What do you need in order to say you have a good and blessed life?
Sincerely consider your transparent response, not what you think should be the right answer. What do you truly believe in your deepest thoughts that you need to have a good life. This practice helps us determine if we are Kingdom-minded or not.
The Gospel of Salvation centers around Jesus, as Savior who came to rescue us, providing safe passage out of this world. The Gospel of Kingdom views Jesus as reigning King who came to awaken us to be part of a transforming movement born from the Cross of Jesus Christ! Tracy does all the cooking at my house. I assure you that you do not want me to cook for you. Even though Tracy does the cooking I’ve never introduced her by saying, “This is Tracy, my cook.” That’s just one function and doesn’t explain who she truly is.
The Gospel of salvation invites people to lift up a hand to receive a better life. It is much easier to ask than lay your life down and die daily for the cause of Jesus Christ to advance God’s Kingdom. We can’t reduce The Gospel to mere salvation and expect people to be radical Kingdom people! Fuel The Fire - Consumer minded Christians to Kingdom minded disciples.
Jesus came explaining the right-side up Kingdom with His central message of The Beatitudes. These are the markers that should exist within us all to determine “the good life.”
Matthew 5:3-12 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ESV
The word "Beatitude" means "blessed" or "happy." It goes way beyond the idea of worldly happiness referring to a deep, joyful fulfillment that comes from being in right relationship with God.
THIS IS EXPLAINING KINGDOM LIVING! This is what it is to be “full of God”, living in his presence, walking in his ways and God’s blessings.
These beatitudes of Jesus express spirituality in its truest and most genuine form. These virtues are in stark contrast to the Roman kingdom in pursuit of supremacy through power, wealth and dominance. The religious kingdom of his day was in pursuit of supremacy through exclusivity, legalism and manipulation.
Kingdom theology became so cross pollinated with worldly philosophy that the two looked almost the same! The religious kingdom was as upside down as the Roman kingdom. Jesus flips them both on their heads with his right-side up Kingdom teaching.
The world’s ideologies creep in un-noticed on many occasions and part of our job as church leaders is to make sure we are addressing these things in Love and Truth!
The Upside-down Kingdom Bible has emerged with a woke, progressive commentary promoting gender diversity. The General Editor is Preston Sprinkle, President of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, an organization focused on “faith and LGBTQ+ inclusion.”
The One Million Moms Organization is urging Christians to boycott 'Upside-Down Kingdom Bible,' citing 'woke theology' concerns. Understand we are talking about dangerous, liberal, tolerance instead of repentance, Progressive ideology of our day that works to accommodate everyone’s views except for God’s.
What do the decisions you have made with your time, money and energy, over the past year, say about what you think you need to have a good life?
GP2RL: Spend some time this week reading the Beatitudes over and over asking God to help us all learn to live, love and give in light of eternity!
