Tag: KIngdom of God

Morning Reading: Luke 11:14-28 NLT – Kingdom signs

Reading: Luke 11:14-28 NLT

One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

Kingdom-of-GodHe knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.

“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”

As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”

Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the heart… mind… authority… and power of Kingdom citizenship. May I live in the reality of your rule and reign in this present evil age… even as I look forward to the totality of your rule and reign in the glorious age to come. Help me to be a doer of your Word… and not a hearer only. For your name’s sake. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Let Your Kingdom Come” (Hillsong YouTube)

Joy of my days, You are my strength / Here I am sheltered in Your hand / Light of the dawn, power of the sea / Deep in Your heart, You carry me

Song of my heart, breath of my soul / You are my reason and my all / Lord of the earth, fire of the stars / Jesus my life is where You are

May our worship be Your throne / For the praise of Your glory forever / In this holy place / Let Your will be done

May Your praise be lifted up / Let us join with the praises of heaven / To the ends of the earth / Let Your kingdom come

Morning Reading: Luke 10:21-24 NLT – childlike amazement

Reading: Luke 10:21-24 NLT

Childlike_AmazementAt that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Your disciples were amazed at what they saw and heard… what you revealed to them. Renew that same amazement in me… the amazement that I felt when you first revealed yourself to me. Thank you for opening my eyes and ears to the wonders of your Kingdom. May I always approach you with childlike faith. And may I never lose the joy of your salvation. Amen.

Hymn: “I Stand Amazed” – Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (1905)

Morning Reading: Luke 10:1-20 NLT – migrant workers

Reading: Luke 10:1-20 NLT

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. Don’t take any money with you, nor a traveler’s bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road.

He Sent Them Out Two by Two, illustration from "The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ" by Tissot (1886-1896)
He Sent Them Out Two by Two,
illustration from “The Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ” by Tissot (1886-1896)

“Whenever you enter someone’s home, first say, ‘May God’s peace be on this house.’ If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. Don’t move around from home to home. Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay.

“If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you. Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ But if a town refuses to welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this—the Kingdom of God is near!’ I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.

“What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. Yes, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead.”

Then he said to the disciples, “Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God, who sent me.”

When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”

“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – All over the world today your followers are going out as “sheep among wolves” to bring the Good News of the Kingdom of God to people who are lost. Prepare the way for them – open hearts and minds and homes to welcome them. Protect them from the evil one, and empower them to heal the sick and cast out demons in your name. Fill them with joy… and put their detractors to shame. For it is in you that we live and move and have our being. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “We Speak to Nations” (YouTube)

Morning Reading: Luke 9.57-62 NLT – Kingdom duty

Reading: Luke 9.57-62 NLT

As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Jesus hand follow meBut Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”

The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – So many distractions… so many good things to do. Give me the courage to sacrifice the good for the best – following you wherever you lead me. May I honor you in all things. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” – Selah (YouTube)

I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus — no turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me — no turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, I still will follow, though none go with me, I still will follow, though none go with me, I still will follow, no turning back, no turning back.

Morning Reading: Luke 9.23-27 NLT – via dolorosa

Reading: Luke 9.23-27 NLT

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

In the old town of Jerusalem, paving the way of Jesus Christ, the traditional Way of the Cross took place on the Good Friday towards Saint Sepulchre.
In the old town of Jerusalem, paving the way of Jesus Christ, the traditional Way of the Cross took place on the Good Friday towards Saint Sepulchre.

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?

If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.

I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – you call me to let go of my life… to give up anything that gets in the way of my relationship with you. Forgive me for clinging to the things of this sinful and dying world… trying to drag them along with me on the via dolorosa. You are my Lord and my God. Give me the courage to drop my baggage.. take up the cross you give me to bear… and follow you today. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Take Up Your Cross” – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (YouTube)