“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:13, 14

The Power of the Filter

We all have mindsets. These are particular systems or ways of thinking about certain topics. Each topic has its own set of thoughts and “principles” pertaining to that mindset. For example, if you are an Olympic swimmer then you will have a “mind” that pertains to that specific sport. This “mind” will have its own set of subsets or principles regarding Olympic swimming. You will tend to think in terms of water, how to move quickly through water, swimsuits, headgear, goggles, racing techniques, etc. And this mindset will contain its own filter. So when you see water, you will envision swimming, racing, etc. When you approach a swimming pool you will automatically “see” a raceway.

We do the same thing with the scriptures, and specifically, with the idea of the kingdom. Christians view this topic from the perspective of many different mindsets. Therefore, they see different things from the perspective of the various corresponding filters.

Some will see the kingdom of God as a political entity and opportunity for Jesus to rule on this earth through the earthly political process.

Others will see the kingdom as an opportunity for the display of spiritual gifts such as healings, miracles, the casting out of demons, raising of the dead, etc.

Still others will see the kingdom through the filter of evangelism, revival, and church growth. To them, the kingdom is the rapid spread of the “gospel” of the kingdom which is the salvation of mankind. And to many others the kingdom is seen as the fulfillment of end time prophecy concerning the second coming of Christ. It all has to do with physical Israel and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. And I could go on and on with the various mindsets and the corresponding filters, but I think you get my point.

The One Mindset We Desperately Need

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Col. 3:1 – 4

“Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him – a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.” Col. 3:9 – 11

Brothers and sisters, we desperately need the mindset of the new man. The mindset of being “in Christ.” The mindset of the New Creation!

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Cor. 5:17

In this new mindset we see everything from a new point of view. This is the perspective of God himself. And how does our God see everything? From what perspective does he see? There is only one. He sees from the perspective of “in Christ!” The Father sees all things from this one vantage point. You could say that this is the mindset of God. He sees all things from the “filter” of his beloved Son.

“For in him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” Col. 2:9

You see, God does everything in and through Christ and therefore he has an “in Christ” frame of mind. But we do not think this way. That’s why we need this renewal of the mind that Paul writes about.

Seeing the Kingdom with a New Mind

Of course, we have transferred our old man mindset into our definitions and understandings of the kingdom of God. We only see this from the mindset of principles and topics. For years I viewed the Bible as a book of spiritual topics. Within those topics there were certain “principles” that every believer needs to learn. I not only was taught this and believed it, I also taught God’s people this way of topics and principles. I thank God that I finally saw that the Bible is not about topics and principles, but is a book about a Person. That Person is Jesus Christ, God’s Son! You see, this Person is all that God thinks about and writes about. The Bible is not a book about certain topics such as salvation, prayer, healing, righteousness, holiness, love, ministry, the church, the kingdom of God, etc. All of the scriptures only speak about one Person and reveal this one Person (John 5:39, 40; Luke 24:27; Rev. 1:1; Rev. 19:13).

All of the supposed topics are actually descriptions of our Lord! Now, let’s take a look at the “topic” of the kingdom of God.

The Mystery

“To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables.” Mark 4:11

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself.” Col. 2:1 – 2

The Seed

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.” Matt. 13:24

“Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one. “And to your seed, that is, Christ.” Gal. 3:16

The First

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matt. 6:33

“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Col. 1:18

The Treasure

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matt. 13:44

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” 2 Cor. 4:7

Marriage

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.” Matt. 22:2

“He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.” Eph. 5:28b – 30

The Vineyard

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.” Matt. 20:1

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

It should by now be apparent to you what our definition of the kingdom of God should be. The kingdom is not another topic to be studied with principles that need to be obeyed. The kingdom of God is a Person and we have been called to intimately know and live by means of this wonderful Person.

“Some Pharisees asked Jesus when God’s kingdom would come. He answered, “God’s kingdom isn’t something you can see. There is no use saying, ‘Look, here it is’ or ‘Look! There it is.’ God’s kingdom is here with you.” Luke 17:20, 21

The Lord was talking about Himself. He was standing right there in their midst. The kingdom was among them because He was among them! He IS the kingdom. The kingdom of God is the place where God is first, God rules, and God is all. That place is inside of the Person of Christ.

It’s interesting that Paul doesn’t have much to say about the kingdom using those exact terms. He only mentions “the Kingdom” a few times and yet Jesus spoke about it constantly. I believe that the reason for this is that Jesus was mainly speaking to Jews and he was cracking wide open their mindset (along with the filters) about the kingdom. They had the political mindset about the kingdom and he came to show them that He was the kingdom. Instead, Paul was speaking mostly to Gentiles and he uses the phrase “in Christ.” He uses that phrase over two hundred times in his writings. They both refer to a location. A location that is a glorious Person!

The Inheritance

In the Old Testament the kingdom and the land of Canaan were synonymous. Of course, the kingdom of Israel and the physical land of Canaan are only pictures and shadows of the true reality. This reality is Jesus Christ. Paul uses the picture of the Canaan land to show us the unsearchable riches of Christ. He does it through writing about the inheritance of the saints. In the old covenant, the inheritance was a direct reference to the Canaan land being given to the nations of Israel (Acts 20:32; Col. 1:12).

“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you for a share of the allotted portion of the saints in the light; who delivered us out of the authority of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins . . .” Col. 1:12 – 14

We can see here that Paul ties together the allotted portion, which is a reference to the Canaan land (Josh. 14:1) and the kingdom of the Son of His love. This kingdom, this inheritance, this land is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who is the allotted portion of the saints!

Follow Milt at: http://miltrodriguez.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/what-is-the-kingdom-of-god/

Earlier last year I got into it with a well-known personality over a book and ministry. It has been my frustration to see a specter rising offering truth and encouragement only to find it is more words and merely a change of wallpaper and carpet than the actual shift it purports itself to be… (No specifics)

A friend encouraged me to challenge brother X based on a litany of scripture and the fact few others had attempted to do so and “stick with it.” Therefore, I bore down and pursued the issue and brother X. It went back and forth and as is so common in circles of belief the dialog broke down and extreme attempts to keep the issue on the front burner utterly failed.

Does this mean I was wrong or that he was wrong? Could be, maybe not? I don’t think that is the answer needed.

Just recently, two fellows I know, both professed believers, got into it with each other and then brought me into awareness of their activity. I watched blow-by-blow as the talk went back and forth and the emotive language increased on one side and sarcasm volleyed back on the other. Both had valid points, both I feel made mistakes, both did not understand nor have a full appreciation for the other.

As I got to thinking about it and as I attempted to encourage both to look at things differently, I was given an understanding in my own world and my own shortcomings… Wow what a clarion moment!

I asked both about if someone else, a non-believer, were to take a look at the “dialog” flying back and forth between them. What if it was all this person was to consider as a representation of what believing might mean? And if so what impact would it have on them: would they be more or less likely to “believe” given this exposure between these two brothers?

I concluded to these two that such a representation likely bode poorly as far as impact. That’s when the curtain went up and I got hit with a ton of bricks. I felt like God was showing me that in my struggle with brother X was an exact copy (in essence) of what these two other brothers were doing.

Yes, I had solid points to contend about. Yes, this brother I mentioned is off too: but aren’t we all at one level or another? Yes, I should be able in an ideal world to go to him and contend… However, if God was not bringing us together what I was doing was contrived (building in my own strength). I could not say that if this brother didn’t agree with me that he was either being irreconcilable or breaking fellowship. We’d never had a tight relationship or connection prior to the confrontation.

Kingdom as a now-reality can’t be expected in a reciprocative way between any two groups of believers. We should be so connected to God that this might be a reality. But we can’t at this late date expect that it would be so. This was the mistake I made.

Secondly, unless God brings people together in relationship; admonishment, confrontation, exhortation and whatever else may not be possible even though both are followers of Christ and both desire to do the right thing.

I don’t know how God will bring His kingdom into connectivity between people, groups given all the obstacles between them. However, if His kingdom is a now reality, He will have to perform it or whatever it is will be nothing different than has been seen in the whole of “ecclesiastical history.”

When we say “kingdom of God” God needs to make it real in any practical sense between folks. Yes, it, as a now-reality is for fact. However, if we beat people over the head about stuff God has not made real to them in their inner person we only confuse the issue and make it more difficult to ever come to fruition.

I need to pray more about practical connections and say less directly to folks. What calls itself church seeks to force compliance or recognition of various details, some of which are totally valid. However, this is not God’s way. God’s is the symphony conductor and we are just pieces in the orchestra. I can’t tell the woodwind section then need to get with it, even though true. God must reveal it and make it real or it is merely human device working toward an ideal that will always turnout stilted.

God help us to rest in Him. God help us to know and make known His truth THROUGH our lives. God help us to share through mediums that offer people enough information to challenge them but not so much that a movement needs to be founded to push that matter. God help us to build relationships that can be dynamically infused by what He is doing.

Alan Knox

Concerning “The coming of the kingdom in the NT,” Goldsworthy writes:

Against the background of the OT expectations of the coming rule of God, the NT declares that Jesus of Nazareth is the bringer of the kingdom. While the proclamation of Jesus concerning the kingdom if not novel and is based firmly on OT antecedents, there are nevertheless some surprises. The prophets consistently present the ‘day of the Lord’ in terms of one coming. The gospel presents the Lord’s coming in at least three distinct but related ways.

1) The kingdom has come in Jesus. The meek servanthood of Jesus which leads eventually to his suffering and death, despite being liberally punctuated with demonstrations of power, prevented many from perceiving the nature of the kingdom’s coming…. Jesus was the kingdom in person.

2) The kingdom is coming to the people of God…. The reign/realm contrast is most obvious in this period because the subjects of the kingdom are not confined to any particular place. Even though they are gathered in fellowship as a church, the true, visible locus of the kingdom is at best ambiguous…

3) The kingdom will be consummated at Christ’s return. The third way in which the kingdom comes in the NT is the future or eschatological consummation.

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gelingarcia/455058136/

I realize that this is a long quote, but I wanted to include all three ways that the NT focuses on the coming of the kingdom of God so that I could focus on one aspect – that is, the second aspect in which we’re living now.

As Goldsworthy writes, the kingdom of God is present now in an ambiguous way. Yes, the kingdom is represented/demonstrated when we gather together as a church, but our church meetings are not the extent of the coming of the kingdom today.

So, what part of our lives does the kingdom touch today? Every part. The “kingdom comes” at any point in our lives when we give up the reign (control) of our lives and submit to the reign of God through his Spirit.

Thus, his kingdom comes (or can come) when we gather together as a church, but also when we’re working, when we’re shopping, when we’re at home, when we’re talking or playing with our neighbors, when we’re at school… at any and every point in our lives.

Seeing his kingdom come begins with asking how we can best demonstrate God’s reign in our own lives in each situation that we find ourselves in… especially in contexts in which a kingdom response would not be a natural response… i.e., demonstrating love when we’ve been hurt or rejected, being patient when others are losing their cool, giving when we have nothing left, responding to harsh treatment/words with gentleness.

In other words, the kingdom comes when we allow the Spirit to produce his fruit in us, especially when the natural response would be different.

Of course, it can be beneficial to remember that Jesus introduced the kingdom and provided a way into the kingdom through his death, burial, and resurrection. It can also be beneficial to look forward to an eschatological (end) time when the kingdom response will be our natural response.

But, today, the kingdom comes when we allow God to reign in our lives in the many ambiguous events that happen every day. This is not about more rules or principles or anything like that. It’s about living eternal life today – living in the presence of Jesus – walking in the Spirit – abiding in Christ – or any of the other metaphors. It’s about recognizing the death of our natural inclinations and allowing the Spirit to live a true life through us.

From: Alan’s own blog, http://www.alanknox.net/2010/02/your-kingdom-come/

Fisheye view into Keith's world

Instead, Robert talks to me about his plan to ask his doctor to amputate his right arm because he is in constant pain following surgery after an accident. “If I let them just cut my arm off,” he says, “then I could stay at Fountain Care and they would bring me my meals and someone would be there to take care of me all the time,” he says. I can only shake my head in disbelief. “But Robert,” I try to explain, “you could stay here in this bed and keep your arm and someone could still bring you your meals and come visit you and make sure you’re doing ok.” He makes a face and shakes his head, coughing hard into a napkin as he lays back on his rented bed. “Naw,” he finally croaks out. “I don’t want to lose what little independence I have.” And around and around we go.

Jesus sends disciples to minister

Still, it frustrates me that Robert would rather do things his own way and lose his arm than to accept help from someone else and keep his arm, and his health. This isn’t anything new, of course. Many people who are homeless are kept there because of their pride. Many exhibit varying degrees of “It’s my way or the highway” attitudes which prevent them from entering a program or submitting to the rules imposed by a shelter or a rescue mission. So, they hold hard and fast to their way of doing things, even though their way keeps them homeless and hungry and alone.

In some ways I can relate because, at heart, I am a prideful man. If there’s anything I grapple with on a daily basis, it’s my pride.

This weekend I also experienced a bit of humility. On more than one occasion I found myself humiliated and it gave me an opportunity to explore my pride a bit more. I realize that the only reason I got my feelings hurt in each case was due to the stature of my pride. If I had been humble and meek my feelings would not have been hurt. I could’ve cleared the low ceilings without banging my head if my knees were already bent low. Instead, I walked upright and got smacked in the face with my head held high.

Someone once told me that you know you’re really a servant when you get treated like one and you don’t get insulted. I’m not there yet, but one day I hope to be.

Pride kills. I’ve seen it divide families, churches, and marriages. It also removes us from God’s grace and takes us on a detour from the Kingdom of God.

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” – James 4:6

At the sermon on the mount, Jesus established the reality of God’s Kingdom for us. He told us that, in God’s economy, the poor, the weak, the humble, and the broken-hearted were the most blessed in the Kingdom. Along this redefined scale of greatness, those who find themselves at the bottom in this life are blessed to learn that, in God’s Kingdom, they are actually closer to the top than they thought.

We often get confused and say that God’s Kingdom is upside down, but the truth is that our reality is what’s out of whack. God is not upside down, nor is His perspective. This is why those who seem to be on the top in our society (the rich, the famous, and the powerful) often admit that they are empty, broken and disillusioned to discover that Jesus was right all along. The way to true life and joy and happiness is down, not up. When we surrender this fantasy of having it all and let go of everything except God himself we’ve taken a most important step. Many of those who are weak, humble, broken and poor already know that they are not good enough to make it on their own. They are at the top of God’s scale of greatness even though they seem to be at the bottom of ours.

I must confess that I still struggle with these two opposing definitions of greatness. I catch myself wanting fame and working for the praise of men, even though I have seen the Kingdom and I believe that Jesus showed us the Truth. True greatness is found at the feet of others with a basin and a towel, not sitting atop the highest sky-scraper overlooking the largest city while you count your money. I know that, but I am still learning to embrace the reality of it.

So, if anything, my experience this weekend with naked pride and painful humiliation has been beneficial to me. I’ve received a reminder of how pride can imprison someone, and I’ve discovered that my prideful heart is still alive and well –and still in need of being crucified with Christ.

What are the things I do every day that feed my ego or stoke my pride? Can I fully surrender these empty aspirations at worldly fame? Can I actually demonstrate that I believe Jesus is true when he says that the greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all?

I stayed up late last night, after my wife and sons went to bed. I sat alone and I recapped my weekend. I took stock of all these things and I believe there are some things that still need to die in me. There are still territories in my heart that need reformation. Let the revolution continue.
**
Keith Giles

Website: www.therebuilders.org

Blog: miltrodriguez.wordpress.com

Main Blog: http://www.KeithGiles.com

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/keithgiles

E-mail: elysiansky@hotmail.com

FAVORITES:

My amazing wife, Wendy, hanging with my boys, Keane’s coffee, books by; Philip K. Dick, Jon Zens, Dallas Willard, Frank Viola, Scott Bartchy; U2, Mongolian BBQ, The Road and No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy.