Tag: kingdom

Pray For Our Leaders 1Timothy2:2 2Peter2:17

Did Paul and Peter pray for their leaders? I assume they did yet they were executed by Caesar! Some of their best works were written from prison! The authorities did not like to keep Martin Luther King Jr. in jail too long because he was working on his next speech! During the civil war Pastor’s and their congregations north of the Mason-Dixon line were praying for the north to win while Pastor’s and congregations south of the line were praying for the south to win! They were both praying for their leaders! A famous German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed by Hitler but I assume he prayed for Hitler. Some of our famous reformation leaders were burned at the stake by their King! I assume they prayed for them! Jesus called his political leader Herod a fox but prayed for him! He called the religious rulers of his day a generation of vipers but prayed for them! Do we pray for ISIS leaders? What would be your prayers to those who were about to behead you! Father forgive them for they know not what they do! Different from prayers of the west? Father give me a big house, big auto, big money and fame and fortune! Jesus taught us how to pray! I love this prayer because it is not a political prayer! I personally have one leader or ruler and Savior and His name is Jesus Christ! I am loyal to one Kingdom and that is the Kingdom of God and His Christ! It is so funny I have a friend in Colorado Springs who was my military boss back in the 1970’s. We are both retired and meet once a month and tell old war stories! I told Kenny we were praying that our house would sell so we could move back to Georgia. Kenny told me he was praying that our house not sell and we stay in Colorado! I told Kenny you are my friend but not my prayer partner! Our prayers should be in agreement with God! We usually pray for an outcome. Do we always get it? God’s will is often different from our will! To deliver us from evil means not to partake in promoting evil! We pray for our leaders but also knowing it is vanity to trust in man! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Have You Wrestled with God Lately? Genesis 32:24-28

Can you win this one? Jacob did! Here is the question we need to ask ourselves? Do you have enough Faith in God that if you wrestle with God you could win? One of my best friends back in high school loved to wrestle! I hated it but he loved it! Since we were good friends I became a wrestling dummy for him to practice on! I was much like a sparing partner for a boxer. Kent Dove went on to win the heavy weight wrestling division state title for Colorado. Wrestling was sweaty, brutal, exhausting and very bruising to your body. Jesus wrestled with God for us in the Garden of Gethsemane! He sweat drops of blood! Most of our religious church guy prayers are pious, quiet, indifferent and selfish a sort of milk toast approach to God. You are probably thinking I have enough problems without taking on God! Jacob’s victory was a Blessing from God to himself and to all that followed him! It resulted in a name change. From a trickster to a Prince! The name Israel means to rule as God! If you were able to rule over this world would you do it as God does? Love the good and hate the evil? Jacob became Israel and a different man after his struggle with God and limped as he walked yet dependent upon God! No more tricks to try to get ahead! Do you struggle with God for the lost souls of this world? If they do not fight for themselves who will fight for them? How about the widows and orphans? Jesus wrestled with His Father and the Cross! Why have you forsaken me? Jesus went through hell for you and me so that we will never be forsaken! Let us wrestle with God to pluck souls out of the burning fire and from the Kingdom of darkness! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

End of the Story?

When it comes to Christ and His followers there is no end to the story! We have a cliché in American culture that is used to close out a conclusion by saying; “At the end of the day.” The end of the day brings a new day and another testimony written from God’s playbook! Christ’s Kingdom continues forever and ever and ever! In Heaven and here on earth! His story is our story in real time even more than a history of reporting the facts! Christ writes history in His followers! For every believer in every generation that receives Christ the old story becomes new again with results that are impossible to explain in natural terms! The Easter story is a routine story to everyone who is bold enough to take God at His Word! Source; Conclusion taken from Easter story presented by Pastor Daniel Grothe, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Easter Promotion!

God’s promotion system is opposite the world system we live in! The world system depends on doing wrong to someone in order to get ahead! God’s Kingdom promotes those who do right and suffer wrong for it! The Cross is our best example! Christ went to the Cross for our wrongs yet was promoted by being raised from the dead and being seated on the right hand of the Father forever! Christ through the Cross also promoted us to Heaven whom He died for our sin! So remember if you are suffering for doing right thing God is watching and waiting for your patience to promote you for what He has also done! Happy Easter! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

Humility For Pride! John Chapter 13

During Jesus last 3 years of ministry He would sometimes  say my time has not come yet! However in John Chapter 12 we see a change where Jesus says my time has now come! The word time means to honor! The word honor means to promote! Jesus promoted you from Hell to Heaven! Jesus promoted His Father! Jesus got promoted and is seated at the right hand of our Father today interceding for us in prayer! What is our response to Christians being beheaded around the world?  How do we respond to violence? Jesus said those who live by the sword will die by the sword! Jesus was also living in violent times! Jesus life was just not hanging around shepherds anchored to green pastures!  The Romans ruled through fear and violence! The same for the Middle East today! In Jesus day swords, spears and crosses ruled the day! The good Samaritan got beat up! Mr. Rogers could not have lived in this neighborhood! John 13:3-5 Why was this foot washing so offensive to Peter and the disciples? In the Jewish culture only gentiles could wash a Jews feet! A Jew could never wash another Jew’s feet! Jesus stepped on their pride! Never let your culture separate you from God! Jesus was never careless with His authority. He used it to draw people to God! Jesus shows us and His disciples that serving confronts our pride! Sometimes we have pride we are not even aware of! Pride hung on the religious and political rulers but could not cling to Jesus! Matthew 6:1-4 Jesus warned us not to let acts of kindness be seen of men. Give in secret! When was the last time you served in secret? There are 3 ways to serve. 1. Serve to be seen by others. 2. Serve in secret but to be proud of it! Self  righteous! 3. Serve in secret as worship to God! Do we serve to impress God? Serve in pride? Do you think you are better than those you serve? John 13:34-35  Jesus gave us a new commandment! It covers the other ten! Love one another! I thought just my family and church members? Help those who cannot help you! Serving others is the most powerful witness to the world! The watching world will never agree with all our theology but are fascinated with our behavior of helping others! Serve the widow’s, orphans and the hurting! The one’s nearest us know us best! How do the one’s closest to you describe you? Do they call us servants? He who is greatest in the Kingdom of God is servant of all! Carl Marks had a philosophy but it was not a reality? He got his best friend’s wife pregnant and then sent the baby to an orphanage! Let Christ’s love categorize you! Be a servant at home first then to the church and then to the world! Pastor Brady Boyd, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

The Doctrine of Estrangement! 1 Peter 2:9

We are a peculiar people! Peculiar meaning we have reached a point or place in time where we have found purpose in God together! Notice not a peculiar person but people. People meaning a mass of humanity of all nations joined together in one purpose. We belong to a nation of people. We are a chosen people by God through Christ to minister and serve others. His church is a proclaiming community! We are organized to take care of others. As citizens of Heaven we seek the peace of the city we live in. Start a good work where you are. Bloom where you are planted. Seek to help the most vulnerable of our culture. Paul sought to free a slave. We are not to Lord over others in our family and community but demonstrate love in our marriage and family! Wives are to submit to their husband and the husband is to protect his wife. There is strength in kindness! If you have to be told you are a leader you are not! The way you are is the way you tell your story to the world. You proclaim what you are. Sin has and is causing estrangement in our world. The cultural wars of divorce, untraditional marriage, drugs, crime and corruption at all levels lead the way to estrangement in our nation! In the Book of Genesis we see creation of the world and man. Everything started out right but sin caused Adam and Eve to blame God and each other. Sin has caused us to run and hide from God and each other. It became finger pointing! She made me do it! The Devil made me do it! In Genesis chapter 11 we see the Tower of Babel where men wanted to make a name for themselves! Sound familiar? The unity here resulted in man wanting to build his own kingdom! Man has unified against God throughout history! God divided the languages and confused the people. This lead to tribalism, separation, violence and a fragmented society. So what was God’s solution? To send His Son Christ into the world! In Ephesians chapter 2 we see God putting to death separation and estrangement. He instituted the resurrected life! In Acts chapter 2 at Pentecost 120 people speaking different languages but understanding each other. One language became many and then many languages became one! Many people became a peculiar people. The Holy Spirit is joining together many people for one purpose! God reverses estrangement! Why are we a peculiar people? The church is a community within where the Holy Spirit reverses all previous estrangements! We are a eschatological community! God’s first intent consummates in the church! In Revelation chapter 5 and chapter 7 every nation and people group comes back together again! At the end of the day we win together! In Revelation chapter 21 we see no more death and a new Heaven and earth living in peace and joy. Heaven and earth become one just as we say in our Lord’s prayer! Two become one. If we know the end then we can make the right choices and do the right thing now! Start today. We are called to live and die for one another! If we as His church do the right thing today then Jesus will have little to do when He returns! The word, “Apocalypse” is used 18 times in the New Testament. To most of the world it means the end of the world. The word in the Greek translates; disclosure, revelation, enlightenment and manifestation. Romans 8:19— creation itself is groaning for redemption of the earth through storms, earthquakes and other events. The world is waiting for the Apocalyptical church and our Christ to return! We are a chosen people and a royal priesthood! As we take communion this morning do you feel estranged from God and others? Jesus paid the price on the Cross to bring us together. Jesus poured out His blood for you! In estrangement Cain slew Abel and his blood cried out from the ground for redemption! Murder is the last act of estrangement but Jesus laid down His life as a sacrifice on the Cross for you! The marriage supper of the Lamb is waiting for you and me as described in Revelation. The differences we have is removed by God in unity with Him! It is joyful in Heaven and not sorrowful! God is inviting you back to Heaven this morning! We cannot hold bitterness. We cannot drink the poison and expect others to die! We have through Christ the power to forgive! Come to His altar now and experience the ending of separation between you and God and man! Source: Pastor Daniel Grothe, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Message given on Sunday June 8, 2014.

The End of The World ! Matthew 24

I have images of the guy in Times Square with the sign strapped on his back saying the end has come! Maybe for him? How about the end of my mortgage and car payments? How about when the kids finally move out of the house on their own? How about when they move back in when they cannot find a job? Jesus come quickly has been my prayer most of my life! The Good News is the end of the world means the coming of Christ! Here are some of the signs Jesus has given us that the end of the world is near; 1. Many will come in my name and say I am the Christ. 2. Wars and rumors of wars. 3. Nation will rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom (Democrats and Republicans). 4. Famines, earthquakes, pestilences all in diverse places. 5. All these the beginning of sorrows. 6. You will be afflicted, killed and hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 7. Many will be offended because of me and betray one another. 8. Many false prophets shall arise. 9. Iniquity shall abound and the love of many shall wax cold. 10. Those that endure to the end shall be saved. 11. The Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached for a witness unto the nations and then the end shall come. 12. When you see the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel the prophet, stand in the Holy Place. These signs are exciting to the believer but terror to the unbeliever. We can participate in a positive way by promoting the Gospel of the Kingdom! It is no wonder there are so many political forces here in America and around the world trying to stop the preaching of the Gospel! There are no surprises to those who read, understand and believe the Bible. One way or another we all will be a fulfillment of Bible Prophecy but the side you choose will lead you either to Heaven of Hell! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com

What Did Jesus Say About Following Him? Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus had a radical message! You can only enter in at the narrow way, narrow passage or narrow gate to follow me. A narrow gate would only be about the width of your shoulders. You cannot carry any baggage with you when you go through it. Following Jesus through the narrow gate requires focus with no distractions in the way. The broad road or gate leads to destruction. Jesus does and did not go this path. It is a dead end road. Few people choose the narrow gate. American culture is more Christ resistant than anytime in our history. To follow Christ today is more costly than in previous generations. We are considered radicals by our culture and ridiculed. We are considered on the outer fringes like space cadets. Did you ever notice the on-line surveys always give you a way out. You are never committed to a yes or no answer. Kind of like politics today. Christ gave His disciples no third choice. It was either Heaven or Hell. The same holds true for us today! Yes or no? Easy or difficult. Matthew 5:1-2. Jesus real audience was more than the crowds it was His disciples. They had already made up their minds to follow Him but their trust level was low. It takes time to figure out if you can trust someone. Jesus told them the Kingdom of God is right now! It was not yesterday or tomarrow. Living right now is Monday through Saturday working, school and difficult schedules. Jesus said let Heaven break into your boring day to day world. Jerusalem has 12 gates. The wide gate is the most used gate. Examples today are convenience stores, shopping malls, fast food, ect. We like the best paved roads with the fewest traffic lights. They even have drive through churches today. Just hear a message on the internet or television. Why go to church? Studies have found that women like to shop on the internet after 9:00PM. Why? Convenient! We like to choose the easy way over the difficult. Going through the wide gate we can take along as much baggage as we want. No constraints, no sacrifices, easy choices, no boundaries, no commitment applies to all who travel the wide gate. Taking this path leads to ruin. Jesus took a narrow path from The Judgment Hall to Calvary. It was also a steep climb carrying your Cross! He took your unforgiveness, hurt, pain and all your sin. Jesus was a teacher of virtue. Creativity exits between boundaries. Whether it be inventions, music, poetry, sciences, discoveries or even the work of a humble farmer. All great work is done within constraints and boundaries. Jesus had to be sinless to fix your sin. Because of the discipline of constraints and boundaries we have very few great people. People do not like boundaries. Live together why get married? Why study? Why work? Get on welfare. Pregnant? Get an abortion. Vote for the political party that offers you no constraints or boundaries. Revelation 7:9. Heaven is not sparsely populated but has a great multitude. Salvation belongs to our God! It is a free gift like a Christmas gift under a tree and is easy to find. Jesus is easy to find but very difficult to follow. Weddings are exciting but then the couples have to learn to live together. Marriage goes from easy to difficult. The wide gate is to get a divorce or just live together unmarried. To remain in covenant is a miracle from God and requires His Grace. To stay married is hard work and a challenge. Getting pregnant is easy but raising children is hard work. The family under the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman is God’s only plan and design for relationships and for the security of future generations. Worship even requires constraints and boundaries. All people will make one of the following four choices in their life. 1. Secularism- autonomy, it’s my life, live for yourself, no boundaries, no restraints. Not Jesus way. No! 2. Moralism- Follow the rules and get the life I deserve. Entitlement. Steeped in religion that says it is all about me. I deserve to be rich and famous because I am a moral person. 3. Religion- I owe my life to God. Obligation. Things better go right with me because I am serving God! Bad exchange. Problems come! Death and disease comes to all! 4. Grace- Jesus says your life for my life! Wonderful exchange! Great Exchange! My nothingless for His everything. Give God your life and He gives His life back to you! Stop living for yourself. It is a dead end. Let Christ come in. Welcome the Holy Spirit! You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. What needs constraint in your life? Do you eat food for comfort? Do you have a drug or sex addiction? Do you feed your senses to no avail. Let Christ increase and you decrease. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and He will add to your life that will help you to victory. Source: Pastor Brady Boyd, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Message given Sunday September 1, 2013.