THE FULLNESS OF LIFE AWAITS US NOW
By Ron McGatlin
All living breathing human beings now on earth are collectively a part of a chain of generations of mankind on a journey.
After Adam was cast out of the Garden of Eden, every generation has had a deep inner need to find “true home.” Unknowingly, mankind is driven to extremes in searching for a sense of total rest in the perfect peace of “home.”
In the depth of man’s heart, every work in life is derived from seeking some part or piece of the fullness of a sense of home. From simple houses to great edifices, buildings are built by the inner drive or need for a perfect home. Palaces filled with riches and luxury are built from the deep need for feeling a sense of fullness of home in the heart. Magnificent ornate church buildings and religious systems of structure ordered by manmade authority can provide a strong but false sense of true home.
Seeking the necessities of life such as clean water, food, shelter, clothing, companionship, and intimate relationships is seeking the provisions of home as it was in the Garden of Eden. Strife and wars are about seeking after the things of this life from a desperate inner drive for the peace of true home. Religious worship of many gods comes from a desperate need of an at home relationship with God such as Adam had when walking with God in the Garden.
Mankind’s endless striving for knowledge is a part of seeking to rule or be in charge as Adam was in the perfect home of the Garden of Eden.
The insanity of widespread drug and alcohol addiction in the world is a search for the illusion of the perfect peace and total rest of home where there is no sense of lack or need and no pain or frustration. All seems perfect in the dreams of the inebriated for a moment.
I could go on with this, but I believe we are getting it by now that seeking all these things and more does not lead to life and a sense of true home. Mankind cannot get back to the Garden of Eden lifestyle through his own efforts or strengths.
Jesus made it very clear to His disciples to NOT seek after the needs and things of this life. But rather to seek FIRST, above all else, the kingdom of God and then all these things would be added to them by the loving Father God. Seeking the kingdom is clearly the way HOME.
Matthew 6:33: “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
THE GOOD NEWS
In this season of our journey, we are now entering the transformation of our world. Christ Jesus spoke clearly, words that instruct us in our journey home back into the Garden of Eden life of “peace on earth and goodwill toward man.”
Only in recent history has a broad spectrum of mankind begun to hear more clearly by the Holy Spirit the meaning of the words of Jesus recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John over two millennia ago.
Christ Jesus taught the way of the kingdom of God in parables of figurative language. He told natural stories about natural things that make Spirit kingdom reality easy to clearly understand by the Holy Spirit but hidden from natural minds without the indwelling Holy Spirit.
It is impossible to fully grasp the full meaning of the recorded words of the Bible without the fullness of the Holy Spirit. For the most part the church age could not see the fullness of the kingdom of God that Christ Jesus proclaimed in the first century.
Speaking plainly, only as we are filled and saturated with the Holy Spirit of God can we move on in our journey to the next place of the reality of the kingdom of God on earth as Christ Jesus preached and demonstrated two thousand years ago.
In this day there are now far more believers who are truly filled and baptized or saturated in the Holy Spirit who are ready to receive the good news (gospel) of the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven. The terms kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven are used interchangeably in the Bible.
The gospel of the kingdom that Jesus preached focused on heaven’s ways coming to earth more than our going to heaven. The fullness of the kingdom of God on earth is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Rom 14:17). It is the fullness of the redemption in Christ Jesus of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven – the return to the Garden of Eden life – the kingdom of God is our true home on earth.
Hear the gospel of the kingdom as Christ Jesus introduced it to the world.
Matthew 5:3-6: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
He preached the kingdom of God and demonstrated it by healing all kinds of sickness and casting out evil spirits. He said the kingdom is here at hand; repent and believe.
Matthew 4:17: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:23-24: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all of the sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
Matthew 12:28: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Mark 1:14-15: Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Matthew 9:35: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 6:10: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Multitudes began to come as they saw the authority of the kingdom of light overcome the kingdom of darkness. Jesus instructed and sent out the twelve disciples to “preach the Gospel of the kingdom is at hand, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons…” (Matt.10:7-8).
When Jesus sent out the seventy other disciples, they were instructed to “heal the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” But for those who were aligned with the opposing kingdom and would not receive them, they were to wipe off the dust of their feet against that city and say, “Nevertheless know this that the kingdom of God has come near to you…” (Luke10:9-11).
The Transformation
The transformation taking place in our world in this season is the transition from the fallen world to the fully redeemed and restored kingdom of God, Garden of Eden lifestyle on earth.
God loves this world and all of His creation that is on or in it. He loves His world and His people too much to leave us forever in a state of mixture of the dark fallen world ways and His loving righteous ways. Mixture is being dealt with in this current season.
The increasing constant pressure of evil and the steady increasing glorious light of the presence of God with His pure-hearted, holy people is forcing a division of light and darkness.
The light of the glory of God is increasing in His people and the darkness of evil is increasing in those of His called out people who are yet walking in any level of mixture.
As long as the darkness part of the mixture was only small, it could be hidden with whitewash. However, the increasing darkness can no longer be hidden and is being blatantly exposed. This is forcing a showdown between darkness and light in the people. Those of mixture who chose darkness and reject the light will soon be gone from this life. Those who chose light and reject the darkness will shine forth as the sun.
It is impossible to continue to serve two masters. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24.
The Kingdom Age
In the passing church age, mercy reigned over grace. Grace is the empowerment of God to be and do all things by His power working in us. Mercy is forgiveness for repeated offenses.
A child who has not yet matured does not possess the grace empowerment to fully walk in God’s order. Therefore, the child will receive much mercy from God. When the child becomes a man and possesses the potential grace empowerment to live godly, then mercy fades as grace empowerment increases.
To whoever has, more will be given to him, and he will have abundance. (Mat 13:12). To whom much is given from him much will be required. (Luke 12:48).
Much more is given to us in the kingdom age. Therefore much more is required of the maturing Body of Christ in the kingdom age than in the church age.
In the kingdom age true grace empowerment rules over mercy. God desires obedience over sacrifice. (Mat 9:3).
In the kingdom age LOVE rules above grace or mercy. The kingdom consists of and continues to increase through love. Grace empowerment for obedience flows through love.
Pursue love it never fails.
Ron McGatlin
www.openheaven.com