Kingdom of heaven – Life in the Spirit

The Most Important Words in the World

To most people, the most important words for them are THEIR FIRST AND LAST NAMES. We can talk about sports, politics, and the weather all day long, but when someone mentions our name, we perk up because the conversation has suddenly become personal.

Introduce yourself to the person next to you waiting to get your car serviced, or the checker at the grocery store, and ask them their name, and you will see their countenance light up.

They light up because when we ask someone their name, it communicates that WE SEE THEM – as unique persons, who are special and have their own life story. And asking their name is the first step to exploring WHO THEY ARE.

This takes on particular significance when we realize that 52 million people – over 20 percent of the American population, experience feelings of loneliness and isolation. With over 340 million people in the United States, somehow they have fallen through the cracks; no one sees them or recognizes them as unique human beings. They may be surrounded by people, but THEY STILL FEEL ALONE. Reaching out to them may even save their life.

Do you like adventure? What if you could travel to an unknown country and experience life in another culture, with different customs, values, and religious beliefs, and see the world from a totally different perspective? Wouldn’t that be exciting?

This is the promise when we meet another person. Not only have we not lived in all the places they have lived in, we have not met the people they have met or had their life experiences. Furthermore, they have a unique personality, so they will have seen the world from a different perspective, like someone who sees the world from an airplane or through rose-colored glasses.

Let’s take this to the next level. There is a name above all other names, because it has profound, eternal significance. It is JESUS CHRIST, because “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:8-12

When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, three things happen. First, our identity changes, and we are no longer focused on self, but on the Lord. This takes time to become fully manifested, but the Word of God says we become new creations, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. So because our identity has changed and we have the Holy Spirit living within us, the most important words in our life become JESUS CHR IST. We are to die to self so we can live with Christ.

Secondly, we become citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. If traveling to another country to experience life in new ways is exciting, the ultimate travel adventure – going to the Kingdom of Heaven, should be absolutely thrilling. We marvel that we can send people into space and reach the moon. But the Kingdom of Heaven is not even in this universe! It is BEYOND SPACE in a different sphere of existence – the spiritual sphere.

When Jesus said “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), He communicated that the very presence of God – the Son of God and King of Kings – had arrived on earth. Furthermore, He declared a precondition to enter the Kingdom of Heaven – repentance for our sins, for the Kingdom of Heaven is holy, and no sin is allowed into that Kingdom.

Thirdly, we begin to see others differently. They are no longer just the homeless guy down at the intersection, or Bob and Mary, neighbors across the street. They are image-bearers of Christ, created with meaning and purpose, even though they may not be aware of that.

So remember their name, and speak their name, for it is the key to a deeper, personal conversation that may be an extraordinary gift to you and to them. And if we ask about and listen to their story, they will be more willing to listen to our story, and to His story – the story of Jeus Christ, Savior of the world.

As Christians, we have been called, redeemed, equipped, and sent forth to share the love and truth of Christ with all who come across our paths. And reaching out to them with the love and truth of Christ may not only save their bodies; it may save their souls. So let us do so with boldness and courage, for time is short, eternity is a very long time, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

To God be the glory

LifeintheSpirit.net

KNOCK KNOCK. WHO’S THERE? FOUR SCENARIOS

***Source of image: Lighthouse Church, Grenada, Mississippi***

Growing up as kids, we all enjoyed playing the “knock, knock, who’s there?” game. Here are a few examples:

Knock knock. Who’s there? Dishes. Dishes who? Dishes the police, open up!
Knock knock. Who’s there? Adore. Adore who? Adore is between us. Open up!
Knock knock. Who’s there? Police. Police who? Police stop telling these awful knock-knock jokes!

There are even some examples in the Bible:

SCENARIO #1: Knock knock – the people were knocking (really POUNDING) on the closed door of the ark, but it was too late and the waters began to rise.

And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which is the breath of life. So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; AND THE LORD SHUT HIM IN. Genesis 7:15-16

Key Point: Noah obeyed the Lord so he and his family were saved. Once the Lord shuts the door, it is too late.

SCENARIO #2: Knock knock – released from prison by an angel of the Lord, Peter knocked on the door of the house of Mary, where the apostles were gathered. A girl named Rhoda heard him knock and speak, but was so surprised, she didn’t open it but ran to tell the others it was Peter. They didn’t believe her and told her she was out of her mind. (Acts 12)

Key Point: Rhoda and the apostles could not grasp the fact the Lord freed Peter from prison.

SCENARIO #3: Knock knock – Jesus is knocking on your door and my door.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20

Key Point: Do you hear that knocking on your door? It is Jesus; can you grasp that fact? Will you answer the door and His call upon your life, or will you wait until it is too late because you are too busy with affairs of the world?

SCENARIO #4: Knock knock – You pass through the veil of life into eternity and are standing at the pearly gates of heaven. You knock on the gate. Saint Peter answers you from the other side of the gate and asks you: Who is there? Why should I let you in?

Key Point: We are not saved by works but by receiving Christ and believing on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior:

“The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ Paul and Silas responded, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.’” Acts 16:30-31

Our Lord is knocking on the door of every person who comes across our path. So let us help them recognize and respond to His call upon their life before it is too late, for time is short, eternity is forever, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

To God be the glory

Lifeinthespirit.net

Two Quarts Low

“I checked your oil, and you are two quarts low.” Those of us who are chronologically blessed (are older), remember taking our cars to service stations where when we pull up to the gas pump, a service attendant would come out, and we tell him (usually a him): “fill ‘er up and check the oil”. This was before self-service gas stations. The attendant would then wash our windshield, fill up our gas tank, and check our oil, antifreeze, and tires, all without expecting a tip. And we all knew that if our car was two quarts of oil low, this was serious. It needed the oil level to be filled, as the engine was getting dangerously low on oil. No oil and the engine freezes up and we are stuck on the highway.

There is even a story about oil in the New Testament. It is a parable told by Jesus and is known the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins:

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matthew 25:1-13

This parable has obvious implications for all of us – when Jesus comes (or when our time is up on earth and it is time to stand before the Lord in heaven), we better be SPIRITUALLY READY – spiritually clean by repenting of our sins, forgiving others, and walking with our Lord on a daily basis. If we are not, if we are like the Laodiceans described in Revelation 3, who are comfortable in the world and enjoying its pleasures, but LUKEWARM toward Christ – our heavenly bridegroom, then He will vomit us out of His mouth. He will have no part of us, and we will have no part in Him. And the door to eternity in heaven will be closed to us.

There is another dimension of this parable that relates to us. What is the oil that we are to have in our lamps? The oil would be the peace, joy, and love of God that dwells within us. But we can only get that oil by spending time with our Lord in His Word, repenting of our sins, forgiving others, and seeking His will for our lives, which includes meeting the divine appointments He has for us each day.

We need to go to the Holy Spirit and say: “Fill ‘er up and check the oil”. And when we are filled with the oil (the anointing) of the Holy Spirit, we need to light it on fire, so we can be on fire for the Lord, like the apostles after Pentecost, or Moses when he came down off the mountain.

If we don’t take time to spend with our Lord each day, our lamps might be full of worldly stuff, but they will not shine with the light of Christ, and we will have nothing supernatural – the peace, love, and joy of the Lord – to share with others. And then when we are called upon to share this light with others, we will be unable to do so. We will have failed to respond to His calling on our lives.

None of us know when our Lord is coming back for us, nor do we know when our time is up here on earth. But we do know that He is coming, and that one day our time here is up. So let us fill our lamps with oil from the Holy Spirit and share the light of Christ with all who come across our path, for time is short, eternity is forever, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.

To God be the glory

How My Christianity Affects My Prepping in Positive Ways

October 26, 2020

*I believe in preparedness. I know. It’s shocking coming from a preparedness author who runs a preparedness blog. But I think that sometimes Christians fall into onto of two categories. One group believes that being prepared is lacking faith. The other group understands that preparedness flows out of their Christianity. I fall into the latter category. And today, I want to talk about how my preparedness flows out of my Christianity.

I will be using Bible verses to prove my point. If you will be offended, please just close this post now. I really don’t want to offend anyone.

***There are links in this post. Some of the links may be affiliate links. My promise to you is that I will only recommend the most economical version of the best quality of items to serve you. All of these are the items that I have bought for my own family. If you click on a link, your price will remain the same. If you make a purchase, we may make a small commission that aids in the cost of the running of this website.***

Optimistic Outlook

Now, I am Presbyterian, and in general, we do have an optimistic view of future things sometimes known as Post-millennialism.

Do things look bleak here in America right now – Oh my goodness – YES! However, did you know that there are almost 8 billion people on the planet? Two billion of those claim the name of Christ. And, did you realize that the Christian population in South America, Africa, and Asia rival that of North America and Europe? And the number of Christians is growing in South America, Africa, and Asia, while the Christian population of North America and Europa is shrinking. Just because when we look around and see what looks like everything around us crumbling down HERE, doesn’t mean that it is everywhere.

I believe that the Lord is still working and growing his kingdom. Part of my preparedness should be to witness to those around me. I want people to love God and worship Him out of a heart full of praise. Why? Because in doing so, their joy will be full. And because their joy is full – mine will be more so.

How my Christianity affects my preparedness?

1) I believe that we’re given the example in scripture to be prepare.

Where do I believe the Bible gives us the command to prepare? This example comes from Christ himself in Matthew 25:1-10.

Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,

but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’

Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.

Five wise virgins prepared. Five foolish ones didn’t. The first five entered the kingdom. The second five didn’t. And, yes, I get that the picture of the kingdom really is discussing being ready for meeting our King. But there’s also a secondary meaning. Be prepared.

2.) Because of my Christianity, I believe that my preparedness will be effective.

Will it be perfect? No, but I believe that it will be effective. Like the oil for the widow of Zarephath in I Kings 17:7-15, I believe that my efforts will be multiplied.

But that doesn’t mean that I sit on my laurels. I can go “A Year Without the Grocery Store.” I also have worked on preparing our house. Right now, we’re working on preparing our house for winter. We’re stocked on wood and propane for the cold season as well. I’ve also worked on getting our vehicle in order to take care of us if something happens while we’re on the road or out and about.

We’ve also worked a lot as we’ve learned about “Homesteading in the Burbs” on .24 acres. We’ve planted apple trees, peach trees, grapevines, black raspberry vines. We’re working on water barrel towers. We’ve got a clothesline put up.

So I haven’t been lax, but because I’ve worked at this, I do believe that that Lord will bless it. Psalm 37:25 says, “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.”

3.) Because of my Christianity, I prepare because I have the responsibility of some taking care of others.

Acts 2:44-45 says, “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.” This isn’t a verse that supports socialism. These people sold what they had of their own accord and helped people of their own accord.

And if things go poorly, I had a responsibility to help take care of others. I don’t just prepare for myself. My husband and I are hoping to purchase acreage so that we can help others if things go poorly. The hope is that we’ll have enough acreage to help people – starting with people in our family and then moving to people in our church. Then we’ll see who else we would help. I can’t speak to more than family and church yet.

4) Because of my Christianity, if things fall apart, I believe that if I survive, I have the responsibility to rebuild.

Those who survive should embrace the responsibility of rebuilding – even if it is incredibly hard. And it’s something that we really need to start talking about now. On what principles do we want to rebuild society? What will be the basis for governmental structure and law?

There’s a lot to talk about and think about. Do you have a preparedness group? Discuss this with them. Get their thoughts and input.

I would highly recommend this book – sometimes you’ll see it broken down into a three-book series. It’s called God and Government by Gary Demar. It’s a great read to understand how our government could be. The American Vision website describes this book by saying, “Relying on clear historical and biblical research, author Gary DeMar demonstrated how America had been great and how she could be great again.”

So What About You?

Are you a Christian who is preparing? What drives your preparedness efforts? Where do you root them? I’d love to hear. Share with us in the comments below so that we can all be better prepared.

Together let’s Love, Live, Practice, and Overcome!

NOTE: You can find this article on this website: https://ayearwithoutthegrocerystore.com

4 comments

Maureen Enriquez | 26th Oct 20

Karen, You & I are on the exact same page! I started prepping in 2008. Everything from food, water & supplies. I could not get the story of Joseph out of my head…how he had the Egyptian people store up during the 7 years of plenty for the 7 lean years to come. I was blessed to be able to give what I first stocked up on to a very needy family in our church (turned out that God had me buy all those things for others). I started prepping all over again.

We then ended up using those provisions to help us get by when my husband’s business was affected by the recession & his customers could not pay him. We did not have to buy hardly any groceries, because of my “store” in the basement. I have not and will not ever stop prepping. I do it for us and hopefully can bless others again too. I thank God that He put it on my heart to prepare all those years ago.

I bought your book to add to my prepper library and love receiving your emails and reading all your helpful tips & ideas. Hoping God is finding new ways to bless you and your family…

GreenDoor | 26th Oct 20

I prepare because I beleive God blessed me with common sense. Common sense tells us that things like natural disaster, job loss, disability & illness, and man-fighting-man are all real. You can use your common sense to ackowlege and prepare for thease realities…or you can bury your head in the sand.

My favorite quote is Prv. 6:6-11: “Look at the ant, you sluggard. Consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”

Heidi Greening | 26th Oct 20

Wonderful article! There is a Biblical balance that we are called to have. I prepare because God blessed me with the ability to do so. I don’t live in fear. I walk in faith. But we are responsible for a large brood and we believe in Christian hospitality. We prepare so we can care for those who can’t.

Angela | 27th Oct 20

There was a book that came out in the late 1990s (heading into Y2K) called Build Your Ark by Geri Guidetti. My comment isn’t so much the book, but the concept. As most folks know, when God planned to destroy the earth with a flood, he told Noah to build an ark. God planned to save humanity and all the types of animals, but Noah had to do his part. It wasn’t an automatic salvation. He had to build and fill the ark with food and other things for sustaining life. He, his family, and all the animals survived because he was prepared to survive a year closed in the ark.

Likewise, as an agriculture-based society developed on earth, people would bring in the harvest and that would sustain them until after the next harvest. Today, with just in time inventory management, even grocery stores are “prepared” anymore. Our living situations barely hold all our family and furniture, let alone a year’s worth of sustenance. We need to change how we think, how we live and how we manage the things in our lives to be able to live a prepared life.

Thankfully, my congregational leader has preached for many years that we should at least be prepared to sustain ourselves and our families without outside help for at least 3 months. That has come in very handy this past year. However, we need to now look beyond the 3 months and develop for even longer periods of self reliance.

My Presence Should Be Desired More Than Anything Else in Your Life

Posted by 444 Prophecy News on September 22, 2018

Ginger Barbare

My Presence should be desired more than anything else in your life.

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

It is more precious than silver or gold.

More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Psalm 19:10

For when you seek to enter in to My Presence, you prepare your heart and mind for an encounter with Me.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

You search yourself deep within

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you fg—unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthian 13:5

to see if there is anything within you that could keep you from experiencing My Presence in your daily walk with Me.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

Prepare yourself to experience My Presence.

How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Psalm 84:1-2

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners;

and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

For it will empower you to go forth and shine My Light,

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

the Light I have placed in you with a world filled with darkness and confusion,” saith the Lord.

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you. Isaiah 60:2

Once My Light begins to shine upon you it begins to transform you into a new image after Myself.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Old things pass away and behold all things are made new.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

As you allow Me to change you, to mold you into what I created you to be

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

shackles fall and chains are broken.

They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way;
They found no city to dwell in. Psalm 107:4

Who I set free is free indeed.

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36

You shine with the Love of Christ [agape].

to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19

Others see the change in your demeanor. When they look into your eyes, they see My Love for them shining back at them. You obey My commandments when you show others Love instead of hate, encouragement instead of discouragement, and compassion instead of judgment, saith the Lord.

And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31

For I Am a consuming fire.

For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29

Let My Fire purify your imperfections, sanctifying you for My Work and My Purpose.

I will bring the one-third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ Zechariah 13:9

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

I have a plan and a purpose for your life

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

and it can only be accomplished when you walk in obedience

If they obey and serve Him,
They shall spend their days in prosperity,
And their years in pleasures. Job 36:11

and submission to the prompting of My Spirit that lives within you.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. John 16:13

Let My Love pour through you.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:7-10

Encourage the hurting.

I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Psalms 3:4

Pray for the afflicted.

Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You. Psalms 102:1

Minister unto all in word and in deed without expecting anything in return.

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Luke 6:35

Live your life as an example of My Love.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

1 Peter 2:21

Don’t withhold My Love from anyone you encounter

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Proverbs 3:27

for through your sharing My Love, lives will be transformed and souls will be saved.

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. Ephesians 4:15

For My Love breaks down the walls that people set up to protect themselves from being hurt,” saith the Lord.

“Experiencing My Presence is what changes you.

It is how I fill you with My Spirit so that you can share it with the world.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

My Atonement on the cross for all sins displayed My Love for all people.

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 1 John 2:2

It is My Commandment that ye Love your neighbor as yourself.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12

And above all things have fervent Love among yourselves: for Love shall cover the multitude of sins.

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

I didn’t say it would be easy, in fact, it will be one of the most difficult things you have ever done, but it will change the dynamics of how you react to your family, your church, your community, and this world.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35

It’s up to you to choose to Love like Me.

But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Luke 6:46

I will teach you how so you can teach others,” saith the Lord of Hosts. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments,

and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19