...In essence, the Apostle Paul also exhorts us that if we see the answer to our needs, dreams, and aspirations now, then there is no longer any need to hope for them because we already have them. In other words, why would we hope for what we already see or possess? He then adds that all things hoped for are in the future, and that if we are going to hope for something, we need to be prepared to wait for it with patience. He is speaking here of the Christian believer’s hope of manifest righteousness in the church and in the world through the faith and patience found in Christ. This living hope is to be realized and revealed to us, in us, and through us as a result of an intimate relationship and fellowship with God, around His Word and in His Spirit.

It must also be understood that the Bible teaches there is an actual kingdom coming to this earth in the future when Christ returns where righteousness will dwell and nothing and/or no one that causes offense will be allowed in. Of course, Jesus also told His disciples not to look for the kingdom through observation, adding that the kingdom of God is within. He also said that the kingdom of Heaven allows pressure and those who press into it take it by force.

John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the apostles of Christ all preached a message of repentance, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” This, of course, is because King Jesus was at hand, and yet these are even greater times because the Holy Spirit (who is the surety of the kingdom) is within every Christian believer now. Jesus said; "The works that I do you will do also, and even greater works because I go to the Father." In essence, what all of these forunners of the eternal kingdom of God are saying is that our initiation into that kingdom is made accessible to us through our initiation into King Jesus and is openly available to us through repentance from works that lead to death and through faith towards God, water baptism in the name of Jesus, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Paul went so far as to say that “the kingdom of Heaven is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” So we see that our deepest aspirations to become righteous human beings manifesting righteous behavior, is to be discovered through a lifestyle of repentance and faith towards God! That word “faith” used here is also translated “faithfulness.”

Repentance means change. We are to be changed from glory to glory as we seek, follow after, and behold Christ through supernatural eyes of faith, not by our limited human vision. We will then see the works of the devil being destroyed as we continue in God’s Word and in His Spirit, and as we believe and pray that His kingdom come and His will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ was given the Spirit without measure during His ministry on earth. He is God in human flesh, the only begotten Son of God, unique among all other men, the Son of Man, perfectly sinless. His name is wonderful, counselor; prince of peace, everlasting Father, almighty God is He. He is the anointed One, and of course, this is why He was able to live the way He did and do the things He did.

Incredibly, the Bible also teaches that He is the first born among many brothers. In other words those who believe in Him (put their faith in Christ’s name for their salvation) and receive Him (settle down into and be not removed from Him), to them He gives the power to become the sons of God, also. In believing on Him, we are born again, in receiving Him we become sons of God.

The moment that we believe on Him, we are justified (made innocent of our past sins). When we receive Him and walk in His Spirit, we are sanctified (set apart as disciples and saints). If we continue in Him faithful to the end, we will be glorified and receive immortal and incorruptible bodies like Jesus.

Salvation involves and incorporates our justification, sanctification, and glorification, or if you will, our translation of spirit, transformation of soul, and transfiguration of body. There are some who are justified and in the process of becoming sanctified and glorified, and yet there are many justified souls who are backsliding, rebellious, and on the verge of becoming reprobate and apostate. Which of these are you? I exhort you to examine yourself to see if you are still in the faith, and if you discover that you are not, repent! We must understand that;“Many are called, but few are chosen,” and that “The path that leads to destruction is broad and many go that way, but the path that leads to life is narrow and only a few find it.” This word many, of course, is relative to every human soul that has ever lived on this planet, so that even a few in comparison to such a large number would appear to be the large multitude of redeemed human beings from every tribe and every nation spoken of in the Book of Revelation.

Our justification in Christ has to do with a past decision on our part; our sanctification in Christ has to do with present continuous decisions on our part; and our glorification in Christ has to do with future decisions on our part. These decisions will require our remaining faithful to Christ to the end, in the midst of many temptations, tests, and trials. If we deny Him, He will deny us!

Ultimately, all of our decisions are dependent upon His sovereign decision and faithfulness towards us because “whom He fore-knew, them He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brothers; and whom He predestined, them He also called; and whom he called, them He also justified, and whom He justified, them He also glorified.”

It is through our willing cooperation with Christ in working out our own salvation with fear and trembling because it is God who is working in us both to will and to do of His own good pleasure, that we find ourselves abiding in Him and increasing in faith, hope, and love. By the way, faith, hope, and love are all attributes of His kingdom within, as well as His kingdom without that is coming to rest on a new earth wherein dwells righteousness.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I want to see more of His kingdom faith and power realized and released in my life. I want to abide in Him and increase in faith, hope, and love today and every day until Christ returns. I am committing to this very thing today, and throughout the soon approaching New Year (2007). I am committing to increased covert prayer in order to receive a thirty fold return, increased covert giving for the sixty fold return, and increased covert fasting for a one hundred fold return. I am trusting God for the grace and resolve to invest everything I am and everything I own, into His kingdom so that I might see His kingdom, power, and glory released in my life, in my family’s life, in the church, and in the world today. Of course, all of this is in preparation for the world tomorrow. I invite you to join with me this year in these daily disciplines of self denial to the glory of God, so that we might truly be made “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." May we be enabled and equipped to bring this wisdom from above to others in both word and deed with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Amen.