God’s Kingdom of Light
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At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15-16 NLT
God is so holy that no sinful human can come close to His pure light and live. But God loved us and provided a way for us to be forgiven and come back into His Holy presence! Jesus came to earth in sinless human form to pay the ultimate price for our sin—His life’s blood. The night before Jesus was crucified, He went to the Mount of Olives to pray. Angels came and strengthened Jesus. But He was in such anguish that sweat fell from Him like drops of blood. He was betrayed by His own disciple, taken to court and falsely accused.
The whip tore Jesus’ back and a crown of thorns ripped His beautiful head. The cross the Messiah carried gouged His skin with splinters. Huge nails were driven between the bones of His hands and feet, fastening Him to the wooden beams. After Jesus died His side was pierced with a sword. His body was laid in a tomb. But three days later, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to many people. Jesus’ blood paid the price to forgive, heal and deliver us from the kingdom of darkness. But because of His resurrection, we can be resurrected as well. God’s Spirit comes inside us and we become one with Jesus. We live in His presence which is pure light!
Jesus is The Light
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 ESV
In The Beautiful Dream I followed Jesus as He led me in the dance of salvation. He placed His Spirit inside me who drove out all darkness. Because I followed Him and Loved Him back, He led me into His Kingdom filled only with light (Ephesians 2:1-6)! I was in the atmosphere of pure light, love, life and all the character of the presence of God. If we follow Jesus by following the Holy Spirit, we will not walk in darkness. We will have the light of life! (Galatians 5:16)
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:11-14 NLT
The moment we say yes to Jesus, God rescues us from darkness and brings us into His Kingdom. We live in spiritual Light! The joy of the Lord is our strength! He alone rescues us from darkness!
Saul Sees the Light!
After Jesus rose from the dead, many came to believe He was the Son of God and Messiah. But Saul, a religious Jewish leader, persecuted those who believed.
As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.” The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank. Acts 9:3-9 WEB
Saul Becomes Paul
God spoke to a Christian named Ananias in a vision, giving him detailed instructions on how to minister to Saul. Even against all natural reasoning, Ananias obeyed the Lord . Because Ananias walked by the Spirit of God, he was able to minister Agape Love (God’s Love) to Saul. Saul repented of his sin, received the message of Jesus and was born-again by the Spirit! God changed his name to Paul and devoted his life to telling the Good News of Jesus!
When Saul persecuted Christians he thought he was pleasing God. After all, the Jewish religious authorities supported him. But he was living in darkness, void of Agape Love. After believing the message of Jesus, the same Light that had blinded his eyes for three days entered his heart. He could finally see clearly—physically and spiritually! Saul chose to follow Jesus and his whole life changed. Jesus who is the Light, had loved him, pursued him, forgave him and filled his heart with light!
Stand Up For Others
In the beautiful dream God gave me, my Brothers and Sisters followed the Spirit and stood up for me. Ananias did the same for Saul. Saul was spiritually born again because Ananias followed the Spirit and carried the Light to him. The Lord physically healed his eyes and he became one of the greatest apostles of the first believers. In fact, the Lord called Paul to preach to non-Jewish people. Paul (formerly Saul) loved everyone and wanted them to know the love of God!
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NIV
Paul wrote the scripture above. He was describing the Holy Spirit’s light deposited in each person who says yes to Jesus. Those who stay in the Agape Love of the Spirit will shine like lanterns made of clay! The born-again experience is not simply a mental decision to believe that Jesus died on the cross. It is the power of God that frees us from the devil and brings us into the presence of God!
Stay in the Light
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 NASB
Being seated with God means we pay attention to the presence of God in us– the Holy Spirit. We live in Christ, and that is why we don’t “dance with darkness.” A true Christian repents and seeks forgiveness when they sin. It’s the only way to heal and grow in the Lord. We Love everyone, but will not participate in the world’s sin. Darkness leads us away from the Light. Living set apart from sin is not “legalistic.” We just want to remain in God’s presence full of light, love and life! And it is our desire for others to come to the Light as well!
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.” John 3:19-21 WEB
Spread the Good News of the Kingdom of Light!
Jesus is coming back again, but this time as King of kings and Lord of all lords. But many are still living for the kingdom of darkness and will not be ready when Jesus comes. We have the honor of carrying Jesus, the Light, to the world!
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself and became the approachable light of God in human form! He has come to live inside those who choose to follow Him as Savior and King. God has made us His royal children. He loves us dearly, cleansed us by the Blood of Jesus and fully equipped us to destroy the plans the devil has against God’s destiny for our lives. We shine, like a city on a hill!
I am praying for you!
