By Steve Johnson
You'd think that religious people would be the most likely to get on with someone like Jesus. The gospel accounts tell us something starkly different. Of all the people Jesus met it was the religious people he had the most trouble with. It was the religious people who argued incessantly with him, tried to catch him out, hated him, and yes, eventually had him put to death.
In Luke's gospel we find one of these classic clashes between Jesus and the religious leaders of the day. Jesus throws all their academia, learning and pseudo sage wisdom in the trash by pointing out that 'the kingdom of God does not come with observation'. Time and again I am met with people who want to figure it out for themselves. Let me tell you this. You can't do it. The kingdom of God does not come with observation. Some are looking for some special sign but again I say the kingdom of heaven does not come with observation. I've met people who've grown up in a church, went to Sunday school and heard sound bible teaching for years only to leave the church and go their way having decided never to enter a church again. One man told me he had been visiting churches for 20 years and had never found God! These people spent years looking and observing but never really humbled themselves and learned to listen to God.
But suppose we observe a series of rules, regulations and rituals. Surely there must be right set of rules by which we can apprehend the kingdom of God. Perhaps if we abide by a good moral code. Then perhaps we can know heaven. Jesus met a man who did everything right. He kept all the commandments, he was a young man in authority so was clearly some kind of rising star. Yet Jesus rejects him. His disciples stood amazed. Who then can enter the kingdom of heaven, they ask. Jesus deals a fatal blow to mans hopes. With man it is impossible, he said.
So is that it? Are all the efforts of every religious person doomed to failure? In a nutshell…yes.
But here's the pivotal issue. With man it is impossible but with God nothing is impossible.
You see the problem with the religious leaders was their pride. They thought they could attain the priceless gift of everlasting life in heavenly glory by their own efforts and wisdom. Best of luck with that one. You'll need it. Understand what I am saying here.
The kingdom of God does not come with observation but with REVELATION!!!!
In Matthews gospel, Peter gets a revelation from God. He understands who Jesus is and puts his faith in him exclaiming, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. In that moment Peter passed from death to life, from condemnation to being justified in the sight of God. Peter got the revelation and he ran with it. He took it to heart and he was saved. No rules, rituals, religion or anything else, Just faith in Christ. God revealed it to him.
How quickly we who have received this same blessing turn from its path. We came into the kingdom by the revelation of God as the scripture says 'no man can come to God except the Father first draw him' Then we spend the rest of our lives trying to do things the old way.
No no no!!! The kingdom comes by revelation. Just as your salvation comes by revelation so does your sanctification. Your ongoing life with God. My friends you need more than a series of teachings. You need a word from heaven. The scripture says man shall not live by bread alone but by every word which comes from the mouth of God. Let me give you a few examples.
In Matthews gospel we are told that 'blessed are the poor in Spirit' This sounds like poor people are blessed but it is not so. The Holy Spirit prompted me to a particular book where I would find the real meaning where I found out that poor actually means humble. Those that humbly rely on God are blessed. In another instance I read the words 'bless those who curse you. I couldn't disagree more. Surely by blessing those who curse you, you are rewarding their evil. Nevertheless I took it as the word of God by faith and it was as I did that, God gave me a revelation. Any evil is a force for the kingdom of evil. If you do the same thing you are pushing more power in the same direction thus compounding the problem. You need a power applied in the OPPOSITE direction to combat that evil. Thus you bless those who curse you. Let me tell you a story.
There was a man at work who made my life a misery. Every day he would swear and rant and trey to undermine my faith and aggressively insult and challenge me. As a 'good Christian' I tried not to retaliate but it was wearing me down. I couldn't hold out much longer. So in desperation I prayed. God showed me that I could only hold out so long and that I needed to actively resist this force of evil with another force. The force of good. I began to bless those who cursed me and pray for those who despitefully used me and you know what. It actually worked. I found I was no longer fighting a rearguard action against hate and unforgiveness but I had tapped into the best possible power for overcoming evil. The power of good. This came by revelation.
My call to preach came by revelation. What to preach and when to preach it comes by revelation. I have visited churches I knew literally nothing about and by revelation preached the message God gave me. It is what is called a word in season. It is supernaturally given. On more than one occasion God has through it effected mighty changes in that church. It certainly isn't me. I can't figure that stuff out. God does. That's my point. The kingdom comes and is expanded by revelation. God has to reveal it.
Have you ever expended time and energy and a thousand words on a problem and got nowhere then a praying believer comes and speaks one thing and it makes all the difference? What they spoke was probably a supernatural word in season. A revelation. My friends, we can't build the kingdom of God. God builds the kingdom. It is His words that have supernatural power. If you can listen to God He can give you supernatural words to speak. Words from heaven. Words of revelation that can change lives, circumstances and even churches. We can't do it ourselves. We need God to reveal it to us. We need a revelation.
The kingdom doesn't come by observation. It comes by revelation!!! So if you are just going through the motions as a Christian I urge you to stop. Start to pray, I mean really pray. Begin to reads His word and listen. I mean really listen. God will speak to you. He has a word for you every day. It is a word from heaven. It is a revelation from the throne of grace. It is the way God reveals and builds His kingdom.
The kingdom of heaven comes through revelation.
Shalom.
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