I've found myself addicted to many things that have hurt me spiritually, but with the help of an AMAZING God, a WONDERFUL husband, and a few good friends I am overcoming. I have what some people call an addictive personality, and I have heard it said that when one addiction is given up it can be quickly replaced with the next best thing that comes along...all I can say is I HOPE SO.
christib @ drkaos.com
christibowman @ gmail.com
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Mark 9:1
And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.
Strong's dictionary describes Heaven as happiness, power, and eternity and kingdom as realm; so the kingdom of Heaven is the realm of happiness, power, and eternity and some will not taste death until they see that realm come to power. What if God's hope is to see that realm come to power within us? What if some of us will not see death until the kingdom of God comes to power in us?
Luke 17:20-21
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Jesus said openly, and did not seem to tip toe around the fact, that Heaven is nothing that can be seen. We will not observe Heaven with our eyes nor will we be able to point to a specific place and say there it is. Jesus says quite frankly "the kingdom of God is within you." So what are we waiting for? Why do we preach death to get into a place that is not meant to be seen but lived in...now and abundantly?
Jesus said, before His death, that He came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly. He also said that the kingdom was near. We know that His death brought us life, but could it also have ushered in the kingdom and we have yet to realize it?
Matthew 22:3-5 & 8-10
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:...Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Who are the people bidden to the wedding? Who won't come? Who makes light and goes their own way? Who is not worthy? Who comes to the marriage?
It makes you think.
If you are having a hard time you are not alone, even the disciples asked Jesus how to pray and he said:
Luke 11:2
When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Luke 11:5-13 goes into detail on how the Father should be asked. Jesus, in true parable form, likens asking God for His kingdom to come to that of a neighbor begging for food at midnight to feed unexpected guests. Jesus explains that the man will not give the begging neighbor the food he asks for just because the man is the neighbor's friend, but because the man won't quit his incessant begging.
We are to beg for God's kingdom to come within us and we are not to stop until we get it...we are to be desperate for the realm of happiness, power and eternity to be formed in us like a child begging for the best toy on the market...and then Jesus says that we who are evil know how to give good gifts to our children how much more is the Father willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?
Who is going to make sure that Heaven gets formed in you? The Holy Spirit. Who is the Kingdom Come? The Holy Spirit. Once He gets inside of you, you will come to know the realm of happiness, power, and eternity, and it will be nothing you wait for ever again.
Acts 19:1 (MSG)
Paul made his way down through the mountains, came to Ephesus, and happened on some disciples there. The first thing he said was, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Did you take God into your mind only, or did you also embrace him with your heart? Did he get inside you?"
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