West Living A Transformed Life

1. Auflage 2012
ISBN: 978-1-937520-94-6
Verlag: First Edition Design Publishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Wasserzeichen (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 100 Seiten

Kevin West faces himself and the consequences of drifting from his faith. Knowing that his misdeed at work will ultimately lead to imprisonment, he can only cry out to God. Adjusting in his shift from bank vice president to managing a grocery store, he awaits the consequences; he meets a stranger who begins to unlock the mystery of Christ's words: The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Autoren/Hrsg.

West, Kevin

Leseproben

Chapter One - It’s Here, It’s Now
 
The Abundant Life Jesus said that He came not only to give us life but that we “might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). So different is this life he offers, that 2 Corinthians 5:17 says those in Christ are completely new creatures. All which was part of a person before salvation is forever gone. Everything becomes new. Why then are so many Christians miserable? They want this new life, but their Christian walk is oppressive and burdensome. They struggle and work harder rather than enjoy the freedom Jesus promises. The problem is not their sincerity, for they truly want to obey God. In fact, the more they fail, the harder they try, promising the Lord over and over that they’ll do better. The problem is they haven’t understood what Jesus was saying about the kingdom of heaven. Instead, they are living out religious routine which is empty of all life. This man-made religion may be a bunch of rules imposed by a church or it could be what someone creates for himself. Many times we set standards for ourselves based on what we think we should be, none of which are scriptural. Even more elusive is trying to fulfill the expectations of what we think others have of us. The result is internal conflict, in which we constantly try to gain a sense of security by pleasing others. We struggle in this same way in an attempt to please God. Jesus offers us something much different, something liberating.  
Seeing from God’s Perspective One of the earliest recorded instructions of Jesus found in the New Testament is “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). One of the simplest explanations of the word “repent” is to see things from God’s perspective. The demand for changing our understanding is because of the momentous time in history of Jesus bringing the kingdom of God to us. Once we allow the Lord to open our hearts to what this means, it will liberate and empower us. Jesus preached this message to people who were oppressed by the Romans and living in physical bondage. They were bound by the rules of the Pharisees and their religious systems. Living in a country free from government oppression and religious laws, however, doesn’t negate the need for the liberating words of Christ. People can still be enslaved by financial debt, addictions, a craving for approval, or any number of strongholds. Jesus’ words spoken more than 2,000 years ago are still true for us today. His teachings are never bound or limited by time or place. He invites you and me to see the kingdom from His perspective, because he wants us to know the truth. First, we must recognize that the kingdom of heaven is in our midst this very moment. Jesus came to earth to establish it with all His divine principles and blessings. Once we know Him, then we become a part of His great plan to liberate us from every fear and entanglement, from anything which inhibits us to experience an abundant life. Some people grow up in a religious tradition which destroys hope for this life. They are convinced to just plod along, enduring their problems, with no expectation that God will, or even care, to intervene. Their only option, they feel, is to wait until eternity before they can experience freedom from their misery. This perspective is no less tragic than the Jews looking past our Lord for another savior. Jesus was the real Messiah walking right in their midst, and yet some were so misguided they kept looking for His arrival in the future. In the same way, if we only see heaven as our celestial destination after our death, we miss God’s grandest plan for us now in this life on Earth. This incredible journey begins with throwing off our old perspective so we can embrace all Jesus has given us. He is saying, “It’s here! Now! The kingdom of heaven is right here in front of your face.”  
An Analogy Let’s suppose you have inherited from your father a large estate including a picturesque mansion with a new car and clothes and money. This is good news because you are presently struggling financially. Paint is curling off your dilapidated house, your clothes are worn threadbare, and a rusty bicycle carries you back and forth to work. Then just before the inheritance is transferred to you, someone breaks into the mansion and steals the checkbook to your new account. The thief writes checks freely for whatever he desires. It’s your money meant to bless you, but he uses it for himself. He ruins the beauty of your father’s mansion, filling it with tasteless furniture and lamps and gaudy rugs. He wears the new suits which were hanging on a rack for you, and carelessly speeds around in your new car. Then he begins acting and talking like you. He mixes with your friends and spends time with your family, not only taking over your relationships, but ruining them. This thief wholly enjoys the influence and position that is rightfully yours. At your greatest moment of despair, someone bigger and stronger than the thief comes to you and explains that you are still entitled to the complete inheritance. He says the thief is too powerful for you to fight, but not for him. He vows to crush him and to return everything back to you. Then he goes out, defeats and binds your enemy, and restores your inheritance. The money is back in the checking account, all the gaudy trappings purchased for the house are gone, and everything is returned new. The relationships with your family and friends are restored. In fact, they are even better than they were before everything had been stolen. Jesus is the one who came and bound Satan, the thief. He is the one who has defeated the Enemy and restored our lives. This is why we call Him our Savior.  
Garden of Eden To fully understand the kingdom of God, we must begin with the Garden of Eden. Here we see the order of God’s plan. After He created the earth flourishing with plants and wildlife, He planted this garden and placed Adam there to tend to it. Adam was also given the authority to name every animal and bird God created (Genesis 2:8-20). He and Eve both enjoyed an intimate relationship with God, sitting in His presence, conversing with Him face-to-face. Genesis 1:26 explains how God made mankind to oversee the fish, the birds, the cattle, and all that’s in the earth. Adam and Eve were given the responsibility of being the first managers of what was heaven on earth. Then Satan deceived them with the lie that they could live independently from God. When Adam and Eve sinned, their relationship with the Father was severed. They both felt the pangs of this separation even before they were told the consequences of their disobedience. They each felt alienated from the Lord for the first time in their lives. They experienced fear and shame, and tried to hide from God (Genesis 3:1-10).  
Earth Created For Man God reigns in heaven, but He created earth for man to rule. Psalms 115:16 says, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath He given to the children of men.” Adam and Eve were supposed to have dominion over all creation. Their mission was to establish the kingdom of heaven here on earth. Before their disobedience, they were intertwined with God through the Holy Spirit, knowing the Lord intimately and understanding His heavenly principles. God’s Spirit gave them wisdom and the capability to carry out their mission. When they chose independence they became alienated from God and each other. They even became alienated from themselves and what they were supposed to be. Jesus came to set everything back in order. He came to draw us into a love relationship with Him so that we may live out the kingdom of heaven now. When we say yes to Him, the Holy Spirit positions us within the kingdom of God. Everything that is in the heavenly places is available to us. The earth has been created for us and our children and our children’s children. When we come to know Jesus, we are in a vibrant relationship with God just as Adam and Eve were before their fall. God intends for us to reign over the earth through the power of the Holy Spirit. This authority involves much more than overseeing His wildlife and natural resources. It grants dominion over every entanglement and struggle. Like Adam and Eve, we can choose independence from God and remain in darkness. We too can deceive ourselves into thinking there is a better way apart from His heavenly principles, but the result will be misery and defeat. The Lord wants us to live free from every element of darkness. He wants our days filled with vision and victory. Only through Him is a new life possible.  
Two Governments There are millions of people not connected to the life-giving flood of mercy that Jesus brings. God’s answer for them is right in their midst, but they do not receive it. They live outside the kingdom of heaven. It is helpful to understand that two spiritual forces are at work. The government of darkness is void of God’s leadership. In this case, Man is in charge and acting from a state of darkness which invariably...