The Kingdom of God

Everywhere that I see God's people, all I see are sects that have "the only truth." Some are big and some are small, but all of them are WAY OFF TRACK! Actually NONE of them have the truth, but what they do have is a lot of religious nonsense that is keeping them from really enjoying what Jesus has provided for us to be blessed with. I'm talking about the simplistic truth of being born into the kingdom of God through the baptism of the holy Ghost, wherein there is nothing but "righteousness, and peace, and joy IN the holy Ghost" (Jn.. 3:5; I Cor. 12:13; Rom. 14:17). That is all that is IN the kingdom of God my friend, and I've got news for you; "IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT!! So then, what is the righteousness of God? It is the LOVE of God, that's what! The Bible plainly tells us that "God IS love," and also that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost, which is given unto us" (I Jn. 4:16; Rom. 5:5). How could it get any better than being filled with the love of God, when the scripture clearly says, "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love IS the FULFILLING of the law" (Rom. 13:10)? The apostle Paul accentuated this living and powerful reality, saying, "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph. 3:19). It doesn't get any better than that, but not many folks work diligently to keep that love full and flowing after receiving it, and that is where all the 'other stuff' becomes appealing. After all, if we're not truly satisfied and content in our hearts, and we don't feel like "repenting and doing the first works," we are liable to look for another "covering that is not of [God's] Spirit" (Rev. 2:5; Isa. 30:1). And that covering is made up of all the doctrines and commandments of men that are NOT of God's Spirit. Why waste time and energy on all that stuff? Why not invest that time and strength into "seeking first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," and letting the peace, and joy flow? (Mat. 6:33). The apostle Paul simplified the truth as far as he could when he said, "Now the end of the commandment is [love] out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (I Tim. 1:5). I really don't get why people can't just be satisfied with that, but I know that Jesus is watching his people and sadly saying the same thing. Something like this: "Yes, I went down there to die for them, and raise again so that they could be one with us in the joy of this glorious love, but they just can't be satisfied or content." I can just see the Father nodding with sadness and grief for the wasting of his grace by his people, and for their self-deprivation of the joy of that oneness (Jn. 17:22-24).

And I surely do not know what could possibly be wrong with real, permeating peace. The apostle Paul did his level best to describe the peace that comes by being "one spirit with the Lord," by saying that "the peace of God passes all understanding;" but it truly has to be experienced in order to be known (I Cor. 6:17; Philip. 4:7). And everyone who has been baptized by Jesus with his Spirit with the witness of speaking in tongues has known that peace at least once, when they were first filled with the Spirit. If that peace is lost, there is only one way to get it back, and that is to do what it took to get it in the first place ["the first works"]. It is that simple. Honesty, humility, repentance and faith in Jesus will always get one back to that first peace, if they exercise these things. And the joy? Well, all I can say is that Peter said it is "unspeakable, and full of glory" (I Pet. 1:8). And again, if the joy is lost it can be regained the same way that the peace can be regained. God hasn't made things hard for us. It is the doctrines and traditions of Christianity that have made it hard for God's people. It's the same story as when Jesus came here: "For they [religious leaders] bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers" (Mat. 23:4). That is why Jesus came my friend, to reverse that process: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Mat. 11:28). And that is why he sought to tear down the traditions of men that were contrary to the truth of God, and that kept God's people away from that rest (Mat. 15:3). That call is out today with great urgency, and when honest hearts can acknowledge the burden that Christianity and all of its traditions, doctrines, and commandments of men, has put upon them; and respond to the call of Jesus to "come out of her my people;" that rest can be found (Rev. 18:4). And where might it be found? "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink [carnal things]; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." It's all still in the same place friend, and if you haven't been there yet, or if maybe one foot has slipped out of that kingdom; a full restoration of God's love, joy and peace is knocking on your door right this moment: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Rev. 3:20). No indeed, it does NOT get any better, or more simplistic, than that. Amen.