Greetings,
We live in times where there is much turmoil among the nations in regard to governments, political views, and human perspectives that define words by personal definitions. We should all have views and as Christians we should l stand for the values of God in our perspective nations with our own responsibilities as citizens of countries among men, but the kingdom of God is not an external administration of men. It is an internal transformation of human hearts. As leaders in the body of Christ, we must lead people to seek first the kingdom of God in all things. That kingdom is one of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit within the human heart.
When Jesus lived as a man among men, He did not address the political environments of the world. That does not mean that He condoned them as kingdoms that need not change. He came to give humanity a greater power than the power that comes by the knowledge of good and evil. He came to give us access to the tree of life. He came to invade every environment through the influence of the kingdom of God within the human heart. Being born again is miraculous. It is as miraculous as the virgin birth of Jesus by Mary. Being born again is the entrance to being able to see the kingdom of God. It is the introduction to an internal relationship of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is the entrance to an internal spiritual environment that transforms us from within. Just as we were formed in water in the natural wombs of our mothers, being born again is the entrance to a womb of the Spirit that forms us into the character, nature, way, power, and authority of sons and daughters God in Christ. Jesus didn’t come to reshape religion or to reshape the political environments of the world. He came to bring an internal revolution that would affect every aspect of life. He didn’t protest masters or slaves, He came to put the influence of the kingdom of God within the heart of each. It is that internal influence that changes the heart of the master and changes the heart of the slave. The inevitability of that influence is that of no more master and no more slave. It is the internal influence of the kingdom of God that brings true change that even affects the external realities of the world. The influence of the external kingdoms of men can only find true change for life by the internal influence of the King of kings within our hearts and minds.
The kingdom of God is an internal kingdom of relationship with God in our hearts. It is not a political change of government. It is not a matter of socialism or capitalism, as we find in western societies. Socialism can only offer good if it is inspired by the internal force of God in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. In the hands of human greed, socialism is but another form of taking from others in some form of control. The same is true for capitalism. In the hands of human greed, it is another form of control that takes from others for some personal gain. Capitalism can only offer good if it is inspired by the internal force of God in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. It can provide for many in its increase in the hands of righteous thinkers. The redemption of the external systems of the world can only be found in the internal influence of the kingdom of God. When socialism or capitalism are left in the hands of those who do not have the internal influence of the King of kings or the Lord of lords, they will always fall short of life. The answer is not a change of political governing, it is only found in a place of internal governing.
Outside of Christ there is still a need for external influences that will create an environment that announces to mankind their need for God. The influence of law and conscience is still true for those who do not have Christ within them, so they can know their need to receive God’s mercy and find His grace to reign in life. Jesus made a way for all of mankind to boldly come to the throne of God’s grace and receive mercy and find grace to help them in their need (Heb. 4:16). We can hope that those in the systems of the world will be influenced by the internal kingdom of heaven, but by themselves the external systems cannot offer true life or change. External systems are needed for those who have not yet discovered the internal influence of the kingdom of God. Whatever external systems exist there must be an environment that makes known to men their need for mercy and their need for God’s grace. Mercy from God justifies all men to live and all they need to do is come to Him to receive it. Grace is the power of God’s presence in human lives that empowers them to become strong as expressions of God’s word and intimate with God’s Spirit, so they can overcome every wicked thing. Anything that pursues a governing that is disconnected from the only One who can give life is wicked. It is a governing that can only bring death and dysfunction and it is wicked. The ability to overcome is found in the ability to be a testimony of God because there is no longer a gap between us and Him. We are being transformed by who He is and it is changing who we are in our character, nature, way, power, and authority. This is grace! Only the kingdom of heaven can transform the kingdoms of this world to take on external realities that testify of the truth that is found to Jesus of Nazereth in Christ. Jesus is the Only Way, the Only Truth, and the Only true Life. There is no other name by which man can be saved!
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
Thank you to all who support House of Bread Ministry. With your assistance we can complete our missions for 2018 and move forward into all that God is going to do in 2019.
Please consider helping us by your continued prayer support and any financial contribution you are able to give. We are reaching the nations with New Covenant life and Grace for the generations of tomorrow.
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