While our love and devotion to the Bride of Jesus (the Church) is part of our mission, we draw primary direction from Jesus’ Kingdom words in Matthew 13. After He had explained the parables of the Kingdom to His committed followers He asked: “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” And Jesus said to them:
√ Therefore every scribe (this is someone who cares and searches diligently)
√ who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven (here is someone who embraces God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength)
√ is like a head of a household (finding our God-place in the world must include our “house” of relationships and connections)
√ who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” (from the things which have proven value to us come things past and things present/the wiser we become as disciples the more we have to draw upon for our Kingdom work) – Matthew 13:32
So it appears that association with “scribe” kinds of people gives us focus toward becoming disciples and sharing in distinct community. When our circle is filled with emerging “disciples of the Kingdom” things are in place for a lifetime of spiritual growth.
We then gather in various ways to keep focused and to share, teach, and disciple others regarding King First – then Kingdom – then Church. The King empowers our work – and with Him we build His Kingdom. He invites us to do so under His authority. We agree in the Spirit for direction and connection with people who are seriously drawn toward Jesus and His Kingdom (Matthew 5-13). Such “scribes” are those who learn to sincerely pursue Jesus above everything. From within this group we ask God and work hard to identify the people we are to “disciple” regarding King and Kingdom. Together with these men and women we connect with the greater “church” in our community through our jobs, personal giving missions, and our building up of the church in each of our cities. This allows us to live out personal and family needs for spirituality and expressions of our gifts – providing for the welfare of others.
Just as Jesus’ disciples worked alongside Him as He accomplished His Father’s will, we choose to bless our neighbors through Spirit-directed “doing good and sharing” as we build up His Kingdom and His Bride (Hebrews 13).
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ ” Matthew 25:34-36
THE KINGDOM BRIDE
“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:9-14
SO COOL.
FIRST KING. THEN KINGDOM. THEN CHURCH.
Dave and Burnadette
Selah! We lift this up to the highway of praise that always flows before the throne of the Living God.
More:
Dave’s books on different aspects of the Kingdom