarchy, which we had the joy of co-authoring. Below is the Preface:

Preface

“Let her fly!” is a great cry emanating from pain within the heart of God.‌ It’s a roar that bursts from the pages of Scripture with an eternal magnitude that far exceeds the sum of all the pain that humanity has felt and the tears they have shed on behalf of women.‌ It comes from an unfathomably deep love for women, who suffer under the various guises of patriarchy, and for men who lose so much from suppressing them.‌

It should not surprise us to find this in the Bible, for God is the loving creator of women.‌ He is the originator, author, and architect of their purpose and, therefore, their rights.‌ Not only does He understand the pain that has come upon them as a consequence of sin, but He also mourns the loss that has come upon men, for sin has blinded them, in part, to God’s intended blessing through women.‌ For man forever suppresses what God has designed to bless.‌

Let Her Fly! witnesses to God’s loving view of women who, though created in His image, have had to bear denigration since the Fall and Eve’s particular sin.‌ It reveals their release from bondage in the hope that, if you haven’t, you will allow this cry of God’s heart to be your own.‌

At the outset, I must be clear that I do not hope to stop patriarchy wherever it is found, for that would be near impossible given that it was a promised outcome of the Fall, resulting from the initial sin of humanity against God.‌ Also, I must be equally adamant that those redeemed back to God’s purposes ought to begin to walk in the ways of equality initially intended by God before the Fall.

To the extent that gender equality is recognized and allowed, whether by direct submission to Biblical teaching or inadvertently, the world has been a better place.‌ To this end, I hope to show that no one got tasked to be a better example of gender equality than God’s household, the Church.‌ God feels the pain of her loss and, in Christ, has come to redeem it back for her.

Let Her Fly! is about you, God, and women’s rights.

Let Her Fly!
Let her flourish!
Let her speak!
Let her love!
Honor her!
Respect her!
Let her lead!
Listen to her!
Let her submit!
Don’t rule her!
Love her!
Submit to her!
Let her fly!

– Robert S. Morley

The ebook is available at https://amazon.com/dp/B0C229BRXC/ and the paperback is at http://amazon.com/dp/B0C1J3FDCR/. The contents of the book are based on our blog posts at https://realchurchlife.wordpress.com/category/women-in-ministry-2/. Also included are several poems by Christina, FAQs, and my research paper on the topic.

Rob Morley

Defending Democracy

The Bible Doctor

Article at https://www.shankerinstitute.org/blog/teaching-kids-what-it-means-be-american

Democracy Honors God

Defending democracy may seem counterintuitive at times but Christians should value and protect it even when losing ground in areas of moral importance, for it honors God who has given free will to all, and it gives an opportunity for the gospel to bring influence and true change to people’s lives.

Protect Democracy

In this regard, The Shanker Institute put out an article by Richard D. Kahlenberg, titled, Teaching Kids What It Means To Be An American, which addresses the importance of protecting democracy.

Rob Morley

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Hope for Ukrainians and Promise of Judgment

Photo by Christine Landis, Rgbstock

Why Is There War in Ukraine?

The war in Ukraine has me asking whether the people of Ukraine had been, like Job, fearing God and shunning evil. In other words, were they building their lives on faith in God and righteousness? It’s a rhetorical question, for they are not unlike most people in every nation of the world who go about life with little thought for God, mounting up judgment upon themselves.

The Hope for Ukraine, Russia, and all Nations

In a post, A Time of Peace, Joy, Judgment, and Wrath, I wrote of the hope found in Isaiah 2 for the people of Ukraine and all other nations. It includes one of the most beautiful pictures of restoration between people and God and between one another found in the Bible. Pray that God sends more workers into Ukraine with His gospel and the entire word of God so that they may rebuild with Christ in the center.

God Has Promised Judgment and Wrath

A closer look at Revelation allows one to see that wars and pandemics are just some ways that judgment comes from God upon people. If the war in Ukraine is a judgment on seemingly good people, one can imagine what is in store for our nations and, especially, those not yet saved. And think what judgment is in store for Putin and Russia if they do not repent and seek God’s mercy.

“For we know him who said, ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:30-31).

As I write, the Russians appear to be preparing their people for a protracted war in Ukraine and their Foreign Minister spoke ominously of the potential for World War III. Hopefully, it’s just a ruse.

Fear God

And what of those who are saved? How are we to live? Are we in need of the discipline of God?*

“Since everything will be destroyed [by fire] what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Pet. 3:11-13).

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).

“Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others” (2 Cor. 5:11).

*For more on Jesus judging His churches, and those in them, as well as people in the world, you can read, Don’t Say the J Word, a post I wrote during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rob Morley

The Bible Is Both Good News and Bad News

Picture: ba1969 (Billy Frank Alexander)

Do You Want The Good News or Bad News First?

The good news is that the Bible is 100% accurate and God’s word. The bad news is that the Bible is 100% accurate and God’s word. It is either good or bad depending on how you answer Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” (Matt. 16:15).

The Good News

God chose to save the world by sending Jesus to die on the cross and pay the debt of their sins so that He could forgive any who seek Him for mercy and a new start. For though “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), “[H]e is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). “God made [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Jesus Is God’s Message of Salvation and Judgment, Death and Life

” . . . we [who share God’s word] are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life” (2 Cor. 2:15-16). For “[w]hoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (John 3:36).

The choice is yours. God, in His love for you, already made His.

Rob Morley

Are You Saved and Assured of Your Salvation?

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:28-30 NIV).

Picture by dotlizard (Karen Kelly) @ Rgbstock

Revelation That Leads to Salvation

All people, everywhere, experience revelation from God about Himself. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20). Some receive clearer revelation than others. Jesus said, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22). Sadly, because people are sinful, they tend to marginalize God or completely negate Him, suppressing what He reveals (Rom. 1:18-20).

Some people experience a dramatic encounter with God on their life’s journey that brings them to salvation. Consequently, it is easy for them to know the moment that they have become a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). For many others, salvation is not a clearly identifiable point in time. However, even though they cannot pinpoint when it happened (and may even misidentify the timing), the miracle of their behavioural change makes them know that at some point they must have been “born again” (John 3:16). They might not even know these terms, but, if explained to them, they will identify with them.

Salvation Examination

Many other people who have believed in God and His Son, have ended up falling away. This is because they never fully understood. Instead, they believed in their own notion about God and His salvation. Consequently, they had never come to be justified by God and born again.

Paul told the members of the Corinthian church, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5). From his words, we can deduce that merely thinking that you’re in the faith is no real evidence of actually being in it. However, being spiritually joined to Christ, so that He lives within you, is Paul’s definition of whether or not someone is truly in the faith.

Evidence of Salvation

God’s word has a range of evidence that can help a person identify whether or not they been saved from spiritual death to eternal life. Here are just three of them:

• An inner witness. One evidence that you’re actually in the faith, with Christ dwelling within you, is an inner knowing. Paul writes, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom. 8:16).

• A supernaturally changed life. Another witness to true salvation is a supernaturally changed life. This is because Love Himself has joined Himself to that person. Jesus said, “…whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life” (John 4:14).

• A witnessing life. There’s an overflow about God and His goodness that comes from the mouths of those who are saved. This is because God, and what He has done to save us, really is good news. After all, Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38).

Caveats Concerning Salvation

Not all Christians excel in all of the above evidence. That said, to live their new life to the full, they ought to grow in each of them. Also, although the fruit of a person’s life is usually the clearest evidence of salvation (or the lack thereof), many loving, generous, and pleasant people are unsaved. Conversely, there are many saved folk who are caught up in selfishness, worldliness, and sin. Consequently, we don’t always know who has been saved, therefore, we must not simply assume that someone is or isn’t.

On another note, not everyone who has been saved has understood that biblical faith gives assurance of salvation. Consequently, despite being justified by God, these folk may, at times, because of sin and feelings of unworthiness, feel unsaved.

Assurance of Salvation

God has gone to great lengths to lead people to a faith that saves and to assure them of their salvation. For example, the apostle John says in his gospel, “…these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Then, in a letter to believers, John says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). God clearly wanted people to believe and, having believed, be assured of their salvation.

Assurance of one’s salvation is often found on the journey of discipleship. For, even after someone is saved, they will continue to receive revelation about their salvation. Consider what Paul had prayed for the Christians in Ephesus: “[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people), and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe” (Eph. 1:17-19a, Amplified Bible).

Are You Saved?

All people have sinned against God, nevertheless, because of His great love for the world, He offers salvation as a free gift to everyone who repents and receives Jesus as Lord of their life. For He sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and take our sins upon Himself so that we could be acquitted. Having risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, Jesus offers mercy and new life to all who humble themselves and come to Him.

Rob Morley

Am I Going To Heaven?

Image: Kevin Tuck, http://www.rgbstock.com

How do you know if you’re going to heaven?

You can know that you’re going to heaven if you are trusting in God’s way to get you there. The Bible tells us that God has made a way for us to get eternal life and go to heaven. This good news is so certain that the Bible says we can actually know that we have eternal life.

But, what exactly is this good news?

God is offering salvation as a free gift to all who have sinned. Jesus, who lived a perfect life, took our sins upon Himself. Having risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, He offers mercy and new life to all who come to Him.

How do we get eternal life?

Each of us needs to realize that we have sinned and need God’s forgiveness. The Bible says that we have all sinned. Also, we must believe God’s word that says that our sins separate us from God, which results in death and permanent separation from Him. Then, we need to trust God’s way to save us.

When you believe God’s good news for you in Jesus, you are immediately made right with God and given a new life. That is how you can know you’re going to heaven. Our confidence about going to heaven is not based upon our works or on our goodness, but only on God’s promise of mercy and eternal life to all who turn away from their sin and who come to Him to be forgiven.

Rob Morley

Is the Coronavirus One of God’s Judgements?

Image from Center for Disease Control (CDC) at https://unsplash.com/photos/w9KEokhajKw

Ever since Jesus Christ’s ascension, God’s judgements continue unabated through Him. Revelation 5 says that He was worthy to open the seals, which bring calamities upon people. Seals opening, trumpets sounding and bowls being poured out are all God’s judgements on those who reject Him.

Today’s mega fires, plagues of locusts, volcanoes erupting, virus outbreaks, wars, etc. are very likely judgements on a world that rejects God, and especially the good news of His Son. As the Bible says, ‘Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him’ (Psalm 2:12).

Those who are born again should not fear the Coronavirus, because we are Christ’s. Regardless of how we die, we will live. Those who reject God should fear Him, because He has power over their souls too.

Rob Morley

 

Watch “When evangelism doesn’t go as expected…” on YouTube

If you Dare to Love, you Might have to Speak

Though not about him, this movie reflects the heart of Israel Folau, a professional rugby player who lost his contract with Australian Rugby for daring to warn the homosexuals that God so dearly loves.

https://lnkd.in/g_JdQW8