Some become disciples of other men; some become disciples of a certain movement, denomination, or doctrinal emphasis. In the verse we have been studying about the scribes who become disciples, Jesus specified that these would become disciples of “the kingdom of heaven” (see Matthew 13:52). He was obviously emphasizing that they were not to become disciples of those on earth, or earthly things, but of His heavenly kingdom.

Previously, we discussed how there is an anointing for mobilizing on different levels or for different size groups, and how some things are accomplished best in large groups and some things are accomplished better in small groups. Vision casting is usually done better in a large group, but some of it needs to be sown into virtually every teaching to a small group, too. People who are motivated with vision will accomplish more.

     It is considered that water is a fixed asset on the earth. It can change forms, but there will always be the same amount here. It is also believed that energy cannot be destroyed but simply changes forms. It is a theory that the same is true of wealth. If this is true, then no real wealth has been lost during this economic downturn. It has only changed hands.

This coming year is going to be one of the most important years of our lives and the world. As I began saying years ago, every election in the U.S. from now on will be more important than the last one, because we are entering times of such intensity. I think we can say this has been accurate so far, and believe it or not, even though the 2010 elections will not include a Presidential election, they will be even more important than the 2008 election.

As we have discussed, in Scripture “the flesh” is a metaphor for the carnal nature of fallen man which is in opposition to the Spirit of God. The attributes of this carnal nature are listed in Galatians 5:17-21:
 

Last week we discussed the increasing shaking and change that will ultimately climax in the greatest time of trouble the world has ever known, but it will also be the greatest glory. We are called to not only endure these changes, but learn to thrive on them, seizing the great spiritual opportunities that they present. The primary way we do this is by having rock solid consistency in our own hearts which can only come from a life that is built upon the kingdom of God–-living under the authority of the King of kings.

In preparation for a more in-depth study of eschatology, we have been taking a bit of time to lay a foundational understanding of why certain events are going to come upon the world in the last days. We must understand these if we are going to be prepared for them.

The prayer that the Lord gave His people to pray was for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (see Matthew 6:10). Having been most likely prayed by every Christian in history, we can be sure that this prayer will be answered. The kingdom is going to come, and no utopian philosophy has even proposed just how wonderful this world will actually be when it does. Of course, the great question is, when?

This year we have been studying Ephesians verse by verse because it is the epistle that reveals more than any other the heart of Paul’s revelation of the glorious calling of the church. This week we continue with Ephesians 3:20-21:

Nature is another media through which God speaks to us. “Nature is God’s second book”—this is basically what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1 and is also stated in Psalm 19. As we are told in Colossians 1, John 1, and other places, all things were made through Jesus and for Him, and they all speak of Him. I have come to believe that everything in nature speaks of Jesus, the only begotten Son and the love of the Father’s heart, in virtually unlimited depth.