Craig

Jesus teaches that in order to see the Kingdom of God one must be born again/anew. Must worship in spirit and truth. A person's spiritual eyes must be opened by God. God's Holy Spirit identifying with a person's spirit. A spiritual change must take place within the person. The nature of the Kingdom is spiritual. It must be entered and discerned spiritually. I think when Nicodemus initially enters the conversation with Jesus he didn't understand him regarding spiritual rebirth. For clarification, he did ask the question about how can one return to their mother's womb. However, I think Jesus enlightens him during this conversation. I think Jesus chose to reveal the truth to Nicodemus and he accepted it. John does not say he walked away sad or with sorrow like the rich young ruler. He doesn't walk away confused or in any kind of denial. I believe Nicodemus' later actions reflect his faith in Jesus.

The value and worth of the Kingdom is more than anything on earth. The reason we are tempted to value it so little is because we have not really experienced it. We really don't have a clue. Most Christians are not really willing to experience the Kingdom as they are called to do. We don't want to give up the things of this world. Therefore we value the Kingdom very little. We value what we experience. The reality of a follower of Jesus Christ living their faith out in a real/intentional Biblical way catches the attention of others.

What is the purpose of poverty and self-sacrifice as an religion, but to glorify self. An act of self-righteousness. Which in reality is spiritually empty and will not lead to salvation. Jesus wanted the rich young ruler to give up his stuff and come follow Him. No outside inference or distraction. In the process of following Jesus he is in the company of the Messiah with all the wonder, experiences, and blessings of being a direct disciple of Jesus the Christ. However, he rejected the offer because he loved his wealth more than Jesus.

Jesus requires the rich young ruler to divest himself of his fortune so his love/devotion/focus is on Jesus and the priorities of the Kingdom of God, not worldly wealth and everything that implies. This troubles us because we love wealth and the power and security that comes with it. We don't want to give it up. The spiritual dangers of wealth really are concerned with redirecting us from God and Heavenly priorities to self-reliance and worldly prioriites.

Both parables involve someone who finds something of great value. Greater than anything they currently have. They both sell everything else they have for that thing of greater value which brings them great joy. A joy unlike anything else in their life. The point is, the Kingdom of God is of such greater value than anything else in this world and we need to give up everything else in order to own it per se. To be a part of it. In other words, when I found the joy of being a part of the Kingdom of God I willingly and joyfully gave up or sold off other things in order to be a part of the thing that has greater value and gives me much joy.

There is going to come a time when the followers of Jesus will be separated from unbelievers to spend eternity in fellowship with Him. Unbelievers will be eternally separated from God. This insight should cause Christians to walk a closer walk with the Lord and strive to be more Christ-like in every aspect of their lives in preparation for His second coming. This should be included in a Christian's testimony and fuel for loving your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus points us back to the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as examples of the suddenness of God's judgment. People were living normal lives then as they will prior to Jesus' second coming. Humanity will be living normal lives as if nothing out of the ordinary will happen and then His return. Believers should be living as if Jesus could return at any moment -- always prepared. That way we are not caught off guard. Jesus spells this out in the parable of the Ten Virgins in the Gospel of John.

Jesus being the Son of God descended from Heaven, incarnate in human flesh, was the embodiment of the Kingdom of God. Jesus' ministry reflected Kingdom priorities and values. The Kingdom of God today is present in the same way. That is, presented through born again believer/followers of Jesus Christ filled with the Holy Spirit living out Kingdom priorities in a dark world -- displacing evil with the light of Jesus Christ.

Continual asking, seeking, and knocking keeps me focused and on-mission regarding all aspects of the Kingdom. Many give up easily because they are not committed for the long haul. As Christians we must see the long view of things. My spiritual development and growth aren't about instant gratification but long term development. Their are those people who if they cannot become a Peter or Paul over night they give up. They quite trying. We gain boldness and persistence in prayer by being bold and persistent in prayer!!!

Four factors are essential in making a disciple especially good soil for the growth of the word or message of the Kingdom: 1) Obeying the will of God; 2) Being sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life; 3) Staying in touch with God through systematic Bible study and regular/frequent prayer; 4) Being consistent in living our one's faith. The consistent application of all of the about factors would be ample reasons for 30-fold, 60-fold, and 100-fold growth accordingly.

All of these thorns are dangerous in their own right. However,I believe that worries/cares are the underlying factors that drive people to obsessions with riches and/or pleasures. By not turning worries/cares over to the Lord, a person tells the Lord that He is incapable of meeting that person's needs. Thus that person does what he/she thinks will take care of the need(s) creating the worry/cares. I think that worry/cares truly underlie most everything else in our lives. If not given to God, worry/cares will carry us off into an opposite direction from God and His purpose for our lives.

Without repentance of sins and a changed nature a person is not saved and does not have a relationship with God the Father in Jesus the Christ. It is a meaningless faith. People avoid repentance because they want to live the way they want to live. I would say that well over half of most churches are attended by people who are not saved and are unrepentant.