Behold! The Kingdom of God has come!

The Kingdom of God has come and Christians can live in the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, just as the prayer that Jesus has taught His believers pray daily. What does it mean? It means we live in the presence of God and we live a life different from that of the unbelievers. When they believe in Jesus they can live inside this Kingdom too. While in the Kingdom we enjoy the abundant life and supernatural protection and undeserved favor of God, a supernatural living over the natural world——under the grace and mercy of God.
Is there a proof of this in the Bible? Yes. We read Acts 27 afresh today to see the proof.
God will tell us what he has planned for Christians to accomplish in this world. He will guide us to make the right decision at the right time in the right manner. This includes all aspects of our daily living. There are two things He will tell us: What His believers should do, and what the unbelieving world will encounter. The same physical natural storm comes upon both believers and unbelievers. The outcome will be different when Christians live the Kingdom of God life.
Here is a brief summary of the difference between those living in the Kingdom of God (people of God) and those living outside (people of the world): THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS REAL WHERE CHRISTIANS LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND LIVE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALITY OF THE UNSEEN REALM OF GOD.
1. What the world saw was merely physical and not the unseen: In the eyes of the world at the beginning of the journey, Paul was a mere prisoner just like any other prisoners. And he had no control over the journey. (Acts 27:1-8)
2. Paul gave his advice even when no one listened: but the world chose to listen to the wisdom of the physical man and not to God through a spiritual man. (Acts 27:9-13)
3. The storm event confirmed God's words: the prediction of Paul, a spiritual man who lived in the Kingdom of God. (Acts 27:14-20)
4. God showed His favor for His own people: that even though the unbelievers chose to go their destructive way, because of the presence of His people (Paul and his fellow Christians) on board, His supernatural protection would also include those who happened to be on board with His people. An angel told Paul this, “God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Just imagine, God favored Paul so much that the presence of Paul on board had saved the lives of all other on board as long as they stayed with Paul. (Acts 27:21-36) Why? Because Paul lived in the Kingdom of God, with the mighty presence of the living God!
5. When the unbelievers believed and obeyed God’s advice through Paul (a Kingdom of God citizen), continued to stay with Paul and even took steps to stop wanting to kill or harm him, the unbelievers were all saved and reached shore safely. (Acts 27:37-44)
This is how the Kingdom of God works.
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Acts 27
²¹ After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²² But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³ Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴ and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶ Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

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⁴² The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. ⁴³ But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴ The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

Prayer power

The book of Acts was full of records of prayers. Why did the early disciples pray so often? They knew that was the key to the power from above. Prayers moved spiritual realm. The early believers knew and believed this. Jesus has taught this key by His life. The lack of prayers accounts for spiritual weaknesses in churches today. The pattern is all there written in the Bible. Even Jesus prayed. His apostles prayed after Jesus was raised to heaven. Where are the praying churches now?
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²³ And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 

 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 

 ²⁵ who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
²⁶ The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

 

²⁷ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 

 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:23-31)

James 5:15-16  (KJV)

¹⁵ And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

¹⁶ Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Elijah praying for rain

 

End Times church countdown: worship in spirit and in truth

The little house church learns to listen to the Holy Spirit. They have no formula or program. They believe that the end times church must repent and turn back to follow the old way – the way of the First Church, as in the Acts of the Apostles. They meet every Lord’s Day at a certain time and spend the bulk of the day together, listening to the Lord, worship, singing praises (Scripture songs), praying in the Spirit, singing spiritual songs, reading the Bible, proclaiming the verses, listening to prophets and teachers of the word of God.
The church was formed nearly seven months ago. On the first Lord’s Day, they were led to read the Acts of the Apostles (Acts of the Holy Spirit) and almost all who participated that first Lord’s day were filled with the love of God during worship.
They had no musical instrument or music director. They used a tiny MP3 player and listened to Scripture songs, learning to sing along. They had no preacher. Each brethren reads his/her Bible at home and some come for weekday morning 5am Bible reading. On the Lord’s day one brethren will speak the words of God and teach as led by the Holy Spirit.
The singing had been enriched lately by the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to some members. Today the singing was harmonious as broke through the usual level of spiritual realm. They were led by the Lord to heavenly realm. The rivers of living water that flew out of each belly (John 7:38-39) merged into a mighty river! It was like heavenly angels joined in and blended together with the little group of brethren (age 7-80+) and praising the Almighty God.
The worship continued as the Spirit of the Lord continued to flow within the believers. They were joined to the Lord and became one spirit with the Lord. (1 Corinthians 6:17) Even the brethren who was speaking that morning did not bother with how little time he would have left when the worship took longer time. Time was not on anyone’s mind.
In fact, time stood still. The singing went on in the Spirit. Someone prayed in understanding from time to time as led by the Spirit.
When the speaker finally took over and spoke. The word turned to a clear focus on Christ Jesus who was the Word Himself. it was wonderful.
The truth flowed as during worship. Words came direct from the Bible. They linked and bonded across the pages from various chapters, Old and New Testaments. Some were Scripture songs that could be sung. So they all sang those verses during the sermon (which was aptly called “The Word of God”).
The watchman had longed for such a day for quite sometime. It came.
________________Suggested Bible reading:
John1; Hebrews 1-2; Genesis 1:1-3; Isaiah 11 (2,9); 2 Timothy 3; Hebrews 4; 1 Corinthians 2; John 14, 17; Proverbs 4; Psalm 119 (1-2, 9-11)

End times witnessing: "Macedonia"

The word today is "Macedonia".

Can you hear the Lord Holy Spirit calling and sending? Arise, prophets and teachers of the Bible, fast and pray and ask the Lord for directions, just as the five men did in the Church of Antioch in Acts 13:1-4.

1. Acts 16:6
   [ The Macedonian Call ] And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
   Acts 16:5-7 (in Context) Acts 16 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
2. Acts 16:9
   And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
   Acts 16:8-10 (in Context) Acts 16 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
3. Acts 16:10
   And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
   Acts 16:9-11 (in Context) Acts 16 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
4. Acts 16:12
   and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
   Acts 16:11-13 (in Context) Acts 16 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
5. Acts 18:5
   When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
   Acts 18:4-6 (in Context) Acts 18 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
6. Acts 19:21
   [ A Riot at Ephesus ] Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
   Acts 19:20-22 (in Context) Acts 19 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
7. Acts 19:22
   And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.
   Acts 19:21-23 (in Context) Acts 19 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
8. Acts 19:29
   So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel.
   Acts 19:28-30 (in Context) Acts 19 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
9. Acts 20:1
   [ Paul in Macedonia and Greece ] After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.
   Acts 20:1-3 (in Context) Acts 20 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
10. Acts 20:3
    There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.
    Acts 20:2-4 (in Context) Acts 20 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
11. Acts 27:2
    And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.
    Acts 27:1-3 (in Context) Acts 27 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
12. Romans 15:26
    For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
    Romans 15:25-27 (in Context) Romans 15 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
13. 1 Corinthians 16:5
    [ Plans for Travel ] I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia,
    1 Corinthians 16:4-6 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 16 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
14. 2 Corinthians 1:16
    I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea.
    2 Corinthians 1:15-17 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
15. 2 Corinthians 2:13
    my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
    2 Corinthians 2:12-14 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 2 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
16. 2 Corinthians 7:5
    For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within.
    2 Corinthians 7:4-6 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 7 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
17. 2 Corinthians 8:1
    [ Encouragement to Give Generously ] We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
    2 Corinthians 8:1-3 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 8 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
18. 2 Corinthians 9:2
    for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
    2 Corinthians 9:1-3 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
19. 2 Corinthians 9:4
    Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.
    2 Corinthians 9:3-5 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 9 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
20. 2 Corinthians 11:9
    And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.
    2 Corinthians 11:8-10 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
21. Philippians 4:15
    And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
    Philippians 4:14-16 (in Context) Philippians 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
22. 1 Thessalonians 1:7
    so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
    1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
23. 1 Thessalonians 1:8
    For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
    1 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 1 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations
24. 1 Thessalonians 4:10
    for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
    1 Thessalonians 4:9-11 (in Context) 1 Thessalonians 4 (Whole Chapter) Other Translations 


English Standard Version (ESV)
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