WHAT KINGDOM DO YOU BELONG TO?
Part 2

“Suffer the little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God”
(Mark 10:14).

5. I BELONG TO A KINGDOM THAT WILL RULE EVERY OTHER KINGDOM

Daniel 7:14, 27: “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him . . . And all dominions shall serve him and obey him.”

There is coming a day when every nation and every person will bow down before our Lord Jesus Christ who is King of kings and Lord of lords. I think of Philippians 2:10, 11: “That at the name of Jesus ever knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

If we do not bow now, we will certainly bow one day. There will not be one nation or person who will not bow before Him. Read also: Psalm 103:19; Isaiah 45:23; 60:12; Jeremiah 10:7; Daniel 7:10; Zephaniah 3:8; Haggai 2:22; Romans 14:11; Revelation 5:13; and 11:15.

6. I BELONG TO A GLORIOUS AND MAJESTIC KINGDOM

Psalm 145:11, 12: “They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.”

Because we belong to a glorious and majestic kingdom, how should it affect our lives? We must realize that we belong to royalty. We belong to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Therefore, we should live with a sense of royalty upon us. That does not mean we walk proudly. God forbid. The King of kings submitted to grow in the womb of woman and to be born in a crude manger. He came to serve, rather than to be served. But he walked majestically. The people said, “No man ever spake like this man” (John 7:46).

We should speak, act, dress, and walk as representatives a royal kingdom. There is coming a day when the saints will possess the kingdom (Daniel 7:18, 22, 27). We should live like a kingdom of priests and kings now. Don’t you agree?

7. I BELONG TO KINGDOM THE LOVES AND EMBRACES CHILDREN

Many kingdoms on this earth do not totally embrace children, but one thing we know, God’s kingdom loves and embraces children.

Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-5: “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”

Jesus looks upon the way we receive children into our lives as the same way we receive Him? The word “receive” is dechomai and means “to accept deliberately and readily, to welcome, to accept with open arms, minds, and hearts.” What is our attitude to receive children? Do we try to stop having children? Do we push them away? Often when someone finds out they are pregnant, they say, “Well, it was a mistake, but I guess we’ll somehow survive.” How many precious children are called “mistakes”?

How does God want us to receive His children? The same way we welcome Jesus to our hearts and lives. Willingly! Deliberately! “Yes, Lord, I am yielded and willing to receive the precious children You have planned for me to raise for you.” “Yes, Lord, I open my heart, my mind, and my arms to the children You want to give me.”

Mark 10:13, 14: “And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was MUCH DISPLEASED and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Read also Matthew 19:13-15 and Luke 18:15-17).

Children are at the very heart of God’s kingdom. When we embrace children to our womb, our hearts, our home, and our family we in the very heart of God’s kingdom. As you nurture, teach, and train your children each day, you are in the very center of the kingdom of God. You don’t need to go to some faraway mission field. You serve in God’s kingdom right amongst your precious children.

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Thank you, dear Father God, for your love for children. Thank you for showing me that my attitude to You and to Jesus is the same attitude I have toward children. Help me to see children like You see them. Amen.

AFFIRMATION:

I belong to a kingdom that loves and embraces children!

WHAT KINGDOM DO YOU BELONG TO?
Part 1

“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord,
and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever”
(Revelation 11:15).

Do you belong to the kingdom of God? If so, do you know what kind of a kingdom you belong to? I think it’s important to understand the nature of the kingdom we belong to, don’t you? So, let’s look at what God shows us in His Word.

1. I BELONG TO A KINGDOM THAT IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. THE ONLY WAY I CAN ENTER IS BY BEING BORN AGAIN

Jesus answered Nicodemus in John 3:3 (NASB): “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

When Jesus died a soldier pierced his side, and “forthwith came there out blood and water” (John 19:34).

The only way we get into God’s kingdom is by repenting of our sins and being born again by the Spirit of God and through the precious blood of Jesus Christ that He poured out for our sins. Read also Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14, 15; Luke 8:1 and John 3:5-8.

2. I BELONG TO A KINGDOM THAT IS EVERLASTING AND WILL NEVER END

Psalm 16:10: “The LORD is King FOR EVER AND EVER.”

Daniel 4:34: “I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that LIVETH FOREVER, whose dominion is an EVERLASTING dominion, and his dominion is from generation to generation.”

We need to constantly take hold of this truth. On this earth we face trials and persecutions, difficulties and challenges, but this life is only “a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).  It is transient. Instead, we look forward to an eternal kingdom that will never pass away. This truth holds us in the difficult times. We can endure now because we know we will one day enjoy en eternal kingdom. We can stand fast for God and His truth even in the face of persecution because we look forward to an eternal future.

I am always encouraged by the wonderful words in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

You may be going through a trial that seems never ending. Dear one, be encouraged. It is only “for a moment” in the light of eternity. What God works in you will be a “FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY.” Five adjectives to describe the glory you will receive in the eternal realm!

Be encouraged. Read this Scripture over again. Read it aloud. You can endure for the joy that is ahead.

You can read more Scriptures about this everlasting kingdom: Psalm 29:10; 45:6; 145:13; 146:10; Daniel 2:18; 44; 4;3; 7:14, 12; Micah 4:7; Matthew 6:13; Luke 1:33; Romans 1:8; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Peter 1;11; and Revelation 11:15.

3.     I BELONG TO A KINGDOM THAT WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED

Throughout all of history, kings and kingdoms have passed away. Many are destroyed and never heard of again. How amazing to belong to a kingdom that will never be destroyed. What great hope we have. Speak out these wonderful truths to encourage your soul. Read these wonderful Scriptures to your children.

Daniel 7:14: “His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which SHALL NOT BE DESTROYED.” Read also Daniel 2:44 and 6:26.

4. I BELONG TO A KINGDOM THAT WILL BREAK IN PIECES AND CONSUME ALL OTHER KINGDOMS.

Daniel 2:44: “The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall BREAK IN PIECES AND CONSUME all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”

No other kingdom will ever stand against God’s kingdom One day every kingdom on earth will be ruled by God’s kingdom. There are many believers who are being persecuted in so many countries of the world. The leaders of their countries will not allow Christianity. Their people suffer imprisonment, torture, hunger, and loss of their homes. But it is only for a season. They already belong to kingdom that will break in pieces all wicked rulers and their kingdoms. Read also Isaiah 60;12 and 1 Corinthians 15:24, 25.

There is coming a day when the saints will possess the kingdom and rule over all other kingdoms. Daniel 7:18 says: “But the saints of the Highest shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” Read also Daniel 7:22, 27.

Be blessed and encouraged today.

Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubieds.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I thank You so much for the privilege of being born again into Your eternal kingdom. I thank You that I can endure on this earth because I have hope of living in an everlasting kingdom that will never pass away. Thank You for shedding your precious blood to redeem me to be one of your children and to one day inherit glory and be joint-heirs with Christ. It is beyond my comprehension to take in, but I thank you and stand upon this wonderful truth. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

This life is only fleeting, but I belong to an eternal kingdom.

THE JOY-FILLED LIFE
Part 3c

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you"
(Matthew 5:11, 12).

8. BE CHEERFUL

Three different Greek words for joy occur in the passage of 1 Peter 4:12-14: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:" but REJOICE, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be GLAD also with EXCEEDING JOY. If ye be reproached for the name or Christ HAPPY are ye, for the Spirit of God resteth upon you, on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified."

The first word "rejoice" is the Greek word chairo and means to be "full of cheer, joyful." It can also be used as a welcome or parting greeting. In Matthew 28:9 Jesus greets his disciples and says: "All hail." In other words, "Be full of cheer and joy."

The second word "glad" is the same Greek word as rejoice. It is repeated for emphasis in the context of suffering for Christ. Most of us feel miserable when we are suffering, don't we? But the Bible encourages us to be full of cheer. It's the same word used of the disciples in Acts 5:41: "And they departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

Even when we are sorrowful, we can experience joy because Christ dwells in us. Paul confessed in 2 Corinthians 6:10: "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing."

9. JUMP FOR JOY

We find four different words that mean "to jump for joy," two in the New Testament and two in the Old Testament.

1. Peter encourages us in 1 Peter 4:12-14 when going through suffering to go further than chairo. We are to be "EXCEEDING GLAD." It is the Greek word agalliao which literally means "to jump for joy, to show joy by leaping and skipping, excessive or ecstatic joy and delight."

It is used in Matthew 5:11,12 in Jesus' famous sermon on the mount. He tells us that when we are persecuted, or people say false and evil things against us that we are to rejoice (chairo) and JUMP FOR JOY!

This is not just a feeling in our hearts, but an action. Have you ever tried jumping for joy when people persecute you? Have you ever skipped with delight when people say false things against you? I have tried it, but I think I should do it more often.

The same word is used in 1 Peter 1:6 where we are to jump for joy during many trials.

2. Luke 6:22, 23: "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and LEAP FOR JOY; for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." This time the Greek word is skirtao and also means "to skip and jump for joy."

Now we look at the Old Testament:

1. Psalm 5:11: "Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." The word "joyful" is alats and means "to jump for joy, to triumph." Are you beginning to see the kind of joy the Bible speaks about? It's full of action.

After long infertility God blessed Hannah miraculously with a baby boy. Let's see her response. In 1 Samuel 2:1 it says: "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth (jumps for joy) in the LORD." This is the kind of joy we should have when God blesses us with a baby.

2. Psalm 28:7: "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore heart GREATLY REJOICETH; and with my song will I praise him." The Hebrew word in this Scripture is alaz and also means "to jump for joy."

I am challenged when I read this word in Habakkuk 17, 18: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice (alaz) in the LORD, I will joy (giyl - spin around) in the God of my salvation."

What would we do if everything was taken from us? Nothing to eat. No provision. We'd most probably be in a state of depression. But this man of God jumped for joy and spun around with joy. Not because he was happy about the devastation, but because his joy was in God!

10. BE HAPPY

The third word for joy in 1 Peter 4:14 is "happy." It is the Greek word makarios meaning "fully satisfied." This word does not mean happiness because of favorable circumstances, but being fully satisfied because Christ dwells within us, no matter what the circumstances! In Christ we can "be happy" no matter what difficult situation we face. When we embrace this truth and live in it, "the spirit of glory and of God" rests upon us.

My Lexicon says: "Makarios is the one who is in the world yet independent of the world; his satisfaction comes from God and not from favorable circumstances."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Dear God and Father, please lead me up the ladder of Your ways, which are so much higher than my ways. Teach me how to live in joy even when facing ridicule and rejection. Teach me to find my satisfaction and joy in You, not in my circumstances or the things of this world. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

When I am insulted for the name of Christ, I am blessed, for the Spirit of Glory rests upon me.

THE JOY-FILLED LIFE
Part 3b

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart"
(Jeremiah 15:16).

We continue to discover the ways God wants us to show our joy.

4. SHOUT FOR JOY

We are not only to be joyful in our hearts, but to SHOUT for joy.

Psalm 5:11: "Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever SHOUT FOR JOY, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." Have you ever shouted for joy?

Psalm 32:11: "Be glad (samach) in the LORD, and rejoice (giyl), ye righteous; and SHOUT FOR JOY (ranan), all ye that are upright in heart." God wants us to be so filled with joy that He uses three different words for joy in this Scripture.

Psalm 132:9, 16: "Her saints shall SHOUT ALOUD FOR JOY." Further Scriptures to read with the word ranan: Psalm 35:27; 51:14;5 9:16; 67:4; 71:23; 81:1; and Isaiah 12:6.

5. SPLIT THE EARS WITH SOUND

Psalm 95:1, 2: "O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." The phrase "a joyful noise" is the Hebrew word ruwa and means "to split the ears with sound, shout for joy, triumph."

Psalm 7:1: "Shout unto God with the voice of triumph." (Psalm 66:1; 81:1; 98:4, 6; and 100:1).

How do you sing at your church? With every bit of breath in your lungs? Are our praises worthy of the majesty of our great God?

This same word is used in the story of the walls of Jericho falling down. Joshua 6:16 "And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout (ruwa); for the LORD hath given you the city." The shout of joy and faith brings deliverance.

6. BREAK INTO JOYFUL SOUND

Psalm 98:4: "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."

The words "loud noise" come from the Hebrew word patsach and mean "to break out into joyful sound, break forth into joy, make a loud noise." There are times when we don't feel joyful. We don't feel like praising God. But we dare not live by our feelings. We must stir up our soul and BREAK FORTH into praise. We must DO IT, whether we feel like or not. But as we break forth, the joy comes.

7. EXCEEDINGLY REJOICE

Psalm 68:3: "Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice."

To "exceedingly rejoice" is simchah and means "to exceedingly rejoice with glee and gladness."

This word was used after the people of Judah had listened to Ezra read to them from "the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel." Nehemiah 8:12 states: "And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink . . . and to make great mirth (simchah), because they had understood the words that were declared unto them."

Does your spirit rejoice when you receive revelation and understanding from God's living Word? I can't think of anything more wonderful. I am reminded of the two disciples walking to Emmaus, sad and crestfallen because they thought Jesus was dead. They did not know it was Jesus who came alongside them and talked to them along the way. But after they realized it was Him, they said: "Did not our heart BURN within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?" (Luke 24:32).

It's also used in Nehemiah 12:43 when they dedicated the wall of Jerusalem: "Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced (samach): for God had made them rejoice (samach) with great joy (simchah): the wives also and the children rejoiced (samach): so that the joy (simchah-exceeding joy) of Jerusalem was HEARD EVEN AFAR OFF."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Dear Father God, I thank You for Your precious Word which is life-giving and powerful. It is the rejoicing of my heart. Help me to always joy in Your Word. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

I will forget my reputation and be more exuberant in my joy. My joy for God. My joy for His Word. My joy for my family. And my joy for each new day.