Setting our eyes on Kingdom of God.
Mark 15:43
Story of
Joseph of Armiathea, is a man who was waiting for the Kingdom of God.
The True Church;
In the Church, you will see a lot of people. but there will be few people who are wholehearted, who are for Kingdom's Cause. Who are on fire for God.
Matthew 13: 44 - parable of treasure hidden in a field.
Matthew 13: 45 - parable of merchant looking for fine pearls.
Kingdom of God is Righteousness,Peace and Joy.
Field: Kingdom of Heaven.
Forgiveness of sins is free.
Bought the field. - Pays a price. Give all that He has, give it to God. and get the joy.
Lay every precious thing at the altar
Everyone of has some precious things in our life:
For many of us - our children of God.
For some of us - our home,cars,properties is precious to us.
if something happens to our car or home - you will go wild, you will leave all Christianity and what pastor teaches every week, the you will go crazy and wild at other people.
What you are filled with will come out when there is pressure in your life.
some time back i went to quick check to do westren union transfer. the lady who was serving was so upset. that she was shouting, very irritating.
When you see a begger(lack of money), you will find compassion of mercy.
but when you see a person lacking temper or some emotion, do you have compassion .
I said Lord at this moment, fill me with compassion that for every every word she speaks let me have compassionate return word. She said to me I am sorry.
What is most vauable to us, our pride or Kingdom of God.
Everything that we deal with in our lives should be tested with Kingdom Values.
Abraham's precious is Issac in his life, and God tested whether everything Abraham is Gods.
Genesis 22:12 - God will test us dear Church whatever we hold on - lay it on Altar.
Lay everything at altar. ( money, ).
When we are possessive of any thing in the world , we are saying am rich.
Revelation 3:17
You say I am rich.
when we hold on to something, we say I am rich of children, I am rich of properties, I am rich of my intelligence.
But Lord Jesus says, lay everything at the altar.
Revelation - buy from me gold. For buying we need lay down.
Luke 14:33 - No one can be my disciple, if they hold on to some thing.
Living for Kingdom of God
Luke 15:8-10
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
this story says a woman has ten silver coins. but she lost one.
and then she light the lamp, sweep the house, search carefully until she finds it.
have you ever lost a some thing important, key or anything.
you open the drawers, behind the couch, and every place to find it.
these lost coin represents the lost people of the world. they are as precious as silver to God.
its Gods heart, that each one of us should be like this woman searching for people who are lost.
bring them to Christ.
Sometimes, our busyness /priorities becomes a big obstruction to reach out to people.
our we don't talk with certain kind of people.
Paul says Consider everything as trash in compared to knowing Christ.
See pauls words in 1 corinthian 9: 19-22
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
It is like this:
if a person is going to fire, won't we throw water and go and save them.
Proverbs 24:11-12.
Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
Church, after a person is dead, can we do anything for them.
No, even prayers also does not work after a person is dead.
A living person prayer does not work for the dead, a dead person prayer does not work for the living.
Anything we can do, we have to do it when person lives.
Pray/Care for the people before they go out of reach.
Sometime back before my marriage i went to India. that time my uncle wanted to meet me. but i was busy looking for marriage plans. and i did not get time to meet him.
then after couple of months i came back and one day i heard he died.
I was heart broken for the fact that i did not meet him to talk gospel.
That is why in Ephesians it says: Make most of every opportunity.
Ephesians 5:15
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Be Fellow Workers for the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:21,22,23
They were going through city to city, preaching gospel and people being saved.
We should go through many issues.
Colossians 4: 10-14;
Although Paul is the apostle, he needed so many to work along with him for the kingdom of God.
In old testament there is one prophet who does the work. but in New Testament it is the Church.
everyone of us who comes to Church should not come to Church like you come to some social gathering and go out. No we are called to work for the Church. Honestly if you ask me, i am a very shy person to speak in front of people and even i have no desire to stand and preach. but when pastor asked me to do this, i came forward with only one intention that i should be a fellow worker.
It is not about what I like or what I dont like. ultimately what matters is Are we like the fellow workers for the kingdom of God.
look at Luke, Ephapras,Aristrachus,Mark. so many people working along with Paul.
Paul is there to guide all of them.
There are lot of things that we can talk about;
But i will close by saying this:
we all think what is it for me for doing all this.
what will i gain.
we can earn lot of money - all that you do by the end of life you pass onto next gen.
you can earn lot of fame - may be next gen might speak then you are no more.
But what matters in eternity is:
what you do for the sake of Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward."
Matthew 6:20 - store up treasures in heaven.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Hebrews 6: 10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
Matthew 25:21: Well done. Good and Faithful servant, faithful in little.
Mark 15:43
Story of
Joseph of Armiathea, is a man who was waiting for the Kingdom of God.
The True Church;
In the Church, you will see a lot of people. but there will be few people who are wholehearted, who are for Kingdom's Cause. Who are on fire for God.
Matthew 13: 44 - parable of treasure hidden in a field.
Matthew 13: 45 - parable of merchant looking for fine pearls.
Kingdom of God is Righteousness,Peace and Joy.
Field: Kingdom of Heaven.
Forgiveness of sins is free.
Bought the field. - Pays a price. Give all that He has, give it to God. and get the joy.
Lay every precious thing at the altar
Everyone of has some precious things in our life:
For many of us - our children of God.
For some of us - our home,cars,properties is precious to us.
if something happens to our car or home - you will go wild, you will leave all Christianity and what pastor teaches every week, the you will go crazy and wild at other people.
What you are filled with will come out when there is pressure in your life.
some time back i went to quick check to do westren union transfer. the lady who was serving was so upset. that she was shouting, very irritating.
When you see a begger(lack of money), you will find compassion of mercy.
but when you see a person lacking temper or some emotion, do you have compassion .
I said Lord at this moment, fill me with compassion that for every every word she speaks let me have compassionate return word. She said to me I am sorry.
What is most vauable to us, our pride or Kingdom of God.
Everything that we deal with in our lives should be tested with Kingdom Values.
Abraham's precious is Issac in his life, and God tested whether everything Abraham is Gods.
Genesis 22:12 - God will test us dear Church whatever we hold on - lay it on Altar.
Lay everything at altar. ( money, ).
When we are possessive of any thing in the world , we are saying am rich.
Revelation 3:17
You say I am rich.
when we hold on to something, we say I am rich of children, I am rich of properties, I am rich of my intelligence.
But Lord Jesus says, lay everything at the altar.
Revelation - buy from me gold. For buying we need lay down.
Luke 14:33 - No one can be my disciple, if they hold on to some thing.
Living for Kingdom of God
Luke 15:8-10
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn't she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
this story says a woman has ten silver coins. but she lost one.
and then she light the lamp, sweep the house, search carefully until she finds it.
have you ever lost a some thing important, key or anything.
you open the drawers, behind the couch, and every place to find it.
these lost coin represents the lost people of the world. they are as precious as silver to God.
its Gods heart, that each one of us should be like this woman searching for people who are lost.
bring them to Christ.
Sometimes, our busyness /priorities becomes a big obstruction to reach out to people.
our we don't talk with certain kind of people.
Paul says Consider everything as trash in compared to knowing Christ.
See pauls words in 1 corinthian 9: 19-22
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
It is like this:
if a person is going to fire, won't we throw water and go and save them.
Proverbs 24:11-12.
Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
Church, after a person is dead, can we do anything for them.
No, even prayers also does not work after a person is dead.
A living person prayer does not work for the dead, a dead person prayer does not work for the living.
Anything we can do, we have to do it when person lives.
Pray/Care for the people before they go out of reach.
Sometime back before my marriage i went to India. that time my uncle wanted to meet me. but i was busy looking for marriage plans. and i did not get time to meet him.
then after couple of months i came back and one day i heard he died.
I was heart broken for the fact that i did not meet him to talk gospel.
That is why in Ephesians it says: Make most of every opportunity.
Ephesians 5:15
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Be Fellow Workers for the kingdom of God.
Acts 14:21,22,23
They were going through city to city, preaching gospel and people being saved.
We should go through many issues.
Colossians 4: 10-14;
Although Paul is the apostle, he needed so many to work along with him for the kingdom of God.
In old testament there is one prophet who does the work. but in New Testament it is the Church.
everyone of us who comes to Church should not come to Church like you come to some social gathering and go out. No we are called to work for the Church. Honestly if you ask me, i am a very shy person to speak in front of people and even i have no desire to stand and preach. but when pastor asked me to do this, i came forward with only one intention that i should be a fellow worker.
It is not about what I like or what I dont like. ultimately what matters is Are we like the fellow workers for the kingdom of God.
look at Luke, Ephapras,Aristrachus,Mark. so many people working along with Paul.
Paul is there to guide all of them.
There are lot of things that we can talk about;
But i will close by saying this:
we all think what is it for me for doing all this.
what will i gain.
we can earn lot of money - all that you do by the end of life you pass onto next gen.
you can earn lot of fame - may be next gen might speak then you are no more.
But what matters in eternity is:
what you do for the sake of Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Matthew 10:42
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward."
Matthew 6:20 - store up treasures in heaven.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Hebrews 6: 10
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
Matthew 25:21: Well done. Good and Faithful servant, faithful in little.
