He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:11-13 NKJV
Bob Hamp excels at providing 21st Century parables pertaining to the kingdom of God. The latest one I heard begins, The Kingdom of God is like a radio station... Bob was giving a word picture of how the Kingdom of God is "at hand" - not as in imminently coming sometime in the near future, but all around us, like sound waves.
We know that radio stations broadcast all the time. The programming is on the air waves all around us, but we don't hear them unless we're set up with the right receiver. It's the same way with the Holy Spirit. He's always speaking, but we don't hear Him unless we're set up to receive.
Things to think about:
- Are we plugged in?
- Do we have the right Source of power?
- Are we turned on?
- What are we seeking first? Matthew 6:33 tells us to Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness
- Are we tuned in?
- Are we daily staying connected to God?
It takes a daily connection. Jesus knew that. His Word tells us to daily pick up the Cross. EVERY day, we're receiving signal (hearing stuff). EVERY day, we're broadcasting (speaking) something. So, what is it? Are we broadcasting love? Are we broadcasting LIFE? Or are we broadcasting discontent, despair, death? We are going to broadcast what we receive.
What is God saying? Are we tuned in to God's frequency? That's what we need to receive and that's what we need to broadcast. Who or what is your station manager? Check your programming guide.
Prayer:
Father,
Teach us to tune in to Your voice. Whether on the mountain top or in the valley, fine-tune our hearts to be able to receive You. Help us to know and understand that to keep the connection and not lose power takes daily plugging in to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9 The Amplified Bible
We're a nation of worriers by our human nature. Talk radio and reality TV - all designed to get us lathered up and worried, and then to get us talking about what's worrying us, and what YOU should be worried about if you really understood what's going on in the world.
I know what's going on in the world. Let me break it down for you...
2nd Timothy 3: beginning with verse 1, You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
Sound familiar? We get sucked into the world's philosophy and its way of dealing with life and its challenges, and we forget that the Word clearly tells us we live in this world, but we are not of it. We are citizens of a kingdom whose Builder and Maker is God! We are not to be governed in our spirit by what is not of God. So fix your mind on the things of God ...whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things - and it will fix your mind.
Prayer:
Father,
Thank You for renewing our minds in You. Keep us ever focused on those things which are important to our life with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
